washingtontimes--2020-09-22--MomVote courts suburban mothers with Trump's law and order rhetoric

Kimberly Fletcher is determined to register as many women ahead of Election Day in eight swing states , hoping to give “ safety moms ” an outlet for their frustration at the polls over the rioting going unpunished in cities across the country .
Ms. Fletcher , who is the founder of the conservative Moms for America , established MomVote to help educate and register suburban mothers — a key voting bloc President Trump has been trying to court with his law-and-order rhetoric .
“ I would hope the president continues to focus on the big picture and the difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a nation of chaos , ” she told The Washington Times .
“ You know which side moms are going to vote on.
” Women aren ’ t just frustrated by the rioting .
They ’ re also fed up with strict COVID-19 restrictions and closed schools .
“ It ’ s literally like a tsunami of craziness that smacked them in the face all at one time , ” Ms. Fletcher said .
“ We don ’ t accept the new normal.
” So far , however , the riots and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t begun to close Mr. Trump ’ s huge gender gap in the polls .
Mr. Trump won 39 % of the female vote nationally in 2016 , while Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won 54 % , according to Pew Research data .
His current numbers not only aren ’ t better but are slightly worse .
In the latest Economist/YouGov weekly tracking poll , Mr. Trump got just 38 % support from women , while Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden took 54 % .
Mr. Trump has less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees Mitt Romney and John McCain , who received 44 % in 2012 and 43 % in 2008 , respectively , according to research by the Roper Center at Cornell University .
After being criticized by Republicans for not mentioning the riots during the Democratic National Convention , Mr. Biden denounced the chaos .
At the end of August , he spoke in Pittsburgh and asked Americans if they feel safer under Mr. Trump , saying the president made the country more dangerous .
“ I want to be very clear about all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Looting is not protesting .
Setting fires is not protesting .
None of this is protesting .
It ’ s lawlessness , plain and simple .
And those who do it should be prosecuted , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ Violence will not bring change , it will only bring destruction .
It ’ s wrong in every way.
” Still , the Trump campaign sees Democrats ’ inaction in the face of mayhem as an opportunity to close the gender gap .
Campaign officials cite polling that shows voters who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Mr. Biden , 74 % to 16 % .
They insist that his law-and-order message is working in critical swing states such as Pennsylvania , where the polls have been tightening — in large part because restoring “ law and order ” ranks among the top issues voters point to , with the economy and healthcare .
“ No American wants to feel unsafe in their neighborhood or home , but Joe Biden and the Democrat Party have embraced lawlessness from their supporters that has left millions feeling uneasy , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Trump campaign .
Since May , violent rioting has broken out in several cities including New York , Atlanta , the District of Columbia , Chicago , Seattle , Los Angeles , Portland , Oregon , and even Kenosha , Wisconsin , after the police shot a Black man , Jacob Blake seven times in his back , leaving him paralyzed .
Ms. Fletcher ’ s organization focused on swing districts in Minnesota and North Carolina in 2018 , and the conservative candidate won in the areas they targeted .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Georgia , Florida , Pennsylvania , Ohio , Michigan , Wisconsin and Virginia .
Minnesota wasn ’ t originally at the top of the list this year , but women in the state contacted her to volunteer .
Minneapolis was the first city to see rioting this summer after George Floyd died while in police custody in late May .
Since then , the president ’ s supporters say the state could be in play as residents grow tired of the unrest .
It ’ s a state that he lost by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where a Republican presidential candidate hasn ’ t won since 1972 .
The RealClearPolitics average in polling has Mr. Biden ahead there by 10.2 points .
Ms. Fletcher said polling can be deceiving because the surveys usually track registered voters .
She said many of the mothers she comes across through her outreach haven ’ t been registered in the past and aren ’ t usually political , though they are registering this year because they ’ re tired of the unrest .
“ My hope above all hope is that this silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to shock the pants off of everybody and just come out and vote when they haven ’ t voted , ” she said .
Mr. Trump hammered home his pledge to combat rioters at a campaign rally last week in Wisconsin , saying the eruption of lawlessness should make the Election Day decision an easy one .
“ You have law and order on one side and chaos on the other , ” Mr. Trump said to cheers .
But Kenneth Mayer , a political science professor at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t moved much in the past few weeks , suggesting the president ’ s rhetoric is falling flat .
“ It is not as if the law-and-order message resonates with undecided or swing voters , and that ’ s the difference , ” Mr. Mayer said .
“ There really isn ’ t any reliable evidence that there are a lot of voters in this category that are potentially moveable nor evidence that voters in this category are actually persuaded by this message .
”

Kimberly Fletcher is determined to register as many women ahead of Election Day in eight swing states, hoping to give “safety moms” an outlet for their frustration at the polls over the rioting going unpunished in cities across the country.
Ms. Fletcher, who is the founder of the conservative Moms for America, established MomVote to help educate and register suburban mothers — a key voting bloc President Trump has been trying to court with his law-and-order rhetoric.
“I would hope the president continues to focus on the big picture and the difference of a nation of law and order and a nation of chaos,” she told The Washington Times. “You know which side moms are going to vote on.”
Women aren’t just frustrated by the rioting. They’re also fed up with strict COVID-19 restrictions and closed schools.
“It’s literally like a tsunami of craziness that smacked them in the face all at one time,” Ms. Fletcher said. “We don’t accept the new normal.”
So far, however, the riots and rising crime in America’s cities hasn’t begun to close Mr. Trump’s huge gender gap in the polls.
Mr. Trump won 39% of the female vote nationally in 2016, while Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton won 54%, according to Pew Research data.
His current numbers not only aren’t better but are slightly worse. In the latest Economist/YouGov weekly tracking poll, Mr. Trump got just 38% support from women, while Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden took 54%.
Mr. Trump has less support from women than recent Republican presidential nominees Mitt Romney and John McCain, who received 44% in 2012 and 43% in 2008, respectively, according to research by the Roper Center at Cornell University.
After being criticized by Republicans for not mentioning the riots during the Democratic National Convention, Mr. Biden denounced the chaos.
At the end of August, he spoke in Pittsburgh and asked Americans if they feel safer under Mr. Trump, saying the president made the country more dangerous.
“I want to be very clear about all of this: Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting. It’s lawlessness, plain and simple. And those who do it should be prosecuted,” Mr. Biden said. “Violence will not bring change, it will only bring destruction. It’s wrong in every way.”
Still, the Trump campaign sees Democrats’ inaction in the face of mayhem as an opportunity to close the gender gap.
Campaign officials cite polling that shows voters who want peace restored are favoring the president over Mr. Biden, 74% to 16%.
They insist that his law-and-order message is working in critical swing states such as Pennsylvania, where the polls have been tightening — in large part because restoring “law and order” ranks among the top issues voters point to, with the economy and healthcare.
“No American wants to feel unsafe in their neighborhood or home, but Joe Biden and the Democrat Party have embraced lawlessness from their supporters that has left millions feeling uneasy,” said Samantha Zager, deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign.
Since May, violent rioting has broken out in several cities including New York, Atlanta, the District of Columbia, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and even Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the police shot a Black man, Jacob Blake seven times in his back, leaving him paralyzed.
Ms. Fletcher’s organization focused on swing districts in Minnesota and North Carolina in 2018, and the conservative candidate won in the areas they targeted.
This time, the targets are North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Minnesota wasn’t originally at the top of the list this year, but women in the state contacted her to volunteer.
Minneapolis was the first city to see rioting this summer after George Floyd died while in police custody in late May.
Since then, the president’s supporters say the state could be in play as residents grow tired of the unrest. It’s a state that he lost by about 1.5 points in 2016, but where a Republican presidential candidate hasn’t won since 1972.
The RealClearPolitics average in polling has Mr. Biden ahead there by 10.2 points.
Ms. Fletcher said polling can be deceiving because the surveys usually track registered voters. She said many of the mothers she comes across through her outreach haven’t been registered in the past and aren’t usually political, though they are registering this year because they’re tired of the unrest.
“My hope above all hope is that this silent mass majority of conservative women of faith is going to shock the pants off of everybody and just come out and vote when they haven’t voted,” she said.
Mr. Trump hammered home his pledge to combat rioters at a campaign rally last week in Wisconsin, saying the eruption of lawlessness should make the Election Day decision an easy one.
“You have law and order on one side and chaos on the other,” Mr. Trump said to cheers.
But Kenneth Mayer, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said state polls haven’t moved much in the past few weeks, suggesting the president’s rhetoric is falling flat.
“It is not as if the law-and-order message resonates with undecided or swing voters, and that’s the difference,” Mr. Mayer said. “There really isn’t any reliable evidence that there are a lot of voters in this category that are potentially moveable nor evidence that voters in this category are actually persuaded by this message.”
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Judge will rule soon on GOP attempt to block mail ballots

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - Requiring Montana counties to open polling places for November ’ s election would be “ absolutely catastrophic , ” for voters and for public health , the governor ’ s chief legal counsel , Raph Graybill , told a federal judge Tuesday .
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen heard arguments in Missoula on a motion by President Donald Trump ’ s campaign and other Republican groups who want to overturn an option that Gov .
Steve Bullock gave counties to hold the election by mail to help prevent the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly .
Forty-five of the state ’ s 56 counties chose to offer a mail-in ballot , which must be mailed out on Oct. 9 .
The lawsuit is one of three the Trump campaign filed to block mail balloting in Nevada , Montana and New Jersey .
A judge threw out the Nevada case on Friday saying the campaign failed to show how it could be harmed by a new law that calls for mail-in ballots to be sent to all active voters .
The New Jersey case is pending .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump for President , the Republican National Committee , the Republican Senatorial Committee and the Montana Republican State Central Committee - argued that mailed ballots are subject to fraud .
“ We had a federal judge asking a group of lawyers from out of state who flew here to say Montana ’ s election is full of fraud to put up any evidence to back up their assertion , and they conceded that they had none , ” Graybill said .
The Republican organizations also argued Bullock did not have the authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying that power is reserved for the Legislature .
The state argued Bullock had the authority under his emergency declaration due to COVID-19 that allows the governor to suspend statutes relating to state business , Graybill said .
The state also explained how “ absolutely catastrophic ” it would be to require counties to open polling places , and that it would create “ a tremendous amount of confusion , disenfranchisement and real safety issues , ” Graybill said .
County election clerks provided affidavits saying if the court ordered them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need extra masks , hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies that have not been ordered and would need to recruit and train poll workers .
Typically , poll workers are older residents with health concerns who would not be able to work an in-person election , clerks said .
“ What we really emphasized at the hearing is the governor ’ s directive allows counties to make it easier to vote , ” Graybill said .
“ Of course , you can still vote in person through Election Day , but for people that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus , who want to minimize contact , mail balloting makes it easier.
” James Brown , a Helena attorney appearing on behalf of the Trump campaign , referred questions to Spenser Merwin , executive director of the Montana Republican Party .
Merwin did not respond to a phone message seeking comment on the hearing .

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Requiring Montana counties to open polling places for November’s election would be “absolutely catastrophic,” for voters and for public health, the governor’s chief legal counsel, Raph Graybill, told a federal judge Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen heard arguments in Missoula on a motion by President Donald Trump’s campaign and other Republican groups who want to overturn an option that Gov. Steve Bullock gave counties to hold the election by mail to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Christensen said he would rule quickly.
Forty-five of the state’s 56 counties chose to offer a mail-in ballot, which must be mailed out on Oct. 9. Those counties will still allow people to vote in person at their county election office or another designated location but won’t have traditional polling places under the current plan.
The lawsuit is one of three the Trump campaign filed to block mail balloting in Nevada, Montana and New Jersey. A judge threw out the Nevada case on Friday saying the campaign failed to show how it could be harmed by a new law that calls for mail-in ballots to be sent to all active voters. The New Jersey case is pending.
The Montana complaint - filed by Donald J. Trump for President, the Republican National Committee, the Republican Senatorial Committee and the Montana Republican State Central Committee - argued that mailed ballots are subject to fraud.
“We had a federal judge asking a group of lawyers from out of state who flew here to say Montana’s election is full of fraud to put up any evidence to back up their assertion, and they conceded that they had none,” Graybill said.
The Republican organizations also argued Bullock did not have the authority to allow counties to offer an all-mail ballot, saying that power is reserved for the Legislature. The state argued Bullock had the authority under his emergency declaration due to COVID-19 that allows the governor to suspend statutes relating to state business, Graybill said.
The state also explained how “absolutely catastrophic” it would be to require counties to open polling places, and that it would create “a tremendous amount of confusion, disenfranchisement and real safety issues,” Graybill said.
County election clerks provided affidavits saying if the court ordered them to hold in-person elections, the counties would need extra masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies that have not been ordered and would need to recruit and train poll workers. Typically, poll workers are older residents with health concerns who would not be able to work an in-person election, clerks said.
“What we really emphasized at the hearing is the governor’s directive allows counties to make it easier to vote,” Graybill said. “Of course, you can still vote in person through Election Day, but for people that don’t want to risk exposure to the virus, who want to minimize contact, mail balloting makes it easier.”
James Brown, a Helena attorney appearing on behalf of the Trump campaign, referred questions to Spenser Merwin, executive director of the Montana Republican Party. Merwin did not respond to a phone message seeking comment on the hearing.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--California tourism executive new head of RSCVA in Reno

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - A long-time tourism and marketing executive in Southern California has been named the @ @ @ @ @ the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority ’ s board of directors .
The board voted @ @ @ @ @ for the leadership position .
Harris is currently the chief marketing officer and executive vice @ @ @ @ @ Visit Anaheim .
He also has served as vice chairman of the Visit California Brand @ @ @ @ @ chairman of the Orange County Visitor Authority .
The other finalists were RSCVA interim president @ @ @ @ @ CEO Marc Anderson .
Harris will replace former CEO and President Phil DeLone , who @ @ @ @ @ reasons .
The Reno Gazette Journal reported earlier that DeLone had been the subject of @ @ @ @ @ of sexist behavior .
The RSCVA board of directors is negotiating the terms of Harris @ @ @ @ @ compensation and start date .
Those terms are subject to a vote by the board @ @ @ @ @

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A long-time tourism and marketing executive in Southern California has been named the new president and CEO of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority’s board of directors.
The board voted Tuesday to hire Charles Harris for the leadership position.
Harris is currently the chief marketing officer and executive vice president of public affairs for Visit Anaheim. He also has served as vice chairman of the Visit California Brand & Content Committee and co-marketing chairman of the Orange County Visitor Authority.
The other finalists were RSCVA interim president Jennifer Cunningham and Choose Chicago CEO Marc Anderson.
Harris will replace former CEO and President Phil DeLone, who resigned in February citing medical reasons. The Reno Gazette Journal reported earlier that DeLone had been the subject of an internal investigation into allegations of sexist behavior.
The RSCVA board of directors is negotiating the terms of Harris’ contract, including his compensation and start date. Those terms are subject to a vote by the board before they are finalized.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Texas health department reports 3,964 new coronavirus cases

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Texas health officials reported 3,964 new cases Tuesday of the coronavirus that causes @ @ @ @ @ deaths .
The number of Texas cases since the pandemic began reached 716,207 while the @ @ @ @ @ , the Department of State Health Services said .
The true number of cases is @ @ @ @ @ people haven ’ t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not @ @ @ @ @ estimated that 87,317 COVID-19 cases are now active , including 3,207 hospitalizations .
For most @ @ @ @ @ mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and a cough that clear up in @ @ @ @ @ For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can @ @ @ @ @ including pneumonia , and death .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - The death toll from the coronavirus in Texas approached 15,000 on Tuesday as the total number of deaths across the U.S. topped 200,000, by far the highest in the world.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 3,964 confirmed new coronavirus cases and 77 more deaths due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.
Health officials say there are more than 716,000 confirmed cases in Texas so far. The death toll is at 14,994.
The true number of cases is likely higher though because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--North Dakota leaders approve revisions to flaring policy

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - North Dakota ’ s Industrial Commission on Tuesday approved a revised gas capture policy that aims to encourage investment in infrastructure but doesn ’ t change targets for burning excess natural gas at well heads .
Current gas capture policy requires companies to capture 88 % of the Bakken natural gas they produce .
The target increases to 91 % on Nov. 1 .
The remainder of the gas is burned off in a practice known as flaring , which releases carbon dioxide emissions that worsen global warming .
State Mineral Resources Director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Division has “ relaxed the policy slightly in a few places and tightened it significantly in other places ” after months of consultation with industry and environmental groups , The Bismarck Tribune reported .
The changes approved unanimously aim to ensure industry compliance with flaring regulations amid future gas production growth , the commission said .
“ We believe that the revisions that we ’ ve made to the gas capture policy are the right step at the right time , but I do think every two or three years , we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing and modify it as time goes on , ” Helms told the three-member , all-Republican panel chaired by Gov .
Doug Burgum .
Helms said future gas capture requires “ a monumental effort ” and billions of dollars in infrastructure such as natural gas processing plants and pipelines .
North Dakota ’ s gas production is projected to hit 5.3 billion cubic feet a day 18 years from now .
The state produced a record of more than 3.1 billion cubic feet per day in November 2019 .
Companies have met or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , largely due to decreased production amid the coronavirus pandemic and several new processing facilities and expansions coming online in the last year , North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad said .
The policy includes several exceptions for companies that flare natural gas under certain circumstances , such as gas plant outages or delays securing a right-of-way for pipeline construction .
Mineral Resources spokeswoman Katie Haarsager said the revised policy should clarify how the variances in the calculation are applied .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota’s Industrial Commission on Tuesday approved a revised gas capture policy that aims to encourage investment in infrastructure but doesn’t change targets for burning excess natural gas at well heads.
Current gas capture policy requires companies to capture 88% of the Bakken natural gas they produce. The target increases to 91% on Nov. 1. The remainder of the gas is burned off in a practice known as flaring, which releases carbon dioxide emissions that worsen global warming.
State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms said the Oil and Gas Division has “relaxed the policy slightly in a few places and tightened it significantly in other places” after months of consultation with industry and environmental groups, The Bismarck Tribune reported.
The changes approved unanimously aim to ensure industry compliance with flaring regulations amid future gas production growth, the commission said.
“We believe that the revisions that we’ve made to the gas capture policy are the right step at the right time, but I do think every two or three years, we are going to have to look at this thing and modify it as time goes on,” Helms told the three-member, all-Republican panel chaired by Gov. Doug Burgum.
Helms said future gas capture requires “a monumental effort” and billions of dollars in infrastructure such as natural gas processing plants and pipelines. North Dakota’s gas production is projected to hit 5.3 billion cubic feet a day 18 years from now. The state produced a record of more than 3.1 billion cubic feet per day in November 2019.
Companies have met or exceeded gas capture goals in recent months, largely due to decreased production amid the coronavirus pandemic and several new processing facilities and expansions coming online in the last year, North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad said.
The policy includes several exceptions for companies that flare natural gas under certain circumstances, such as gas plant outages or delays securing a right-of-way for pipeline construction. Mineral Resources spokeswoman Katie Haarsager said the revised policy should clarify how the variances in the calculation are applied.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Man, 77, charged in 1974 murder of Texas teenage girl

FORT WORTH , Texas ( AP ) - A man was arrested and charged in the 1974 killing of a Texas teenage girl after nearly 50 years of investigation and the advancement of DNA technology , police said Tuesday .
Glen McCurley , 77 , of Fort Worth , was arrested early Monday and charged with capital murder in the abduction , torture , rape and slaying of 17-year-old Carla Walker .
He is confined to the Tarrant County Jail with bond set at $ 100,000 .
Online records do not list an attorney for McCurley .
Police had said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a car with her boyfriend outside a Valentine ’ s Day party at a bowling alley the night of Feb. 17 , 1974 , when a man pistol-whipped the boy and grabbed the girl .
Her body was found three days later stuffed in a culvert near Lake Benbrook , which is near where the abduction happened .
McCurley had been one of a number of persons under suspicion since the crime occurred , but investigators had been unable to link him definitively to Walker ’ s death .
“ We had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could with current technology and what evidence we had at the time , ” Detective Jeff Bennett said at a Tuesday news conference .
Only when DNA technology advanced to the point where a complete genetic profile could be developed from evidence gleaned from the girl ’ s brassiere could a solid link be made , Detective Leah Wagner said .

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - A man was arrested and charged in the 1974 killing of a Texas teenage girl after nearly 50 years of investigation and the advancement of DNA technology, police said Tuesday.
Glen McCurley, 77, of Fort Worth, was arrested early Monday and charged with capital murder in the abduction, torture, rape and slaying of 17-year-old Carla Walker. He is confined to the Tarrant County Jail with bond set at $100,000.
Online records do not list an attorney for McCurley.
Police had said the Fort Worth high school student was in a car with her boyfriend outside a Valentine’s Day party at a bowling alley the night of Feb. 17, 1974, when a man pistol-whipped the boy and grabbed the girl. Her body was found three days later stuffed in a culvert near Lake Benbrook, which is near where the abduction happened.
McCurley had been one of a number of persons under suspicion since the crime occurred, but investigators had been unable to link him definitively to Walker’s death.
“We had taken his case as far as they could with current technology and what evidence we had at the time,” Detective Jeff Bennett said at a Tuesday news conference.
Only when DNA technology advanced to the point where a complete genetic profile could be developed from evidence gleaned from the girl’s brassiere could a solid link be made, Detective Leah Wagner said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--Trump signs executive order barring critical-race theory training by federal contractors

President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday barring federal funds from any contractors who conduct critical-race theory diversity training , saying it promotes a “ destructive ideology.
” Expanding on action the White House took earlier this month with federal agencies , the president said the administration won ’ t allow “ race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the federal workforce ” and won ’ t permit contractors “ to inculcate such views in their employees.
” “ Such ideas may be fashionable in the academy , but they have no place in programs and activities supported by federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Research also suggests that blame-focused diversity training reinforces biases and decreases opportunities for minorities.
” Critical-race theory and “ White privilege ” diversity training had been on the rise in the administration before the White House moved this month to stop it .
Mr. Trump ’ s order cites examples such as training materials from Argonne National Laboratories that stated racism “ is interwoven into every fabric of America ” and described statements like “ color blindness ” and the “ meritocracy ” as “ actions of bias.
” Materials from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that an emphasis on “ rationality over emotionality ” was a characteristic of “ white male [ s ] , ” and asked those present to “ acknowledge ” their “ privilege ” to each other , Mr. Trump said .
“ This destructive ideology is grounded in misrepresentations of our country ’ s history and its role in the world , ” he said .
“ This ideology is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country ; that some people , simply on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are oppressors ; and that racial and sexual identities are more important than our common status as human beings and Americans.
” Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said requiring or pressuring employees to attend training sessions “ where they are told they are inherently racist is un-American.
” “ President Trump ’ s Executive Order builds off his recent directive to halt agencies from using Critical Race Theory in training sessions to ensure federal contractors are not discriminated against , ” Mr. Vought said .

President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday barring federal funds from any contractors who conduct critical-race theory diversity training, saying it promotes a “destructive ideology.”
Expanding on action the White House took earlier this month with federal agencies, the president said the administration won’t allow “race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the federal workforce” and won’t permit contractors “to inculcate such views in their employees.”
“Such ideas may be fashionable in the academy, but they have no place in programs and activities supported by federal taxpayer dollars,” the president said. “Research also suggests that blame-focused diversity training reinforces biases and decreases opportunities for minorities.”
Critical-race theory and “White privilege” diversity training had been on the rise in the administration before the White House moved this month to stop it. Mr. Trump’s order cites examples such as training materials from Argonne National Laboratories that stated racism “is interwoven into every fabric of America” and described statements like “color blindness” and the “meritocracy” as “actions of bias.”
Materials from Sandia National Laboratories for non-minority males stated that an emphasis on “rationality over emotionality” was a characteristic of “white male[s],” and asked those present to “acknowledge” their “privilege” to each other, Mr. Trump said.
“This destructive ideology is grounded in misrepresentations of our country’s history and its role in the world,” he said. “This ideology is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country; that some people, simply on account of their race or sex, are oppressors; and that racial and sexual identities are more important than our common status as human beings and Americans.”
Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said requiring or pressuring employees to attend training sessions “where they are told they are inherently racist is un-American.”
“President Trump’s Executive Order builds off his recent directive to halt agencies from using Critical Race Theory in training sessions to ensure federal contractors are not discriminated against,” Mr. Vought said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-22--California reopens more widely as infections hit lowest rate

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - More of California was cleared to reopen additional businesses Tuesday , including most of the San Francisco Bay Area and one of Southern California ’ s largest counties , as coronavirus infection rates have fallen to their lowest level of the pandemic .
Dr. Mark Ghaly , the state health secretary , also said nail salons could resume operations with restrictions statewide , though he cautioned that California ’ s reopening must remain “ slow and stringent ” and residents can not let their guard down as flu season arrives and cases rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The lifting of some restrictions in counties that have shown improvement comes as California tries for a second time to recover from the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on business .
An earlier effort to reopen more quickly backfired with a surge in cases and hospitalizations in late spring and early summer .
That forced a second shutdown that was punishing for business owners , but helped bring the infection rate to 2.8 % for the last week .
Hospitalizations dropped to a level not seen since the first week of April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 790,000 confirmed cases , the most in the country , according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University .
California ranks fourth for deaths nationwide with more than 15,000 .
The state ’ s more conservative approach to reopening is based on the percentage of positive tests and per capita new cases in each of the 58 counties .
Each of the four tiers for reopening include ranges for those categories and a county must meet both for two consecutive weeks before advancing to a higher tier .
If they fail on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are bumped to a more restrictive tier that could force closures or restrict indoor operations .
That majority of counties are now out of the most restrictive tier , meaning that places of worship , restaurants , gyms and movie theaters can resume limited indoor operations .
Nail salon owners , who were disappointed when barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen indoors last month even under the strictest rules , were relieved to know they could do the same , said Tam Nguyen , owner of Advance Beauty College , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of like a life saver , ” he said .
“ It ’ s the last bit of hope .
Many salons , unfortunately , have already decided to close down .
Many others are on the brink.
” No county has a double-digit infection rate and even the state ’ s largest - Los Angeles , which has had a disproportionately large number of cases and deaths - is now poised to move out of the most restrictive tier next week .
While about two dozen counties remained in that category @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stricter rules .
San Diego , which had a spike in cases tied to an outbreak at San Diego State University that has affected about 850 students , narrowly avoided having to close down or impose new restrictions on businesses .
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said that staying in the same tier was no cause for celebration .
“ There is no business plan for a gym to operate at 10 % capacity or a restaurant to operate at 25 % capacity , ” Desmond tweeted .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited to a 100 person capacity while marijuana shops remain open.
” Under the changes announced Tuesday , the Bay Area counties of Alameda , San Mateo and Solano , and San Luis Obispo and Riverside counties in Southern California moved from the most restrictive tier .
El Dorado , Lassen and Nevada counties improved from substantial to moderate .
Mariposa County improved to the minimal category .
If improvement trends continue , Ghaly said he anticipates restrictions will be eased for more counties next week .
Business owners , however , remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their feet are being throttled by the state .
Hundreds of people protested Monday outside Fresno City Hall vowing to reopen Oct. 1 regardless of whether the county has curbed its infection rate .
About 20 people rallied at the Draft Republic restaurant in Carlsbad , north of San Diego , to promote a petition titled “ Open California Now , ” urging Gov .
Gavin Newsom to allow a quick return to normal operations .
Cohn Restaurant Group , which owns Draft Republic and 23 other restaurants in Southern California and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its 2,000 employees in the San Diego area after the pandemic hit .
The 200 who stayed made meals for families of the workers who lost their jobs .
Josh D ’ Amaro , chair of Disney parks , experiences and products , urged California officials to provide guidelines for theme parks to reopen .
“ I encourage you to treat theme parks like you would other sectors , ” he said in a video presentation on Tuesday , adding that tens of thousands of jobs are tied to Disneyland ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we wait , the more devastating the impact will be.
” Ghaly also announced Tuesday that the state was lifting restrictions on who can get tested for COVID-19 .
Testing had been prioritized to people most at risk for the virus .
But testing is now more widely available , with upwards of 170,000 tests being conducted daily and nearly 70 % of results being returned in 24 hours .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - More of California was cleared to reopen additional businesses Tuesday, including most of the San Francisco Bay Area and one of Southern California’s largest counties, as coronavirus infection rates have fallen to their lowest level of the pandemic.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state health secretary, also said nail salons could resume operations with restrictions statewide, though he cautioned that California’s reopening must remain “slow and stringent” and residents cannot let their guard down as flu season arrives and cases rise in Europe and other parts of the U.S.
The lifting of some restrictions in counties that have shown improvement comes as California tries for a second time to recover from the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on business. An earlier effort to reopen more quickly backfired with a surge in cases and hospitalizations in late spring and early summer.
That forced a second shutdown that was punishing for business owners, but helped bring the infection rate to 2.8% for the last week. Hospitalizations dropped to a level not seen since the first week of April. The state has had more than 790,000 confirmed cases, the most in the country, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. California ranks fourth for deaths nationwide with more than 15,000.
The state’s more conservative approach to reopening is based on the percentage of positive tests and per capita new cases in each of the 58 counties. Each of the four tiers for reopening include ranges for those categories and a county must meet both for two consecutive weeks before advancing to a higher tier.
If they fail on one or both counts for two weeks, they are bumped to a more restrictive tier that could force closures or restrict indoor operations.
That majority of counties are now out of the most restrictive tier, meaning that places of worship, restaurants, gyms and movie theaters can resume limited indoor operations.
Nail salon owners, who were disappointed when barbershops and hair salons were allowed to reopen indoors last month even under the strictest rules, were relieved to know they could do the same, said Tam Nguyen, owner of Advance Beauty College, which trains manicurists.
“This is kind of like a life saver,” he said. “It’s the last bit of hope. Many salons, unfortunately, have already decided to close down. Many others are on the brink.”
No county has a double-digit infection rate and even the state’s largest - Los Angeles, which has had a disproportionately large number of cases and deaths - is now poised to move out of the most restrictive tier next week.
While about two dozen counties remained in that category, no county was forced to revert to stricter rules. San Diego, which had a spike in cases tied to an outbreak at San Diego State University that has affected about 850 students, narrowly avoided having to close down or impose new restrictions on businesses.
San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond said that staying in the same tier was no cause for celebration.
“There is no business plan for a gym to operate at 10% capacity or a restaurant to operate at 25% capacity,” Desmond tweeted. “It’s ridiculous that churches continue to be limited to a 100 person capacity while marijuana shops remain open.”
Under the changes announced Tuesday, the Bay Area counties of Alameda, San Mateo and Solano, and San Luis Obispo and Riverside counties in Southern California moved from the most restrictive tier.
El Dorado, Lassen and Nevada counties improved from substantial to moderate. Mariposa County improved to the minimal category.
If improvement trends continue, Ghaly said he anticipates restrictions will be eased for more counties next week.
Business owners, however, remain frustrated that their efforts to get back on their feet are being throttled by the state.
Hundreds of people protested Monday outside Fresno City Hall vowing to reopen Oct. 1 regardless of whether the county has curbed its infection rate.
About 20 people rallied at the Draft Republic restaurant in Carlsbad, north of San Diego, to promote a petition titled “Open California Now,” urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow a quick return to normal operations.
Cohn Restaurant Group, which owns Draft Republic and 23 other restaurants in Southern California and Hawaii, said it laid off 1,800 of its 2,000 employees in the San Diego area after the pandemic hit. The 200 who stayed made meals for families of the workers who lost their jobs.
Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney parks, experiences and products, urged California officials to provide guidelines for theme parks to reopen.
“I encourage you to treat theme parks like you would other sectors,” he said in a video presentation on Tuesday, adding that tens of thousands of jobs are tied to Disneyland’s operations in California. “The longer we wait, the more devastating the impact will be.”
Ghaly also announced Tuesday that the state was lifting restrictions on who can get tested for COVID-19. Testing had been prioritized to people most at risk for the virus. But testing is now more widely available, with upwards of 170,000 tests being conducted daily and nearly 70% of results being returned in 24 hours.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Sri Lanka to offer livestreams from wildlife parks

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka ( AP ) - Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nation ’ s wildlife parks , in a move to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic .
The government ’ s Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian country ’ s exotic wildlife , including leopards , bears , elephants , crocodiles and birds .
The project will offer eight wildlife streaming video sessions of one hour each which will be shown on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast media , the bureau said in a statement .
Tourism in Sri Lanka - which was named the world ’ s top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet - has suffered severely due to the coronavirus , with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists .
The government had planned to reopen to tourists on Aug. 1 , but shelved the plan when a new cluster of COVID-19 patients emerged in July .
Tourism is vital for Sri Lanka , accounting for about 5 % of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 2 million indirectly .
Several thousand hotel workers have been laid off since the pandemic started .
Sri Lankan health officials say they have prevented community spread of the virus , and that the patients now being reported belong to two known clusters .
The country has reported 3,315 cases , including 13 deaths .
Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew in March .
The government gradually lifted the curfew in April and has taken steps to reopen the country in phases over the last three months , but schools and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to contain the virus , Sri Lanka suspended all passenger flights and ship arrivals in mid-March , crippling the tourism industry .
According to the Tourism Development Authority , no foreign tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in April through August .
There was a 60 % decline in total tourist arrivals from January to August compared to the same period in 2019 .
To meet the income loss , most hotels are offering discounted prices for local tourists .

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nation’s wildlife parks, in a move to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The government’s Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian country’s exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds.
The project will offer eight wildlife streaming video sessions of one hour each which will be shown on social media platforms and shared further through broadcast media, the bureau said in a statement.
Tourism in Sri Lanka - which was named the world’s top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet - has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists.
The government had planned to reopen to tourists on Aug. 1, but shelved the plan when a new cluster of COVID-19 patients emerged in July.
Tourism is vital for Sri Lanka, accounting for about 5% of its GDP and employing 250,000 people directly and up to 2 million indirectly. Several thousand hotel workers have been laid off since the pandemic started.
Sri Lankan health officials say they have prevented community spread of the virus, and that the patients now being reported belong to two known clusters. The country has reported 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths.
Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew in March. The government gradually lifted the curfew in April and has taken steps to reopen the country in phases over the last three months, but schools and airports are still closed.
In an effort to contain the virus, Sri Lanka suspended all passenger flights and ship arrivals in mid-March, crippling the tourism industry.
According to the Tourism Development Authority, no foreign tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in April through August. There was a 60% decline in total tourist arrivals from January to August compared to the same period in 2019.
To meet the income loss, most hotels are offering discounted prices for local tourists.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Ohio board developing mass protest law enforcement standard

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - A statewide standard for Ohio police departments to follow when dealing with mass protests could assist small agencies that don ’ t have experience in handling such demonstrations and give bigger departments the chance to review procedures , according to the head of the state ’ s criminal justice services office .
Anyone watching the news in May and June saw protests of police brutality and racism with little to no conflict , often with police officers marching alongside protesters , but they also saw “ things that didn ’ t go so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services .
“ If you ’ re an objective person you would look at that and say , ‘ That ’ s probably not the best response , ’ ” Moore said .
The Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board , which is assisted by Moore ’ s office , is developing the standard at the direction of Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine .
The board previously created statewide police standards for use of force , use of deadly force , recruiting and retention , and body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not looking to give the small number of violent protesters a free pass .
Far from it , ” DeWine said in announcing the creation of the standard in June .
“ What we do want , though , is for peaceful demonstrators to feel safe when asserting their First Amendment rights and for the public to be protected against violence and destruction of their property , ” DeWine said .
DeWine ’ s directive came as many departments in Ohio and nationally were criticized for their handling of protests .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man pushed back by police in June was hospitalized for about a month with a fractured skull and brain injury .
Two police officers in Atlanta were fired and three others placed on desk duty for excessive use of force during a protest .
Also in June , at Lafayette Park in Washington , D.C. , police used chemicals to break up a peaceful protest minutes before President Donald Trump posed for pictures outside a nearby church .
In Columbus , Ohio ’ s capital and the state ’ s biggest city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas on student journalists from the Ohio State University newspaper The Lantern .
In a separate episode , U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty was hit by pepper spray as scuffles broke out near the end of a May demonstration .
One of the protests studied by the Ohio board happened June 1 in Troy in western Ohio , a predominantly white city of about 26,000 .
A Black Lives Matter protest ended when police arrested two men for refusing orders to disperse .
Among those was Tre ’ vone Archie , a Black junior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marched to try to change things for the better .
“ We weren ’ t going down there to be violent or anything , ” Archie told the board during an online meeting Sept. 9 .
“ We were just going down there to stand up for what we believe in , basically , what we think is right.
” Archie was arrested and charged with resisting arrest , failure to comply with a lawful order and disorderly conduct .
“ You can kiss your basketball scholarship goodbye , ” a white officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board .
The charges were dropped in exchange for Archie doing community service .
Shawn McKinney , the officer who arrested Archie , was appointed Troy police chief not long afterward .
McKinney , an officer for 25 years , told The Associated Press in an interview he would welcome a mass protest standard .
The June protest was the first he recalled in the city where demonstrators didn ’ t comply with police orders .
“ We tried our best at this situation to deescalate it , so if there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we definitely would take those , ” he said .
Best practices for departments faced with protests include protecting people ’ s freedom , deescalating situations , ensuring everyone ’ s safety and establishing confidence , said Tamara Herold , a University of Nevada at Las Vegas criminal justice professor and an expert on crowd violence .
“ The main takeaway is if we ’ re using overly aggressive tactics , this escalates behavior on the part of the crowd , and it ’ s all about the perception of the crowd , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final version of the mass protest standard is expected later this year .
The standard will be voluntary , but departments that don ’ t follow it will be omitted from an annual published list of departments in compliance .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A statewide standard for Ohio police departments to follow when dealing with mass protests could assist small agencies that don’t have experience in handling such demonstrations and give bigger departments the chance to review procedures, according to the head of the state’s criminal justice services office.
Anyone watching the news in May and June saw protests of police brutality and racism with little to no conflict, often with police officers marching alongside protesters, but they also saw “things that didn’t go so well,” said Karhlton Moore, director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services.
“If you’re an objective person you would look at that and say, ‘That’s probably not the best response,’” Moore said.
The Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board, which is assisted by Moore’s office, is developing the standard at the direction of Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. The board previously created statewide police standards for use of force, use of deadly force, recruiting and retention, and body cameras, among others.
“We are not looking to give the small number of violent protesters a free pass. Far from it,” DeWine said in announcing the creation of the standard in June.
“What we do want, though, is for peaceful demonstrators to feel safe when asserting their First Amendment rights and for the public to be protected against violence and destruction of their property,” DeWine said.
DeWine’s directive came as many departments in Ohio and nationally were criticized for their handling of protests.
In Buffalo, New York, a 75-year-old man pushed back by police in June was hospitalized for about a month with a fractured skull and brain injury. Two police officers in Atlanta were fired and three others placed on desk duty for excessive use of force during a protest.
Also in June, at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., police used chemicals to break up a peaceful protest minutes before President Donald Trump posed for pictures outside a nearby church.
In Columbus, Ohio’s capital and the state’s biggest city, police officials investigated the use of tear gas on student journalists from the Ohio State University newspaper The Lantern. In a separate episode, U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty was hit by pepper spray as scuffles broke out near the end of a May demonstration.
One of the protests studied by the Ohio board happened June 1 in Troy in western Ohio, a predominantly white city of about 26,000. A Black Lives Matter protest ended when police arrested two men for refusing orders to disperse.
Among those was Tre’vone Archie, a Black junior college scholarship basketball player who said he marched to try to change things for the better.
“We weren’t going down there to be violent or anything,” Archie told the board during an online meeting Sept. 9. “We were just going down there to stand up for what we believe in, basically, what we think is right.”
Archie was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, failure to comply with a lawful order and disorderly conduct. “You can kiss your basketball scholarship goodbye,” a white officer told him afterward, Archie told the board.
The charges were dropped in exchange for Archie doing community service.
Shawn McKinney, the officer who arrested Archie, was appointed Troy police chief not long afterward. McKinney, an officer for 25 years, told The Associated Press in an interview he would welcome a mass protest standard. The June protest was the first he recalled in the city where demonstrators didn’t comply with police orders.
“We tried our best at this situation to deescalate it, so if there’s any suggestions other people would have, we definitely would take those,” he said.
Best practices for departments faced with protests include protecting people’s freedom, deescalating situations, ensuring everyone’s safety and establishing confidence, said Tamara Herold, a University of Nevada at Las Vegas criminal justice professor and an expert on crowd violence.
“The main takeaway is if we’re using overly aggressive tactics, this escalates behavior on the part of the crowd, and it’s all about the perception of the crowd,” she told the board.
A final version of the mass protest standard is expected later this year. The standard will be voluntary, but departments that don’t follow it will be omitted from an annual published list of departments in compliance.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Lawmakers clash on repeal of bailout bill as deadline looms

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - The pressure to repeal the law at the center of a $ 60 million federal bribery probe that led to the ouster of the former Ohio House speaker is reaching a boiling point .
The committee designated to address the repeal of House Bill 6 is set to meet Wednesday to hear from energy companies for the first time since the investigation into the legislation designed to bailout two nuclear plants was revealed earlier this summer .
The House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight , created by the new Speaker Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising tensions between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on how best to approach the fate of the now-tainted legislation .
“ What Republicans are doing with House Bill 6 is running out the clock , ” said Rep. David Leland , the ranking Democrat on the committee .
“ They want to make the public think they ’ re moving this along.
” Federal prosecutors in July accused Cupp ’ s predecessor , fellow GOP Rep. Larry Householder , and four others of shepherding energy company money for personal and political use as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then kill any attempt to repeal it at the polls .
Cupp and many of his Republican colleagues believe the legislation needs to be carefully untangled in order to anticipate and respond to ramifications of the repeal .
But Democrats want a speedy repeal and say Republicans are unnecessarily delaying the process while a deadline looms .
If the House does not repeal the law by Oct. 1 , a fee will be added to every electricity bill in the state starting Jan. 1 - directing over $ 150 million a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants near Cleveland and Toledo .
While FirstEnergy Corp. , whose former subsidiaries owned the plants , have denied wrongdoing and have not been criminally charged , federal investigators say the company secretly funneled millions to secure the $ 1 billion legislative bailout for the two unprofitable nuclear plants then operated by an independently controlled subsidiary called FirstEnergy Solutions .
The other option is an emergency House vote before the end of the year .
As of this week , 58 of 99 House members have signed on to cosponsor bills that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laura Lanese , who introduced one of the repeal bills days after the federal affidavit was released , said she would vote in favor of an emergency ruling in order to “ regain the trust of Ohioans.
” “ While some of my Republican colleagues think that they could separate that corruption from the good policy of the bill , I don ’ t think that ’ s the case , “ Lanese said .
“ I think it goes to the heart of the integrity of the legislation and that we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio’s attorney general sued Wednesday in an attempt to block the state’s nuclear plants from collecting fees on electricity bills that were authorized in a new law at the center of a $60 million federal bribery probe involving the former speaker of the Ohio House.
Attorney General Dave Yost filed the lawsuit in Franklin County Court in Columbus against Energy Harbor, asking the judge to block payments to the company’s two nuclear plants near Cleveland and Toledo that were bailed out through the now-tainted legislation.
The bailout is funded by a fee that will be added to every electricity bill in the state starting Jan. 1 - directing over $150 million a year, through 2026, to the two nuclear plants. This fee is still set to go into effect at the start of the new year if the Legislature does not repeal the law by then.
Energy Harbor is the former FirstEnergy Solutions, a onetime subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The subsidiary filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018 amid a mounting load brought on by the rise of competition from natural gas power in the East and Midwest.
The lawsuit came hours after a House committee looking at repealing the law heard varying proponent testimony from energy lobbying groups and state office representing consumers.
Yost had previously promised he would take the legal remedies necessary if the General Assembly could not do so in time.
The lawsuit also seeks to freeze the assets of former House Speaker Larry Householder’s $1 million campaign fund and dissolve the dark money groups involved in the bribery scheme, Yost said.
“Corruption like this doesn’t happen without cash, lots of cash,” he said.
Federal prosecutors in July accused Householder and four others of shepherding energy company money for personal and political use as part of an effort to pass the legislation, then kill any attempt to repeal it at the polls. All five men have pleaded not guilty.
While FirstEnergy Corp. and its executives have denied wrongdoing and have not been criminally charged, federal investigators say the company secretly funneled millions to secure the $1 billion legislative bailout for the two nuclear plants then operated by FirstEnergy Solutions.
The House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight, created by the new Speaker Bob Cupp, has been the scene of rising tensions between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on how best to approach the fate of the legislation.
Some testimony Wednesday called for the straight repeal of the fee law while others warned throwing “the good out with the bad,” will have widespread ramifications on Ohio electricity customers.
Witnesses from organizations like Industrial Energy Users, the Ohio Manufacturers Association and the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel gave testimony aligned with varying interests.
Jeff Jacobson, who testified on behalf of Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, said the legislation left the burden of the two unprofitable nuclear plants near Cleveland and Toledo on average Ohioans.
While Kevin Murray, executive director of the Industrial Energy Users of Ohio, who had originally testified as a proponent of the bill last year, told the committee that repealing the bill without replacing it with similar subsidies will increase the cost for the state’s electricity customers.
The bailout bill removed customer charges for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, but opponents have said energy efficiency programs that helped customers reduce their electric use more than pay for themselves.
Despite not being able to agree on whether the bill saves or costs ratepayers money, nearly every witness concurred the bailout of the nuclear plants is uneconomic and possibly unwarranted.
Cupp and many of his Republican colleagues believe the legislation needs to be carefully untangled in order to anticipate and respond to the unintended consequences of the repeal.
But Democrats want a speedy repeal and say Republicans have been unnecessarily delaying the process.
___
Associated Press writer John Seewer in Toledo contributed to this report. Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Paris police barricade Eiffel Tower after bomb threat

PARIS ( AP ) - Paris police briefly evacuated the Eiffel Tower and blockaded the surrounding area Wednesday after a @ @ @ @ @ tourists inside the monument were evacuated after an anonymous caller phoned police Wednesday morning and @ @ @ @ @ placed inside the tower , according to an official with the tower ’ s management @ @ @ @ @ not authorized to be publicly named .
Police blocked off the streets below the tower @ @ @ @ @ the Seine River to Trocadero Plaza , but started lifting the barricades about two hours @ @ @ @ @ the scene told The Associated Press that police found no signs of the threatened bomb @ @ @ @ @ walking in the area during the police operation , including a group speaking Russian and @ @ @ @ @ .
The 131-year-old tower gets about 25,000 tourists daily in normal years , but visits @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus travel restrictions .
While the Eiffel Tower is scheduled to be open every @ @ @ @ @ because of suicide threats , bomb threats or labor strikes .

PARIS (AP) - Paris police briefly evacuated the Eiffel Tower and blockaded the surrounding area Wednesday after a phone-in bomb threat.
All tourists inside the monument were evacuated after an anonymous caller phoned police Wednesday morning and said a bomb had been placed inside the tower, according to an official with the tower’s management company. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.
Police blocked off the streets below the tower and the bridge stretching across the Seine River to Trocadero Plaza, but started lifting the barricades about two hours later. An officer at the scene told The Associated Press that police found no signs of the threatened bomb.
Some tourists were still walking in the area during the police operation, including a group speaking Russian and carrying a bottle of Champagne.
The 131-year-old tower gets about 25,000 tourists daily in normal years, but visits are down this year because of coronavirus travel restrictions. While the Eiffel Tower is scheduled to be open every day, it occasionally closes because of suicide threats, bomb threats or labor strikes.
___
Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Stranded, 700-pound sea turtle euthanized in Virginia

NORFOLK , Va. ( AP ) - A Virginia Aquarium team had to euthanize a 700-pound ( 318-kilogram ) sea turtle that became stranded on a beach .
The aquarium ’ s Stranding Response Team was called to a Norfolk beach Monday morning after beachgoers noticed the giant leatherback turtle on the shore , news outlets reported .
The Virginian-Pilot quoted nearby resident Alyssa Muhlendorf as saying that the group gathered on the beach could tell something was not right - there was blood on the turtle ’ s shell and the reptile spent hours walking in circles toward the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could not swim well and was repeatedly being washed ashore , witnesses said .
The team monitored the turtle and consulted with other agencies before deciding to euthanize the turtle Tuesday , aquarium spokeswoman Natalie Sims said .
“ The team made the humane decision to euthanize in order to not prolong suffering , ” she said .
Leatherbacks , a vulnerable species , can grow to be up to 7 feet long ( 2 meters long ) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds ( 907 kilograms ) , according to experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They should be able to handle some rough surf , ” Susan Barco , a senior scientist on the response team added .
“ We feel confident the turtle was not going to survive in the wild .
”

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A Virginia Aquarium team had to euthanize a 700-pound (318-kilogram) sea turtle that became stranded on a beach.
The aquarium’s Stranding Response Team was called to a Norfolk beach Monday morning after beachgoers noticed the giant leatherback turtle on the shore, news outlets reported.
The Virginian-Pilot quoted nearby resident Alyssa Muhlendorf as saying that the group gathered on the beach could tell something was not right - there was blood on the turtle’s shell and the reptile spent hours walking in circles toward the water. Once it got in, it could not swim well and was repeatedly being washed ashore, witnesses said.
The team monitored the turtle and consulted with other agencies before deciding to euthanize the turtle Tuesday, aquarium spokeswoman Natalie Sims said.
“The team made the humane decision to euthanize in order to not prolong suffering,” she said.
Leatherbacks, a vulnerable species, can grow to be up to 7 feet long (2 meters long) and weigh up to 2,000 pounds (907 kilograms), according to experts.
“These are powerful swimmers. They should be able to handle some rough surf,” Susan Barco, a senior scientist on the response team added. “We feel confident the turtle was not going to survive in the wild.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Election 2020 Today: Trump vs. science, Biden takes his time

HOW TO VOTE : AP ’ s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election .
TRUMP VILIFIES SCIENCE : With the nation ’ s COVID-19 death toll at 200,000 , President Donald Trump is engaged in an ongoing war against his administration ’ s own scientists .
Over the past six months , the Trump administration has prioritized politics over science at key moments , refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it causes .
REPUBLICANS ’ BIDEN REPORT : Two Republican-led Senate committees have issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s son did in Ukraine .
Biden ’ s campaign immediately panned the report , released six weeks before the election , as an effort by an ally of Trump to damage his election opponent .
‘ BIDIN ’ HIS TIME ’ : Joe Biden was running late .
Again .
With their packed schedules , relish for meeting as many people as possible and natural tendency toward verbosity , most presidential candidates rarely get anywhere , or do anything , on time .
GINSBURG MEME DEFENDED @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Delaware defended a meme posted on Facebook by her campaign after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
The post is accompanied by a photo that appears to show a small group of half-naked children in a developing country smiling and dancing .
The photo caption reads : “ Black babies when Ruth Vader Ginsburg dies.
” “ Yes , my campaign posted a meme and I stand by it , ” the firebrand political newcomer said during an online candidate forum .
Witzke added that the meme was removed because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ On public relations I give myself a D. On the job itself we take an A-plus.
” - Trump to Fox News Channel on his handling of the pandemic .
North Carolina board agrees to more absentee ballot changes

Here’s what’s happening Wednesday in Election 2020, 41 days until Election Day:
HOW TO VOTE: AP’s state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election.
TODAY’S TOP STORIES:
TRUMP VILIFIES SCIENCE: With the nation’s COVID-19 death toll at 200,000, President Donald Trump is engaged in an ongoing war against his administration’s own scientists. Over the past six months, the Trump administration has prioritized politics over science at key moments, refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it causes.
REPUBLICANS’ BIDEN REPORT: Two Republican-led Senate committees have issued a politically charged report on the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son did in Ukraine. Biden’s campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of Trump to damage his election opponent.
‘BIDIN’ HIS TIME’: Joe Biden was running late. Again. With their packed schedules, relish for meeting as many people as possible and natural tendency toward verbosity, most presidential candidates rarely get anywhere, or do anything, on time.
GINSBURG MEME DEFENDED: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lauren Witzke of Delaware defended a meme posted on Facebook by her campaign after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The post is accompanied by a photo that appears to show a small group of half-naked children in a developing country smiling and dancing. The photo caption reads: “Black babies when Ruth Vader Ginsburg dies.” “Yes, my campaign posted a meme and I stand by it,” the firebrand political newcomer said during an online candidate forum. Witzke added that the meme was removed because she had received death threats.
QUOTABLE: “On public relations I give myself a D. On the job itself we take an A-plus.” - Trump to Fox News Channel on his handling of the pandemic.
ICYMI:
Trump, Biden fight to define campaign’s most pressing issues
In battleground states, Catholics are a pivotal swing vote
AP-NORC poll: Views of economy stabilize as election nears
North Carolina board agrees to more absentee ballot changes


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Pilgrim's Pride CEO, indicted on price fixing counts, is out

GREELEY , Colo. ( AP ) - Pilgrim ’ s Pride has replaced its CEO as he prepares to face @ @ @ @ @ company announced in June that its chief executive , Jayson Penn , was taking a @ @ @ @ @ on his defense after he was indicted , and named Chief Financial Officer Fabio Sandri @ @ @ @ @ the interim .
Sandri ’ s move to CEO was made permanent this week and @ @ @ @ @ in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Penn is no @ @ @ @ @ Penn is one of four current and former executives indicted in June on charges of @ @ @ @ @ A federal grand jury in Colorado found that executives from Pilgrim ’ s Pride Corp. @ @ @ @ @ Colorado , and Claxton Poultry Farms in Georgia , conspired to fix prices and rig @ @ @ @ @ at least 2012 to 2017 .

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Pilgrim’s Pride has replaced its CEO as he prepares to face price fixing charges.
The company announced in June that its chief executive, Jayson Penn, was taking a leave of absence to focus on his defense after he was indicted, and named Chief Financial Officer Fabio Sandri to lead the company in the interim.
Sandri’s move to CEO was made permanent this week and Pilgrim’s Pride said in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Penn is no longer with the company.
Penn is one of four current and former executives indicted in June on charges of fixing prices on chickens.
A federal grand jury in Colorado found that executives from Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., based in Greeley, Colorado, and Claxton Poultry Farms in Georgia, conspired to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chickens from at least 2012 to 2017.
Penn has pleaded not guilty.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Is credit card relief little help? Check out debt management

As cardholders experience financial difficulties due to COVID-19 , some credit card issuers are promoting their hardship programs .
Once a well-kept secret , these programs are now more prominently advertised , offering things like deferred payments and lower interest rates .
But not all cardholders will qualify or receive favorable terms .
If you ’ ve been denied COVID-19 relief , if it ’ s insufficient , or if your relief terms are expiring , consider turning to a nonprofit credit counseling agency .
Credit counselors may be able to help you with get-out-of-debt options - among them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which rolls several balances into a single payment at a lower interest rate .
“ It essentially works as a consolidation loan without creating a new loan , ” says Thomas Nitzsche , a spokesperson for Money Management International , a nonprofit credit counseling agency .
Here ’ s what to know about this kind of assistance .
Credit card hardship programs are ideal for balances that can be paid down over a few months .
Terms vary by issuer , and relief is generally granted on a case-by-case basis .
To determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ card issuer .
Debt management plans are better suited for long-term debt that can take up to five years to pay .
They consolidate different balances like unsecured loans , certain kinds of medical debt and credit cards into one payment at a fixed rate , according to Nitzsche .
You wouldn ’ t go through your card issuer directly for such a plan , but a third-party credit counseling agency may suggest it for you , if you qualify , and set it up with the issuer .
Credit history isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you do typically need a regular income to show you can contribute payments that meet the plan ’ s terms .
One missed payment may dissolve a debt management plan .
There are also usually fees involved with a debt management plan , which can vary based on factors like where you live .
But fees may be negotiable , and your savings will typically outweigh the cost .
‘ I DON ’ T HAVE TO TALK TO THE CREDITORS ANYMORE ’ Unlike a hardship program , a debt management plan may also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a New Jersey-based YouTuber at the channel Krazy Kerins , the best part was letting the credit counseling agency negotiate with issuers .
“ I don ’ t have to talk to the creditors anymore , ” she says .
Kerins , 42 , had already used a debt management plan in her 20s to pay off creditors , but she acknowledges that afterward her habits didn ’ t fully change .
By 2016 , though , her priorities were different as a wife and new mom , and she was determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She contacted a credit counselor and submitted credit card statements , account numbers , contact information and other details .
Together they discussed her options over the phone and determined that a debt management plan was fitting .
( Credit counselors may offer other options or resources for budgets in the red . )
After the agency reached out to Kerins ’ credit card issuers , she got a significant break on interest , and her monthly outlay toward that debt fell sharply , too .
Before , “ I was paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 800 a month in just my credit cards , ” Kerins says .
The debt management plan got that figure down to about $ 475 a month total , and that included the $ 25 monthly service fee charged by the counseling service .
If , say , only some of your creditors are offering you hardship relief directly , you could potentially enroll the other accounts in a debt management plan .
“ The ( debt management plan ) is pretty flexible , ” Nitzsche says .
“ You can add or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason.
” Relatedly , even if you may have been previously enrolled in , or denied for , a hardship plan , that doesn ’ t typically deter issuers from offering affordable terms through a debt management plan .
Spokespersons at American Express and Wells Fargo , for instance , confirmed that those issuers are willing to work with such cardholders .
With either kind of plan , you may have to stop using your credit cards .
Your issuer may even close them .
But even then , you may have other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly payments were automatically debited from her bank account , and she whittled almost $ 44,000 in debt down to $ 10,000 .
Her husband then used his own good credit to qualify for credit card balance transfer offers , and she moved her balance onto those cards to save more money and accelerate the debt repayment .
She finished paying off that debt entirely in December 2019 .
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet .
Melissa Lambarena is a writer at NerdWallet .
Email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lissalambarena .
NerdWallet : How to get out of credit card debt in 4 steps http : //bit.ly/nerdwallet-debt-steps CFPB : Dealing with debt during the coronavirus pandemic : Tips to help ease the impact https : //www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/coronavirus-and-dealing-debt-tips-help-ease-impact/

As cardholders experience financial difficulties due to COVID-19, some credit card issuers are promoting their hardship programs.
Once a well-kept secret, these programs are now more prominently advertised, offering things like deferred payments and lower interest rates. But not all cardholders will qualify or receive favorable terms.
If you’ve been denied COVID-19 relief, if it’s insufficient, or if your relief terms are expiring, consider turning to a nonprofit credit counseling agency. Credit counselors may be able to help you with get-out-of-debt options - among them, possibly, a debt management plan, which rolls several balances into a single payment at a lower interest rate.
“It essentially works as a consolidation loan without creating a new loan,” says Thomas Nitzsche, a spokesperson for Money Management International, a nonprofit credit counseling agency.
Here’s what to know about this kind of assistance.
HARDSHIP PROGRAMS VS. DEBT MANAGEMENT PLANS
Credit card hardship programs are ideal for balances that can be paid down over a few months. Terms vary by issuer, and relief is generally granted on a case-by-case basis. To determine your eligibility, you must contact your card issuer.
Debt management plans are better suited for long-term debt that can take up to five years to pay. They consolidate different balances like unsecured loans, certain kinds of medical debt and credit cards into one payment at a fixed rate, according to Nitzsche.
You wouldn’t go through your card issuer directly for such a plan, but a third-party credit counseling agency may suggest it for you, if you qualify, and set it up with the issuer. Credit history isn’t a factor for eligibility, but you do typically need a regular income to show you can contribute payments that meet the plan’s terms. One missed payment may dissolve a debt management plan.
There are also usually fees involved with a debt management plan, which can vary based on factors like where you live. But fees may be negotiable, and your savings will typically outweigh the cost.
‘I DON’T HAVE TO TALK TO THE CREDITORS ANYMORE’
Unlike a hardship program, a debt management plan may also save you time. For Helen Kerins, a New Jersey-based YouTuber at the channel Krazy Kerins, the best part was letting the credit counseling agency negotiate with issuers. “I don’t have to talk to the creditors anymore,” she says.
Kerins, 42, had already used a debt management plan in her 20s to pay off creditors, but she acknowledges that afterward her habits didn’t fully change. By 2016, though, her priorities were different as a wife and new mom, and she was determined to tackle almost $44,000 in debt.
She contacted a credit counselor and submitted credit card statements, account numbers, contact information and other details. Together they discussed her options over the phone and determined that a debt management plan was fitting. (Credit counselors may offer other options or resources for budgets in the red.)
After the agency reached out to Kerins’ credit card issuers, she got a significant break on interest, and her monthly outlay toward that debt fell sharply, too.
Before, “I was paying close to like $700 or $800 a month in just my credit cards,” Kerins says. The debt management plan got that figure down to about $475 a month total, and that included the $25 monthly service fee charged by the counseling service.
IT’S POSSIBLE TO COMBINE RELIEF OPTIONS
If, say, only some of your creditors are offering you hardship relief directly, you could potentially enroll the other accounts in a debt management plan.
“The (debt management plan) is pretty flexible,” Nitzsche says. “You can add or remove creditors at any time for any reason.”
Relatedly, even if you may have been previously enrolled in, or denied for, a hardship plan, that doesn’t typically deter issuers from offering affordable terms through a debt management plan. Spokespersons at American Express and Wells Fargo, for instance, confirmed that those issuers are willing to work with such cardholders.
With either kind of plan, you may have to stop using your credit cards. Your issuer may even close them. But even then, you may have other options.
In Kerins’ case, monthly payments were automatically debited from her bank account, and she whittled almost $44,000 in debt down to $10,000. Her husband then used his own good credit to qualify for credit card balance transfer offers, and she moved her balance onto those cards to save more money and accelerate the debt repayment.
She finished paying off that debt entirely in December 2019.
_______________________________
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Melissa Lambarena is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: mlambarena@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @lissalambarena.
RELATED LINKS:
NerdWallet: How to get out of credit card debt in 4 steps http://bit.ly/nerdwallet-debt-steps
CFPB: Dealing with debt during the coronavirus pandemic: Tips to help ease the impact https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/blog/coronavirus-and-dealing-debt-tips-help-ease-impact/
Money Management International: Debt management plan https://www.moneymanagement.org/debt-management


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--Body of child recovered from water near Randall's Island

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Police have recovered the body of a 4-year-old boy who fell into the Harlem @ @ @ @ @ on Randall ’ s Island .
The body of Brendan Mitchell was found floating near @ @ @ @ @ ferry dock on Tuesday , police said .
The boy went into the water during @ @ @ @ @ practice on the island on Saturday .
Adults who were at the soccer practice jumped @ @ @ @ @ rescue him .
The medical examiner ’ s office will determine the cause of death @

NEW YORK (AP) - Police have recovered the body of a 4-year-old boy who fell into the Harlem River during a soccer practice on Randall’s Island.
The body of Brendan Mitchell was found floating near the Randall’s Island ferry dock on Tuesday, police said. The boy went into the water during his brother’s soccer practice on the island on Saturday. Adults who were at the soccer practice jumped in but were unable to rescue him.
The medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death.


washingtontimes--2020-09-23--EU tries yet again to fix broken down asylum system

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - Conceding after years of chaos and dispute that its costly asylum system is broken , the European Union announced Wednesday a major overhaul of the rules in the hope that more countries will finally be prepared to share responsibility for people landing on Europe ’ s shores seeking sanctuary or better lives .
The arrival in Europe in 2015 of well over 1 million migrants , most of them refugees fleeing conflict in Syria , sparked one of the EU ’ s biggest political crises .
The bloc , which now numbers 27 nations following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has been riven by disputes over who should take responsibility for them , and whether every member state , including those with limited or no sea access , should be obliged to help .
The arguments rage on even though the entry of unauthorized migrants into the world ’ s biggest trading bloc has dwindled to a relative trickle in recent years .
Some 140,000 people arrived last year , compared to around 2 million migrants who entered legally , the European Commission says .
Turkey , Lebanon and Jordan have had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responses vary from erecting razor-wire fences , to ignoring emergency calls from poorly maintained , overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean .
On occasions , people have been left to languish on ships rather than allowing them to find safe harbor .
Aid groups and European citizens have also been criminalized for trying to help out .
“ The old system to deal with it in Europe no longer works , ” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels .
She said the “ New Pact for Migration and Asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ We want to live up to our values and at the same time face the challenges of a globalized world , ” she said .
“ Europe has to move away from ad-hoc solutions and put in place a predictable and reliable migration management system.
” The proposals hinge on a simple idea .
Members of the EU could help ease the load on those countries that have seen the most migrant arrivals by sea , like Greece , Italy , Malta and Spain , by taking in some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
Those not willing , could take charge of deporting people whose applications are refused .
This option might suit Austria , the Czech Republic , Hungary , Poland and Slovakia , who are notoriously reluctant to accept refugees .
Hungary and Poland even launched a legal challenge against a failed EU scheme for mandatory migrant quotas set up in haste after the 2015 influx .
The catch is that it would involve “ flexible forms of support starting off on a voluntary basis.
” Stricter requirements “ based on a safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member country be caught in a potential crisis like Greece was in 2015 , when hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees made the short - but sometimes deadly - journey from Turkey .
So far , voluntary schemes have tended to fail .
The proposals suggest the EU will continue with its policy of holding unauthorized migrants in the Greek islands until they can be sent away .
Earlier this month , a blaze destroyed the Moria refugee camp on Lesbos on Sept. 9 .
Aid groups have warned for years about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 12,000 people lived in facilities meant for 3,000 , and say it stands as a monument to EU policy failure .
Von der Leyen said that the EU has agreed to set up a joint pilot project with the Greek authorities “ for the management of a reception center.
” She said a “ task force will help improve conditions for people on the island in a durable manner .
“ Together , we have to show that Europe manages migration in a humane and effective way , ” von der Leyen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure to spark heated debate among member countries .
Nevertheless , the commission said that it wants EU countries and the bloc ’ s parliament to adopt the reforms by the end of the year .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union announced a major overhaul of its asylum system Wednesday in hopes that more countries will finally share responsibility for people landing on Europe’s shores seeking sanctuary or better lives.
The move comes after years of chaos and dispute among the bloc’s 27 nations over the handling of migrants and refugees amid a recognition that the current EU system for deciding whether they should receive protection or be sent home has failed.
“The old system to deal with it in Europe no longer works,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels, adding that the “New Pact for Migration and Asylum” offers Europe “a fresh start.”
The arrival in 2015 of well over 1 million migrants, mostly refugees fleeing war in Syria, sparked one of the EU’s biggest political crises. EU nations have fought since over who should take responsibility for the migrants, with front-line Mediterranean nations like Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain demanding more help from their EU neighbors.
The arguments rage on even though the number of unauthorized migrants has dwindled sharply in recent years. Some 140,000 people arrived last year, compared to around 2 million migrants who entered legally, the European Commission says. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan have had to cater to far more.
EU nations have responded in various ways, from erecting razor-wire border fences to ignoring emergency calls from overcrowded smugglers’ boats in the Mediterranean. Some migrants have been left to languish on ships for weeks rather than being allowed into safe harbors. Aid groups and European citizens face criminal charges for their efforts to save lives.
The new plan hinges on the fast-track screening of migrants arriving at Europe’s borders without permission. It would be completed within 5 days. People would then be sent into an asylum track if they qualify for protection, or they would be prepared for deportation. Both procedures would take 12 weeks and the migrants could be held in detention.
From there, EU members could choose to help ease the load on countries that have seen the most migrant arrivals by sea - like Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain - by taking in some refugees or providing other support.
Those not willing to do that could take charge of deporting people whose applications are refused. This option might suit Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, who are all reluctant to accept refugees.
Hanne Beirens, Director of Migration Policy Institute Europe, said this option allows countries with anti-migrant governments to become “the bouncers of Europe” but she raised concerns about the legal status of people in the process.
“Those put in a border procedure, it will be as if they have never entered EU territory,” she said. That legal limbo allows authorities to quickly put people on a plane or a boat home.
Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer cautiously welcomed the plan, saying it “goes in the right direction in very important areas.” He stressed the need for the EU to conduct deportations “faster, more strongly and more efficiently,” the Austria Press Agency reported.
Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said his country was open to the deportation proposal.
The catch is that the plan involves “flexible forms of support, starting off on a voluntary basis.” Stricter requirements to help out would only be imposed in crisis situations like Greece saw in 2015, when hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees made the short - but sometimes deadly - journey across from Turkey.
So far, voluntary EU migration management schemes have tended to fail.
EU Migration Commissioner Ylva Johansson ruled out the use of mandatory quotas for sharing migrants. When asked whether more effort would be made to save people in the Mediterranean, she said: “Not according to our proposal. It will be the opposite, I guess.”
Johansson said this, combined with swift screening and return procedures, should make people “think twice before paying a lot of money to the smugglers and before risking their lives going into these very dangerous boats.”
The proposals suggest the EU will continue holding unauthorized migrants in the Greek islands until they can be sent away. Earlier this month, a blaze destroyed the squalid Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, where over 12,000 people lived in facilities built for 3,000.
Von der Leyen said the EU has agreed to set up a joint pilot project with Greek authorities to manage an immigrant reception center on Lesbos.
Outsourcing will remain a key pillar of EU migration policy, with the bloc building partnerships with African and Mideast countries to help stop people from leaving. Those countries that do not take back their citizens could find it more difficult to secure European visas.
The migration proposals are sure to spark heated debate among EU countries but the commission is urging them, and the bloc’s parliament, to adopt the reforms by year’s end.
“This is a first step today in the right direction. We will see how the different member states react,” Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas told state-run ERT television. “There is no room for countries seeking to opt out. It is a major European issue and not just a problem for host countries.”
German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer called the commission proposal a “good basis” to work on and said it would be discussed by EU interior ministers on Oct. 8.
_____
Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin, Karel Janicek in Prague and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this report.