washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Sri Lanka sets parliamentary election on Aug. 5

COLOMBO , Sri Lanka ( AP ) - Sri Lanka ’ s Election Commission set Aug. 5 as the new date for parliamentary elections after postponing it twice over the COVID-19 pandemic .
Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole said the date will give the body sufficient time to prepare under health guidelines .
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament in March .
The first two election dates - April 25 and June 20 - had been postponed as the Election Commission sought assurances from health authorities that it is safe to hold the vote .
Sri Lanka is currently in a constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three-month period allowed by law to operate without a sitting Parliament .
Last week the Supreme Court rejected petitions by opposition parties and civil activists seeking an annulment of Rajapaksa ’ s order dissolving Parliament .
Rajapaksa was elected last November and used his constitutional powers to dissolve Parliament six months ahead of schedule hoping to secure for his party a majority of lawmakers .
Although he is allowed to use his discretionary power to reconvene the dissolved Parliament in an emergency , he refused to do so when COVID-19 made elections uncertain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely contained the spread of the coronavirus with 1,859 confirmed cases and 11 deaths .

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka’s Election Commission set Aug. 5 as the new date for parliamentary elections after postponing them twice over the coronavirus pandemic.
Commission member Ratnajeevan Hoole said the date will give the sufficient time for preparations under health guidelines.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved Parliament in March. The first two election dates - April 25 and June 20 - were postponed as the Election Commission sought assurances from health authorities that would be safe to hold the vote.
Sri Lanka is facing constitutional uncertainties because it is past a three-month period allowed by law to operate without a sitting Parliament.
Last week the Supreme Court rejected petitions by opposition parties and civil activists seeking an annulment of Rajapaksa’s order dissolving Parliament.
Rajapaksa was elected last November and used his constitutional powers to dissolve Parliament six months ahead of schedule hoping to secure his party a majority of lawmakers. Although he would be allowed to reconvene the dissolved Parliament in an emergency, he refused to do so when the coronavirus made elections uncertain.
Sri Lanka says it has largely contained the spread of the coronavirus with 1,859 confirmed cases and 11 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Pope Francis sends strong message to U.S. Catholics after George Floyd's death

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) — Pope Francis called George Floyd by name , twice , and offered support to an American bishop who knelt in prayer during a Black Lives Matter protest .
Cardinals black and white have spoken out about Floyd ’ s death , and the Vatican ’ s communications juggernaut has shifted into overdrive to draw attention to the cause he now represents .
Under normal circumstances , Floyd ’ s killing at the hands of a white police officer and the global protests denouncing racism and police brutality might have drawn a muted diplomatic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. election year , the intensity and consistency of the Vatican ’ s reaction suggests that , from the pope on down , it is seeking to encourage anti-racism protesters while making a clear statement about where American Catholics should stand ahead of President Donald Trump ’ s bid for a second term in November .
Francis “ wants to send a very clear message to these conservative Catholics here who are pro-Trumpers that , ‘ Listen , this is just as much of an issue as abortion is , ’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fellow at Yale Divinity School .
Butler , who is African American , said the Vatican is telling Catholics “ to pay attention to the racism that is happening and the racism that is in your own church in America.
” The Vatican has long spoken out about racial injustice , and popes dating to Paul VI have voiced support for the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s message of nonviolent protest .
History ’ s first pope from the global south is no different .
He quoted King @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Congress in 2015 and met with King ’ s daughter , as his predecessor had done .
But the degree to which Francis and the Vatican have seized on Floyd ’ s killing is unusual and suggests a coordinated messaging strategy aimed at a national church that Francis has long criticized for its political and ideological partisanship , said Alberto Melloni , a church historian and secretary of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies in Bologna , Italy .
“ It ’ s not like seven people had the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melloni said .
Last week , Francis denounced the “ sin of racism ” and twice identified Floyd as the victim of a “ tragic ” killing .
In a message read in Italian and English during his general audience , Francis expressed concerns about violence during the protests , saying it was self-destructive .
He also said , “ We can not close our eyes to any form of racism or exclusion , while pretending to defend the sacredness of every human life.
” It was a clear effort to call out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue is paramount , while other “ life ” issues dear to Francis - racism , immigration , the death penalty and poverty - play second fiddle at the ballot box .
Francis has firmly upheld the church ’ s opposition to abortion .
And polls show a plurality of American Catholics support significant restrictions on legal abortion .
But Francis has also lamented that the U.S. church is “ obsessed ” with abortion , contraception and gay marriage to the detriment of its other teachings .
Trump is staking his outreach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Francis spoke out June 3 after Trump posed in front of an Episcopal church near the White House , Bible in hand , after law enforcement aggressively forced protesters away from a nearby park .
A day later , Trump visited the St. John Paul II shrine , a visit denounced by the highest-ranking African American prelate in the U.S. , Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington , D.C. , whom Francis appointed to the politically important position last year .
Gregory said he found it “ baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ egregiously misused and manipulated.
” In that vein , the pope ’ s phone call to Texas Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso last week appeared quietly significant .
Seitz has taken a leading role in demanding fair treatment for migrants attempting to cross the southern U.S. border , a cause Francis has championed in ways that have fueled tensions with Trump .
Francis called Seitz unexpectedly after he was photographed kneeling in prayer at a Black Lives Matter protest .
Seitz said the pope thanked him without mentioning the demonstration , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent words and actions on the events that are taking place in the country now ” after Floyd ’ s killing .
Francis was not alone in making the Vatican ’ s views known .
While the Holy See would be loath to be seen as picking sides prior to the U.S. election , its media operation has made clear its backing for peaceful protests , denouncing injustices suffered by black Americans and underlining its longtime support of King ’ s message .
Sunday ’ s L ’ Osservatore Romano newspaper featured three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first was that 1 million people were expected to protest that day in Washington .
A second story was about a video showing two U.S. police officers shoving 75-year-old Martin Gugino , a white Catholic protester , to the ground in Buffalo .
“ Go watch it , please , ” the article said .
Its third story was about a prayer service presided over by the highest-ranking American at the Vatican , Cardinal Kevin Farrell , who decried how America ’ s constitutional ideals were failing its black citizens .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken to Francis in the past about America ’ s race problems , which he saw up close as an auxiliary bishop in Washington .
Farrell said Francis is well versed in King and American history .
Francis “ knows what the principle was and he knows what the struggle was , ” Farrell said .
Natalia Imperatori-Lee , a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College , said the Vatican ’ s message is having an effect on American Catholics .
“ We are starting to see a kind of fissure emerge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s going to be long lasting or whether it is a sign of a paradigm shift , I think it ’ s too early to tell.
” A poll from the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute last week found that the share of white Catholics holding favorable views of Trump had dropped by double digits since last year , registering 37 % in the last week of May compared with 49 % across 2019 .
The test , Imperatori-Lee said , will be if priests are still preaching about racism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I guess we ’ ll know if this works when Catholics go to the polls in November .
”

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis called George Floyd by name, twice, and offered support to an American bishop who knelt in prayer during a Black Lives Matter protest.
Cardinals black and white have spoken out about Floyd’s death, and the Vatican’s communications juggernaut has shifted into overdrive to draw attention to the cause he now represents.
Under normal circumstances, Floyd’s killing at the hands of a white police officer and the global protests denouncing racism and police brutality might have drawn a muted diplomatic response from the Holy See. But in a U.S. election year, the intensity and consistency of the Vatican’s reaction suggests that, from the pope on down, it is seeking to encourage anti-racism protesters while making a clear statement about where American Catholics should stand ahead of President Donald Trump’s bid for a second term in November.
Francis “wants to send a very clear message to these conservative Catholics here who are pro-Trumpers that, ‘Listen, this is just as much of an issue as abortion is,’” said Anthea Butler, a presidential visiting fellow at Yale Divinity School.
Butler, who is African American, said the Vatican is telling Catholics “to pay attention to the racism that is happening and the racism that is in your own church in America.”
The Vatican has long spoken out about racial injustice, and popes dating to Paul VI have voiced support for the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of nonviolent protest. History’s first pope from the global south is no different. He quoted King at length during his historic speech to the U.S. Congress in 2015 and met with King’s daughter, as his predecessor had done.
But the degree to which Francis and the Vatican have seized on Floyd’s killing is unusual and suggests a coordinated messaging strategy aimed at a national church that Francis has long criticized for its political and ideological partisanship, said Alberto Melloni, a church historian and secretary of the John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies in Bologna, Italy.
“It’s not like seven people had the same type of reaction” by chance, Melloni said.
Last week, Francis denounced the “sin of racism” and twice identified Floyd as the victim of a “tragic” killing. In a message read in Italian and English during his general audience, Francis expressed concerns about violence during the protests, saying it was self-destructive.
He also said, “We cannot close our eyes to any form of racism or exclusion, while pretending to defend the sacredness of every human life.”
It was a clear effort to call out some conservative Catholics for whom the abortion issue is paramount, while other “life” issues dear to Francis - racism, immigration, the death penalty and poverty - play second fiddle at the ballot box.
Francis has firmly upheld the church’s opposition to abortion. And polls show a plurality of American Catholics support significant restrictions on legal abortion.
But Francis has also lamented that the U.S. church is “obsessed” with abortion, contraception and gay marriage to the detriment of its other teachings. Trump is staking his outreach to Catholic voters largely on his anti-abortion platform.
Francis spoke out June 3 after Trump posed in front of an Episcopal church near the White House, Bible in hand, after law enforcement aggressively forced protesters away from a nearby park.
A day later, Trump visited the St. John Paul II shrine, a visit denounced by the highest-ranking African American prelate in the U.S., Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington, D.C., whom Francis appointed to the politically important position last year. Gregory said he found it “baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated.”
In that vein, the pope’s phone call to Texas Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso last week appeared quietly significant. Seitz has taken a leading role in demanding fair treatment for migrants attempting to cross the southern U.S. border, a cause Francis has championed in ways that have fueled tensions with Trump.
Francis called Seitz unexpectedly after he was photographed kneeling in prayer at a Black Lives Matter protest. Seitz said the pope thanked him without mentioning the demonstration, but the context was clear: “My recent words and actions on the events that are taking place in the country now” after Floyd’s killing.
Francis was not alone in making the Vatican’s views known.
While the Holy See would be loath to be seen as picking sides prior to the U.S. election, its media operation has made clear its backing for peaceful protests, denouncing injustices suffered by black Americans and underlining its longtime support of King’s message.
Sunday’s L’Osservatore Romano newspaper featured three Floyd-related stories on its front page. The first was that 1 million people were expected to protest that day in Washington.
A second story was about a video showing two U.S. police officers shoving 75-year-old Martin Gugino, a white Catholic protester, to the ground in Buffalo. “Go watch it, please,” the article said.
Its third story was about a prayer service presided over by the highest-ranking American at the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who decried how America’s constitutional ideals were failing its black citizens.
In an interview, Farrell said he has spoken to Francis in the past about America’s race problems, which he saw up close as an auxiliary bishop in Washington. Farrell said Francis is well versed in King and American history.
Francis “knows what the principle was and he knows what the struggle was,” Farrell said.
Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, said the Vatican’s message is having an effect on American Catholics.
“We are starting to see a kind of fissure emerge,” she said. “Whether that’s going to be long lasting or whether it is a sign of a paradigm shift, I think it’s too early to tell.”
A poll from the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute last week found that the share of white Catholics holding favorable views of Trump had dropped by double digits since last year, registering 37% in the last week of May compared with 49% across 2019.
The test, Imperatori-Lee said, will be if priests are still preaching about racism in six months. And beyond that: “I guess we’ll know if this works when Catholics go to the polls in November.”
___
Schor contributed from New York.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--5 Things to Know for Today

5 Things to Know for Today

Your daily look at late-breaking news , upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today : 1 .
FOR MANY , COVID-19 JUST THE LATEST EPIDEMIC For millions of destitute people , the coronavirus only adds to a list of diseases made worse by chronic poverty that leads to malnutrition and violence that disrupts vaccination campaigns .
2 .
‘ CHAOS IN GEORGIA ’ Many Democrats blamed the Republican secretary of state for hourslong lines , voting machine malfunctions , provisional ballot shortages and absentee ballots failing to arrive in time .
3 .
POPE SENDS STRONG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and police brutality , a move that reminds Catholic U.S. voters there are other issues besides abortion ahead of November ’ s election .
4 .
TRUMP BRINGS BACK 2016 TEAM The U.S. president is trying to recreate the magic of his original team five months before he faces voters again , but his advisers are increasingly worried about the state of the campaign .
5 .
NCAA FINALIZING FOOTBALL PRACTICE PLAN Schools would be allowed up to 12 unpadded , slow-speed practices - or walk-throughs - during the 14 days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. FOR MANY, COVID-19 JUST THE LATEST EPIDEMIC For millions of destitute people, the coronavirus only adds to a list of diseases made worse by chronic poverty that leads to malnutrition and violence that disrupts vaccination campaigns.
2. ‘CHAOS IN GEORGIA’ Many Democrats blamed the Republican secretary of state for hourslong lines, voting machine malfunctions, provisional ballot shortages and absentee ballots failing to arrive in time.
3. POPE SENDS STRONG MESSAGE Francis backs the demonstrations against racism and police brutality, a move that reminds Catholic U.S. voters there are other issues besides abortion ahead of November’s election.
4. TRUMP BRINGS BACK 2016 TEAM The U.S. president is trying to recreate the magic of his original team five months before he faces voters again, but his advisers are increasingly worried about the state of the campaign.
5. NCAA FINALIZING FOOTBALL PRACTICE PLAN Schools would be allowed up to 12 unpadded, slow-speed practices - or walk-throughs - during the 14 days before the typical preseason begins in early August.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--'Chaos in Georgia': Is messy primary a November harbinger?

ATLANTA ( AP ) — The long-standing wrangle over voting rights and election security came to a head in Georgia , where a messy primary and partisan finger-pointing offered an unsettling preview of a November contest when battleground states could face potentially record turnout .
Many Democrats blamed the Republican secretary of state for hourslong lines , voting machine malfunctions , provisional ballot shortages and absentee ballots failing to arrive in time for Tuesday ’ s elections .
Democrat Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign called it “ completely unacceptable.
” Georgia Republicans deflected responsibility to metro Atlanta ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump ’ s top campaign attorney decried “ the chaos in Georgia.
” It raised the specter of a worst-case November scenario : a decisive state , like Florida and its “ hanging chads ” and “ butterfly ballots ” in 2000 , remaining in dispute long after polls close .
Meanwhile , Trump , Biden and their supporters could offer competing claims of victory or question the election ’ s legitimacy , inflaming an already boiling electorate .
“ I feel like we ’ re struggling as a country right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be heard , ” said Atlanta resident Ross Wakefield , a 28-year-old white software engineer who waited nearly four hours to vote and watched others “ peace out and bail ” on the line .
“ This does not give me a lot of confidence that we ’ re doing that.
” At Trump ’ s campaign headquarters , senior counsel Justin Clark blamed Georgia ’ s vote-by-mail push amid the COVID-19 pandemic , alluding to the president ’ s unfounded claims that absentee voting yields widespread fraud .
“ The American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of an election accurately reflect the will of the voters , ” Clark said .
“ The only way to make sure that the American people will have faith in the results is if people who can , show up and vote in person.
” Rachana Desai Martin , a top Biden campaign attorney , called the scenes in Georgia a “ threat ” to democracy .
“ We only have a few months left until voters around the nation head to the polls again , and efforts should begin immediately to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — is able to safely exercise their right to vote , ” she said .
Martin stopped short of assigning blame , but two Georgia Democrats on Biden ’ s list of potential running mates pointed at Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , who led the selection of Georgia ’ s new voting machine system and invited every active voter to request an absentee ballot .
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted at Raffensperger about problems in pockets of metro Atlanta .
“ Is this happening across the county or just on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked , referring to an area with a heavily black population .
Stacey Abrams , the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and an Atlanta resident , tweeted that “ Georgians deserve better ” and that Raffensperger “ owns this disaster.
” Abrams established herself as a voting rights advocate after she refused to concede her 2018 race because of voting irregularities when her Republican opponent , now-Gov .
Brian Kemp , was secretary of state .
Voting rights groups , including Abrams ’ Fair Fight Action , said Georgia ’ s experiences justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a coordinated GOP push to restrict ballot access .
Fair Fight , Priorities USA and American Bridge earlier this week announced a “ Voter Suppression Watch ” partnership .
“ Trump is already trying to extend this culture war by creating fear around vote-by-mail , ” said Aneesa McMillan of the Priorities political action committee .
She noted the Republican National Committee ’ s plans to recruit thousands of poll watchers now that the GOP is no longer under a court order banning the practice that Democrats equate to voter intimidation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not just from Georgia , and protect the entire process , ” McMillan said .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Raffensperger laid blame elsewhere , noting that state law charges counties with on-ground operation of elections .
“ It ’ s really specifically in one or two counties , in Fulton and DeKalb counties , that had these issues today , ” Raffensperger said .
“ It has nothing to do with what we ’ re doing in the rest of Georgia.
” Raffensperger , minimizing problems that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fulton ’ s and DeKalb ’ s handling of the primary .
The Republican speaker of Georgia ’ s state legislature , meanwhile , called for an investigation of the entire primary process , though he singled out Fulton County as “ particularly ” troubling .
That kind of back-and-forth , with white Republicans and black Democrats from big cities trading barbs over voting issues , isn ’ t new .
And it ’ s one that could easily repeat in November in battleground states where Democrats and minorities figure prominently in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broward County ( Fort Lauderdale ) , Florida ; Wayne County ( Detroit ) , Michigan ; Charlotte , North Carolina ; Philadelphia , Pennsylvania ; Milwaukee , Wisconsin .
Fulton County , which includes most of Atlanta , has a history of slow vote tabulation .
Its local elections chief , Richard Barron , called Tuesday a “ learning experience ” while alluding to the state ’ s role in the primary process .
The finger-pointing goes beyond details of the law .
Raffensperger correctly noted that county officials train poll workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new voting machines .
But Raffensperger is the state ’ s chief elections official who decides how many machines to send to each county , and his office provides training curriculum for local officials .
On absentee ballots , the Republican secretary of state pushed unprecedented no-fault absentee access , paying to send an application to every Georgian on the active voter rolls .
But , as Barron noted , neither the secretary of state nor the legislature provided additional money for local officials to hire staff to process the influx , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that both local and state officials , whether in Georgia or elsewhere , could find themselves in the national crosshairs if their election tallies leave the presidency in flux .
“ I know that in these hyperpartisan times , half the people will be happy , and the other half will be sad , ” Raffensperger said .
“ But we want to make sure that 100 % of people know … the election was done fairly and we got the accurate count.
” Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy and Jeff Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @

ATLANTA (AP) — The long-standing wrangle over voting rights and election security came to a head in Georgia, where a messy primary and partisan finger-pointing offered an unsettling preview of a November contest when battleground states could face potentially record turnout.
Many Democrats blamed the Republican secretary of state for hourslong lines, voting machine malfunctions, provisional ballot shortages and absentee ballots failing to arrive in time for Tuesday’s elections. Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential campaign called it “completely unacceptable.” Georgia Republicans deflected responsibility to metro Atlanta’s heavily minority and Democratic-controlled counties, while President Donald Trump’s top campaign attorney decried “the chaos in Georgia.”
It raised the specter of a worst-case November scenario: a decisive state, like Florida and its “hanging chads” and “butterfly ballots” in 2000, remaining in dispute long after polls close. Meanwhile, Trump, Biden and their supporters could offer competing claims of victory or question the election’s legitimacy, inflaming an already boiling electorate.
“I feel like we’re struggling as a country right now to hear people who really need to be heard,” said Atlanta resident Ross Wakefield, a 28-year-old white software engineer who waited nearly four hours to vote and watched others “peace out and bail” on the line. “This does not give me a lot of confidence that we’re doing that.”
At Trump’s campaign headquarters, senior counsel Justin Clark blamed Georgia’s vote-by-mail push amid the COVID-19 pandemic, alluding to the president’s unfounded claims that absentee voting yields widespread fraud.
“The American people want to know that the results of an election accurately reflect the will of the voters,” Clark said. “The only way to make sure that the American people will have faith in the results is if people who can, show up and vote in person.”
Rachana Desai Martin, a top Biden campaign attorney, called the scenes in Georgia a “threat” to democracy. “We only have a few months left until voters around the nation head to the polls again, and efforts should begin immediately to ensure that every Georgian — and every American — is able to safely exercise their right to vote,” she said.
Martin stopped short of assigning blame, but two Georgia Democrats on Biden’s list of potential running mates pointed at Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who led the selection of Georgia’s new voting machine system and invited every active voter to request an absentee ballot.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms tweeted at Raffensperger about problems in pockets of metro Atlanta. “Is this happening across the county or just on the south end,” the Democrat asked, referring to an area with a heavily black population.
Stacey Abrams, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor and an Atlanta resident, tweeted that “Georgians deserve better” and that Raffensperger “owns this disaster.” Abrams established herself as a voting rights advocate after she refused to concede her 2018 race because of voting irregularities when her Republican opponent, now-Gov. Brian Kemp, was secretary of state.
Voting rights groups, including Abrams’ Fair Fight Action, said Georgia’s experiences justify their efforts to combat what they describe as a coordinated GOP push to restrict ballot access. Fair Fight, Priorities USA and American Bridge earlier this week announced a “Voter Suppression Watch” partnership.
“Trump is already trying to extend this culture war by creating fear around vote-by-mail,” said Aneesa McMillan of the Priorities political action committee. She noted the Republican National Committee’s plans to recruit thousands of poll watchers now that the GOP is no longer under a court order banning the practice that Democrats equate to voter intimidation.
“We have to learn our lessons, not just from Georgia, and protect the entire process,” McMillan said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Raffensperger laid blame elsewhere, noting that state law charges counties with on-ground operation of elections.
“It’s really specifically in one or two counties, in Fulton and DeKalb counties, that had these issues today,” Raffensperger said. “It has nothing to do with what we’re doing in the rest of Georgia.”
Raffensperger, minimizing problems that were documented in other counties, promised investigations of Fulton’s and DeKalb’s handling of the primary. The Republican speaker of Georgia’s state legislature, meanwhile, called for an investigation of the entire primary process, though he singled out Fulton County as “particularly” troubling.
That kind of back-and-forth, with white Republicans and black Democrats from big cities trading barbs over voting issues, isn’t new. And it’s one that could easily repeat in November in battleground states where Democrats and minorities figure prominently in the most populous cities and counties: Broward County (Fort Lauderdale), Florida; Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan; Charlotte, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Fulton County, which includes most of Atlanta, has a history of slow vote tabulation. Its local elections chief, Richard Barron, called Tuesday a “learning experience” while alluding to the state’s role in the primary process.
The finger-pointing goes beyond details of the law. Raffensperger correctly noted that county officials train poll workers, including on the use of the new voting machines. But Raffensperger is the state’s chief elections official who decides how many machines to send to each county, and his office provides training curriculum for local officials.
On absentee ballots, the Republican secretary of state pushed unprecedented no-fault absentee access, paying to send an application to every Georgian on the active voter rolls. But, as Barron noted, neither the secretary of state nor the legislature provided additional money for local officials to hire staff to process the influx, which dwarfed the typical primary.
History suggests that both local and state officials, whether in Georgia or elsewhere, could find themselves in the national crosshairs if their election tallies leave the presidency in flux.
“I know that in these hyperpartisan times, half the people will be happy, and the other half will be sad,” Raffensperger said. “But we want to make sure that 100% of people know … the election was done fairly and we got the accurate count.”
___
Associated Press writers Christina A. Cassidy and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Virus pummels global economy, jobs - even without 2nd wave

PARIS ( AP ) - The virus crisis has triggered the worst global recession in nearly a century — and the pain is not over yet even if there is no second wave of infections , an international economic report warned Wednesday .
Hundreds of millions of people have lost their jobs , and the crisis is hitting the poor and young people the hardest , worsening inequalities , Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its latest analysis of global economic data .
“ It is probably the most uncertain and dramatic outlook since the creation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ We can not make projections as as we normally do.
” In the best-case scenario , if there is no second wave of infections , the agency forecast a global drop in economic output of 6 % this year , and a rise of 2.8 % next year .
If the coronavirus re-emerges later in the year , however , the global economy could shrink 7.6 % , the OECD said .
“ With or without a second outbreak , the consequences will be severe and long-lasting , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the release of the report , which is more downbeat than other forecasts from the likes of the World Bank .
Gurria argued that “ presenting the problem as the choice between lives and livelihoods , meaning a choice between health and the economy , is a false dilemma .
If the pandemic is not brought under control , there will be no robust economic recovery.
” In case of a second wave of contagions , the OECD forecast that the average unemployment rate across the 37 developed countries that it represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and see “ little recovery ” in 2021 .
In the more optimistic scenario , the figure would be 9.2 % .
In poorer countries , the numbers are often higher , and informal workers are especially vulnerable .
The agency urged governments to tackle inequalities by investing in health care systems , global cooperation on medical supplies , vaccine and treatments and retraining people whose sectors are the hardest-hit .
The virus has infected 7.2 million people worldwide and killed at least 411,000 , according to official figures tallied by Johns Hopkins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be much higher .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

PARIS (AP) - The virus crisis has triggered the worst global recession in nearly a century — and the pain is not over yet even if there is no second wave of infections, an international economic report warned Wednesday.
Hundreds of millions of people have lost their jobs, and the crisis is hitting the poor and young people the hardest, worsening inequalities, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said in its latest analysis of global economic data.
“It is probably the most uncertain and dramatic outlook since the creation of the OECD,” Secretary General Angel Gurria said. “We cannot make projections as as we normally do.”
In the best-case scenario, if there is no second wave of infections, the agency forecast a global drop in economic output of 6% this year, and a rise of 2.8% next year.
If the coronavirus re-emerges later in the year, however, the global economy could shrink 7.6%, the OECD said.
“With or without a second outbreak, the consequences will be severe and long-lasting,” the report says.
Global stock markets dropped after the release of the report, which is more downbeat than other forecasts from the likes of the World Bank.
Gurria argued that “presenting the problem as the choice between lives and livelihoods, meaning a choice between health and the economy, is a false dilemma. If the pandemic is not brought under control, there will be no robust economic recovery.”
In case of a second wave of contagions, the OECD forecast that the average unemployment rate across the 37 developed countries that it represents would double this year to 10% and see “little recovery” in 2021. In the more optimistic scenario, the figure would be 9.2%. In poorer countries, the numbers are often higher, and informal workers are especially vulnerable.
The agency urged governments to tackle inequalities by investing in health care systems, global cooperation on medical supplies, vaccine and treatments and retraining people whose sectors are the hardest-hit.
The virus has infected 7.2 million people worldwide and killed at least 411,000, according to official figures tallied by Johns Hopkins University. The true toll is believed to be much higher.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Edmunds: 5 vehicles with clever storage

Edmunds: 5 vehicles with clever storage

While many aspects of car design can seem commoditized , storage space is one place where automakers can still get creative .
These extra spots to put your stuff can make a big difference in your daily driving .
Besides the typical places like a glove compartment , some vehicles have modular cargo areas that can fold and transform into new shapes .
Others have hidden compartments or storage hooks that are kept out of sight until you need them .
Edmunds ’ experts scoured the new vehicle market to find five examples that aim to make life easier .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cargo or simply need to secure small items , these vehicles are instances of automakers handling storage the right way .
All prices below include the destination charge .
By any metric , the Chevrolet Traverse is a standout three-row SUV when it comes to storage .
The Traverse has class-leading cargo space and an underfloor compartment for additional items .
But its most interesting feature is a clever way for front passengers to secure valuables .
Models equipped with the 8-inch touchscreen , which is standard on higher trims , also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ automatically raises the screen to reveal a hidden cubby behind it .
The space is perfect for wallets , jewelry or anything else you want out of sight .
The car needs to be on for it to open , further enhancing security .
Starting manufacturer ’ s suggested retail price : $ 30,995 .
Minivans are a jack-of-all-trades for utility .
The Chrysler Pacifica is a great example .
In addition to having plenty of cargo space and small-item storage , you also get Stow ‘ n Go seating in the second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique to Chrysler and Dodge minivans .
Stow ‘ n Go allows those seats to fold down all the way into the underfloor , creating a fully flat floor behind the front two seats .
Other minivans offer cavernous space too , but you have to manually remove the cumbersome seats .
With Stow ‘ n Go , they drop into the floor with a few twists and turns .
When the seats are in their usual position , those underfloor spaces can be used for storage .
Starting MSRP : $ 35,540 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ top-rated midsize pickup truck since its debut four years ago .
One of the main reasons is its sensible approach to common problems .
For instance , how do you create lockable storage in a pickup without losing space in the bed ?
Honda answered that question by building a secure trunk into the floor of the truck bed .
This trunk has 7.3 cubic feet of space , which is enough to hold a golf bag .
You can also fill the trunk with ice and drinks for tailgate parties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can simply pull out a plug to drain the water .
Starting MSRP : $ 35,020 .
When it comes to full-size trucks , the Ram 1500 crew cab and its heavy-duty variants are the reigning kings of clever storage .
The model that debuted in 2018 comes standard with a center console that ’ s both spacious and configurable .
You can add or remove dividers , slide cupholders around , or open and close doors to create as much space as you need .
Two glove boxes add even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RamBins are storage compartments built into the rear floor .
Hidden under floor mats , they are good for holding tools or even a hitch receiver .
The Ram 1500′s rear seat bottoms also fold up to reveal additional space on the floor , where there are hooks and tie-downs for securing goods .
You can also get Ram trucks with lockable bins built into the bed sides , called RamBox .
They can hold up to 150 pounds of gear and even long items such as fishing rods or decent-size shovels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossovers aren ’ t known for being spacious .
And , indeed , the Volvo XC40 is not among the leaders in its class when it comes to cargo room .
But the XC40 makes the most of what it has , using a number of clever add-ons to maximize usable space .
For instance , there is a small hook hanging from the glove compartment to hang bags , purses or groceries securely .
Volvo also added a small trash bin to the center console , which can be removed when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rear , the load floor folds up , turning hinges into more hooks and revealing extra storage underneath .
It ’ s a small package , but the XC40 packs a number of surprises inside .
Starting MSRP : $ 35,340 .
EDMUNDS SAYS : Cargo capacity is just one way to measure the everyday usefulness of a vehicle .
Thoughtful storage space is just as important .
Take a moment to poke around any vehicle you ’ re considering to ensure it can safely fit your regular items and goods as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds .
Ryan ZumMallen is a staff writer at Edmunds .
Twitter : @ zoomy575m ; Instagram : zoomy575m .

While many aspects of car design can seem commoditized, storage space is one place where automakers can still get creative. These extra spots to put your stuff can make a big difference in your daily driving.
Besides the typical places like a glove compartment, some vehicles have modular cargo areas that can fold and transform into new shapes. Others have hidden compartments or storage hooks that are kept out of sight until you need them.
Edmunds’ experts scoured the new vehicle market to find five examples that aim to make life easier. Whether you’re regularly hauling heavy cargo or simply need to secure small items, these vehicles are instances of automakers handling storage the right way. All prices below include the destination charge.
2020 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE
By any metric, the Chevrolet Traverse is a standout three-row SUV when it comes to storage. The Traverse has class-leading cargo space and an underfloor compartment for additional items. But its most interesting feature is a clever way for front passengers to secure valuables.
Models equipped with the 8-inch touchscreen, which is standard on higher trims, also have a button that, when pressed, automatically raises the screen to reveal a hidden cubby behind it. The space is perfect for wallets, jewelry or anything else you want out of sight. The car needs to be on for it to open, further enhancing security. Starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $30,995.
2020 CHRYSLER PACIFICA
Minivans are a jack-of-all-trades for utility. The Chrysler Pacifica is a great example. In addition to having plenty of cargo space and small-item storage, you also get Stow ‘n Go seating in the second and third rows. It’s unique to Chrysler and Dodge minivans.
Stow ‘n Go allows those seats to fold down all the way into the underfloor, creating a fully flat floor behind the front two seats. Other minivans offer cavernous space too, but you have to manually remove the cumbersome seats. With Stow ‘n Go, they drop into the floor with a few twists and turns. When the seats are in their usual position, those underfloor spaces can be used for storage. Starting MSRP: $35,540.
2020 HONDA RIDGELINE
The Honda Ridgeline has been Edmunds’ top-rated midsize pickup truck since its debut four years ago. One of the main reasons is its sensible approach to common problems. For instance, how do you create lockable storage in a pickup without losing space in the bed?
Honda answered that question by building a secure trunk into the floor of the truck bed. This trunk has 7.3 cubic feet of space, which is enough to hold a golf bag. You can also fill the trunk with ice and drinks for tailgate parties. When the party’s over, you can simply pull out a plug to drain the water. Starting MSRP: $35,020.
2020 RAM 1500
When it comes to full-size trucks, the Ram 1500 crew cab and its heavy-duty variants are the reigning kings of clever storage. The model that debuted in 2018 comes standard with a center console that’s both spacious and configurable. You can add or remove dividers, slide cupholders around, or open and close doors to create as much space as you need. Two glove boxes add even more space for small items.
The optional RamBins are storage compartments built into the rear floor. Hidden under floor mats, they are good for holding tools or even a hitch receiver. The Ram 1500′s rear seat bottoms also fold up to reveal additional space on the floor, where there are hooks and tie-downs for securing goods. You can also get Ram trucks with lockable bins built into the bed sides, called RamBox. They can hold up to 150 pounds of gear and even long items such as fishing rods or decent-size shovels. Starting MSRP: $33,840.
2020 VOLVO XC40
Subcompact crossovers aren’t known for being spacious. And, indeed, the Volvo XC40 is not among the leaders in its class when it comes to cargo room. But the XC40 makes the most of what it has, using a number of clever add-ons to maximize usable space.
For instance, there is a small hook hanging from the glove compartment to hang bags, purses or groceries securely. Volvo also added a small trash bin to the center console, which can be removed when it needs to be emptied. In the rear, the load floor folds up, turning hinges into more hooks and revealing extra storage underneath. It’s a small package, but the XC40 packs a number of surprises inside. Starting MSRP: $35,340.
EDMUNDS SAYS: Cargo capacity is just one way to measure the everyday usefulness of a vehicle. Thoughtful storage space is just as important. Take a moment to poke around any vehicle you’re considering to ensure it can safely fit your regular items and goods as well as your lifestyle.
___
This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Ryan ZumMallen is a staff writer at Edmunds. Twitter: @zoomy575m; Instagram: zoomy575m.
RELATED LINKS:
-2020 Chevrolet Traverse review: https://bit.ly/2z4CRrV
-2020 Chrysler Pacifica review: https://edmu.in/2XvQp9g
-2020 Honda Ridgeline review: https://edmu.in/3gSNuz5
-2020 Ram 1500 review: https://edmu.in/2MHmLaZ
-2020 Volvo XC40 review: https://edmu.in/3ctA2OE


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Lake Huron sailboat race planned for July

PORT HURON , Mich. ( AP ) - An annual sailboat race along Lake Huron will be held next month , despite cancellations of other events due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Bayview Port Huron race is planned for July 11 , Times Herald reported .
This year ’ s race will have one route instead of two .
Participation is down about 40 percent so far , which Bayview Mackinac race chairman Chris Clark credited to circumstances related to the pandemic .
“ The mantra this year is ‘ Patience and Flexibility , ’ ” Clark wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard with all those involved in hosting the race to make sure everyone has a safe fun race !
” .
The Chicago Yacht Club posted a statement last week announcing the cancellation of the 2020 Chicago to Mackinac Island sailboat race .
Race Chairman Martin Sandoval said the Chicago race ’ s committee had taken a “ patient and pragmatic ” approach to following limitations and guidelines .
The race was scheduled for July 17 .
“ Unfortunately , the crew limitations required to maximize social distancing which were adopted by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boating guidelines from the City of Chicago ; and uncertainty as to when the Chicago lakefront and harbors will open impacted our ability to conduct a safe race for all competitors , ” Sandoval said in the written statement .
Clark noted that the Chicago race does not affect the Bayview race .
“ The CYC race to Mackinac is a great race and it is sad to see any Great Lakes race needing to be canceled .
Chicago is facing their own unique issues that are not the same as ours.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the Blue Water Fest and the 100th annual International Day Parade , have also been cancelled .

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) - An annual sailboat race along Lake Huron will be held next month, despite cancellations of other events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bayview Port Huron race is planned for July 11, Times Herald reported. This year’s race will have one route instead of two.
Participation is down about 40 percent so far, which Bayview Mackinac race chairman Chris Clark credited to circumstances related to the pandemic.
“The mantra this year is ‘Patience and Flexibility,’” Clark wrote in an email. “We are working hard with all those involved in hosting the race to make sure everyone has a safe fun race!”.
The Chicago Yacht Club posted a statement last week announcing the cancellation of the 2020 Chicago to Mackinac Island sailboat race. Race Chairman Martin Sandoval said the Chicago race’s committee had taken a “patient and pragmatic” approach to following limitations and guidelines. The race was scheduled for July 17.
“Unfortunately, the crew limitations required to maximize social distancing which were adopted by the State of Illinois; no release of boating guidelines from the City of Chicago; and uncertainty as to when the Chicago lakefront and harbors will open impacted our ability to conduct a safe race for all competitors,” Sandoval said in the written statement.
Clark noted that the Chicago race does not affect the Bayview race. “The CYC race to Mackinac is a great race and it is sad to see any Great Lakes race needing to be canceled. Chicago is facing their own unique issues that are not the same as ours.”
Other summer events in Port Huron, including the Blue Water Fest and the 100th annual International Day Parade, have also been cancelled.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--UCLA professor: No racism in refusing to cancel final

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A University of California , Los Angeles , professor suspended over an email exchange with a student who wanted a final exam canceled or changed because of racial unrest said he ’ s receiving threats and wants his “ reputation restored ” after what he calls unfounded allegations of racism .
The controversy began June 2 when Gordon Klein , who teaches accounting and business law , received an email from a student who is not black that suggested the final for Klein ’ s principles of taxation course might be canceled , shortened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The student said black classmates were suffering from fear , anxiety and trauma since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police , which galvanized protests nationwide .
Klein replied that the suggestion would be difficult because coronavirus restrictions meant his videotaped lectures were all online and he doesn ’ t know the races of his students in most cases .
He added that canceling the final exam wasn ’ t an option because it represented the entire course grade .
Klein said the student , whom he declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding he didn ’ t mean to be offensive .
The two had known each other from a previous class , and in the student ’ s first email , he ’ d thanked Klein for providing him and others with “ anti-racist resources.
” By the next day , however , Klein ’ s email was trending on Twitter , an online petition demanding he be fired was launched by another student and the dean of UCLA ’ s Anderson School of Management , where Klein has taught for 39 years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding to the online petition were most offended by his email ’ s closing remarks , in which he paraphrased Martin Luther King ’ s famous statement that people should be judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character .
Klein , who is white , said he did that as an admirer of King .
His email also questioned how biracial students , if there are any in the class , should be treated , asking , “ Are there any students that may be of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What do you suggest I do with respect to them ?
A full concession or just half ?
” He also asked if any white students from Minneapolis might be going through their own trauma , worried they would be seen as racist because of what happened in their city and how they should be handled .
Klein said he meant nothing offensive in any of the remarks .
“ I come from a Detroit family where my mother taught in inner-city Detroit , where my father was an accountant for auto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an African American studies class at the University of Michigan , ” he said .
“ I abhor the identification of individuals by their race , whether you plan to disfavor them or favor them .
I believe in a race-neutral world.
” In a brief statement Wednesday , UCLA said , “ The lecturer is on leave from campus and his classes have been reassigned to other faculty.
” The statement added that UCLA is “ committed to creating a learning , working and living environment that is free from discrimination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university investigates all allegations involving those issues .
Klein said he plans to defend himself vigorously and has enlisted the aid of the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights in Education , which has accused UCLA of violating his free-speech rights .
“ I would like to get my reputation restored , and I will engage in all lawful means from our legal system to ensure that occurs , ” he said , adding , “ It is the height of ludicrosity for anyone to suggest that a single bone in my body is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his dean the day after the emails , Klein learned he was being placed on involuntary leave until June 24 .
Klein holds a law degree , is a certified public accountant and the author of the textbook “ Ethics in Accounting : A Decision-Making Approach , ” according to his UCLA bio .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A University of California, Los Angeles, professor suspended over an email exchange with a student who wanted a final exam canceled or changed because of racial unrest said he’s receiving threats and wants his “reputation restored” after what he calls unfounded allegations of racism.
The controversy began June 2 when Gordon Klein, who teaches accounting and business law, received an email from a student who is not black that suggested the final for Klein’s principles of taxation course might be canceled, shortened or graded differently for black students. The student said black classmates were suffering from fear, anxiety and trauma since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, which galvanized protests nationwide.
Klein replied that the suggestion would be difficult because coronavirus restrictions meant his videotaped lectures were all online and he doesn’t know the races of his students in most cases. He added that canceling the final exam wasn’t an option because it represented the entire course grade.
Klein said the student, whom he declined to identify, wrote back to apologize, adding he didn’t mean to be offensive. The two had known each other from a previous class, and in the student’s first email, he’d thanked Klein for providing him and others with “anti-racist resources.”
By the next day, however, Klein’s email was trending on Twitter, an online petition demanding he be fired was launched by another student and the dean of UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where Klein has taught for 39 years, was demanding answers.
Some of those responding to the online petition were most offended by his email’s closing remarks, in which he paraphrased Martin Luther King’s famous statement that people should be judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character.
Klein, who is white, said he did that as an admirer of King.
His email also questioned how biracial students, if there are any in the class, should be treated, asking, “Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half-black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half?”
He also asked if any white students from Minneapolis might be going through their own trauma, worried they would be seen as racist because of what happened in their city and how they should be handled.
Klein said he meant nothing offensive in any of the remarks.
“I come from a Detroit family where my mother taught in inner-city Detroit, where my father was an accountant for auto workers’ unions and where I co-taught an African American studies class at the University of Michigan,” he said. “I abhor the identification of individuals by their race, whether you plan to disfavor them or favor them. I believe in a race-neutral world.”
In a brief statement Wednesday, UCLA said, “The lecturer is on leave from campus and his classes have been reassigned to other faculty.”
The statement added that UCLA is “committed to creating a learning, working and living environment that is free from discrimination, harassment or retaliation” and that the university investigates all allegations involving those issues.
Klein said he plans to defend himself vigorously and has enlisted the aid of the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which has accused UCLA of violating his free-speech rights.
“I would like to get my reputation restored, and I will engage in all lawful means from our legal system to ensure that occurs,” he said, adding, “It is the height of ludicrosity for anyone to suggest that a single bone in my body is racist.”
After a brief phone call with his dean the day after the emails, Klein learned he was being placed on involuntary leave until June 24.
Klein holds a law degree, is a certified public accountant and the author of the textbook “Ethics in Accounting: A Decision-Making Approach,” according to his UCLA bio.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe call for NCAA to pull games out of Idaho over transgender law

Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe want the NCAA to give Idaho the North Carolina treatment .
The tennis legend and soccer star led a letter Wednesday urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association to move the 2021 men ’ s basketball championship out of Idaho over House Bill 500 , which bars transgender athletes from competing in women ’ s sports .
“ With the passage of HB500 , there can be no inclusive championships and events in Idaho , ” said the letter posted on Athlete Ally .
“ Failure to move championship events out of Idaho would contradict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be an implicit endorsement of Idaho ’ s discriminatory law.
” In 2016 , the NCAA pulled seven championship games out of North Carolina after the legislature passed House Bill 2 , the so-called “ bathroom bill.
” The state legislature repealed the section of the bill requiring people to use public restrooms corresponding to their biological sex in 2017 .
In addition to Ms. King and Ms. Rapinoe , the letter was signed by WNBA stars Sue Bird and Layshia Clarendon , former NBA player Jason Collins , and former NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberties Union sued in April to overturn the Idaho law , signed into law in March , on behalf of a Boise State transgender college athlete and a high school student .
The Alliance Defending Freedom , which has sought to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of Idaho female athletes , said the NCAA should “ ignore calls to punish the state of Idaho , ” arguing that the Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act was “ designed to protect fair competition and athletic opportunities for female athletes.
” “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a few female athletes — women who have clearly benefited from the athletic opportunities protected by Title IX — are now advocating to abolish female-only sports , ” said ADF legal counsel Christiana Holcomb .
“ Comparably fit and trained male athletes will always have physical advantages over females ; that ’ s the whole reason we have girls ’ sports as a separate category.
” The ACLU also released letters from more than 400 college student-athletes as well as advocacy groups calling for the NCAA to relocate the championship games now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transgender people belong everywhere — and that includes in sports and in Idaho , ” said ACLU campaign strategist Arli Christian .
“ While the lawsuit against the state of Idaho moves through the courts , it is important for everyone to speak out so that Idaho — and the rest of the country — sees how misguided and dangerous this law is.
” Idaho ’ s HB 500 was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Barbara Ehardt , a former Division I basketball player and coach , who has said her college sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if she had been forced to compete for a roster spot against biological males .
“ If we ignore these clear biological differences , female athletes will lose medals , podium spots , public recognition , and opportunities to compete in the sports they love , ” said Ms. Holcomb .
“ Idaho ’ s Fairness in Women ’ s Sports Act was designed to protect fair competition and athletic opportunities for female athletes.
” ADF attorneys have sued Connecticut over its policy permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls ’ sports on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competitors .

Billie Jean King and Megan Rapinoe want the NCAA to give Idaho the North Carolina treatment.
The tennis legend and soccer star led a letter Wednesday urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association to move the 2021 men’s basketball championship out of Idaho over House Bill 500, which bars transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.
“With the passage of HB500, there can be no inclusive championships and events in Idaho,” said the letter posted on Athlete Ally. “Failure to move championship events out of Idaho would contradict the NCAA’s core values and would be an implicit endorsement of Idaho’s discriminatory law.”
In 2016, the NCAA pulled seven championship games out of North Carolina after the legislature passed House Bill 2, the so-called “bathroom bill.” The state legislature repealed the section of the bill requiring people to use public restrooms corresponding to their biological sex in 2017.
In addition to Ms. King and Ms. Rapinoe, the letter was signed by WNBA stars Sue Bird and Layshia Clarendon, former NBA player Jason Collins, and former NFL player Michael Sam.
The American Civil Liberties Union sued in April to overturn the Idaho law, signed into law in March, on behalf of a Boise State transgender college athlete and a high school student.
The Alliance Defending Freedom, which has sought to intervene in the lawsuit on behalf of Idaho female athletes, said the NCAA should “ignore calls to punish the state of Idaho,” arguing that the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act was “designed to protect fair competition and athletic opportunities for female athletes.”
“It’s profoundly ironic and deeply disappointing that a few female athletes — women who have clearly benefited from the athletic opportunities protected by Title IX — are now advocating to abolish female-only sports,” said ADF legal counsel Christiana Holcomb. “Comparably fit and trained male athletes will always have physical advantages over females; that’s the whole reason we have girls’ sports as a separate category.”
The reality is, Idaho schools no longer qualify to host NCAA events. Idaho’s discriminatory anti-transgender law directly impacts college athletics, violates NCAA values, and undermines the dignity and well-being of NCAA athletes. https://t.co/B04IDSKjEt — ACLU of Idaho (@acluidaho) June 10, 2020
The ACLU also released letters from more than 400 college student-athletes as well as advocacy groups calling for the NCAA to relocate the championship games now scheduled for Boise State University.
“Transgender people belong everywhere — and that includes in sports and in Idaho,” said ACLU campaign strategist Arli Christian. “While the lawsuit against the state of Idaho moves through the courts, it is important for everyone to speak out so that Idaho — and the rest of the country — sees how misguided and dangerous this law is.”
Idaho’s HB 500 was sponsored by Republican state Rep. Barbara Ehardt, a former Division I basketball player and coach, who has said her college sports career would have ended before it began if she had been forced to compete for a roster spot against biological males.
“If we ignore these clear biological differences, female athletes will lose medals, podium spots, public recognition, and opportunities to compete in the sports they love,” said Ms. Holcomb. “Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act was designed to protect fair competition and athletic opportunities for female athletes.”
ADF attorneys have sued Connecticut over its policy permitting transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports on behalf of three female high school track competitors.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Joe Biden wants reparations for blacks to include Native Americans

Joseph R. Biden passed Wednesday during a virtual town hall event with the NAACP on the chance to endorse reparations @ @ @ @ @ that such a package must also include Native Americans .
Pressed on the issue , @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee , said he supports the concept , but said he wants to @ @ @ @ @ to play out before he goes all-in on direct payments to African Americans .
“ @ @ @ @ @ on what it was and will it include Native Americans as well , ” he @ @ @ @ @ in the meantime other things can be done to lift up black Americans .
He @ @ @ @ @ more access to purchasing homes and said funding should be boosted for Title 1 schools @ @ @ @ @ families

Joseph R. Biden passed Wednesday during a virtual town hall event with the NAACP on the chance to endorse reparations for black Americans, saying that such a package must also include Native Americans.
Pressed on the issue, Mr. Biden, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, said he supports the concept, but said he wants to allow studies on the issue to play out before he goes all-in on direct payments to African Americans.
“The answer is it depends on what it was and will it include Native Americans as well,” he said.
Mr. Biden said in the meantime other things can be done to lift up black Americans.
He said black American should have more access to purchasing homes and said funding should be boosted for Title 1 schools that serve children from low-income families
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Report: Bullet that killed woman fired from airman's rifle

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. ( AP ) - A bullet taken from the skull of a woman whose body was discovered in northern Arizona was fired from a rifle owned by an Air Force airman charged in her death , authorities said Wednesday .
Mark Gooch has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of Sasha Krause , a 27-year-old who disappeared from the Mennonite community where she lived near Farmington , New Mexico , on Jan. 18 .
Her body was found off a forest road north of Flagstaff more than a month later .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a school teacher in Texas , died of a gunshot wound to the head and had suffered blunt force trauma .
Results from state crime lab testing indicate the bullet matches a .22-caliber rifle that belonged to Gooch , the Coconino County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
Gooch ’ s attorney , Matthew Springer , didn ’ t immediately respond to a message left at his office Wednesday .
Gooch ’ s older brother , Samuel , was arrested in the Phoenix area in early May after he flew to Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought was the rifle used in the killing , authorities said .
A grand jury in Coconino County later indicted him on a single felony charge of attempting to hinder prosecution .
Samuel Gooch is not in custody .
It ’ s unclear whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf .
Jon Paxton , a spokesman for the Coconino County Sheriff ’ s Office , said Samuel Gooch recently was served with the indictment and no court dates have been set .
One of Mark Gooch ’ s friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to store a .22-caliber rifle because he wasn ’ t allowed to have it at Luke Air Force base where he was stationed .
Authorities seized the weapon , replaced it with a nearly identical one and waited for Samuel Gooch to pick it up before arresting him , the sheriff ’ s office said .
Samuel Gooch told a sheriff ’ s detective after his arrest that Mark Gooch never asked him to get rid of the gun .
“ I made some hard decisions and we ’ ll see where this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to an audio recording of the interview .

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - A bullet taken from the skull of a woman whose body was discovered in northern Arizona was fired from a rifle owned by an Air Force airman charged in her death, authorities said Wednesday.
Mark Gooch has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of Sasha Krause, a 27-year-old who disappeared from the Mennonite community where she lived near Farmington, New Mexico, on Jan. 18.
Her body was found off a forest road north of Flagstaff more than a month later. An autopsy determined Krause, who previously was a school teacher in Texas, died of a gunshot wound to the head and had suffered blunt force trauma.
Results from state crime lab testing indicate the bullet matches a .22-caliber rifle that belonged to Gooch, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said.
Gooch’s attorney, Matthew Springer, didn’t immediately respond to a message left at his office Wednesday.
Testing of the duct tape that bound Krause’s hands did not detect any human DNA, according to sheriff’s records reviewed by The Associated Press this week. Analysts also weren’t able to reveal any fingerprints from the tape that could be compared against others.
Results are pending on DNA taken from underneath Krause’s fingernails and her neck.
The sheriff’s office said it will not release the results of a sexual assault exam kit to protect Krause’s privacy and that of her family. The autopsy noted no definitive evidence of injury to Krause’s genital area. She was not wearing underwear when she was found.
Gooch’s older brother, Samuel, was arrested in the Phoenix area in early May after he flew to Arizona from Wisconsin to pick up what he thought was the rifle used in the killing, authorities said. A grand jury in Coconino County later indicted him on a single felony charge of attempting to hinder prosecution, according to the sheriff’s office.
Samuel Gooch is not in custody. It’s unclear whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Coconino County Superior Court Clerk Valerie Wyant said the case is sealed.
Jon Paxton, a spokesman for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, said Samuel Gooch recently was served with the indictment and no court dates have been set.
One of Mark Gooch’s friends told authorities that Mark Gooch asked him to store a .22-caliber rifle because he wasn’t allowed to have it at Luke Air Force base where he was stationed in metropolitan Phoenix. Authorities seized the weapon, replaced it with a nearly identical one and waited for Samuel Gooch to pick it up before arresting him, the sheriff’s office said.
Samuel Gooch told a sheriff’s detective after his arrest that Mark Gooch never asked him to get rid of the gun.
“I made some hard decisions and we’ll see where this goes,” Samuel Gooch said, according to an audio recording of the interview.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Coachella, Stagecoach canceled this year over virus concerns

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been canceled this year due to coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ , Riverside County ’ s public health officer , signed an order Wednesday canceling the @ @ @ @ @ .
Health officials are concerned about a possible surge in coronavirus cases in the fall @ @ @ @ @ music and arts festival , and Stagecoach , a country music event , are typically @ @ @ @ @ previously postponed until October .
Now , “ given the projected circumstances and potential , @ @ @ @ @ moving forward , ” Kaiser said .
Travis Scott , Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean @ @ @ @ @ .
The Stagecoach lineup included Lil Nas X , Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus @ @ @ @ @ in Indio .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals have been canceled this year due to coronavirus concerns.
Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County’s public health officer, signed an order Wednesday canceling the popular festivals outside Palm Springs. Health officials are concerned about a possible surge in coronavirus cases in the fall.
Coachella, a massive music and arts festival, and Stagecoach, a country music event, are typically held in April but were previously postponed until October.
Now, “given the projected circumstances and potential, I would not be comfortable moving forward,” Kaiser said.
Travis Scott, Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean were set to headline Coachella. The Stagecoach lineup included Lil Nas X, Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus. Both festivals are held in Indio.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Ray Ciccarelli, NASCAR Truck Series driver, to quit over Confederate flag ban

A NASCAR Truck Series driver is quitting the sport at the end of the year over the organization ’ s ban on Confederate memorabilia .
Ray Ciccarelli wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday that it has “ been a fun ride and dream come true but if this is the direction Nascar is headed we will not participate after 2020 season is over.
” NASCAR on Wednesday suddenly and unexpectedly barring Confederate memorabilia , which many see as symbols of slavery and racism , in the name of providing “ a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans.
” NASCAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederate flag , once a common theme in the heavily Southern circuits , from its own cars and merchandise , but fans were still allowed to display the banner .
That will no longer be allowed and Mr. Ciccarelli accused the organization of taking sides politically , against its own fans .
“ I don ’ t believe in kneeling during Anthem nor taken ppl right to fly what ever flag they love .
I could care less about the Confederate Flag but there are ppl that do and it doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing is [ expletive ] one group to cater to another , ” he wrote , adding that he won ’ t spend money “ to participate in any political BS !
!
So everything is for SALE !
!
”

A NASCAR Truck Series driver is quitting the sport at the end of the year over the organization’s ban on Confederate memorabilia.
Ray Ciccarelli wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday that it has “been a fun ride and dream come true but if this is the direction Nascar is headed we will not participate after 2020 season is over.”
NASCAR on Wednesday suddenly and unexpectedly barred Confederate memorabilia, which many see as symbols of slavery and racism, in the name of providing “a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans.”
NASCAR had already banned its cars from displaying the Confederate flag, once a common theme in the heavily Southern circuits, from its own cars and merchandise, but fans were still allowed to display the banner.
That will no longer be allowed and Mr. Ciccarelli accused the organization of taking sides politically, against its own fans.
“I don’t believe in kneeling during Anthem nor taken ppl right to fly what ever flag they love. I could care less about the Confederate Flag but there are ppl that do and it doesn’t make them a racist all you are doing is [expletive] one group to cater to another,” he wrote, adding that he won’t spend money “to participate in any political BS!! So everything is for SALE!!”
NASCAR helmet artist Jason Beam also described the decision as “ignorance wins again.”
He noted from his Twitter feed @BEAMdesigns, correctly as far as it goes, that the enslavement of Africans took place under the U.S. flag and that some of the states victorious in the Civil War also had slavery, at least in 1861.
“You want to remove the American Flag as well, idiots,” he asked.
“The American Flag flew over slavery from 1776 to 1865, why not prohibit it? Tell me again how this is not cherry picking propaganda to pander what happened last week,” he asked one person.
The Southern states that seceded and created the Confederacy all explicitly said they were doing so to preserve slavery from the perceived threat of Republican President Abraham Lincoln.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Illinois' coronavirus deaths at 6,095, including 9-month-old

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. ( AP ) - The Cook County Medical Examiner ’ s Office ruled Wednesday that a Chicago infant ’ s death in March was caused by COVID-19 , a rare instance of a baby dying from the virus .
The announcement came as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the confirmed death toll related to COVID-19 reached 6,095 , with 77 additional fatalities reported Wednesday .
The department also reported 625 new known cases , which pushes Illinois ’ total to 129,837 .
The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office said 9-month-old Joseph Myles died on March 23 at Mercy Hospital in Chicago as a result of viral pneumonia due to two strains of coronavirus infection .
The death was ruled natural .
According to the medical examiners ’ office , an autopsy found the infant ’ s lungs were congested , indicating an infection .
Tissue samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Ultimately the medical examiner ’ s office determined both coronavirus NL-63 and COVID-19 induced viral pneumonia caused the boy ’ s death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derevyanny said .
The medical examiner ’ s office noted in its report that Myles ’ family had reported he had a history of a cold and cough .

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Wednesday that a Chicago infant’s death in March was caused by COVID-19, a rare instance of a baby dying from the virus.
The announcement came as the Illinois Department of Public Health reported the confirmed death toll related to COVID-19 reached 6,095, with 77 additional fatalities reported Wednesday. The department also reported 625 new known cases, which pushes Illinois’ total to 129,837. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years.
The medical examiner’s office said 9-month-old Joseph Myles died on March 23 at Mercy Hospital in Chicago as a result of viral pneumonia due to two strains of coronavirus infection. The death was ruled natural.
According to the medical examiners’ office, an autopsy found the infant’s lungs were congested, indicating an infection. Tissue samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ultimately the medical examiner’s office determined both coronavirus NL-63 and COVID-19 induced viral pneumonia caused the boy’s death, medical examiner’s office spokeswoman Natalia Derevyanny said.
The medical examiner’s office noted in its report that Myles’ family had reported he had a history of a cold and cough.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--New Mexico governor wants voting reform, police body cameras

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - New Mexico ’ s Democratic governor wants the Legislature to wade into potentially volatile issues of election procedure and police accountability during a special session next week that was initially scheduled for budget matters .
Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that she ’ ll broaden the scope of the session to include possible election reform amid concerns about voter access in ballot-tallying delays in New Mexico ’ s June 2 primary .
She also said the Legislature could mandate body cameras for all law enforcement agencies in response to protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd ’ s death .
“ It ’ s possible in a special session that we have a requirement that every law enforcement entity - so police departments , sheriffs , State Police , corrections - everyone has to have a body camera .
We want to know what ’ s going on .
… We want there to be transparency .
We want the public to be more confident.
” The first-term governor last week announced the creation of a council on racial justice to examine solutions to institutionalized discrimination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibility of mandatory body cameras .
“ We should capture this moment , ” Lujan Grisham said .
“ This is another civil rights movement in this country.
” State Attorney General Hector Balderas this week backed the creation of a state requirement for police body cameras and a ban on chokeholds , as state public defenders urged the Bernalillo County Sheriff ’ s Office to mandate cameras for its deputies .
Lujan Grisham also expressed interest in adding emergency components to the state election code to ensure voter access during the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extending the time for absentee ballots , which we know is an issue and continues to be an issue as we see how many are coming through the mail , ” she said .
“ It could be an emergency mail-in election system just related to COVID , just for the general election in November.
” Wary of coronavirus risks , the majority of voters shifted to absentee balloting in the state ’ s primary , as participation swelled to more than 400,000 votes from about 320,000 in the 2016 presidential primary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the torrent of absentee ballots - with the count stretching for five days in Santa Fe County .
The voter advocacy group Common Cause New Mexico has expressed concern about mail deliver delays in the absentee balloting process and access to traditional polls , especially in Native American communities with lockdown restrictions related to the coronavirus .
Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque has said he is drafting legislation on voting procedures for the special session without disclosing more details .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico’s Democratic governor wants the Legislature to wade into potentially volatile issues of election procedure and police accountability during a special session next week that was initially scheduled for budget matters.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday that she’ll broaden the scope of the session to include possible election reform amid concerns about voter access in ballot-tallying delays in New Mexico’s June 2 primary. She also said the Legislature could mandate body cameras for all law enforcement agencies in response to protests against police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
“It’s possible in a special session that we have a requirement that every law enforcement entity - so police departments, sheriffs, State Police, corrections - everyone has to have a body camera. We want to know what’s going on. … We want there to be transparency. We want the public to be more confident.”
The first-term governor last week announced the creation of a council on racial justice to examine solutions to institutionalized discrimination. She went farther Wednesday, opening the possibility of mandatory body cameras.
“We should capture this moment,” Lujan Grisham said. “This is another civil rights movement in this country.”
State Attorney General Hector Balderas this week backed the creation of a state requirement for police body cameras and a ban on chokeholds, as state public defenders urged the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to mandate cameras for its deputies.
Lujan Grisham also expressed interest in adding emergency components to the state election code to ensure voter access during the coronavirus pandemic.
“It could either be extending the time for absentee ballots, which we know is an issue and continues to be an issue as we see how many are coming through the mail,” she said. “It could be an emergency mail-in election system just related to COVID, just for the general election in November.”
Wary of coronavirus risks, the majority of voters shifted to absentee balloting in the state’s primary, as participation swelled to more than 400,000 votes from about 320,000 in the 2016 presidential primary. Local election officials struggled to quickly tally the torrent of absentee ballots - with the count stretching for five days in Santa Fe County.
The voter advocacy group Common Cause New Mexico has expressed concern about mail deliver delays in the absentee balloting process and access to traditional polls, especially in Native American communities with lockdown restrictions related to the coronavirus.
Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque has said he is drafting legislation on voting procedures for the special session without disclosing more details.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Small plane crash in Arizona kills experienced pilot aboard

SAFFORD , Ariz. ( AP ) - Federal transportation officials said Wednesday they are investigating the crash of a small plane that killed the pilot , the lone occupant aboard .
The Graham County Sheriff ’ s Office said Wednesday it received a report shortly before midday on Tuesday about a plane on a hillside near the airport in the small city of Safford , Arizona .
The agency said law enforcement and emergency medical workers arrived to find the pilot had died .
It identified him as 79-year-old Delos “ Dee ” Echlin , 79 , described by family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officials said an autopsy will be performed .
There was extensive damage to the aircraft , but there was no fire .
The sheriff ’ s office said the two-seat plane took off from from Tucson International Airport between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on a trip for the day to Saffard .
The plane was near Saffard Regional Airport when it went off radar .
No distress signal was reported .
What remained of the plane was taken Wednesday morning to Phoenix , where it will be inspected by experts from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Administration , the sheriff ’ s office said .
FAA public affairs manager Ian Gregor said the NTSB will be the lead investigating agency that determines the probable cause of the crash .

SAFFORD, Ariz. (AP) - Federal transportation officials said Wednesday they are investigating the crash of a small plane that killed the pilot, the lone occupant aboard.
The Graham County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday it received a report shortly before midday on Tuesday about a plane on a hillside near the airport in the small city of Safford, Arizona.
The agency said law enforcement and emergency medical workers arrived to find the pilot had died. It identified him as 79-year-old Delos “Dee” Echlin, 79, described by family as an experienced former Navy pilot. Officials said an autopsy will be performed.
There was extensive damage to the aircraft, but there was no fire.
The sheriff’s office said the two-seat plane took off from from Tucson International Airport between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on a trip for the day to Saffard. The plane was near Saffard Regional Airport when it went off radar. No distress signal was reported.
What remained of the plane was taken Wednesday morning to Phoenix, where it will be inspected by experts from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, the sheriff’s office said.
FAA public affairs manager Ian Gregor said the NTSB will be the lead investigating agency that determines the probable cause of the crash.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Rob Manfred says '100%' chance of MLB season, new proposal soon

NEW YORK - Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there is a “ 100 % ” chance of big league ball this year .
Major League Baseball will make another proposal to start the pandemic-delayed season in empty ballparks , but Manfred vowed Wednesday to unilaterally order opening day if an agreement is not reached .
“ I can tell you unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year , ” he said .
Manfred insisted the chance of playing this year was “ 100 % .
” The players ’ association made its second proposal Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 % of prorated salaries .
MLB ’ s plan a day earlier was for a 76-game season , would guarantee 50 % of prorated salaries and hinge 25 % in additional money on the postseason ’ s completion .
“ It will be a another significant move in the players ’ direction in terms of the salary issue that has kept us apart , ” Manfred said during an interview with ESPN before that network ’ s coverage of the amateur draft .
“ We ’ re hopeful that it will produce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that we ’ ll see a number other than 100 % on salary and some recognition that 89 games , given where we are in the calendar in the course of the pandemic is not realistic , ” he said .
MLB has threatened a shorter schedule if players insist on 100 % of their prorated salaries .
The union likely would file a grievance , contending a longer schedule was economically feasible and asking arbitrator Mark Irvings to award damages .
There has not been a big league schedule of fewer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB and the union have proposed expanding the playoffs from 10 teams to as many as 16 this year and next , but that enlarged postseason is contingent on a deal .
“ I would prefer to negotiate a new agreement with the MLBPA that gets us more games and resolves the issues that have separated us amicably , ” Manfred said .
“ But at the end of the day , we negotiated for the right in March to start the season on a number of games that we select in these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , we ’ ll exercise that right.
” A March 26 agreement called for prorated salaries in exchange for $ 170 million in salary advances and a guarantee of service time even if no games were played .
Manfred wouldn ’ t divulge when he would order a shorter schedule .
MLB initially proposed 82 games and the union responded with 114 .
While players want to extend the postseason deep into November , teams fear a second wave of the coronavirus would jeopardize the postseason .
The playoffs alone generate $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling any games caused by an expansion .
“ Each and every day that goes by , we lose the capacity to play at least one game , and that ’ s really the time pressure that ’ s significant at this point in time , ” Manfred said .
The players ’ association declined to comment on Manfred ’ s remarks .
MLB claims each additional regular-season game in empty ballparks causes a $ 640,000 loss because 40 % of revenue is tied to gate .
The union has disputed MLB ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been given the data it needs to make a full evaluation .
Manfred told MLB Network the sides were “ very , very close ” to agreement on health protocols .

NEW YORK - Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there is a “100%” chance of big league ball this year.
Major League Baseball will make another proposal to start the pandemic-delayed season in empty ballparks, but Manfred vowed Wednesday to unilaterally order opening day if an agreement is not reached.
“I can tell you unequivocally we are going to play Major League Baseball this year,” he said.
Manfred insisted the chance of playing this year was “100%.”
The players’ association made its second proposal Tuesday, asking for an 89-game regular season and 100% of prorated salaries. MLB’s plan a day earlier was for a 76-game season, would guarantee 50% of prorated salaries and hinge 25% in additional money on the postseason’s completion.
“It will be a another significant move in the players’ direction in terms of the salary issue that has kept us apart,” Manfred said during an interview with ESPN before that network’s coverage of the amateur draft.
“We’re hopeful that it will produce reciprocal movement from the players’ association, that we’ll see a number other than 100% on salary and some recognition that 89 games, given where we are in the calendar in the course of the pandemic is not realistic,” he said.
MLB has threatened a shorter schedule if players insist on 100% of their prorated salaries. The union likely would file a grievance, contending a longer schedule was economically feasible and asking arbitrator Mark Irvings to award damages.
There has not been a big league schedule of fewer than 80 games since 1879. Both MLB and the union have proposed expanding the playoffs from 10 teams to as many as 16 this year and next, but that enlarged postseason is contingent on a deal.
“I would prefer to negotiate a new agreement with the MLBPA that gets us more games and resolves the issues that have separated us amicably,” Manfred said. “But at the end of the day, we negotiated for the right in March to start the season on a number of games that we select in these particular circumstances. And if we have to, we’ll exercise that right.”
A March 26 agreement called for prorated salaries in exchange for $170 million in salary advances and a guarantee of service time even if no games were played.
Manfred wouldn’t divulge when he would order a shorter schedule. MLB initially proposed 82 games and the union responded with 114. While players want to extend the postseason deep into November, teams fear a second wave of the coronavirus would jeopardize the postseason. The playoffs alone generate $787 million in broadcast revenue - before selling any games caused by an expansion.
“Each and every day that goes by, we lose the capacity to play at least one game, and that’s really the time pressure that’s significant at this point in time,” Manfred said.
The players’ association declined to comment on Manfred’s remarks.
MLB claims each additional regular-season game in empty ballparks causes a $640,000 loss because 40% of revenue is tied to gate. The union has disputed MLB’s figures but claims it has not been given the data it needs to make a full evaluation.
Manfred told MLB Network the sides were “very, very close” to agreement on health protocols.


washingtontimes--2020-06-10--Buffalo adopts policing changes after protester is hurt

BUFFALO , N.Y. ( AP ) - Buffalo will replace its police Emergency Response Team with a new “ Public Protection Unit ” following the suspension and arrest of two ERT members seen on video shoving a 75-year-old protester who fell and cracked his head , Mayor Byron Brown said Wednesday .
The city also will halt arrests for low-level , non-violent offenses like marijuana possession and make it easier for the public to view police body camera video under measures Brown introduced as “ a critical first step ” in making Buffalo more inclusive and equitable amid nationwide calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift policing in Buffalo away from enforcement and to a restorative model that promotes stronger community bonds , civic engagement and an end to young black men , black people , being caught in a cycle of crime and incarceration by consciously limiting their negative engagement with police , ” Brown said at a news conference .
The changes follow days of negotiations with community leaders and activists , said Brown , whose police force has faced increased scrutiny since a widely viewed video showed officers in riot gear shoving a white-haired protester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of George Floyd in Minnesota last week .
“ It ’ s amazing to see that we have everybody at the table , ” said New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis , who along with Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman joined Brown at the news conference .
The two are part of a group of NFL players working with the league on social justice issues .
“ There is a unique opportunity for unity .
What is happening here is not happening around the country , ” Davis said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with felonies , were part of a crowd control unit that was effectively disbanded with the resignation of its nearly 60 other members in solidarity .
The Public Protection Unit that replaces it will work with any group that wants to peacefully protest , Brown said .
The former ERT members did not resign from the police department altogether .
The incident has inflamed tensions between the city and police union , which Brown said has been “ a barrier to reform ” by , for example , pushing for costly overtime for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was sent to the Police Benevolent Association .
Under an executive order , police will issue appearance tickets for non-violent crimes that do not involve property damage , weapons or large drug sales , the mayor said .
The department also will strengthen de-escalation and implicit bias training and convene a commission to examine police procedures .

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Buffalo will replace its police Emergency Response Team with a new “Public Protection Unit” following the suspension and arrest of two ERT members seen on video shoving a 75-year-old protester who fell and cracked his head, Mayor Byron Brown said Wednesday.
The city also will halt arrests for low-level, non-violent offenses like marijuana possession and make it easier for the public to view police body camera video under measures Brown introduced as “a critical first step” in making Buffalo more inclusive and equitable amid nationwide calls for police accountability.
“We will shift policing in Buffalo away from enforcement and to a restorative model that promotes stronger community bonds, civic engagement and an end to young black men, black people, being caught in a cycle of crime and incarceration by consciously limiting their negative engagement with police,” Brown said at a news conference.
The changes follow days of negotiations with community leaders and activists, said Brown, whose police force has faced increased scrutiny since a widely viewed video showed officers in riot gear shoving a white-haired protester near the conclusion of a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota last week.
“It’s amazing to see that we have everybody at the table,” said New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis, who along with Buffalo Bills cornerback Josh Norman joined Brown at the news conference. The two are part of a group of NFL players working with the league on social justice issues.
“There is a unique opportunity for unity. What is happening here is not happening around the country,” Davis said.
The injured protester, Martin Gugino, remained hospitalized Wednesday.
The officers in the video, now charged with felonies, were part of a crowd control unit that was effectively disbanded with the resignation of its nearly 60 other members in solidarity. The Public Protection Unit that replaces it will work with any group that wants to peacefully protest, Brown said.
The former ERT members did not resign from the police department altogether. The incident has inflamed tensions between the city and police union, which Brown said has been “a barrier to reform” by, for example, pushing for costly overtime for police training.
An email seeking comment was sent to the Police Benevolent Association.
Under an executive order, police will issue appearance tickets for non-violent crimes that do not involve property damage, weapons or large drug sales, the mayor said.
The department also will strengthen de-escalation and implicit bias training and convene a commission to examine police procedures.