washingtontimes--2020-09-18--AP Exclusive: More migrant women say they didn’t OK surgery

HOUSTON ( AP ) - Sitting across from her lawyer at an immigration detention center in rural Georgia , Mileidy Cardentey Fernandez unbuttoned her jail jumpsuit to show the scars on her abdomen .
There were three small , circular marks .
The 39-year-old woman from Cuba was told only that she would undergo an operation to treat her ovarian cysts , but a month later , she ’ s still not sure what procedure she got .
After Cardentey repeatedly requested her medical records to find out , Irwin County Detention Center gave her more than 100 pages showing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day of the surgery .
“ The only thing they told me was : ‘ You ’ re going to go to sleep and when you wake up , we will have finished , ’ ” Cardentey said this week in a phone interview .
Cardentey kept her hospital bracelet .
It has the date , Aug. 14 , and part of the doctor ’ s name , Dr. Mahendra Amin , a gynecologist linked this week to allegations of unwanted hysterectomies and other procedures done on detained immigrant women that jeopardize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press review of medical records for four women and interviews with lawyers revealed growing allegations that Amin performed surgeries and other procedures on detained immigrants that they never sought or didn ’ t fully understand .
Although some procedures could be justified based on problems documented in the records , the women ’ s lack of consent or knowledge raises severe legal and ethical issues , lawyers and medical experts said .
Amin has performed surgery or other gynecological treatment on at least eight women detained at Irwin County Detention Center since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Free , an immigration and civil rights lawyer working with attorneys to investigate medical treatment at the detention center .
Doctors on behalf of the attorneys are examining new records and more women are coming forward to report their treatment by Amin , Free said .
“ The indication is there ’ s a systemic lack of truly informed and legally valid consent to perform procedures that could ultimately result - intentionally or unintentionally - in sterilization , ” he said .
The AP ’ s review did not find evidence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared complaint filed by a nurse at the detention center .
Dawn Wooten alleged that many detained women were taken to an unnamed gynecologist whom she labeled the “ uterus collector ” because of how many hysterectomies he performed .
The complaint sparked a furious reaction from congressional Democrats and an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security ’ s inspector general .
It also evoked comparisons to previous government-sanctioned efforts in the U.S. to sterilize people to supposedly improve society - victims who were disproportionately poor , mentally disabled , American Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Thirty-three states had forced sterilization programs in the 20th century .
But a lawyer who helped file the complaint said she never spoke to any women who had hysterectomies .
Priyanka Bhatt , staff attorney at the advocacy group Project South , told The Washington Post that she included the hysterectomy allegations because she wanted to trigger an investigation to determine if they were true .
Wooten did not answer questions at a press conference Tuesday , and Project South did not respond to interview requests Thursday on behalf of Bhatt or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which first reported Wooten ’ s complaint , that he has only performed one or two hysterectomies in the past three years .
His attorney , Scott Grubman , said in a statement : “ We look forward to all of the facts coming out , and are confident that once they do , Dr. Amin will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
” Grubman did not respond to new questions Thursday .
Since 2018 , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it found records of two referrals for hysterectomies at the jail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 150 miles ( 240 kilometers ) from Atlanta .
“ Detainees are afforded informed consent , and a medical procedure like a hysterectomy would never be performed against a detainee ’ s will , ” Dr. Ada Rivera , medical director of the ICE Health Service Corps that oversees health care in detention , said in a statement .
LaSalle Corrections , which operates the jail , said it “ strongly refutes these allegations and any implications of misconduct.
” Women housed at Irwin County Detention Center who needed a gynecologist were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical records provided to the AP by Free and lawyer Alexis Ruiz , who represents Cardentey .
Interviews with detainees and their lawyers suggest some women came to fear the doctor .
Records reviewed by the AP show one woman was given a psychiatric evaluation the same day she refused to undergo a surgical procedure known as dilation and curettage .
Commonly known as a D & C ; , it removes tissue from the uterus and can be used as a treatment for excessive bleeding .
A note written on letterhead from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was concerned .
According to a written summary of her psychiatric evaluation , the woman said , “ I am nervous about my upcoming procedure.
” The summary says she denied needing mental health care and added : “ I am worried because I saw someone else after they had surgery and what I saw scared me.
” The AP also reviewed records for a woman who was given a hysterectomy .
She reported irregular bleeding and was taken to see Amin for a D & C .
; A lab study of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , called carcinoma .
Amin ’ s notes indicate the woman agreed 11 days later to the hysterectomy .
Free , who spoke to the woman , said she felt pressured by Amin and “ didn ’ t have the opportunity to say no ” or speak to her family before the procedure .
Doctors told the AP that a hysterectomy could have been appropriate due to the carcinoma , though there may have been less intrusive options available .
Lawyers for both women asked that their names be withheld for fear of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , Pauline Binam , a 30-year-old woman who was brought to the U.S. from Cameroon when she was 2 , saw Amin after experiencing an irregular menstrual cycle and was told to have a D & C ; , said her attorney , Van Huynh .
When she woke up from the surgery , Huynh said , she was told Amin had removed one of her two fallopian tubes , which connect the uterus to the ovaries and are necessary to conceive a child .
Binam ’ s medical records indicate that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ She was shocked and sort of confronted him on that - that she hadn ’ t given her consent for him to proceed with that , ” Huynh said .
“ The reply that he gave was they were in there anyway and found there was this problem.
” While women can potentially still conceive with one intact tube and ovary , doctors who spoke to the AP said removal of the tube was likely unnecessary and should never have happened without Binam ’ s consent .
The doctors also questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performing a D & C ; would not normally involve exploring a woman ’ s fallopian tubes .
Dr. Julie Graves , a family medicine and public health physician in Florida , called the process “ absolutely abhorrent.
” “ It ’ s established U.S. law that you don ’ t operate on everything that you find , ” she said .
“ If you ’ re in a teaching hospital and an attending physician does something like that , it ’ s a scandal and they are fired.
” Binam was on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICE delayed it after calls from members of Congress and a request for an emergency stay by her lawyer .
Grubman , Amin ’ s lawyer , said in a statement that the doctor “ has dedicated his adult life to treating a high-risk , underserved population in rural Georgia.
” Amin completed medical school in India in 1978 and his residency in gynecology in New Jersey .
He has practiced in rural Georgia for at least three decades , according to court filings .
State corporate records also show Amin is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Hospital .
In 2013 , state and federal investigators sued Amin , the hospital authority of Irwin County and a group of other doctors over allegations they falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid .
The lawsuit alleged that nurses at Irwin County Hospital were trained to follow a doctor ’ s “ standing orders ” - described as “ scripted procedures based on the nurse ’ s diagnosis.
” That meant nurses often decided treatment plans , but they were billed to Medicaid and Medicare as if they doctor did , the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Amin , alleging he required “ certain tests always be run on pregnant patients , without any medical evaluation and regardless of her condition.
” The lawsuit was settled in 2015 with no known sanctions against Amin .
The hospital paid a $ 520,000 settlement , saying no doctor paid any of it and had been “ released from any and all liability.
” The Georgia Medical Board lists Amin as a doctor in good standing with no public disciplinary action .
Board executive director LaSharn Hughes said records of investigations were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t refer Amin to the medical board after the billing lawsuit because it didn ’ t involve specific allegations of patient harm , said Katie Byrd , a spokeswoman for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr .
Associated Press journalist Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report .

HOUSTON (AP) - Sitting across from her lawyer at an immigration detention center in rural Georgia, Mileidy Cardentey Fernandez unbuttoned her jail jumpsuit to show the scars on her abdomen. There were three small, circular marks.
The 39-year-old woman from Cuba was told only that she would undergo an operation to treat her ovarian cysts, but a month later, she’s still not sure what procedure she got. After Cardentey repeatedly requested her medical records to find out, Irwin County Detention Center gave her more than 100 pages showing a diagnosis of cysts but nothing from the day of the surgery.
“The only thing they told me was: ‘You’re going to go to sleep and when you wake up, we will have finished,’” Cardentey said this week in a phone interview.
Cardentey kept her hospital bracelet. It has the date, Aug. 14, and part of the doctor’s name, Dr. Mahendra Amin, a gynecologist linked this week to allegations of unwanted hysterectomies and other procedures done on detained immigrant women that jeopardize their ability to have children.
An Associated Press review of medical records for four women and interviews with lawyers revealed growing allegations that Amin performed surgeries and other procedures on detained immigrants that they never sought or didn’t fully understand. Although some procedures could be justified based on problems documented in the records, the women’s lack of consent or knowledge raises severe legal and ethical issues, lawyers and medical experts said.
Amin has performed surgery or other gynecological treatment on at least eight women detained at Irwin County Detention Center since 2017, including one hysterectomy, said Andrew Free, an immigration and civil rights lawyer working with other attorneys to investigate medical treatment at the jail. Doctors are helping the attorneys examine new records and more women are coming forward to report their treatment by Amin, Free said.
“The indication is there’s a systemic lack of truly informed and legally valid consent to perform procedures that could ultimately result - intentionally or unintentionally - in sterilization,” he said.
The AP’s review did not find evidence of mass hysterectomies as alleged in a widely shared complaint filed by a nurse at the detention center. Dawn Wooten alleged that many detained women were taken to an unnamed gynecologist whom she labeled the “uterus collector” because of how many hysterectomies he performed.
The complaint sparked a furious reaction from congressional Democrats and an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general. It also evoked comparisons to previous government-sanctioned efforts in the U.S. to sterilize people to supposedly improve society - victims who were disproportionately poor, mentally disabled, American Indian, Black or other people of color. Thirty-three states had forced sterilization programs in the 20th century.
But a lawyer who helped file the complaint said she never spoke to any women who had hysterectomies. Priyanka Bhatt, staff attorney at the advocacy group Project South, told The Washington Post that she included the hysterectomy allegations because she wanted to trigger an investigation to determine if they were true.
“I have a responsibility to listen to the women I’ve spoken with,” Bhatt told the AP on Friday. She said one woman alleged that she was repeatedly pressured to have a hysterectomy and that authorities said they would not pay for her to get a second opinion.
Amin told The Intercept, which first reported Wooten’s complaint, that he has only performed one or two hysterectomies in the past three years. His attorney, Scott Grubman, said in a statement: “We look forward to all of the facts coming out, and are confident that once they do, Dr. Amin will be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Grubman did not respond to new questions Thursday.
In a statement Friday, ICE Acting Director Tony Pham said: “If there is any truth to these allegations, it is my commitment to make the corrections necessary to ensure we continue to prioritize the health, welfare and safety of ICE detainees.”
LaSalle Corrections, which operates the jail, said in a statement that it “strongly refutes these allegations and any implications of misconduct.”
Women housed at Irwin County Detention Center who needed a gynecologist were typically taken to Amin, according to medical records provided to the AP by Free and lawyer Alexis Ruiz, who represents Cardentey. Interviews with detainees and their lawyers suggest some women came to fear the doctor.
Records reviewed by the AP show one woman was given a psychiatric evaluation the same day she refused to undergo a surgical procedure known as dilation and curettage. Commonly known as a D&C, it removes tissue from the uterus and can be used as a treatment for excessive bleeding. A note written on letterhead from Amin’s office said the woman was concerned.
According to a written summary of her psychiatric evaluation, the woman said, “I am nervous about my upcoming procedure.”
The summary says she denied needing mental health care and added: “I am worried because I saw someone else after they had surgery and what I saw scared me.”
The AP also reviewed records for a woman who was given a hysterectomy. She reported irregular bleeding and was taken to see Amin for a D&C. A lab study of the tissue found signs of early cancer, called carcinoma. Amin’s notes indicate the woman agreed 11 days later to the hysterectomy.
Free, who spoke to the woman, said she felt pressured by Amin and “didn’t have the opportunity to say no” or speak to her family before the procedure.
Doctors told the AP that a hysterectomy could have been appropriate due to the carcinoma, though there may have been less intrusive options available.
Lawyers for both women asked that their names be withheld for fear of retaliation by immigration authorities.
In another case, Pauline Binam, a 30-year-old woman who was brought to the U.S. from Cameroon when she was 2, saw Amin after experiencing an irregular menstrual cycle and was told to have a D&C, said her attorney, Van Huynh.
When she woke up from the surgery, Huynh said, she was told Amin had removed one of her two fallopian tubes, which connect the uterus to the ovaries and are necessary to conceive a child. Binam’s medical records indicate that the doctor discovered the tube was swollen.
“She was shocked and sort of confronted him on that - that she hadn’t given her consent for him to proceed with that,” Huynh said. “The reply that he gave was they were in there anyway and found there was this problem.”
While women can potentially still conceive with one intact tube and ovary, doctors who spoke to the AP said removal of the tube was likely unnecessary and should never have happened without Binam’s consent.
The doctors also questioned how Amin discovered the swollen tube because performing a D&C would not normally involve exploring a woman’s fallopian tubes.
Dr. Julie Graves, a family medicine and public health physician in Florida, called the process “absolutely abhorrent.”
“It’s established U.S. law that you don’t operate on everything that you find,” she said. “If you’re in a teaching hospital and an attending physician does something like that, it’s a scandal and they are fired.”
Binam was on the verge of deportation Wednesday, but ICE delayed it after calls from members of Congress and a request for an emergency stay by her lawyer.
Grubman, Amin’s lawyer, said in a statement that the doctor “has dedicated his adult life to treating a high-risk, underserved population in rural Georgia.”
Amin completed medical school in India in 1978 and his residency in gynecology in New Jersey. He has practiced in rural Georgia for at least three decades, according to court filings. State corporate records also show Amin is the executive of a company that manages Irwin County Hospital.
In 2013, state and federal investigators sued Amin, the hospital authority of Irwin County and a group of other doctors over allegations they falsely billed Medicare and Medicaid.
The lawsuit alleged that nurses at Irwin County Hospital were trained to follow a doctor’s “standing orders” - described as “scripted procedures based on the nurse’s diagnosis.” That meant nurses often decided treatment plans, but they were billed to Medicaid and Medicare as if they doctor did, the lawsuit said.
Investigators linked a standing order to Amin, alleging he required “certain tests always be run on pregnant patients, without any medical evaluation and regardless of her condition.”
The lawsuit was settled in 2015 with no known sanctions against Amin. The hospital paid a $520,000 settlement, saying no doctor paid any of it and had been “released from any and all liability.”
The Georgia Composite Medical Board lists Amin as a doctor in good standing with no public disciplinary action. Board executive director LaSharn Hughes said records of investigations were confidential under state law.
State prosecutors didn’t refer Amin to the medical board after the billing lawsuit because it didn’t involve specific allegations of patient harm, said Katie Byrd, a spokeswoman for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
___
Associated Press journalist Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Kremlin chafes at Navalny team taking suspected evidence

MOSCOW ( AP ) - The Kremlin accused colleagues of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Friday of hampering a Russian investigation by taking items from his hotel room out of the country , including a water bottle the colleagues claimed had traces of the Soviet nerve agent that German authorities said was used to poison Navalny .
Navalny ’ s colleagues revealed Thursday that they removed the bottle and other items from the hotel room in Siberia and brought them to Germany as potential evidence .
because they didn ’ t trust Russian authorities to conduct a proper probe after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critically ill on a flight to Moscow .
“ Regrettably , what could have been evidence of poisoning was taken away , ” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters .
Navalny , the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin , fell ill on the domestic flight on Aug. 20 and was transferred to Germany for treatment at his wife ’ s request two days later .
A German military lab later determined that Navalny was poisoned with Novichok , the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in England , in 2018 .
Members of the Navalny team said they searched his hotel room in the city of Tomsk upon learning that he collapsed on the flight home .
They said they packed half-empty plastic water bottles and other items and sent them on to Germany for further inspection to help investigate what they suspected to be his poisoning .
Navalny ’ s colleagues said Thursday that a German laboratory subsequently found a trace of Novichok on a bottle from his hotel room .
Top associate Georgy Alburov noted that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not contain the Novichok that Navalny consumed , saying he likely transferred a tiny trace of the toxic substance behind when he drank from the container after having already been poisoned .
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the German lab conducted tests on “ various samples from Mr. Navalny , ” but neither she nor other German officials haven ’ t given details of what samples were tested .
The German government had no comment Friday on the Navalny team ’ s statement that Novichok was found on the water bottle taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent tests by labs in France and Sweden backed up the military lab ’ s findings .
The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also is having samples from Navalny tested .
German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said those tests were ongoing and Germany had not received any results .
The Kremlin reiterated that before Navalny ’ s transfer to Charite Hospital in Berlin , Russian labs and a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk found no sign of a poisoning .
Moscow has called for Germany to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Merkel and other Western leaders to answer questions about what happened to the politician .
“ There is too much absurdity in this case to take anyone at their word , ” Peskov said Friday .
The kremlin spokesman charged that Germany and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have pointed to the other when Russia demanded access to the analyses and samples that allegedly demonstrated his poisoning .
“ The OPCW ’ s technical secretariat tells us , ‘ We don ’ t know anything , turn to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us , ‘ We don ’ t know anything , turn to the OPCW , ’ ” he said .
Vyacheslav Volodin , the speaker of the Russian parliament ’ s lower house , suggested Friday without offering any evidence that Western spy agencies could have poisoned Navalny to pave way for new sanctions against Russia .
Asked if the Kremlin agreed with Volodin ’ s theory , Peskov replied , “ We can neither agree nor disagree ” with the claim .
“ The only way to shed light on this incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence and to work together in analyzing the situation , ” he said .
Merkel ’ s spokesman , Steffen Seibert told reporters Friday that Germany was in contact with its European partners regarding the consequences Russia might face .
“ We have urgently asked Russia to explain itself on this matter , and this demand continues to stand , ” he said .
Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report .

MOSCOW (AP) - The Kremlin accused colleagues of opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Friday of hampering a Russian investigation by taking items from his hotel room out of the country, including a water bottle the colleagues claimed had traces of the Soviet nerve agent that German authorities said was used to poison Navalny.
Navalny’s colleagues revealed Thursday that they removed the bottle and other items from the hotel room in Siberia and brought them to Germany as potential evidence. because they didn’t trust Russian authorities to conduct a proper probe after the Krmlin’s arch foe became critically ill on a flight to Moscow.
“Regrettably, what could have been evidence of poisoning was taken away,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, fell ill on the domestic flight on Aug. 20 and was transferred to Germany for treatment at his wife’s request two days later. A German military lab later determined that Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on a former Russian spy and his daughter in England, in 2018.
Members of the Navalny team said they searched his hotel room in the city of Tomsk upon learning that he collapsed on the flight home. They said they packed half-empty plastic water bottles and other items and sent them on to Germany for further inspection to help investigate what they suspected to be his poisoning.
Navalny’s colleagues said Thursday that a German laboratory subsequently found a trace of Novichok on a bottle from his hotel room. Top associate Georgy Alburov noted that the German experts concluded that the bottle did not contain the Novichok that Navalny consumed, saying he likely transferred a tiny trace of the toxic substance behind when he drank from the container after having already been poisoned.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the German lab conducted tests on “various samples from Mr. Navalny,” but neither she nor other German officials haven’t given details of what samples were tested. The German government had no comment Friday on the Navalny team’s statement that Novichok was found on the water bottle taken from Russia.
Germany has said that independent tests by labs in France and Sweden backed up the military lab’s findings.
The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons also is having samples from Navalny tested. German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr said those tests were ongoing and Germany had not received any results.
The Kremlin reiterated that before Navalny’s transfer to Charite Hospital in Berlin, Russian labs and a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk found no sign of a poisoning. Moscow has called for Germany to provide its evidence and bristled at the urging from Merkel and other Western leaders to answer questions about what happened to the politician.
“There is too much absurdity in this case to take anyone at their word,” Peskov said Friday.
The kremlin spokesman charged that Germany and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have pointed to the other when Russia demanded access to the analyses and samples that allegedly demonstrated his poisoning.
“The OPCW’s technical secretariat tells us, ‘We don’t know anything, turn to the Germans,’ and the Germans tell us, ‘We don’t know anything, turn to the OPCW,’” he said.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Russian parliament’s lower house, suggested Friday without offering any evidence that Western spy agencies could have poisoned Navalny to pave way for new sanctions against Russia.
Asked if the Kremlin agreed with Volodin’s theory, Peskov replied, “We can neither agree nor disagree” with the claim. “The only way to shed light on this incident is to share information, biomaterials and evidence and to work together in analyzing the situation,” he said.
Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert told reporters Friday that Germany was in contact with its European partners regarding the consequences Russia might face.
“We have urgently asked Russia to explain itself on this matter, and this demand continues to stand,” he said.
___
Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Police in Indiana say shooting leaves 1 dead, two injured

TERRE HAUTE , IND .
( AP ) - A shooting in Indiana that police said apparently stemmed from a @ @ @ @ @ person dead while two others were being treated at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries .
@ @ @ @ @ and 2 a.m. Friday , Terre Haute police Sgt .
Ryan Adamson said on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ whether anyone was in custody but asked that anyone with information call police .
It @ @ @ @ @ 3.2 kilometers ) from the Indiana State University campus .
Messages left with police was @ @ @ @ @ Haute is about 75 miles ( 120 kilometers ) west of Indianapolis near the Illinois @ @

TERRE HAUTE, IND. (AP) - An 18-year-old Indiana State University student died early Friday from a shooting outside a college house party, police said.
Valentina Delva of Indianapolis was pronounced dead after the 1:55 a.m. shooting, Terre Haute Police Chief Shawn Keen said.
Two males at the party also were shot, police said, adding that they were treated at a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Delva was a front seat passenger in a car being driven from the scene when she was struck by gunfire, Keen said.
Indiana State University issued a statement noting that counseling services were available and asking faculty “for their understanding and flexibility” with grieving students.
Terre Haute is about 75 miles (120 kilometers) west of Indianapolis near the Illinois border.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Man surrenders after police say he drove at officer, fled

NAUGATUCK , Conn. ( AP ) - A man suspected of driving at a Connecticut police officer and fleeing a @ @ @ @ @ in , police said Friday .
Roznovsky Machado , 24 , of Waterbury , voluntarily @ @ @ @ @ 3:30 a.m. , Deputy Chief C. Colin McAllister said .
Information on his lawyer was @ @ @ @ @ police said Machado sped off after Sgt .
Nicholas Kehoss stopped him around 8 p.m. @ @ @ @ @ Route 8 .
Machado drove at Kehoss , who fired his gun at the car @ @ @ @ @ said Machado appeared uninjured when he turned himself in .
They believed he was the @ @ @ @ @ .
The bullet-damaged Dodge Charger was found in Waterbury on Tuesday .
The vehicle had @ @ @ @ @ treated at a hospital for minor injuries .
He has been with the Naugatuck department @ @ @ @ @ on administrative duty while the shooting is under investigation .

NAUGATUCK, Conn. (AP) - A man accused of driving at a Connecticut police officer who opened fire at the car as it fled a traffic stop turned himself in Friday and was charged with assault and other crimes.
Roznovsky Machado, 24, of Waterbury, escaped from Naugatuck officers on Monday but voluntarily surrendered at the police department at about 3:30 a.m., Deputy Police Chief C. Colin McAllister said. Machado, the only person in the car, was not wounded.
Sgt. Nicholas Kehoss fired his gun at least three times when Machado drove at him and struck his cruiser, video released by police shows. Kehoss was knocked down by his own cruiser after Machado hit it, and fired two of the shots as Machado was speeding away, according to the video and law enforcement officials.
Kehoss, a 10-year veteran of the department, was treated for minor injuries at a hospital and discharged. He was placed on administrative duty under normal protocols while the shooting is investigated by state police and Bridgeport State’s Attorney Joseph Corradino.
Officer Kevin Zainc stopped Machado on an on-ramp to Route 8 at about 8 p.m. Monday after seeing him take part in what appeared to be a drug deal, officials said.
The bullet-damaged Dodge Charger was found Tuesday in Waterbury.
Machado was detained on $350,000 bail on charges including assault on a police officer and engaging police in a pursuit. It was not clear if he has a lawyer who could respond to the allegations.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Pedestrian fatally struck while walking along highway

CHERRYVALE , Kan. ( AP ) - A 35-year-old man is dead after being struck by a vehicle as he @ @ @ @ @ .
KAKE-TV reports that Derrin Kebert Jr. was walking on the shoulder of U.S. 169 @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a northbound Dodge Journey sought to avoid an @ @ @ @ @ .
A Chevrolet Impala then struck the SUV .
Kebert , of Cherryvale , died @ @ @ @ @ drivers were unhurt , as were two children in the SUV .
The patrol did @ @ @ @ @ the SUV was avoiding .

CHERRYVALE, Kan. (AP) - A 35-year-old man is dead after being struck by a vehicle as he walked along a Kansas highway.
KAKE-TV reports that Derrin Kebert Jr. was walking on the shoulder of U.S. 169 near Cherryville around 8 p.m. Thursday. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a northbound Dodge Journey sought to avoid an airborne object and struck Kebert. A Chevrolet Impala then struck the SUV.
Kebert, of Cherryvale, died at the scene. The drivers were unhurt, as were two children in the SUV.
The patrol did not identify the airborne object the SUV was avoiding.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--UNC system sees record enrollment despite pandemic

CHAPEL HILL , N.C. ( AP ) - Schools in the University of North Carolina system enrolled more students than @ @ @ @ @ The Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday that half of the campuses reported record-breaking numbers @ @ @ @ @ s the system ’ s third year in a row for record-high enrollment .
More @ @ @ @ @ its universities .
There was an overall increase of 1 % for the total number @ @ @ @ @ .
The news came at the system ’ s Board of Governors meeting on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Hans said the enrollment numbers are remarkable given the coronavirus pandemic .
Hans said he @ @ @ @ @ in-person classes and campus housing helped with the enrollment growth .
Thirteen of the 17 @ @ @ @ @ in-person learning for undergraduate students .
UNC-Chapel Hill , N.C. State University and East Carolina @ @ @ @ @ UNC Charlotte delayed the start of in-person classes to October and is evaluating its situation @

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Schools in the University of North Carolina system enrolled more students than ever before this fall.
The Raleigh News & Observer reported Thursday that half of the campuses reported record-breaking numbers of students.
It’s the system’s third year in a row for record-high enrollment. More than 242,000 students are at its universities. There was an overall increase of 1% for the total number of undergraduate and graduate students.
The news came at the system’s Board of Governors meeting on Thursday. UNC System President Peter Hans said the enrollment numbers are remarkable given the coronavirus pandemic.
Hans said he believes that schools re-opening with in-person classes and campus housing helped with the enrollment growth.
Thirteen of the 17 UNC System institutions are offering in-person learning for undergraduate students.
UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and East Carolina University have transitioned online. UNC Charlotte delayed the start of in-person classes to October and is evaluating its situation.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--195 homicides reported in St. Louis, surpassing all of 2019

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - The shooting death of a woman in St. Louis marks the city ’ s @ @ @ @ @ topping the 194 killings in all of 2019 .
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that @ @ @ @ @ Thursday night in the city ’ s Benton Park West neighborhood .
Police responded to @ @ @ @ @ the victim shot in the head , unconscious and not breathing .
No further details @ @ @ @ @ Louis has seen a huge spike in shootings , both fatal and non-fatal , since @ @ @ @ @ to curb the violence .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The shooting death of a woman in St. Louis marks the city’s 195th homicide this year, topping the 194 killings in all of 2019.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the 24-year-old woman was killed Thursday night in the city’s Benton Park West neighborhood.
Police responded to a shooting call and found the victim shot in the head, unconscious and not breathing. No further details have been released.
St. Louis has seen a huge spike in shootings, both fatal and non-fatal, since June, despite numerous efforts to curb the violence.
St. Louis is among a handful of cities where federal agents were sent this summer to help fight gun violence, part of a program called Operation LeGend, named after a 4-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, boy who was shot and killed while sleeping in his father’s apartment on June 29.
The federal task force had made more than 1,000 arrests in cities where it has been deployed since early July, U.S. Attorney General William Barr said last month.
The task force has sent more than 1,000 agents from several federal law enforcement agencies to cities that have high crime rates.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Trump admin to block TikTok and WeChat downloads starting Sunday

The Department of Commerce said Friday that it would start banning U.S. transactions with TikTok and WeChat beginning on Sunday .
The Commerce Department said it will implement the ban of the China-owned social media apps under authority provided by President Trump ’ s August 2020 executive order and will do so to safeguard Americans ’ national security .
“ Today ’ s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party , ” Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s direction , we have taken significant action to combat China ’ s malicious collection of American citizens ’ personal data , while promoting our national values , democratic rules-based norms , and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.
” Starting Sunday , companies will be prevented from distributing TikTok and WeChat for download in the U.S. from app stores , such as those operated via Apple and Google on any devices , per the Commerce Department ’ s announcement .
The Trump administration is also blocking companies from transferring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Mr. Ross attempted to clarify how the bans would be enacted differently against TikTok and WeChat in an interview on Fox Business Network on Friday .
“ For all practical purposes , [ WeChat ] will be shut down in the U.S. , but only in the U.S. , as of midnight on Monday , by the Commerce Department ruling , ” Mr. Ross said on Fox Business .
“ TikTok is more complicated because , in effect , there are two alternatives there .
One is the rules that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other is if there is a transaction completed by November 12th .
… So as to TikTok , the only real change as of Sunday night will be — won ’ t have access to improved apps , updated apps , upgraded apps , or maintenance .
So if that were to continue over a long period of time , there might be a gradual degradation of services .
But the basic TikTok will stay intact until November 12th.
” WeChat is a social messaging app owned by the Chinese company Tencent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media platform owned by the China-based ByteDance .
The Commerce Department ’ s forthcoming blockade of TikTok arrives as the Trump administration is separately reviewing a proposal for Oracle to acquire TikTok .

The Department of Commerce said Friday that it would start banning U.S. transactions with TikTok and WeChat beginning on Sunday.
The Commerce Department said it will implement the ban of the China-owned social media apps under authority provided by President Trump’s August 2020 executive order and will do so to safeguard Americans’ national security.
“Today’s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threats of the Chinese Communist Party,” Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. “At the president’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.”
Starting Sunday, companies will be prevented from distributing TikTok and WeChat for download in the U.S. from app stores, such as those operated via Apple and Google on any devices, per the Commerce Department’s announcement. The Trump administration is also blocking companies from transferring funds or processing payments through WeChat in the U.S.
Mr. Ross attempted to clarify how the bans would be enacted differently against TikTok and WeChat in an interview on Fox Business Network on Friday.
“For all practical purposes, [WeChat] will be shut down in the U.S., but only in the U.S., as of midnight on Monday, by the Commerce Department ruling,” Mr. Ross said on Fox Business. “TikTok is more complicated because, in effect, there are two alternatives there. One is the rules that we’ll be announcing right now and the other is if there is a transaction completed by November 12th. … So as to TikTok, the only real change as of Sunday night will be — won’t have access to improved apps, updated apps, upgraded apps, or maintenance. So if that were to continue over a long period of time, there might be a gradual degradation of services. But the basic TikTok will stay intact until November 12th.”
WeChat is a social messaging app owned by the Chinese company Tencent, and TikTok is a video-based social media platform owned by the China-based ByteDance. The Commerce Department’s forthcoming blockade of TikTok arrives as the Trump administration is separately reviewing a proposal for Oracle to acquire TikTok.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Ex-California attorney sentenced for killing wife on cruise

SANTA ANA , Calif. ( AP ) - A former Southern California lawyer was sentenced Friday to life without the possibility of parole for strangling his ex-wife and throwing her body off a cruise ship in the Mediterranean in 2006 .
Lonnie Loren Kocontes , 62 , of Safety Harbor , Florida , was convicted in June of first-degree murder with a special circumstances enhancement of murder for financial gain .
Prosecutors said Kocontes killed Micki Kanesaki in order to inherit more than $ 1 million from their bank accounts and the sale of a Southern California home they jointly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with murder , ” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement after the sentencing .
“ Except for the fact that he strangled her to death before he threw her body overboard .
Because she died before she hit the water her lungs were filled with air , not water .
So she floated .
And by a miracle , her body was discovered .
That miscalculation allowed us to convict him of murder , ” Spitzer said .
Kocontes was divorced from Kanesaki , had remarried and then divorced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kocontes testified at trial that the couple had reconciled and were planning to remarry .
But Kocontes actually was scheming to kill Kanesaki , 52 , and make it appear to be an accident , prosecutors said .
The cruise from Spain to Italy began on May 21 , 2006 , and Kanesaki was last seen alive the night of May 25 , authorities said .
Kocontes reported Kanesaki missing and returned to California .
Her body was found floating off the coast of Paola , Italy , on May 27 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he had taken a sleeping pill on the ship and woke to find Kanesaki missing .
An FBI investigation into possible illegal activity began in 2008 after Kocontes tried to transfer $ 1 million between various bank accounts , according to the U.S. attorney ’ s office .
Kocontes was indicted for murder in 2013 and has been jailed since then .

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A former Southern California lawyer was sentenced Friday to life without the possibility of parole for strangling his ex-wife and throwing her body off a cruise ship in the Mediterranean in 2006.
Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, of Safety Harbor, Florida, was convicted in June of first-degree murder with a special circumstances enhancement of murder for financial gain.
Prosecutors said Kocontes killed Micki Kanesaki in order to inherit more than $1 million from their bank accounts and the sale of a Southern California home they jointly owned.
Kocontes “almost got away with murder,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement after the sentencing.
“Except for the fact that he strangled her to death before he threw her body overboard. Because she died before she hit the water her lungs were filled with air, not water. So she floated. And by a miracle, her body was discovered. That miscalculation allowed us to convict him of murder,” Spitzer said.
Kocontes was divorced from Kanesaki, had remarried and then divorced again when he booked the Mediterranean cruise. Kocontes testified at trial that the couple had reconciled and were planning to remarry.
But Kocontes actually was scheming to kill Kanesaki, 52, and make it appear to be an accident, prosecutors said.
The cruise from Spain to Italy began on May 21, 2006, and Kanesaki was last seen alive the night of May 25, authorities said.
Kocontes reported Kanesaki missing and returned to California. Her body was found floating off the coast of Paola, Italy, on May 27, prosecutors said.
At trial, Kocontes said he had taken a sleeping pill on the ship and woke to find Kanesaki missing.
An FBI investigation into possible illegal activity began in 2008 after Kocontes tried to transfer $1 million between various bank accounts, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Kocontes was indicted for murder in 2013 and has been jailed since then.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Trump calls Ginsburg an 'amazing woman,' learns of her death after campaign speech

President Trump called the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “ an amazing woman ” Friday night and had @ @ @ @ @ the vacancy on the high court .
The president learned of Justice Ginsburg ’ s @ @ @ @ @ campaign rally in Minnesota .
“ She just died ?
Wow .
I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re telling me that for the first time , ” he told reporters before @ @ @ @ @ the rally site .
“ She led an amazing life , what else can you @ @ @ @ @ amazing woman .
Whether you agree or not , she led an amazing life .
@ @ @ @ @ that.
” She was 87 years old .

President Trump called the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “an amazing woman” Friday night and had no immediate comment on filling the vacancy on the high court.
The president learned of Justice Ginsburg’s death after speaking at a campaign rally in Minnesota.
“She just died? Wow. I didn’t know that. You’re telling me that for the first time,” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One at the rally site. “She led an amazing life, what else can you say? She was an amazing woman. Whether you agree or not, she led an amazing life. I am sad to hear that.”
She was 87 years old.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Jimmy Carter: Ginsburg a 'beacon of justice' in long career

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Former President Jimmy Carter said Friday that he and his wife Rosalynn were saddened by @ @ @ @ @ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , praising her as a “ beacon of justice ” over @ @ @ @ @ .
In an emailed statement from his spokeswoman , Carter said he was proud to @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 - a step taken long before her 1993 selection @ @ @ @ @ highest court by another Democratic president , Bill Clinton .
“ A powerful legal mind @ @ @ @ @ gender equality , she has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable @ @ @ @ @ s statement said .
“ We join countless Americans in mourning the loss of a @ @ @ @ @ will keep her family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
” Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ ’ s second female justice , died Friday at her Washington , D.C. , home @ @ @ @ @ cancer , the court said .
She was 87 .

ATLANTA (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter said Friday that he and his wife Rosalynn were saddened by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, praising her as a “beacon of justice” over a long and remarkable career.
In an emailed statement from his spokeswoman, Carter said he was proud to have appointed Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1980 - a step taken long before her 1993 selection for the nation’s highest court by another Democratic president, Bill Clinton.
“A powerful legal mind and a staunch advocate for gender equality, she has been a beacon of justice during her long and remarkable career,” Carter’s statement said. “We join countless Americans in mourning the loss of a truly great woman. We will keep her family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
Ginsburg, who became the court’s second female justice, died Friday at her Washington, D.C., home of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer, the court said. She was 87.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Woman suspected of selling drugs that resulted in ODs

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Federal prosecutors on Friday charged a Southern California woman with selling narcotics to several individuals who suffered overdoses , including one who died .
Marisol Bolanos Hernandez , 35 , faces one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury , the U.S. Department of Justice said .
It wasn ’ t known if Bolanos has an attorney .
Bolanos allegedly sold drugs to a man who , along with a friend , was found unresponsive in Pasadena on Sept. 11 , prosecutors said .
The two victims were transported to hospitals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days later .
Pasadena Police officers seized white powder residue from the location of the overdoses , but that material has yet to be tested , according to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint .
The surviving victim responded to Narcan , indicating there were opioids present , and his urine samples were positive for cocaine , prosecutors said .
The victim told investigators that he purchased cocaine from “ Mari , ” shared some of the drugs with the deceased victim , and lost consciousness after taking the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The affidavit also alleges that Bolanos sold purported cocaine to two other overdose victims on September 11 .
Both of these victims required hospitalization and survived .
Bolanos was arrested Thursday .
She could face life in prison if convicted .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Federal prosecutors on Friday charged a Southern California woman with selling narcotics to several individuals who suffered overdoses, including one who died.
Marisol Bolanos Hernandez, 35, faces one count of drug distribution resulting in serious bodily injury, the U.S. Department of Justice said. It wasn’t known if Bolanos has an attorney.
Bolanos allegedly sold drugs to a man who, along with a friend, was found unresponsive in Pasadena on Sept. 11, prosecutors said. The two victims were transported to hospitals, where one recovered, but another died two days later.
Pasadena Police officers seized white powder residue from the location of the overdoses, but that material has yet to be tested, according to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.
The surviving victim responded to Narcan, indicating there were opioids present, and his urine samples were positive for cocaine, prosecutors said.
The victim told investigators that he purchased cocaine from “Mari,” shared some of the drugs with the deceased victim, and lost consciousness after taking the drug himself, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also alleges that Bolanos sold purported cocaine to two other overdose victims on September 11. Both of these victims required hospitalization and survived.
Bolanos was arrested Thursday. She could face life in prison if convicted.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--McConnell says Senate will vote on Supreme Court

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that he will force a vote on whomever President Trump nominates to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , signaling a brutal fight later this year .
Mr. McConnell did not lay out timing , but said flatly that “ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” Justice Ginsburg passed away Friday , with just weeks to go before the presidential election .
She reportedly made a deathbed statement saying she wanted the seat to be filled by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same logic Mr. McConnell used in 2016 to deny action on President Obama ’ s nominee to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia , who died in February of that year , as the presidential primaries were underway .
But Mr. McConnell says that was different .
At that time the Senate was controlled by Republicans , while Mr. Obama was a Democrat .
Mr. McConnell said this year there ’ s a Republican president and a GOP Senate .
“ In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president ’ s second term .
We kept our promise .
Since the 1880s , no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president ’ s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year , ” he said in a statement Friday .
“ By contrast , Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our promise , ” he said .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Friday that he will force a vote on whomever President Trump nominates to fill the seat of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, signaling a brutal fight later this year.
Mr. McConnell did not lay out timing, but said flatly that “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
Justice Ginsburg passed away Friday, with just weeks to go before the presidential election. She reportedly made a deathbed statement saying she wanted the seat to be filled by whoever wins in November.
That was the same logic Mr. McConnell used in 2016 to deny action on President Obama’s nominee to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February of that year, as the presidential primaries were underway.
But Mr. McConnell says that was different.
At that time the Senate was controlled by Republicans, while Mr. Obama was a Democrat. Mr. McConnell said this year there’s a Republican president and a GOP Senate.
“In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia’s death in 2016, Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president’s second term. We kept our promise. Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president’s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year,” he said in a statement Friday.
“By contrast, Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise,” he said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Hawaii high court mulls e-signatures in impeachment petition

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Honolulu officials arbitrarily rejected electronic signatures in an impeachment petition , a lawyer for a businessman who wants the city ’ s embattled prosecutor impeached argued before the state Supreme Court Friday .
Tracy Yoshimura is seeking impeachment of Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro because Kaneshiro received notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that he ’ s a target in a corruption investigation that took down a retired Honolulu police chief and the ex-chief ’ s former high-ranking deputy prosecutor .
A lawyer for Kaneshiro , who is on a leave of absence , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innocence .
It ’ s unclear how Kaneshiro fits into the wide-ranging investigation - Hawaii ’ s biggest corruption case .
Last year , a judge dismissed the petition , ruling that the city isn ’ t required to accept electronic signatures .
His attorney , Keith Kiuchi , told the Supreme Court the city can ’ t simply reject electronic signatures without first adopting rules to do so .
“ And now the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic makes mediums such as electronic signatures even more important and even more central , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed out , because it allows a form of direct democracy , in this case , specifically the petition to impeach Mr. Kaneshiro.
” Yoshimura had gathered more than the required 500 signatures online via change.org .
When Yoshimura filed an amended petition using a different online platform , DocuSign , he attached the change.org signatures , Kaneshiro ’ s attorney , William McCorriston , told the high court .
At that point , the original petition was no longer viable , McCorriston said , and the only signature was Yoshimura ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re 499 signatures short.
” Arguments were held online and broadcast via YouTube to prevent a crowded courtroom during the pandemic .

HONOLULU (AP) - Honolulu officials arbitrarily rejected electronic signatures in an impeachment petition, a lawyer for a businessman who wants the city’s embattled prosecutor impeached argued before the state Supreme Court Friday.
Tracy Yoshimura is seeking impeachment of Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro because Kaneshiro received notice from the U.S. Department of Justice that he’s a target in a corruption investigation that took down a retired Honolulu police chief and the ex-chief’s former high-ranking deputy prosecutor.
A lawyer for Kaneshiro, who is on a leave of absence, has said the prosecutor deserves a presumption of innocence. It’s unclear how Kaneshiro fits into the wide-ranging investigation - Hawaii’s biggest corruption case.
Last year, a judge dismissed the petition, ruling that the city isn’t required to accept electronic signatures.
Yoshimura appealed.
His attorney, Keith Kiuchi, told the Supreme Court the city can’t simply reject electronic signatures without first adopting rules to do so.
“And now the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic makes mediums such as electronic signatures even more important and even more central,” Kiuchi said. “As I pointed out, because it allows a form of direct democracy, in this case, specifically the petition to impeach Mr. Kaneshiro.”
Yoshimura had gathered more than the required 500 signatures online via change.org.
When Yoshimura filed an amended petition using a different online platform, DocuSign, he attached the change.org signatures, Kaneshiro’s attorney, William McCorriston, told the high court.
At that point, the original petition was no longer viable, McCorriston said, and the only signature was Yoshimura’s: “Sorry, but you’re 499 signatures short.”
Arguments were held online and broadcast via YouTube to prevent a crowded courtroom during the pandemic.
The justices didn’t immediately issue a ruling.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked for Senate to delay filling her seat

Conscious of politics to the last , Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reportedly dictated a statement saying it was her “ most fervent wish ” that her seat on the Supreme Court not be filled until after the next president is inaugurated in January .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly rejected that notion , saying President Trump deserves the chance to fill the seat and the Senate will act on whomever he picks .
“ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate , ” the Kentucky Republican said .
Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before she dictated a statement to her granddaughter , Clara Spera , asking that the seat remain vacant into the new year , according to NPR .
“ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” NPR reported the granddaughter quoting the justice .
“ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice .
Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president , ” Minority Leader Charles E. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Merkley , Oregon Democrat , pointed to Justice Ginsburg ’ s own comments , saying they are a challenge to Senate Republicans .
Four years ago Mr. McConnell blocked action on President Obama ’ s nominee to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia for most of 2016 , saying the pick should be made by whoever won that year ’ s election .
Mr. McConnell said it had been decades since a Senate controlled by one party confirmed a nominee of a president of the opposing party in an election year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ different , since the GOP holds both the White House and Senate .
“ In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia ’ s death in 2016 , Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president ’ s second term .
We kept our promise .
Since the 1880s , no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president ’ s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year , ” he said in a statement Friday .
“ By contrast , Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise , ” he said .
To succeed , he ’ ll have to convince enough Republicans to go along .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski , Alaska Republican , told Alaska Public Radio earlier in the day — before news of the justice ’ s death — that she wouldn ’ t vote to confirm a replacement until after the election .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , took to Twitter to say she ’ s backing Mr. McConnell .
“ The U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump ’ s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court , ” she wrote .
The hypotheticals were in full swing Friday .
Ms. McSally currently holds the seat of the late Sen. John McCain , and she faces voters in November .
If she loses , her Democratic opponent , Mark Kelly , could be sworn in as early as Nov. 30 , the Arizona Republic reported Friday .
That would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate in a lame-duck session .
Sen. Mitt Romney ’ s spokeswoman , meanwhile , shot down a Twitter report that the Utah Republican had committed to waiting until after the election .
Sen. Lindsey Graham , the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee that would oversee a confirmation , said in 2018 that once the primary season began , he wouldn ’ t support confirmation .
He was mum on the matter Friday night , instead , he released a statement praising Justice Ginsburg ’ s legacy .
“ Justice Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her causes , ” he said .
Sen. Susan Collins , Maine Republican and one of the most closely watched votes in any Supreme Court battle , also praised the justice and avoided the politics of the moment .
Democrats and their supporters , however , were fully engaged .
Liberal pressure groups from North Carolina to Colorado challenged Republican senators up for reelection this year to abide by the 2016 McConnell standard and put off any decision until after the election .
Mr. Trump this week released a list of names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees .
Pressure groups from both sides of the ideological spectrum have demanded Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden do the same .
Justice Ginsburg ’ s deathbed admonition is the latest foray into a world of politics that many other justices avoided .
In 2016 she had to apologize for what she acknowledged were “ ill-advised ” attacks on Mr. Trump , at the time a candidate .
“ I can ’ t imagine what the country would be — with Donald Trump as our president , ” she told The New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband would have said they should “ move to New Zealand ” in it happened .
She also blasted Mr. Trump to CNN , calling him a fake .
“ He has no consistency about him .
He says whatever comes into his head at the moment , ” she said .
She later issued a statement saying judges “ should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office .
”

Conscious of politics to the last, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reportedly dictated a statement saying it was her “most fervent wish” that her seat on the Supreme Court not be filled until after the next president is inaugurated in January.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly rejected that notion, saying President Trump deserves the chance to fill the seat and the Senate will act on whomever he picks.
“President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” the Kentucky Republican said.
Justice Ginsburg passed away Friday, but days before she dictated a statement to her granddaughter, Clara Spera, asking that the seat remain vacant into the new year, according to NPR.
“My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,” NPR reported the granddaughter quoting the justice.
Senate Democrats immediate echoed her demand.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president,” Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer said on Twitter.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat, pointed to Justice Ginsburg’s own comments, saying they are a challenge to Senate Republicans.
Four years ago Mr. McConnell blocked action on President Obama’s nominee to fill the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia for most of 2016, saying the pick should be made by whoever won that year’s election.
Mr. McConnell said it had been decades since a Senate controlled by one party confirmed a nominee of a president of the opposing party in an election year.
But he says the current situation is different, since the GOP holds both the White House and Senate.
“In the last midterm election before Justice Scalia’s death in 2016, Americans elected a Republican Senate majority because we pledged to check and balance the last days of a lame-duck president’s second term. We kept our promise. Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party president’s Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year,” he said in a statement Friday.
“By contrast, Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise,” he said.
To succeed, he’ll have to convince enough Republicans to go along.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, told Alaska Public Radio earlier in the day — before news of the justice’s death — that she wouldn’t vote to confirm a replacement until after the election.
But Sen. Martha McSally, Arizona Republican, took to Twitter to say she’s backing Mr. McConnell.
“The U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump’s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court,” she wrote.
The hypotheticals were in full swing Friday.
Ms. McSally currently holds the seat of the late Sen. John McCain, and she faces voters in November. If she loses, her Democratic opponent, Mark Kelly, could be sworn in as early as Nov. 30, the Arizona Republic reported Friday.
That would narrow the GOP’s leeway to operate in a lame-duck session.
Sen. Mitt Romney’s spokeswoman, meanwhile, shot down a Twitter report that the Utah Republican had committed to waiting until after the election.
“This is grossly false,” wrote Liz Johnson.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee that would oversee a confirmation, said in 2018 that once the primary season began, he wouldn’t support confirmation.
He was mum on the matter Friday night, instead, he released a statement praising Justice Ginsburg’s legacy.
“Justice Ginsburg was a trailblazer who possessed tremendous passion for her causes,” he said.
Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican and one of the most closely watched votes in any Supreme Court battle, also praised the justice and avoided the politics of the moment.
Democrats and their supporters, however, were fully engaged.
Liberal pressure groups from North Carolina to Colorado challenged Republican senators up for reelection this year to abide by the 2016 McConnell standard and put off any decision until after the election.
Mr. Trump this week released a list of names he would consider for future Supreme Court nominees.
Pressure groups from both sides of the ideological spectrum have demanded Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden do the same.
Justice Ginsburg’s deathbed admonition is the latest foray into a world of politics that many other justices avoided.
In 2016 she had to apologize for what she acknowledged were “ill-advised” attacks on Mr. Trump, at the time a candidate.
“I can’t imagine what the country would be — with Donald Trump as our president,” she told The New York Times, adding that her late husband would have said they should “move to New Zealand” in it happened.
She also blasted Mr. Trump to CNN, calling him a fake.
“He has no consistency about him. He says whatever comes into his head at the moment,” she said.
She later issued a statement saying judges “should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Donald Trump, unaware of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death, touts Ted Cruz for Supreme Court

President Trump touted Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for the Supreme Court on Friday night at a campaign rally , unaware that news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death became public while he was on the stage .
“ I ’ m putting Ted Cruz as one of the people for the Supreme Court , ” Mr. Trump told supporters in Bemidji , Minnesota .
“ Ted ’ s the only man i know who could get 100 votes from the Senate .
Every single senator is going to vote for him .
He ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just as the president was speaking , news of Justice Ginsburg ’ s death was breaking around the nation .
The 87-year-old liberal jurist had been battling cancer for years .
The president learned of Justice Ginsburg ’ s death soon after coming off the stage where he had delivered a more than 90-minute campaign speech .
“ She just died ?
I didn ’ t know that , ” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One at the rally site .
“ She led an amazing life , what else can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not … she led an amazing life.
” During his speech , Mr. Trump said the Supreme Court is very important to the election in November .
“ The next president will get one , two , three or four Supreme Court justices , ” he said .
“ Many presidents have had none .
They ’ ve had none because they ’ re there for a long time.
” “ But the next [ president ] will have anywhere from one to four , think of that , ” Mr. Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you talk about life , when you talk about Second Amendment , when you talk about things that are so important to you.
” Earlier this month , the president released a list of 20 new possible nominees he would consider for the Supreme Court if he ’ s elected to a second term .
The list includes Mr. Cruz and GOP Sens .
Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he would push for confirmation of a new justice this year if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential election .
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York tweeted after Justice Ginsburg ’ s death , “ The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice .
Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.
” White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tweeted out a reaction to Justice Ginsburg ’ s death before the president stopped speaking at the rally .
“ Joining the whole nation tonight in mourning the loss of Justice Ruth Bader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public servant , and an inspiration to so many , ” Mr. Meadows said on Twitter .
“ My prayers are with her family and friends.
” Former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway tweeted a tribute to the late justice .
“ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg [ sic ] led a remarkable life of consequence .
She worked with passion & conviction , inspired many women , offered hope to other cancer survivors .
Prayers to her loved ones .
May She Rest In Peace , ” Mrs. Conway said .
Republican strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House on the successful Supreme Court nomination of Justice Neil M. Gorsuch , said he expects the president to nominate a replacement soon .
“ Nominating a SCOTUS candidate is very different than voting to confirm that person before the November election , ” Mr. Bonjean tweeted .
“ A White House nomination rollout and confirmation campaign is something that will likely happen in short order.
” Mr. Bonjean noted that the average Supreme Court confirmation campaign is between 67 to 71 days .
He called it “ a big reason why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not take place until after the election.
” “ There simply isn ’ t enough time for nominee visits with Senators , a confirmation hearing and the actual vote , ” he tweeted .

President Trump touted Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas for the Supreme Court on Friday night at a campaign rally, unaware that news of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death became public while he was on the stage.
“I’m putting Ted Cruz as one of the people for the Supreme Court,” Mr. Trump told supporters in Bemidji, Minnesota. “Ted’s the only man i know who could get 100 votes from the Senate. Every single senator is going to vote for him. He’s a great guy, a brilliant guy.”
Just as the president was speaking, news of Justice Ginsburg’s death was breaking around the nation. The 87-year-old liberal jurist had been battling cancer for years.
The president learned of Justice Ginsburg’s death soon after coming off the stage where he had delivered a more than 90-minute campaign speech.
“She just died? I didn’t know that,” he told reporters before boarding Air Force One at the rally site. “She led an amazing life, what else can you say? Whether you agree or not … she led an amazing life.”
During his speech, Mr. Trump said the Supreme Court is very important to the election in November.
“The next president will get one, two, three or four Supreme Court justices,” he said. “Many presidents have had none. They’ve had none because they’re there for a long time.”
“But the next [president] will have anywhere from one to four, think of that,” Mr. Trump said. “That will totally change when you talk about life, when you talk about Second Amendment, when you talk about things that are so important to you.”
Earlier this month, the president released a list of 20 new possible nominees he would consider for the Supreme Court if he’s elected to a second term. The list includes Mr. Cruz and GOP Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he would push for confirmation of a new justice this year if a vacancy occurred, despite the looming presidential election.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York tweeted after Justice Ginsburg’s death, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”
White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tweeted out a reaction to Justice Ginsburg’s death before the president stopped speaking at the rally.
“Joining the whole nation tonight in mourning the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg — a trailblazer, a dedicated public servant, and an inspiration to so many,” Mr. Meadows said on Twitter. “My prayers are with her family and friends.”
Former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway tweeted a tribute to the late justice.
“Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg [sic] led a remarkable life of consequence. She worked with passion & conviction, inspired many women, offered hope to other cancer survivors. Prayers to her loved ones. May She Rest In Peace,” Mrs. Conway said.
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean, who worked with the White House on the successful Supreme Court nomination of Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, said he expects the president to nominate a replacement soon.
“Nominating a SCOTUS candidate is very different than voting to confirm that person before the November election,” Mr. Bonjean tweeted. “A White House nomination rollout and confirmation campaign is something that will likely happen in short order.”
Mr. Bonjean noted that the average Supreme Court confirmation campaign is between 67 to 71 days. He called it “a big reason why a SCOTUS confirmation vote by the Senate would not take place until after the election.”
“There simply isn’t enough time for nominee visits with Senators, a confirmation hearing and the actual vote,” he tweeted.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Donald Trump asks Supreme Court to approve census count without illegal immigrants

The White House said Friday that the administration will ask the Supreme Court to approve his plan to have the Census Bureau produce a count that doesn ’ t include illegal immigrants , tossing a major hot potato over to the high court just as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer .
At stake is the count used to divide up seats in the U.S. House of Representatives .
Mr. Trump says that while the 2020 census will still produce its overall count of all persons living in the country , only a count of legal residents should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A panel of lower court judges in New York has ruled Mr. Trump ’ s plan illegal , saying Congress , not the president , has the power to determine those matters .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Congress gave that power to the president , “ and the administration intends to vindicate that policy determination before the Supreme Court.
” “ The president ’ s decision will ensure that American citizens do not have their representation in Congress diminished based on counts of illegal aliens , ” she said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevails , experts had doubted the Census Bureau would be able to follow through on Mr. Trump ’ s directive .
Figuring out how to exclude illegal immigrants is tricky , since it ’ s not clear who they all are , and statistical methods are subject to a massive margin of error .
But some conservatives had long wanted to see an attempt made .
They argue that allowing those in the country illegally to be used as part of the count doling out House seats gives more political power to illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
The Center for Immigration Studies , for example , calculates that three seats would shift depending on whether the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are excluded .
If counted , California , Texas and New York would end up with the seats .
If excluded , those seats would go to Ohio , Alabama and Minnesota .
The apportionment case is the second big census case Mr. Trump has foist in the justices ’ laps during his tenure .
He lost the first one , when he tried to shoehorn a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form .
The court , in a 5-4 decision ruled that while such a question was legal , the Trump administration didn ’ t give a sufficient justification for its actions .
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. led that ruling , which was joined by Justice Ginsburg and the court ’ s other Democrat-appointed justices .
With Justice Ginsburg ’ s death Friday , the court is reduced to eight members .

The White House said Friday that the administration will ask the Supreme Court to approve his plan to have the Census Bureau produce a count that doesn’t include illegal immigrants, tossing a major hot potato over to the high court just as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of pancreatic cancer.
At stake is the count used to divide up seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mr. Trump says that while the 2020 census will still produce its overall count of all persons living in the country, only a count of legal residents should be used for apportioning House seats.
A panel of lower court judges in New York has ruled Mr. Trump’s plan illegal, saying Congress, not the president, has the power to determine those matters.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Congress gave that power to the president, “and the administration intends to vindicate that policy determination before the Supreme Court.”
“The president’s decision will ensure that American citizens do not have their representation in Congress diminished based on counts of illegal aliens,” she said in a statement.
Even if Mr. Trump prevails, experts had doubted the Census Bureau would be able to follow through on Mr. Trump’s directive. Figuring out how to exclude illegal immigrants is tricky, since it’s not clear who they all are, and statistical methods are subject to a massive margin of error.
But some conservatives had long wanted to see an attempt made.
They argue that allowing those in the country illegally to be used as part of the count doling out House seats gives more political power to illegal immigrant-friendly states, at the expense of others.
The Center for Immigration Studies, for example, calculates that three seats would shift depending on whether the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are excluded. If counted, California, Texas and New York would end up with the seats. If excluded, those seats would go to Ohio, Alabama and Minnesota.
The apportionment case is the second big census case Mr. Trump has foist in the justices’ laps during his tenure.
He lost the first one, when he tried to shoehorn a question about citizenship onto the 2020 census form.
The court, in a 5-4 decision ruled that while such a question was legal, the Trump administration didn’t give a sufficient justification for its actions. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. led that ruling, which was joined by Justice Ginsburg and the court’s other Democrat-appointed justices.
With Justice Ginsburg’s death Friday, the court is reduced to eight members.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-18--Donald Trump warns that Joe Biden would turn Minnesota into a 'refugee camp'

President Trump told Minnesota voters Friday night that Democrat Joseph R. Biden would turn the state “ into a refugee camp ” of evacuees from predominantly Muslim countries , declaring “ I am your wall between the American dream and chaos.
” “ Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp , ” Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in Bemidji , the mythical birthplace of Paul Bunyan .
“ Biden will overwhelm your children ’ s schools , overcrowd their classrooms , inundate your hospitals .
Biden has even pledged to terminate our travel ban in jihadist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new ad in Minnesota on Friday warning of Mr. Biden ’ s proposal for a 700 percent increase of refugees from the current level under Mr. Trump .
The president said those refugees would come “ from the most dangerous places in the world including Yemen , Syria and Somalia.
” The president said if Mr. Biden were elected , he would be controlled by “ extremists like Rep. Ilham Omar , ” a native of Somalia who represents Minnesota .
“ My administration ’ s keeping terrorists and extremists and criminals the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , adding that the government on Friday deported dozens of Somali nationals who were either charged or convicted of serious crimes .
The president said the administration sent them “ back to their country where they can do all the complaining they want.
” “ And your children are much safer as a result .
Thank you , President Trump , ” the president said .
An ABC News-Washington Post poll this week found Mr. Biden with a 57 percent-41 percent lead over Mr. Trump in Minnesota among likely voters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the day .
“ Trump says … everyone ’ s in the stock market , ” Mr. Biden said in Duluth .
“ That ’ s why he cares about the stock market .
What the hell ’ s he talking about ?
People I grew up with in Scranton , Claymont , we don ’ t have money in stocks .
Every penny we made is to pay the bills and take care of the families , put clothes on the back and a roof overhead .
”

President Trump told Minnesota voters Friday night that Democrat Joseph R. Biden would turn the state “into a refugee camp” of evacuees from predominantly Muslim countries, declaring “I am your wall between the American dream and chaos.”
“Sleepy Joe will turn Minnesota into a refugee camp,” Mr. Trump said at a campaign rally in Bemidji, the mythical birthplace of Paul Bunyan. “Biden will overwhelm your children’s schools, overcrowd their classrooms, inundate your hospitals. Biden has even pledged to terminate our travel ban in jihadist regions.”
The Trump campaign released a new ad in Minnesota on Friday warning of Mr. Biden’s proposal for a 700 percent increase of refugees from the current level under Mr. Trump. The president said those refugees would come “from the most dangerous places in the world including Yemen, Syria and Somalia.”
The president said if Mr. Biden were elected, he would be controlled by “extremists like Rep. Ilham Omar,” a native of Somalia who represents Minnesota.
“My administration’s keeping terrorists and extremists and criminals the hell out of our country,” he said, adding that the government on Friday deported dozens of Somali nationals who were either charged or convicted of serious crimes.
The president said the administration sent them “back to their country where they can do all the complaining they want.”
“And your children are much safer as a result. Thank you, President Trump,” the president said.
An ABC News-Washington Post poll this week found Mr. Biden with a 57 percent-41 percent lead over Mr. Trump in Minnesota among likely voters. Mr. Biden campaigned in the state earlier in the day.
“Trump says … everyone’s in the stock market,” Mr. Biden said in Duluth. “That’s why he cares about the stock market. What the hell’s he talking about? People I grew up with in Scranton, Claymont, we don’t have money in stocks. Every penny we made is to pay the bills and take care of the families, put clothes on the back and a roof overhead.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.