washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Hong Kong begins mass-testing for virus amid public doubts

HONG KONG ( AP ) - Hong Kong began a voluntary mass-testing program for coronavirus Tuesday as part of a strategy to break the chain of transmission in the city ’ s third outbreak of the disease .
The virus-testing program has become a flash point of political debate in Hong Kong , with many distrustful over resources and staff being provided by the China ’ s central government and fears that the residents ’ DNA could be collected during the exercise .
The Hong Kong government has dismissed such concerns , saying that no personal data will be attached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be destroyed in Hong Kong after the exercise .
The testing program began at 8 a.m. with residents heading to more than 100 testing centers staffed by over 5,000 volunteers .
More than 500,000 people in the city of 7.5 million signed up in advance for the program , which will last at least a week .
It is aimed at identifying silent carriers of the virus - those without symptoms - who could be spreading the disease .
The government expects 5 million people will take part in the program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depending on demand .
Hong Kong ’ s worst outbreak in early July was blamed in part on an exemption from quarantine requirements for airline staff , truck drivers from mainland China and sailors on cargo ships .
At its peak , Hong Kong recorded more than 100 locally transmitted cases a day , after going weeks without any in June .
The outbreak has slowed , with the city reporting just nine cases on Monday , the first time in two weeks that daily infections had fallen to single digits .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that community testing can help detect asymptomatic carriers to further stop the spread of the virus .
Respiratory medicine expert professor David Hui that even though infections have dwindled , the proportion of cases with untraceable sources of infection remain between 30 % and 40 % .
“ That means there must be some silent transmission going on , so community testing has some role in picking up these silent transmitters , ” said Hui , who is a public health adviser to the city ’ s government .
“ Hopefully if we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a period of time that may help to break the transmission chain in the community.
” The program is more effective if most of the population takes part , Hui said .
“ If only 1 or 2 million people take part , then we may not be able to achieve that objective , ” he said .
Other experts , such as Dr. Leung Chi-chiu , a respiratory specialist and a member of the Medical Council of Hong Kong , said that the testing program plays only a supplementary role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the long and variable incubation period of the coronavirus .
Leung said that mass-testing may not be the most cost-effective method , as it is not easy to pick up the disease in its early development , especially if a person is not having symptoms or have not had recent exposure to an infected patient .
Even if mass-testing could identify infected patients , they may already be past the infectious stage , he said .
Leung said that large-scale testing will not be able to replace traditional methods of social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should only be used as a complementary measure .

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong tested thousands of people for coronavirus Tuesday at the start of a mass-testing effort that’s become another political flash point in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
Volunteers stood in lines at some of the more than 100 testing centers, though many residents are distrustful over the resources and staff being provided by China’s central government and some have expressed fear DNA could be collected.
The Hong Kong government has dismissed such concerns, and leader Carrie Lam urged the public to see the program in a fair and objective light and appealed to critics to stop discouraging people from being tested since participation was crucial to the program’s success.
Priscilla Pun, a sales manager, got tested to give herself peace of mind. “I don’t see any reason not to do it, and this way I can let my family in Canada know that I am safe,” said Pun, who was tested at a center in the eastern Quarry Bay neighborhood.
Others, like Giselle Ming, said that she decided to take part to support the Hong Kong government’s initiative even though she was not worried that she might be a carrier of the coronavirus. “In this bad situation of the coronavirus, I hope I can do something to help the society,” she said.
Lam said at her weekly news conference that over 10,000 people, including most of Hong Kong’s government ministers, had been tested by Tuesday morning.
“This large-scale universal community testing program is beneficial to fighting the epidemic and beneficial to our society. It will also help Hong Kong come out of the pandemic unscathed and is conducive to the resumption of daily activities,” Lam said.
More than 500,000 people in the city of 7.5 million signed up in advance for the program, which will last at least a week. It is aimed at identifying silent carriers of the virus - those without symptoms - who could be spreading the disease.
The government expects 5 million people will take part in the program, which could be extended to two weeks depending on demand.
Hong Kong’s worst outbreak in early July was blamed in part on an exemption from quarantine requirements for airline staff, truck drivers from mainland China and sailors on cargo ships.
At its peak, Hong Kong recorded more than 100 locally transmitted cases a day, after going weeks without any in June.
The outbreak has slowed, with the city reporting just nine cases on Monday, the first time in two weeks that daily infections had fallen to single digits. However, the government and some experts say that community testing can help detect asymptomatic carriers to further stop the spread of the virus.
Respiratory medicine expert professor David Hui that even though infections have dwindled, the proportion of cases with untraceable sources of infection remain between 30% and 40%.
“That means there must be some silent transmission going on, so community testing has some role in picking up these silent transmitters,” said Hui, who is a public health adviser to the city’s government. “Hopefully if we can identify these people and isolate them for a period of time that may help to break the transmission chain in the community.”
The program is more effective if most of the population takes part, Hui said.
“If only 1 or 2 million people take part, then we may not be able to achieve that objective,” he said.
Other experts, such as Dr. Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory specialist and a member of the Medical Council of Hong Kong, said that the testing program plays only a supplementary role in controlling the pandemic in the city, due to the long and variable incubation period of the coronavirus.
Leung said that mass-testing may not be the most cost-effective method, as it is not easy to pick up the disease in its early development, especially if a person is not having symptoms or have not had recent exposure to an infected patient.
Even if mass-testing could identify infected patients, they may already be past the infectious stage, he said.
Leung said that large-scale testing will not be able to replace traditional methods of social distancing and contact tracing measures, and should only be used as a complementary measure.
Some pro-democracy activists, such as Joshua Wong, have publicly opposed the program. Wong called for a boycott, citing Swedish media reports that some test kits being used had high rates of false-positive results.
Lam noted that while false-positives can happen, the tests used in the program have passed quality assurance procedures.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Embattled Nebraska candidate vows to stay in Senate race

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - Embattled Nebraska U.S. Senate hopeful Chris Janicek doubled down Monday on his refusal to bow out of the race , despite relentless pressure from the state Democratic Party after he admitted to sending sexually offensive text messages about a campaign employee .
Janicek reaffirmed his pledge to stay in the race during a press conference at his Omaha cupcake bakery .
The Democratic nominee has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to request that state officials remove his name from the ballot , but he made clear that he has no plans to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Janicek in June after he was caught sending sexually offensive messages about a campaign employee in a group text with other staffers .
The female contract staffer was accidentally included in the message and filed a complaint with the party .
Janicek has said he apologized to the woman in a phone call , in person , and in writing , and that she accepted his apology .
The woman has disputed Janicek ’ s account , saying she doesn ’ t accept his apology and maintains that he should drop out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was wrong .
It was inappropriate .
It was disgusting .
It was meant to go to one person , ” Janicek said .
“ I apologized immediately for it , over and over , ad nauseam .
The text message should never have been sent.
” Janicek is challenging Republican Sen. Ben Sasse , who is seeking a second term .
Janicek accepted the Democratic nomination in May after winning a seven-candidate primary race , but the odds of winning in November were against him in GOP-dominated Nebraska even before his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska Democratic Party in the press conference , noting that its membership has fallen to just 29 % of the state ’ s registered voters .
He said party officials met with him privately after his campaign employee filed the complaint and offered to let him drop out quietly , saying that he could cite health concerns as the reason .
Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said that claim was untrue , and that the meeting with Janicek included eight party officers and their lawyer .
After the scandal broke , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted to endorse Alisha Shelton , an Omaha mental health practitioner who ran unsuccessfully against Janicek in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary .
Party leaders voted to endorse Shelton as a replacement nominee , but state law prevents them from removing Janicek ’ s name from the ballot without his consent .
And because of Nebraska ’ s “ sore loser ” law , Shelton can ’ t run as a write-in candidate because she lost to Janicek in the primary .
The state party then voted to back former Democratic U.S. Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 2nd Congressional District for one term .
Ashford wasn ’ t a candidate in the Democratic Senate primary and thus would have been able to run as a write-in candidate .
But days after the endorsement , he reversed course and announced that he wouldn ’ t run for the Senate seat .
In a statement Monday , party officials said they would support a nominee “ whose values represent our party , ” no matter what Janicek decides .
Janicek “ is shameful and has no support of the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our party will make sure that voters across Nebraska have a strong choice in order to defeat Ben Sasse , ” she said .
Shelton said the party deserves a nominee “ with a moral compass , ” who will listen to voters .
“ Leaders are always willing to do the right thing , even if it is hard , ” she said .
“ I am sad that Chris is not leading .
Fellow Nebraskans are pleading with him to exit the race.
” Janicek ran for Senate once before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic primary .
He said he chose to run after having a heart attack in 2015 and getting slapped with more than $ 100,000 in medical bills that his insurance only partially covered .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Embattled Nebraska U.S. Senate hopeful Chris Janicek doubled down Monday on his refusal to bow out of the race, despite relentless pressure from the state Democratic Party after he admitted to sending sexually offensive text messages about a campaign employee.
Janicek reaffirmed his pledge to stay in the race during a press conference at his Omaha cupcake bakery. The Democratic nominee has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to request that state officials remove his name from the ballot, but he made clear that he has no plans to do so.
The Nebraska Democratic Party disavowed Janicek in June after he was caught sending sexually offensive messages about a campaign employee in a group text with other staffers.
The female contract staffer was accidentally included in the message and filed a complaint with the party. Janicek has said he apologized to the woman in a phone call, in person, and in writing, and that she accepted his apology. The woman has disputed Janicek’s account, saying she doesn’t accept his apology and maintains that he should drop out of the race.
“The text message was wrong. It was inappropriate. It was disgusting. It was meant to go to one person,” Janicek said. “I apologized immediately for it, over and over, ad nauseam. The text message should never have been sent.”
Janicek is challenging Republican Sen. Ben Sasse, who is seeking a second term. Janicek accepted the Democratic nomination in May after winning a seven-candidate primary race, but the odds of winning in November were against him in GOP-dominated Nebraska even before his party withdrew its support.
Janicek blasted the Nebraska Democratic Party in the press conference, noting that its membership has fallen to just 29% of the state’s registered voters. He said party officials met with him privately after his campaign employee filed the complaint and offered to let him drop out quietly, saying that he could cite health concerns as the reason.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb said that claim was untrue, and that the meeting with Janicek included eight party officers and their lawyer.
After the scandal broke, the state party’s state central committee voted to endorse Alisha Shelton, an Omaha mental health practitioner who ran unsuccessfully against Janicek in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
Party leaders voted to endorse Shelton as a replacement nominee, but state law prevents them from removing Janicek’s name from the ballot without his consent. And because of Nebraska’s “sore loser” law, Shelton can’t run as a write-in candidate because she lost to Janicek in the primary.
The state party then voted to back former Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford, who represented the Omaha’s 2nd Congressional District for one term. Ashford wasn’t a candidate in the Democratic Senate primary and thus would have been able to run as a write-in candidate. But days after the endorsement, he reversed course and announced that he wouldn’t run for the Senate seat.
In a statement Monday, party officials said they would support a nominee “whose values represent our party,” no matter what Janicek decides. Janicek “is shameful and has no support of the Democratic Party,” Kleeb said.
“Our party will make sure that voters across Nebraska have a strong choice in order to defeat Ben Sasse,” she said.
Shelton said the party deserves a nominee “with a moral compass,” who will listen to voters.
“Leaders are always willing to do the right thing, even if it is hard,” she said. “I am sad that Chris is not leading. Fellow Nebraskans are pleading with him to exit the race.”
Janicek ran for Senate once before, in 2018, but lost in the Democratic primary. He said he chose to run after having a heart attack in 2015 and getting slapped with more than $100,000 in medical bills that his insurance only partially covered.
___
Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Facebook threatens to block news distribution in Australia

Facebook threatened to block Australian publishers and individuals from sharing news stories on its platform in reaction to an Australian measure that could require it to compensate media organizations for its use of their stories .
The social network said the Australian move would force it to pay arbitrary and theoretically unlimited sums for information that makes up only a small fraction of its service .
The measure would force Facebook to choose between “ either removing news entirely or accepting a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want at a price with no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s managing director for Australia and New Zealand , Will Easton , wrote in a blog post .
“ No business can operate that way.
” Campbell Brown , a former NBC and CNN anchor who now serves as Facebook ’ s vice president of global news partnerships , said the cutoff threat “ has nothing to do with our ongoing global commitment to journalism.
” Brown ’ s post , which cited a variety of individual Facebook programs intended to support news organizations , was titled “ Our Continued Commitment to Journalism.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ open letter that cast the proposed Australian law as a potential threat to individual privacy and a burden that would degrade the quality of its search and YouTube video services , but did not threaten a cutoff .
“ Mark Zuckerberg is happy to let Facebook be a tool to spread misinformation and fake news , but is apparently fine with Facebook dropping real news altogether , ” John Stanton , co-founder of the Save Journalism Project , said in a statement .
“ Regulators need to reign in the tech giants ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s too late .
”

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Facebook threatened to block Australian publishers and individuals from sharing news stories on its platform in reaction to an Australian measure that could require it to compensate media organizations for its use of their stories.
The social network said the Australian move would force it to pay arbitrary and theoretically unlimited sums for information that makes up only a small fraction of its service.
The measure would force Facebook to choose between “either removing news entirely or accepting a system that lets publishers charge us for as much content as they want at a price with no clear limits,” the company’s managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Will Easton, wrote in a blog post. “No business can operate that way.”
Campbell Brown, a former NBC and CNN anchor who is Facebook’s vice president of global news partnerships, said the cutoff threat “has nothing to do with our ongoing global commitment to journalism.” Brown’s post, which cited a variety of individual Facebook programs intended to support news organizations, was titled “Our Continued Commitment to Journalism.”
The threat came after a consultation period on the draft law ended last week and the Australian government gets to work on its final wording.
Australian Communications Minister Paul Fletcher declined to say whether he thought Facebook would make good on its threat.
“It’s far from unprecedented for big tech companies to make heavy-handed threats,” Fletcher said.
“We will continue with our thorough and careful process, our public policy process, based upon the facts, based upon giving all stakeholders the chance to put their views,” he added.
Google, meanwhile, issued an open letter that cast the proposed Australian law as a potential threat to individual privacy and a burden that would degrade the quality of its search and YouTube video services, but did not threaten a cutoff.
“Mark Zuckerberg is happy to let Facebook be a tool to spread misinformation and fake news, but is apparently fine with Facebook dropping real news altogether,” John Stanton, co-founder of the Save Journalism Project, said in a statement. “Regulators need to reign in the tech giants’ total domination of the online marketplace before it’s too late.”
Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the proposed laws would “create a more sustainable media landscape and see payment for original content.”
“Australia makes laws that advance our national interest. We don’t respond to coercion or heavy handed threats wherever they come from,” Frydenberg said, referring to the Facebook threat.
The draft legislation that aims to make Australia succeed where other countries have failed in forcing the companies to compensate media businesses for news content was made public in July.
A public consultation period ended last week.
Frydenberg has said he hopes Parliament will pass the legislation this year.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims, the fair trade watchdog who devised the model for making Facebook and Google pay for content, said he hoped “parties will engage in constructive discussions” as the draft legislation was finalized.
“Facebook’s threat today to prevent any sharing of news on its services in Australia is ill-timed and misconceived,” Sims said.
Terry Flew, a professor in the creative industries faculty of the Queensland University of Technology, said it was impossible to predict how much the proposed laws could cost Facebook because prices had to be negotiated with Australian news businesses.
“My sense would be in terms of overall revenues for Facebook, not very much,” Flew said of costs.
“The bigger concern that’s animating the digital platforms is the possibility of this legislation extending from Australia into other jurisdictions where it might start to significantly impact upon their global business,” Flew added.
News Corp Australia, one of the country’s largest media conglomerates, declined to comment on Facebook’s statement.
The draft legislation that aims to make Australia succeed where other countries have failed in forcing the companies to compensate media businesses for news content was made public in July.
___
McGuirk is in Canberra, Australia. Associated Press journalist Barbara Ortutay contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Kemp extends COVID-19 orders as cases fall in Georgia

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Georgia ’ s governor is extending the two main executive orders that govern Georgia ’ s response to COVID-19 .
Gov .
Brian Kemp on Monday signed a 15-day extension of the order that mandates requirements on social distancing , bans on gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person and lists other rules about operating businesses and nonprofit groups .
Those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities , as well as people deemed medically fragile , must continue to shelter in place through Sept. 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying state of emergency , which gives him powers to make other orders , through Oct. 10 .
Lawmakers in March , when they approved Kemp declaring a public health state of emergency , agreed to let him extend the authority as the governor saw necessary .
In extending the orders , Kemp made no changes .
That means he did not update his previous order to declare teachers as “ critical infrastructure workers ” which would exempt them from requirements to quarantine for 14 days after exposure to COVID-19 .
School superintendents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which could let them order teachers back to work to avoid interruptions to in-person instruction .
At least three Georgia school districts have already made the declaration , including the Floyd County district , which was specifically advised not to do so in an email from a lawyer in the governor ’ s office .
Kemp also made no changes to the limited authority he has granted to cities and counties to order people to wear masks in public places .
Kemp has said local governments can ’ t enforce those orders inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so .
More than 270,000 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed in Georgia , while 5,633 deaths have been recorded .
The average number of new infections recorded over the past seven days fell close to 2,000 on Monday , the lowest level since June 30 .
Spread is still rapid in Georgia compared to other places , though .
Georgia is the sixth-highest state in new cases per capita over the last 14 days , according to figures kept by The Associated Press .
Chattahoochee County , home to much of Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for new cases per capita , over the last 14 days .
Stewart County , with an immigration detention facility , Baldwin County , home to Georgia College & State University , and Clinch County are also in the top 25 counties nationwide for new cases per capita .
The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 fell below 2,000 on Saturday for the first time since July 6 , a number Kemp touted Monday as he signed his extended orders .
About 10.3 % of Georgia ’ s tests for COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , compared to 5.7 % nationwide .
Experts say anything over 5 % may indicate that large numbers of cases are going undetected .
The number of new tests reported has been falling steadily for the past week .
The number of new deaths recorded remains elevated , averaging more than 60 a day .
Reports of deaths typically lag behind new infections and hospitalizations .

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia’s governor is extending the two main executive orders that govern Georgia’s response to COVID-19.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday signed a 15-day extension of the order that mandates requirements on social distancing, bans on gatherings of more than 50 people unless there is six feet between each person and lists other rules about operating businesses and nonprofit groups. Those who live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as people deemed medically fragile, must continue to shelter in place through Sept. 15.
The Republican Kemp also extended the underlying state of emergency, which gives him powers to make other orders, through Oct. 10. Lawmakers in March, when they approved Kemp declaring a public health state of emergency, agreed to let him extend the authority as the governor saw necessary.
In extending the orders, Kemp made no changes. That means he did not update his previous order to declare teachers as “critical infrastructure workers” which would exempt them from requirements to quarantine for 14 days after exposure to COVID-19. School superintendents have been lobbying for that authority, which could let them order teachers back to work to avoid interruptions to in-person instruction. At least three Georgia school districts have already made the declaration, including the Floyd County district, which was specifically advised not to do so in an email from a lawyer in the governor’s office.
Kemp also made no changes to the limited authority he has granted to cities and counties to order people to wear masks in public places. Kemp has said local governments can’t enforce those orders inside businesses unless businesses want the governments to do so.
More than 270,000 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed in Georgia, while 5,633 deaths have been recorded. The average number of new infections recorded over the past seven days fell close to 2,000 on Monday, the lowest level since June 30. Spread is still rapid in Georgia compared to other places, though. Georgia is the sixth-highest state in new cases per capita over the last 14 days, according to figures kept by The Associated Press.
Chattahoochee County, home to much of Fort Benning, is the second-highest county nationwide for new cases per capita, over the last 14 days. Stewart County, with an immigration detention facility, Baldwin County, home to Georgia College & State University, and Clinch County are also in the top 25 counties nationwide for new cases per capita.
The number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 fell below 2,000 on Saturday for the first time since July 6, a number Kemp touted Monday as he signed his extended orders.
About 10.3% of Georgia’s tests for COVID-19 came back positive over the past seven days, compared to 5.7% nationwide. Experts say anything over 5% may indicate that large numbers of cases are going undetected. The number of new tests reported has been falling steadily for the past week.
The number of new deaths recorded remains elevated, averaging more than 60 a day. Reports of deaths typically lag behind new infections and hospitalizations.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Kate Brown plan to curb Portland violence rejected by sheriffs

PORTLAND , Ore. — Sheriffs from two counties in the suburbs of Portland , Oregon , on Monday emphatically rejected a plan by the state ’ s governor for their deputies to help patrol the city following last weekend ’ s deadly shooting of a right-wing supporter of President Donald Trump .
Their decision threw into doubt a plan announced a day earlier by Gov .
Kate Brown to keep the peace in Portland by adding nearby sheriffs deputies and Oregon State Police troopers as the liberal city struggles to regain its footing in the glare of the national spotlight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the security plan for Portland after the fatal shooting of Aaron Danielson , 39 , on Saturday as Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with Trump supporters who drove in a caravan through the city .
No one has been arrested in the case .
The rejection by the two sheriffs , elected as nonpartisans , increases uncertainty about Portland ’ s future just as Trump puts the chaos in Portland in his campaign crosshairs as part of his law and order re-election campaign theme .
Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said inundating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work because Portland ’ s newly elected district attorney has dismissed charges against hundreds of protesters arrested for non-violent , low-level crimes .
Roberts and Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett also said the liability for their deputies would be too great amid worries deputies could be sued for actions they take outside their home jurisdictions .
“ The same offenders are arrested night after night , only to be released by the court and not charged with a crime by the DA ’ s Office , ” Roberts said .
“ The next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endangering the lives of law enforcement and the community all over again.
” Brown ’ s chief-of-staff , Charles Boyle , said Roberts did agree that deputies from Clackamas County could help by handling some calls normally taken by state police while its troopers are dispatched to Portland .
Trump has made Portland and its Democratic leadership a frequent target and he demanded that local and state leaders call in the National Guard after Saturday ’ s fatal shooting .
“ Portland is a mess , and it has been for many years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t clean it up , we will go in and do it for them !
” Trump tweeted Monday , a day after tweeting that the mayor was a “ fool ” and a “ weak and pathetic Democrat mayor.
” Brown has so far declined to send the National Guard to Portland but instead announced the planned coalition of law enforcement agencies late Sunday .
In a statement , she said right-wing groups like Patriot Prayer had come to Portland “ looking for a fight ” and vowed to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come together - elected officials , community leaders , all of us - to stop the cycle of violence , ” she said .
Some Black community leaders were also upset with the proposal to put more officers on the streets .
Portland police have been criticized for using tear gas and for being overly aggressive .
“ If you ’ re just there , the odds of getting arrested at this point are almost so high as to the point of being guaranteed , ” said Shanice Clarke , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a frequent protester .
The Portland police also drew criticism Monday for not doing more to keep the dueling groups apart and for letting the situation get out of control .
Police Chief Chuck Lovell defended his officers , saying the clashes between protesters and Trump supporters were spread out over many city blocks and that the shooting took just seconds .
“ While it ’ s easy to cast blame on paramilitary and alt-right groups on the one side , or anti-fascist and Black Lives Matter groups on the other , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Eric Ward , executive director of the nonprofit Western States Center , which helps marginalized communities organize social justice campaigns around the West .
“ In Portland , law enforcement has regularly failed to keep our city ’ s streets safe.
” State police also took over patrols in Portland in July following two weeks of massive demonstrations against the presence of federal agents in the city .
Danielson , the man who was killed , was a supporter of Patriot Prayer , a right-wing group based in Washington state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2017 , its supporters have periodically come to Portland to hold rallies for Trump , ratcheting up tensions long before the national outrage over the police killing of George Floyd .
Many of the Black Lives Matter protests in Portland have ended with vandalism to federal and city property , including the federal courthouse and City Hall .
In July , Trump sent more than 100 federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard federal property - a move that instead reinvigorated the protests .

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s plan to calm violence in Portland is falling apart after two neighboring sheriffs said they won’t supply personnel to help out, saying the answer isn’t more police but rather a get-tough policy of charging and prosecuting rioters.
Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett lamented the “lack of political support for public safety” in declining to send his deputies.
Clackamas County Sheriff Craig Roberts said the district attorney covering Portland needs to follow through on prosecuting agitators.
“The same offenders are arrested night after night, only to be released by the court and not charged with a crime by the DA’s office,” he said. “The next night they are back at it again, endangering the lives of law enforcement and the community all over again.”
Sheriff Roberts said the governor didn’t talk to him before she announced her plan to tap his department for personnel.
The sheriffs’ responses are a serious blow to Ms. Brown, a Democrat, who has struggled to get a handle on the mayhem that’s become a near-nightly occurrence in Portland.
On Saturday, a man associated with a pro-Trump organization was gunned down in the city. Police are reportedly investigating an antifa activist.
Ms. Brown, in multiple statements Sunday, blamed the pro-Trump supporters for creating a tense situation, and praised Black Lives Matter activists for their ongoing racial justice protests.
But she also released a plan calling for a surge in police. She said both Washington and Clackamas deputies would provide manpower to help the Portland Police Bureau, which has stretched to its limits dealing with regular riots from left-wing demonstrators.
Ms. Brown also said Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, whose jurisdiction covers Portland, agreed to pursue cases against serious criminals.
Mr. Schmidt in August announced a policy of refusing to press charges against people arrested for demonstrating or rioting unless police specifically found they engaged in violence. Those who refused to follow police dispersal orders, for example, had their cases dropped.
Sheriff Roberts said changing that approach is the key to regaining control of the mayhem.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Gov. Brown extends foreclosure moratorium amid pandemic

SALEM , Ore. ( AP ) - Gov .
Kate Brown has issued an executive order extending Oregon ’ s foreclosure moratorium through December , citing the continuing COVID-19-related recession .
“ Extending the moratorium on foreclosures will ensure that more Oregonians do not lose their homes this year , and that businesses can continue to provide vital goods and services to our communities , ” Brown said in a Monday announcement of the order .
The prior eviction moratorium was scheduled to expire at the end of September .
The governor acted under authority the Legislature granted in June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
The Oregon Bankers Association have sued , arguing that provisions in the bill that protect homeowners from fees and penalties associated with missed mortgage payments are unconstitutional .
The governor ’ s office said Monday ’ s order includes those additional provisions .
The Oregon Bankers Association did not immediately respond to a request from the newspaper for comment .
Oregon also currently has a residential eviction ban for renters that is due to expire at the end of September .
Tenants will have until the end of March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday she is continuing to have conversations with community leaders and stakeholders to look at options surrounding that moratorium .
Oregon reported 162 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the coronavirus and one new death on Monday .
The new daily case count is the lowest Oregon has seen since June 29 when the state ’ s case count was still on the way up before starting a incremental decline around Aug. 1 .

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Gov. Kate Brown has issued an executive order extending Oregon’s foreclosure moratorium through December, citing the continuing COVID-19-related recession.
“Extending the moratorium on foreclosures will ensure that more Oregonians do not lose their homes this year, and that businesses can continue to provide vital goods and services to our communities,” Brown said in a Monday announcement of the order.
The prior eviction moratorium was scheduled to expire at the end of September.
The governor acted under authority the Legislature granted in June when it passed House Bill 4204, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
The Oregon Bankers Association have sued, arguing that provisions in the bill that protect homeowners from fees and penalties associated with missed mortgage payments are unconstitutional.
The governor’s office said Monday’s order includes those additional provisions. The Oregon Bankers Association did not immediately respond to a request from the newspaper for comment.
Oregon also currently has a residential eviction ban for renters that is due to expire at the end of September. Tenants will have until the end of March to pay back rent. Brown said Monday she is continuing to have conversations with community leaders and stakeholders to look at options surrounding that moratorium.
Oregon reported 162 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the coronavirus and one new death on Monday. The new daily case count is the lowest Oregon has seen since June 29 when the state’s case count was still on the way up before starting a incremental decline around Aug. 1.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Utah school changes to remote learning after virus outbreak

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - A Utah County high school plans to close temporarily and shift to a schedule that mixes online and in-person classes after reporting a cluster of coronavirus cases .
Alpine School District announced the change Monday at Pleasant Grove High School near Orem , although spokeswoman Kimberly Bird declined to say how many infections occurred , The Salt Lake Tribune reports .
“ There ’ s an area within Pleasant Grove that ’ s impacting our numbers , ” Bird said .
“ We ’ ve got to move in connection to the cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to parents said Pleasant Grove High School will close for two days .
The school is scheduled to reopen Thursday , when students will be split into two groups and begin attending in-person classes every other day to reduce the number of students in the building at one time .
Bird confirmed the state ’ s largest school district has detected 67 virus cases throughout its 91 schools , including 41 students and 26 faculty members .
Under state guidelines , if three students in a classroom of 15 children test positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online instruction .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Two Utah schools have halted in-person classes and shifted to online learning because of coronavirus outbreaks during the first weeks of the school year.
The American Preparatory Academy charter school closed its elementary campus in Draper on Tuesday after 15 students and staffers tested positive for COVID-19, executive director Carolyn Sharette told The Salt Lake Tribune.
“We’re just pivoting,” Sharette said. “I assume this will happen at all schools eventually.”
That followed Alpine School District’s announcement Monday that it was closing Pleasant Grove High School near Orem for two days. The school will shift to a mix of online and in-person classes after reporting a cluster of coronavirus cases.
District spokeswoman Kimberly Bird declined to say how many infections occurred at that high school, the Tribune reported. She said that across the district, the largest in the state, 67 cases had been detected throughout its 91 schools, including 41 students and 26 faculty members.
Pleasant Grove High School is scheduled to reopen Thursday, when students will be split into two groups and begin attending in-person classes every other day to reduce the number of students in the building at one time.
Utah schools began reopening last month with in-person classes, online learning and a hybrid of both in some cases. In some districts, parents could choose which option they wanted for their children.
Under state guidelines, if three students in a classroom of 15 children test positive for COVID-19, the school must change to online instruction.
At American Preparatory Academy, the infected students and staff are isolating and those who were in close contact have been told to quarantine, Sharette said. The school is hoping to bring students back in person on Sept. 11, she said.
In a plan submitted to the state before the school year began, the charter school emphasized the importance of having students on campus.
“Students need to be in school if it is at all possible,” the plan said. “Issues of student academic loss, student mental health deterioration, and lack of supervision for students as parents return to work are real and significant factors which support the need for students to be in school.”
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


Editorial Roundup: Ohio

Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Ohio newspapers : Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine said it well during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ Mistakes that I have made throughout my career have generally been because I didn ’ t have enough facts , I didn ’ t dig deep enough , ” DeWine told The Columbus Dispatch on March 12 .
“ So , I made up my mind I was going to have the best information , the best data available.
” Last week DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts before they make the crucial decision about whether or not to send their children to school .
As part of a yet-to-be-written ODH order , school officials must report a COVID-19 case to their local health departments within 48 hours , DeWine announced Thursday .
The local health department then must report positive cases to the state health department , which will compile the numbers and make them public each Wednesday .
Each school with a positive case also should notify the parent or guardian and , critically , “ should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly available.
” We urge the state to ensure that “ publicly available ” doesn ’ t mean citizens must jump through bureaucratic hoops to find the information they need .
Instead , it must be easily and readily available to all who wish to see it .
Facts , after all , only matter if you know them .
Fortunately , it seems likely the governor will come down on the side of transparency .
“ Prompt reporting will help prevent potential further spread among students and staff , ” DeWine said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents make informed decisions in regard to risks and exposure for their families.
” Making sure the information is known to as many as possible will also serve another purpose - it will help reduce rumors that would only add confusion to an already difficult situation .
Uncertainty can breed suspicion and distrust , and there ’ s already too much of that in 2020 .
Of course , we shouldn ’ t expect school reopenings to be seamless , and for one simple reason - we haven ’ t done this before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
Not everything will be perfect .
Six months into this pandemic , we are still making some fundamental mistakes .
We do not test enough .
Too many of us still do not regularly wear masks or practice social distancing .
Too many still regard COVID-19 as nothing more than the flu .
In short , we are making it more difficult for schools - and society in general - to safely reopen .
So school officials deserve some level of patience as they work through this unprecedented situation .
All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can build on the things that work and discard those that do not .
But we can only do that if we know the facts .
Lives are at stake .
We need to be able to accurately gauge the risks we are facing , and judge for ourselves what schools are getting right or getting wrong .
If it ’ s good enough for Gov .
DeWine , it should be good enough for all of us .
Dead sturgeon carcasses have been washing up on the shores of Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildlife experts .
Those dead fish should be alarming to us all .
National Parks wildlife biologists at Sleeping Bear Dunes say that about half a dozen dead sturgeon have washed up along Michigan beaches in recent weeks - an unusual occurrence .
And even though there have been only a handful of dead fish discovered , the carcasses are worrying because the sturgeon are a threatened species and what ’ s killing them could be a big problem .
Sturgeon , the largest fish in the Great Lakes , can grow to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and live for 100 years .
They ’ re notoriously slow to reproduce , which contributes to their threatened-species status .
The fish were once plentiful in the Great Lakes , including Lake Erie , until overfishing , pollution , and loss of habitat depleted their numbers .
Recently a coalition of the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium , the University of Toledo , Lake Erie Waterkeeper , Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife , Michigan Department of Natural Resources , USGS , Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources , and Purdy Fisheries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Maumee River as part of a larger effort to repopulate Lake Erie .
They haven ’ t disappeared from Lake Michigan yet , and authorities still are investigating what killed the sturgeon that washed up in recent weeks .
State wildlife officials suspect they may have been killed by botulism that they ingested when they ate invasive species carrying the bacteria that produces the toxin .
They also suspect that rising Great Lakes water temperatures may be to blame .
In either case , the sturgeon deaths highlight the fragile nature of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reminder of the urgent need for protective programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other state and federal efforts to preserve the lakes .
Invasive species , pollution , and climate change all threaten the Great Lakes .
Commercial and sportfishing alone account for $ 7 billion a year in economic impact across the lakes .
More than 1.5 million jobs are directly connected to the lakes .
They ’ re the source of drinking water for millions of people and a vital part of our culture and quality of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are threats to the health of the lakes overall .
The concerning deaths of fish in Michigan recently should be a reminder to redouble our efforts to protect the lakes .
Teens are taking the lead during virus crisis As is often the case , a few bad apples make us forget about the good in the basket as a whole - particularly when we are talking about young people .
It is too easy for members of older generations to grumble about “ kids these days , ” and point to examples @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defiance in the news .
But the majority of young people don ’ t deserve that kind of curmudgeonry .
Across the country - and of course , right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley - young people are stepping up to help us all get through this truly bizarre chapter .
For example , look at Dhruv Pai , 16 , and Matthew Casertano , 15 , of North Potomac , Md.
, who realized that while they were already delivering groceries to their own grandparents as a result of COVID-19 precautionary guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
And so were their friends .
They started Teens Helping Seniors , which now has more than 650 volunteers nationwide and in Canada , making free deliveries to those who feel unsafe leaving their homes for shopping during this time .
In addition to helping their neighbors , “ It also provided a way for us to feel like we were making a difference in the world at a time when this pandemic was sort of disconnecting us from everyone else , ” said Casertano .
We ’ ve got to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these teens than we give them credit for .
It ’ s good to know that in an unsettling - maybe even frightening - time like this , we can count on young people to understand what is the right thing - and to have the energy , motivation and know-how to get it done .
Let ’ s do our part to flatten the voter curve in Licking County This fall ’ s general election will be both unusual and important .
The COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly change the way people go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a time of heightened national division will spark high interest to participate .
That is why we believe it is up to all of us to do our part to make the process go as smoothly as possible .
In a typical presidential election , roughly a quarter of Ohioans vote by absentee ballot , according to Secretary of State Frank LaRose .
That number could double this fall .
Many people have justifiable concerns about going to a potentially crowded precinct to cast a ballot during a global pandemic .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot will be counted .
The good thing is time is on our side as an electorate .
Let ’ s not waste it .
The deadline to register to vote for the fall election is Oct. 5 , more than five weeks away .
That is plenty of time to check your registration at voteohio.gov or by calling your local election board .
In Licking County , the number is 740-670-5080 .
LaRose said similar to how health officials are working to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections , voters should work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not overwhelm the system .
In practice , this means people should request an absentee ballot as early as possible .
While voters technically have until the Saturday before the election to request one , that is not a reasonable time frame for the request to be entered and the ballot delivered .
Voters can request an absentee ballot now .
Unlike other states , Ohio does not require a reason to request one .
Even if it takes a few weeks to process this request , that still leaves plenty of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if voters act now .
Requesting ballots early also gives election board officials time to work with voters who accidentally fill out the form incorrectly , a process that can now be handled over the phone .
LaRose has requested money to pay for the postage for people to return their absentee ballots - a request that should be approved while conducting an election during a pandemic .
Voters should not wait until the last minute to cast their ballots .
They can be cast by mail or in person at the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take the time to study the candidates in all races now so they can make an informed decision early in the process .
For people concerned about sending a ballot by mail , secure drop-off box for absentee ballots will be available 24 hours per day in each county .
There are steps that could be taken to make voting easier in Ohio .
A secure online portal to request an absentee ballot is an obvious first step .
In addition , the state should examine how the elimination of polling places across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to cast ballots - especially those voters for whom technology or transportation provide challenges .
But the reality also is that Ohio offers more opportunities to vote than many states .
To ensure our elections go as smoothly as possible , we encourage voters to take advantage of them .
Brennaman should be fired ; our role is to forgive Being the voice of the Cincinnati Reds is a privilege .
Thom Brennaman should lose that privilege after using a homophobic slur on-air during the first game of a Reds-Kansas City Royals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcer didn ’ t know his microphone was on when he referred to an unknown place as “ the f ( asterisk ) ( asterisk ) capital of the world.
” The public outcry was swift as were the repercussions .
Fox Sports removed Brennaman from the network ’ s NFL broadcasts .
The Reds suspended him , too .
Both were right to immediately take Brennaman off the air .
Now , the Reds should show him the door .
Brennaman is damaged goods in Cincinnati and no longer belongs on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization can not claim to value diversity and inclusion and continue to employ someone who openly disparaged LGBTQ+ people , who are part of the team ’ s fanbase .
Using a homophobic slur would have been inappropriate even in a private moment , but on the job , in the broadcast booth , it ’ s a terminable offense .
Brennaman apologized for the slur during the game – though he did interrupt his mea culpa to call a Nick Castellanos home run – and later wrote a letter to the editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and asking for forgiveness .
His apology seemed sincere , and we need to forgive him .
That is what we are called to do .
Brennaman deserves an opportunity to redeem himself , and maybe he will .
But he doesn ’ t deserve to keep his job .
Brennaman ’ s words were clearly unprofessional , offensive and insulting .
Slurs – racial , homophobic , antisemitic or otherwise – have no place in the broadcast booth , sports or society in general .
It doesn ’ t matter that Brennaman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a hot mic .
And no one should dismiss such derogatory comments as a mere “ slip of the tongue ” or “ faux pas.
” Slurs are rarely used by mistake , but rather with hurtful and demeaning intent .
In his apology , even Brennaman acknowledged there was no excuse for his behavior .
Homophobic slurs , particularly the one used by Brennaman , conjure up painful memories for many LGBTQ+ people of some of the worst experiences in their lives , as Cincinnati Public School Board Vice President Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brennaman ’ s claim that he didn ’ t understand the painful nature of his language strains credulity .
As a communications professional whose job depends on the careful selection of words , he certainly should have known better .
And in more than a week since the incident , Brennaman has not answered any questions , such as the context of the conversation , who he was talking to , why that word was used , whether it was used more and whether it ’ s used with any regularity by Brennaman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know whether those in the broadcast booth objected to his language or joined in the conversation .
And if they did , are the Reds and Fox Sports holding those employees accountable too ?
The Enquirer ’ s Paul Daugherty wrote that “ a baseball radio or TV booth is not a genteel place .
It can be as full of overcooked testosterone and raging ego as any clubhouse or locker room .
The jokes between innings would get a deacon banned from church.
” The problem with slurs of any type is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time-and-place explanations .
The language will always leak and spread until it ’ s embarrassingly exposed .
Brennaman is exhibit A for why such a toxic masculine culture needs to change .
Clubhouses and locker rooms , fueled by testosterone and decades of socialization , pave the road for Brennaman ’ s chutzpah .
He forgot which room he was in .
Brennaman is a good broadcaster with a distinguished career that spans three decades .
This incident , while embarrassing and despicable , should not define his career or his life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do to rebuild his reputation and trust with listeners .
Right now in Cincinnati , the name Brennaman doesn ’ t give you the same warm feelings it once did .
We hope that Brennaman will follow up on his commitment to get diversity , equity and inclusion training , and that he will continue to reach out to those he so deeply offended to make amends and learn from them .
We also hope that Brennaman can find work doing what he loves in another market .
But his time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .

Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Ohio newspapers:
We deserve COVID-19 transparency from schools
Akron Beacon Journal
Aug. 29
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said it well during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mistakes that I have made throughout my career have generally been because I didn’t have enough facts, I didn’t dig deep enough,” DeWine told The Columbus Dispatch on March 12. “So, I made up my mind I was going to have the best information, the best data available.”
Last week DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health took a step to ensure parents have all the facts before they make the crucial decision about whether or not to send their children to school.
As part of a yet-to-be-written ODH order, school officials must report a COVID-19 case to their local health departments within 48 hours, DeWine announced Thursday. The local health department then must report positive cases to the state health department, which will compile the numbers and make them public each Wednesday.
Each school with a positive case also should notify the parent or guardian and, critically, “should also make non-identifying information about positive COVID-19 cases publicly available.”
We urge the state to ensure that “publicly available” doesn’t mean citizens must jump through bureaucratic hoops to find the information they need. Instead, it must be easily and readily available to all who wish to see it.
Facts, after all, only matter if you know them.
Fortunately, it seems likely the governor will come down on the side of transparency.
“Prompt reporting will help prevent potential further spread among students and staff,” DeWine said. “Knowing this information can help parents make informed decisions in regard to risks and exposure for their families.”
Making sure the information is known to as many as possible will also serve another purpose - it will help reduce rumors that would only add confusion to an already difficult situation. Uncertainty can breed suspicion and distrust, and there’s already too much of that in 2020.
Of course, we shouldn’t expect school reopenings to be seamless, and for one simple reason - we haven’t done this before. There will be missteps along the way. Not everything will be perfect.
Six months into this pandemic, we are still making some fundamental mistakes. We do not test enough. Too many of us still do not regularly wear masks or practice social distancing. Too many still regard COVID-19 as nothing more than the flu.
In short, we are making it more difficult for schools - and society in general - to safely reopen.
So school officials deserve some level of patience as they work through this unprecedented situation. All of us are learning as we go. We can build on the things that work and discard those that do not.
But we can only do that if we know the facts. Lives are at stake. We need to be able to accurately gauge the risks we are facing, and judge for ourselves what schools are getting right or getting wrong.
If it’s good enough for Gov. DeWine, it should be good enough for all of us.
Online: https://bit.ly/3lAZpnv
___
Save the sturgeon, save the lakes
Toledo Blade
Aug. 31
Dead sturgeon carcasses have been washing up on the shores of Lake Michigan, setting off alarm bells for wildlife experts. Those dead fish should be alarming to us all.
National Parks wildlife biologists at Sleeping Bear Dunes say that about half a dozen dead sturgeon have washed up along Michigan beaches in recent weeks - an unusual occurrence. And even though there have been only a handful of dead fish discovered, the carcasses are worrying because the sturgeon are a threatened species and what’s killing them could be a big problem.
Sturgeon, the largest fish in the Great Lakes, can grow to up to 9 feet and 300 pounds and live for 100 years. They’re notoriously slow to reproduce, which contributes to their threatened-species status.
The fish were once plentiful in the Great Lakes, including Lake Erie, until overfishing, pollution, and loss of habitat depleted their numbers. Recently a coalition of the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, the University of Toledo, Lake Erie Waterkeeper, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, USGS, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Purdy Fisheries Ltd. collaborated to reintroduce juvenile sturgeon in the Maumee River as part of a larger effort to repopulate Lake Erie.
They haven’t disappeared from Lake Michigan yet, and authorities still are investigating what killed the sturgeon that washed up in recent weeks. State wildlife officials suspect they may have been killed by botulism that they ingested when they ate invasive species carrying the bacteria that produces the toxin. They also suspect that rising Great Lakes water temperatures may be to blame.
In either case, the sturgeon deaths highlight the fragile nature of Great Lakes ecology and should be a reminder of the urgent need for protective programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and other state and federal efforts to preserve the lakes.
Invasive species, pollution, and climate change all threaten the Great Lakes. Commercial and sportfishing alone account for $7 billion a year in economic impact across the lakes. More than 1.5 million jobs are directly connected to the lakes. They’re the source of drinking water for millions of people and a vital part of our culture and quality of life.
The threats to Great Lakes sturgeon are threats to the health of the lakes overall. The concerning deaths of fish in Michigan recently should be a reminder to redouble our efforts to protect the lakes.
Online: https://bit.ly/31Ih2d3
___
Teens are taking the lead during virus crisis
The Marietta Times
Aug. 31
As is often the case, a few bad apples make us forget about the good in the basket as a whole - particularly when we are talking about young people. It is too easy for members of older generations to grumble about “kids these days,” and point to examples of irresponsibility, apathy and even active defiance in the news.
But the majority of young people don’t deserve that kind of curmudgeonry.
Across the country - and of course, right here in the Mid-Ohio Valley - young people are stepping up to help us all get through this truly bizarre chapter.
For example, look at Dhruv Pai, 16, and Matthew Casertano, 15, of North Potomac, Md., who realized that while they were already delivering groceries to their own grandparents as a result of COVID-19 precautionary guidance, they were capable of doing much more. And so were their friends.
They started Teens Helping Seniors, which now has more than 650 volunteers nationwide and in Canada, making free deliveries to those who feel unsafe leaving their homes for shopping during this time.
In addition to helping their neighbors, “It also provided a way for us to feel like we were making a difference in the world at a time when this pandemic was sort of disconnecting us from everyone else,” said Casertano.
We’ve got to remember most young people are more like these teens than we give them credit for. It’s good to know that in an unsettling - maybe even frightening - time like this, we can count on young people to understand what is the right thing - and to have the energy, motivation and know-how to get it done.
Online: https://bit.ly/3bcD5vu
___
Let’s do our part to flatten the voter curve in Licking County
The Newark Advocate
Aug. 30
This fall’s general election will be both unusual and important.
The COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly change the way people go about voting, and the presidential race during a time of heightened national division will spark high interest to participate.
That is why we believe it is up to all of us to do our part to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
In a typical presidential election, roughly a quarter of Ohioans vote by absentee ballot, according to Secretary of State Frank LaRose. That number could double this fall.
Many people have justifiable concerns about going to a potentially crowded precinct to cast a ballot during a global pandemic. Others have equal concerns about whether their mail-in ballot will be counted.
The good thing is time is on our side as an electorate. Let’s not waste it.
The deadline to register to vote for the fall election is Oct. 5, more than five weeks away. That is plenty of time to check your registration at voteohio.gov or by calling your local election board. In Licking County, the number is 740-670-5080.
LaRose said similar to how health officials are working to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections, voters should work to flatten the curve of votes to not overwhelm the system.
In practice, this means people should request an absentee ballot as early as possible. While voters technically have until the Saturday before the election to request one, that is not a reasonable time frame for the request to be entered and the ballot delivered.
Voters can request an absentee ballot now. Unlike other states, Ohio does not require a reason to request one. Even if it takes a few weeks to process this request, that still leaves plenty of time to receive a ballot and cast it if voters act now.
Requesting ballots early also gives election board officials time to work with voters who accidentally fill out the form incorrectly, a process that can now be handled over the phone.
LaRose has requested money to pay for the postage for people to return their absentee ballots - a request that should be approved while conducting an election during a pandemic.
Voters should not wait until the last minute to cast their ballots. They can be cast by mail or in person at the election board beginning Oct. 6. Voters should take the time to study the candidates in all races now so they can make an informed decision early in the process. For people concerned about sending a ballot by mail, secure drop-off box for absentee ballots will be available 24 hours per day in each county.
There are steps that could be taken to make voting easier in Ohio. A secure online portal to request an absentee ballot is an obvious first step. In addition, the state should examine how the elimination of polling places across the state has affected people’s ability to cast ballots - especially those voters for whom technology or transportation provide challenges.
But the reality also is that Ohio offers more opportunities to vote than many states. To ensure our elections go as smoothly as possible, we encourage voters to take advantage of them.
Online: https://bit.ly/31KqNr9
___
Brennaman should be fired; our role is to forgive
Cincinnati Enquirer
Aug. 28
Being the voice of the Cincinnati Reds is a privilege. Thom Brennaman should lose that privilege after using a homophobic slur on-air during the first game of a Reds-Kansas City Royals doubleheader last week.
The Reds play-by-play announcer didn’t know his microphone was on when he referred to an unknown place as “the f(asterisk)(asterisk) capital of the world.” The public outcry was swift as were the repercussions. Fox Sports removed Brennaman from the network’s NFL broadcasts. The Reds suspended him, too. Both were right to immediately take Brennaman off the air. Now, the Reds should show him the door.
Brennaman is damaged goods in Cincinnati and no longer belongs on the air calling Reds games. The Reds organization cannot claim to value diversity and inclusion and continue to employ someone who openly disparaged LGBTQ+ people, who are part of the team’s fanbase. Using a homophobic slur would have been inappropriate even in a private moment, but on the job, in the broadcast booth, it’s a terminable offense.
Brennaman apologized for the slur during the game – though he did interrupt his mea culpa to call a Nick Castellanos home run – and later wrote a letter to the editor to The Enquirer admitting he was wrong and asking for forgiveness.
His apology seemed sincere, and we need to forgive him. That is what we are called to do. Brennaman deserves an opportunity to redeem himself, and maybe he will. But he doesn’t deserve to keep his job.
Brennaman’s words were clearly unprofessional, offensive and insulting. Slurs – racial, homophobic, antisemitic or otherwise – have no place in the broadcast booth, sports or society in general. It doesn’t matter that Brennaman didn’t know he was speaking into a hot mic. And no one should dismiss such derogatory comments as a mere “slip of the tongue” or “faux pas.” Slurs are rarely used by mistake, but rather with hurtful and demeaning intent. In his apology, even Brennaman acknowledged there was no excuse for his behavior.
Homophobic slurs, particularly the one used by Brennaman, conjure up painful memories for many LGBTQ+ people of some of the worst experiences in their lives, as Cincinnati Public School Board Vice President Ryan Messer detailed in a recent oped. Brennaman’s claim that he didn’t understand the painful nature of his language strains credulity. As a communications professional whose job depends on the careful selection of words, he certainly should have known better.
And in more than a week since the incident, Brennaman has not answered any questions, such as the context of the conversation, who he was talking to, why that word was used, whether it was used more and whether it’s used with any regularity by Brennaman. It would also be good to know whether those in the broadcast booth objected to his language or joined in the conversation. And if they did, are the Reds and Fox Sports holding those employees accountable too?
The Enquirer’s Paul Daugherty wrote that “a baseball radio or TV booth is not a genteel place. It can be as full of overcooked testosterone and raging ego as any clubhouse or locker room. The jokes between innings would get a deacon banned from church.”
The problem with slurs of any type is they can’t be compartmentalized with time-and-place explanations. The language will always leak and spread until it’s embarrassingly exposed. Brennaman is exhibit A for why such a toxic masculine culture needs to change. Clubhouses and locker rooms, fueled by testosterone and decades of socialization, pave the road for Brennaman’s chutzpah. He forgot which room he was in.
Brennaman is a good broadcaster with a distinguished career that spans three decades. This incident, while embarrassing and despicable, should not define his career or his life. But he has a lot of work to do to rebuild his reputation and trust with listeners. Right now in Cincinnati, the name Brennaman doesn’t give you the same warm feelings it once did.
We hope that Brennaman will follow up on his commitment to get diversity, equity and inclusion training, and that he will continue to reach out to those he so deeply offended to make amends and learn from them. We also hope that Brennaman can find work doing what he loves in another market. But his time in the Queen City should come to an end.
Online: https://bit.ly/3lzuyHS
___


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Tube mislabeling prompts request for virus retesting on Oahu

HONOLULU ( AP ) - About 1,000 Oahu residents have been informed that they may have to retake a coronavirus screening test because of a labeling error .
Honolulu spokesman Alexander Zannes said the Honolulu Fire Department did not receive proper guidance concerning the tests produced by health care services company eTrueNorth , The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday .
Test tubes at the Kaneohe testing site were not labeled because of the error .
“ The Leeward Community College location was labeled per guidance by someone who had past experience with PCR testing .
Kaneohe location was not made aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The correct process was given after the fact , ” Zannes said in an email .
RT-PCR is a diagnostic test that detects the genetic material of the coronavirus , according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
“ Since there was no patient information on ( about 1,000 ) vials , the lab had to send each patient a notice that they had an inconclusive result .
All impacted individuals were informed to retest , ” Mia Palmieri Heck of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome Adams and eTrueNorth to allow the tests since personal information missing from the tubes was included in the testing kits .
Lt. Gov .
Josh Green said it remains to be seen if the mislabeled tests will be counted .
“ It probably would have been better if the mayor had gotten on the same page with the surgeon general from the get-go so that these tests weren ’ t wasted , ” Green said .
“ I ’ m hearing that federal regulations may mean that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The city has ensured that the first initial , last name and date of birth of each person have been placed on test tubes at other locations since the error was detected , Zannes said .
The screening was part of a federally funded COVID-19 surge testing program on Oahu that had been in operation for five days .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .

HONOLULU (AP) - More than 1,700 Oahu residents have been informed that they may have to retake a coronavirus screening test because of a labeling error.
Test tubes at the Kaneohe and Leeward Community College sites were mislabeled, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Monday.
“Approximately 1,776 vials were not labeled correctly,” Caldwell said, adding that names and birthdates were not included on the labels due to miscommunication from medical staff.
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell asked U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and eTrueNorth to allow the tests since personal information missing from the tubes was included in the testing kits.
Lt. Gov. Josh Green said it remains to be seen if the mislabeled tests will be counted.
“It probably would have been better if the mayor had gotten on the same page with the surgeon general from the get-go so that these tests weren’t wasted,” Green said. “I’m hearing that federal regulations may mean that those tests can’t be used.”
The screening is part of a federally funded COVID-19 surge testing program on Oahu.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--PGA Tour event in Japan to relocate to California this year

The Zozo Championship is moving from Japan to California this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic , making it the anchor of a West Coast Swing in the fall portion of the schedule that is certain to attract strong fields .
The $ 8 million tournament will be played Oct. 22-25 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks , California , with Tiger Woods as the defending champion on a course where he has won five times .
The tour and Zozo Inc. announced the decision Monday night .
It will be called the Zozo Championship at Sherwood , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving to Las Vegas the week before .
That one will be called the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek .
Both tournaments will return to Asia next fall .
The temporary rearrangement was a big coup for the tour , especially since Zozo and CJ Group primarily do business in Japan and South Korea , respectively .
Along with concerns about the coronavirus , players were reluctant to go to Asia this fall with the Masters having moved to Nov. 12-15 .
Now the three-tournament swing starts with the Shriners Hospital for Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vegas on Oct. 8-11 , followed by the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek and then the Zozo Championship at Sherwood .
The last two have limited fields and no cut .
Top players who have not previously played in Asia , like Jon Rahm , have indicated they will be at the tournaments in Las Vegas or southern California , likely both , as an ideal place to play ahead of the Masters .
Woods won his holiday exhibition , the World Challenge , five times at Sherwood .
The Jack Nicklaus design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side of Malibu first came to notoriety as home of the Shark Shootout run by Greg Norman .
It also hosted a PGA Tour Champions event .
The Zozo Championship last year was the first time the PGA Tour staged an official event in Japan .
Woods won by three shots over Hideki Matsuyama for his 82nd career PGA Tour victory , tying Sam Snead for the record .
While it is moving to America , the Zozo Championship will operate as if it ’ s in Japan .
The 78-man field will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year ’ s final FedEx Cup standings , 10 players from the Japan Golf Tour and eight exemptions - four from the PGA Tour , three from Japan and one unrestricted .

The Zozo Championship is moving from Japan to California this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it the anchor of a West Coast Swing in the fall portion of the schedule that is certain to attract strong fields.
The $8 million tournament will be played Oct. 22-25 at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, with Tiger Woods as the defending champion on a course where he has won five times.
The tour and Zozo Inc. announced the decision Monday night.
It will be called the Zozo Championship at Sherwood, a similar title to the South Korean event moving to Las Vegas the week before. That one will be called the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. Both tournaments will return to Asia next fall.
The temporary rearrangement was a big coup for the tour, especially since Zozo and CJ Group primarily do business in Japan and South Korea, respectively. Along with concerns about the coronavirus, players were reluctant to go to Asia this fall with the Masters having moved to Nov. 12-15.
Now the three-tournament swing starts with the Shriners Hospital for Children Open at the TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas on Oct. 8-11, followed by the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek and then the Zozo Championship at Sherwood. The last two have limited fields and no cut.
Top players who have not previously played in Asia, like Jon Rahm, have indicated they will be at the tournaments in Las Vegas or southern California, likely both, as an ideal place to play ahead of the Masters.
Woods won his holiday exhibition, the World Challenge, five times at Sherwood. The Jack Nicklaus design located among the foothills on the other side of Malibu first came to notoriety as home of the Shark Shootout run by Greg Norman. It also hosted a PGA Tour Champions event.
The Zozo Championship last year was the first time the PGA Tour staged an official event in Japan. Woods won by three shots over Hideki Matsuyama for his 82nd career PGA Tour victory, tying Sam Snead for the record.
While it is moving to America, the Zozo Championship will operate as if it’s in Japan. The 78-man field will feature the top 60 players available from this year’s final FedEx Cup standings, 10 players from the Japan Golf Tour and eight exemptions - four from the PGA Tour, three from Japan and one unrestricted.
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More AP golf: https://apnews.com/apf-Golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--NFL takes over investigation of Washington Football Team

The NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the Washington Football Team , owner Dan Snyder confirmed Monday .
Snyder said in a statement he and his wife , Tanya , suggested to Commissioner Roger Goodell the NFL assume full oversight of the review “ so that the results are thorough , complete and trusted by the fans , the players , our employees and the public.
” He said the organization remains committed to fully cooperating with the investigation .
Last month , after The Washington Post reported 15 female former employees saying they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , Snyder hired Washington law firm Wilkinson Walsh LLP to review the team ’ s culture , policies and allegations of workplace misconduct .
Attorney Beth Wilkinson now reports directly to the league office .
The change of course comes less than a week since the Post reported additional examples of workplace sexual harassment , along with allegations that Snyder was personally involved .
Lawyers Lisa Banks and Debra Katz , who represent more than 15 former team employees , met with NFL senior vice president and special counsel for investigations Lisa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Katz , Marshall and Banks LLP sent a letter to Goodell on Thursday asking the league to launch its own investigation .
“ Our clients would gladly participate in such an NFL investigation but do not feel safe speaking to investigators hired by Mr. Snyder and do not trust the investigation that is currently underway , ” Banks and Katz wrote in the letter .
Banks and Katz called their meeting a “ productive discussion ” and said they learned the NFL and the team agreed to release current and former employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak with investigators .
“ We are pleased and encouraged that the league is taking this matter seriously and we expect that it will take appropriate action against Daniel Snyder and the Washington Football Team upon conclusion of the investigation , ” they said .
Snyder vowed to change the culture inside the organization amid 42 women speaking out about their experiences working for Washington .
In July , he said after the investigation was complete the team “ will institute new policies and procedures and strengthen our human resources infrastructure to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but most importantly create a team culture that is respectful and inclusive of all.
” After the Post reported a former cheerleader saying Snyder invited her to a hotel room with one of his friends , and that longtime team executive Larry Michael made extra cheerleading videos for the owner showing sensitive material that wasn ’ t made public , Washington ’ s owner denied those specific allegations .
“ I want to unequivocally state that this never happened , ” Snyder said of the report he invited a cheerleader to a hotel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not have any knowledge of the 10-year-old videos referenced in the story .
I did not request their creation , and I never saw them.
” In a separate statement , the team said it was “ deeply distressed by these terrible allegations and ( is ) committed to investigating them fully.
” Michael retired from his job as a senior vice president and radio voice of the team in the days before the initial Post story was published .
It was part of a turbulent summer from the team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from sponsors because of longstanding complaints the name was a racial slur against Native Americans .
Washington has yet to announce a permanent name or logo .
Goodell said the league strongly condemns the “ unprofessional , disturbing and abhorrent behavior and workplace environment alleged in the report , which is entirely inconsistent with our standards and has no place in the NFL .
”

The NFL has taken over the independent investigation into workplace conduct within the Washington Football Team, owner Dan Snyder confirmed Monday.
Snyder said in a statement he and his wife, Tanya, suggested to Commissioner Roger Goodell the NFL assume full oversight of the review “so that the results are thorough, complete and trusted by the fans, the players, our employees and the public.” He said the organization remains committed to fully cooperating with the investigation.
Last month, after The Washington Post reported 15 female former employees saying they were sexually harassed during their time with the team, Snyder hired Washington law firm Wilkinson Walsh LLP to review the team’s culture, policies and allegations of workplace misconduct. Attorney Beth Wilkinson now reports directly to the league office.
The change of course comes less than a week since the Post reported additional examples of workplace sexual harassment, along with allegations that Snyder was personally involved.
Lawyers Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, who represent more than 15 former team employees, met with NFL senior vice president and special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel on Monday. The law firm of Katz, Marshall and Banks LLP sent a letter to Goodell on Thursday asking the league to launch its own investigation.
“Our clients would gladly participate in such an NFL investigation but do not feel safe speaking to investigators hired by Mr. Snyder and do not trust the investigation that is currently underway,” Banks and Katz wrote in the letter.
Banks and Katz called their meeting a “productive discussion” and said they learned the NFL and the team agreed to release current and former employees from any non-disclosure agreements so they can speak with investigators.
“We are pleased and encouraged that the league is taking this matter seriously and we expect that it will take appropriate action against Daniel Snyder and the Washington Football Team upon conclusion of the investigation,” they said.
Snyder vowed to change the culture inside the organization amid 42 women speaking out about their experiences working for Washington. In July, he said after the investigation was complete the team “will institute new policies and procedures and strengthen our human resources infrastructure to not only avoid these issues in the future but most importantly create a team culture that is respectful and inclusive of all.”
After the Post reported a former cheerleader saying Snyder invited her to a hotel room with one of his friends, and that longtime team executive Larry Michael made extra cheerleading videos for the owner showing sensitive material that wasn’t made public, Washington’s owner denied those specific allegations.
“I want to unequivocally state that this never happened,” Snyder said of the report he invited a cheerleader to a hotel room in 2004. “Furthermore, I do not have any knowledge of the 10-year-old videos referenced in the story. I did not request their creation, and I never saw them.”
In a separate statement, the team said it was “deeply distressed by these terrible allegations and (is) committed to investigating them fully.”
Michael retired from his job as a senior vice president and radio voice of the team in the days before the initial Post story was published. It was part of a turbulent summer from the team, which dropped its longtime name amid pressure from sponsors because of longstanding complaints the name was a racial slur against Native Americans. Washington has yet to announce a permanent name or logo.
Goodell said the league strongly condemns the “unprofessional, disturbing and abhorrent behavior and workplace environment alleged in the report, which is entirely inconsistent with our standards and has no place in the NFL.”
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--California agency says fired director made unethical hires

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - A high-ranking official at the California agency that regulates utility companies has been fired over several allegedly unethical hiring decisions discussed in a recent personnel audit , according to a newspaper report .
The California Public Utilities Commission announced Monday it has voted to dismiss Executive Director Alice Stebbins effective Sept. 4 , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
Commission President Marybel Batjer said Stebbins had taken the “ appalling and disgraceful ” step of deliberately hiring a “ marginally qualified former colleague ” over better-suited candidates , among other claims detailed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stebbins maintains she is being forced out in retaliation for blowing the whistle on about $ 200 million in fees that the commission did not collect on time .
But Batjer denied that claim at a public hearing , asserting that the dollar amount is far lower and the commission has not been lax with its collection efforts .
The commission placed Stebbins on administrative leave several weeks ago .
She is prepared to sue the agency over the employment dispute about the audit , which she claims is riddled with falsehoods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not know , nor were they interested in learning , that the entirety of the CPUC was in massive turmoil and the operations were highly inefficient when I arrived , ” Stebbins said .
Stebbins is the top administrative official at the commission , which regulates businesses that provide electricity , gas , water , phone and transportation services in California .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A high-ranking official at the California agency that regulates utility companies has been fired over several allegedly unethical hiring decisions discussed in a recent personnel audit, according to a newspaper report.
The California Public Utilities Commission announced Monday it has voted to dismiss Executive Director Alice Stebbins effective Sept. 4, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Commission President Marybel Batjer said Stebbins had taken the “appalling and disgraceful” step of deliberately hiring a “marginally qualified former colleague” over better-suited candidates, among other claims detailed in a report from the State Personnel Board.
Stebbins maintains she is being forced out in retaliation for blowing the whistle on about $200 million in fees that the commission did not collect on time. But Batjer denied that claim at a public hearing, asserting that the dollar amount is far lower and the commission has not been lax with its collection efforts.
The commission placed Stebbins on administrative leave several weeks ago. She is prepared to sue the agency over the employment dispute about the audit, which she claims is riddled with falsehoods, the Chronicle reported.
“The investigators did not know, nor were they interested in learning, that the entirety of the CPUC was in massive turmoil and the operations were highly inefficient when I arrived,” Stebbins said.
Stebbins is the top administrative official at the commission, which regulates businesses that provide electricity, gas, water, phone and transportation services in California.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Navy helicopter team rescues hiker hurt in Olympic Mountains

MOUNT TOWNSEND , Wash. ( AP ) - A helicopter crew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island rescued a hiker @ @ @ @ @ a fall Sunday evening in the Buckhorn Wilderness area of the Olympic Mountains .
The @ @ @ @ @ receiving an alert from the Jefferson County Sheriff ’ s Office about a hiker who @ @ @ @ @ at Mount Townsend , broke both legs and had a potential traumatic brain injury .
@ @ @ @ @ injured hiker ’ s wife , who helped guide the helicopter crew to their location @ @ @ @ @ approaching inclement weather conditions , Navy officials said .
Once the crew reached the location @ @ @ @ @ the helicopter and flew them to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle .
The Navy ’ @ @ @ @ @ has conducted 38 missions throughout Washington state this year , including 27 rescues , three @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .

MOUNT TOWNSEND, Wash. (AP) - A helicopter crew from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island rescued a hiker who was severely injured in a fall Sunday evening in the Buckhorn Wilderness area of the Olympic Mountains.
The Navy chopper crew responded after receiving an alert from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office about a hiker who had fallen off a ridgeline at Mount Townsend, broke both legs and had a potential traumatic brain injury.
The rescue crew contacted the injured hiker’s wife, who helped guide the helicopter crew to their location and provided valuable information about approaching inclement weather conditions, Navy officials said.
Once the crew reached the location they hoisted the couple aboard the helicopter and flew them to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The Navy’s Whidbey Island search-and-rescue team has conducted 38 missions throughout Washington state this year, including 27 rescues, three searches and eight medical evacuations, officials said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Vandersloot sets WNBA single-game record with 18 assists

BRADENTON , Fla. ( AP ) - It was a record breaking night for Courtney Vandersloot .
The Chicago guard set the WNBA single-game record with 18 assists , helping the Sky beat the Indiana Fever 100-77 on Monday night .
Vandersloot tied the record , held by Ticha Penicheiro , at 16 on a drive to the basket , drawing two defenders and finding Ruthy Hebard under the hoop for a 89-74 lead with 3:22 remaining .
“ I thought this record was untouchable Ticha set the bar very , very high , ” Vandersloot said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be touched very often .
It ’ s tough to get 16 assists in a game .
This one is really special .
My teammates were knocking down shots .
They were as happy as I was and it makes it that much enjoyable for me.
” Vandersloot had gotten 15 assists 3 teams and looked like she might have to settle for that again as she left the game with a few minutes left .
After a brief rest on the bench , Vandersloot found Allie Quigley , in the corner for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And two possessions later , Vandersloot connected with Quigley again for a 3-pointer and a 25-point lead .
“ It puts a little cherry on top .
it ’ s really special .
I know she was happy for me , ” Vandersloot said of her wife hitting the record shot.
” She wanted to do that for me .
It was initially for Ruthy , but the backup plan was always Allie .
You can always count on Allie to knock down some late shots.
” Penicheiro , who reached 16 assists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congratulatory note to Vandersloot after the game .
Vandersloot finished with 13 points and is averaging 9.3 assists this season which would also break her own mark of 9.1 set last year .
Gabby Williams and Kahleah Copper each scored 21 points for Chicago ( 11-6 ) while Quigley added 19 .
Teaira McCowan had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana ( 5-11 ) .
Candice Dupree had 14 points and Natalie Achonwa 13 .
The game was originally scheduled to be played last Wednesday , but was postponed because the WNBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the next night in solidarity with their NBA counterparts following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake .

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - It was a record breaking night for Courtney Vandersloot.
The Chicago guard set the WNBA single-game record with 18 assists, helping the Sky beat the Indiana Fever 100-77 on Monday night.
Vandersloot tied the record, held by Ticha Penicheiro, at 16 on a drive to the basket, drawing two defenders and finding Ruthy Hebard under the hoop for a 89-74 lead with 3:22 remaining.
“I thought this record was untouchable Ticha set the bar very, very high,” Vandersloot said. “I don’t think this one will be touched very often. It’s tough to get 16 assists in a game. This one is really special. My teammates were knocking down shots. They were as happy as I was and it makes it that much enjoyable for me.”
Vandersloot had gotten 15 assists 3 teams and looked like she might have to settle for that again as she left the game with a few minutes left.
After a brief rest on the bench, Vandersloot found Allie Quigley, in the corner for a 3-pointer to break the record. And two possessions later, Vandersloot connected with Quigley again for a 3-pointer and a 25-point lead.
“It puts a little cherry on top. it’s really special. I know she was happy for me,” Vandersloot said of her wife hitting the record shot.” She wanted to do that for me. It was initially for Ruthy, but the backup plan was always Allie. You can always count on Allie to knock down some late shots.”
Penicheiro, who reached 16 assists in 1998 and 2002, tweeted a congratulatory note to Vandersloot after the game. Vandersloot finished with 13 points and is averaging 9.3 assists this season which would also break her own mark of 9.1 set last year.
Gabby Williams and Kahleah Copper each scored 21 points for Chicago (11-6) while Quigley added 19.
Teaira McCowan had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Indiana (5-11). Candice Dupree had 14 points and Natalie Achonwa 13.
The game was originally scheduled to be played last Wednesday, but was postponed because the WNBA players decided not to play that night or the next night in solidarity with their NBA counterparts following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake.


washingtontimes--2020-08-31--Strong typhoon sweeping over Japan's southernmost islands

TOKYO ( AP ) - A powerful typhoon was blowing over Japan ’ s southernmost islands early Tuesday on course @ @ @ @ @ southern island and later the Korean Peninsula .
Warnings issued for the area around Okinawa @ @ @ @ @ bases , said strong gusts could cause some homes to collapse and extremely high tides @ @ @ @ @ .
The Japanese Meteorological Agency said Typhoon Maysak was expected to later make landfall on @ @ @ @ @ southern main island , bringing strong winds and rain , then hit South Korea by @ @ @ @ @ kilometers per hour ( 100 mph ) maximum winds at its center at daybreak , @ @ @ @ @ forecast to strengthen slightly as it headed toward Kyushu .
A typhoon that hit the @ @ @ @ @ scattered minor damage in both Koreas .
Japan ’ s southern islands are often been @ @ @ @ @ during typhoon season .

TOKYO (AP) - A powerful typhoon blew over Japan’s southernmost islands on Tuesday and was headed toward the country’s main southern island and the Korean Peninsula.
More than 20,000 homes were left without electricity, according to Okinawa Electric Power Co. As of noon, Typhoon Maysak had already traveled past the area around Okinawa, home to U.S. military bases, but warnings continued to be issued about strong gusts that could cause homes to collapse. Extremely high tides were a risk as well.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency had said earlier that Maysak was expected to later make landfall on Kyushu, Japan’s main southern island, but its course appeared to be swerving away. Still, its passing close by could bring strong winds and rain.
The storm is on course to hit South Korea by Thursday. A typhoon that hit the Korean Peninsula last week caused scattered minor damage in both Koreas.
Maysak was packing maximum winds of 180 kilometers (112 miles) per hour at its center by midday, the meteorological agency said.
Japan’s southern islands are often been hit by mudslides and flooding during typhoon season.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama