washingtontimes--2020-09-04--US Forest Service police dog survives second stabbing attack

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - A highly decorated U.S. Forest Service police dog suffered nine stab wounds during a marijuana raid in Northern California .
But he survived after he was airlifted to a veterinary clinic , the agency said Friday .
What ’ s more , it ’ s the second time the dog , an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois named Ice , recovered after being seriously injured on the job .
Ice was wounded Aug. 27 in the Klamath National Forest south of the Oregon border when he was released to catch a suspect who had fled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raid that unearthed more than 5,500 marijuana plants .
He kept hold of the suspect even after he was stabbed , while his handler , Patrol Capt .
Christopher Magallon , made the arrest .
Magallon then gave his dog first aid while calling in a helicopter , which flew Ice more than 70 miles to the Veterinary Specialty Center in Medford , Oregon .
The dog , which had been wearing a protective vest , was released later that afternoon , and federal prosecutors are still considering charges .
“ Thankfully , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were struck , and Ice will quickly recover and return to service until his expected retirement at the end of this month , ” Cody Wheeler , the Forest Services ’ North Zone patrol commander , said in a statement .
Ice had multiple stab wounds that were more severe during a similar raid in 2016 , the agency said .
He received the 2016 Law Enforcement and Investigations Director ’ s Award for Valor and Heroism after surviving the earlier assault .
He was also honored then as a “ Top Dog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by American Humane Hero Dogs , appearing in a nationally televised award ceremony in 2017 .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A highly decorated U.S. Forest Service police dog suffered nine stab wounds during a marijuana raid in Northern California. But he survived after he was airlifted to a veterinary clinic, the agency said Friday.
What’s more, it’s the second time the dog, an 11-year-old Belgian Malinois named Ice, recovered after being seriously injured on the job.
Ice was wounded Aug. 27 in the Klamath National Forest south of the Oregon border when he was released to catch a suspect who had fled down a steep hill to escape the raid that unearthed more than 5,500 marijuana plants. He kept hold of the suspect even after he was stabbed, while his handler, Patrol Capt. Christopher Magallon, made the arrest.
Magallon then gave his dog first aid while calling in a helicopter, which flew Ice more than 70 miles to the Veterinary Specialty Center in Medford, Oregon. The dog, which had been wearing a protective vest, was released later that afternoon, and federal prosecutors are still considering charges.
“Thankfully, despite the attack, no major areas were struck, and Ice will quickly recover and return to service until his expected retirement at the end of this month,” Cody Wheeler, the Forest Services’ North Zone patrol commander, said in a statement.
Ice had multiple stab wounds that were more severe during a similar raid in 2016, the agency said.
He received the 2016 Law Enforcement and Investigations Director’s Award for Valor and Heroism after surviving the earlier assault. He was also honored then as a “Top Dog” award winner in the international category by American Humane Hero Dogs, appearing in a nationally televised award ceremony in 2017.


washingtontimes--2020-09-04--Report: Small plane that crashed in Texas had just taken off

BRYAN , Texas ( AP ) - A small plane that crashed last weekend in Texas , killing three family members and injuring another person , had just taken off from the airport , federal officials said .
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Thursday that the pilot had purchased the Piper PA-24-250 airplane about a week earlier .
The plane crashed Sunday afternoon at Coulter Airfield in Bryan , about 85 miles ( 137 kilometers ) northwest of Houston .
The NTSB said it came to rest on a grass field on the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those killed as 21-year-old Victoria Walker and her parents , 54-year-old David Walker and 51-year-old Tamara Walker .
Police have said the injured person wasn ’ t related to the family .
The NTSB said that person suffered serious injuries .
The NTSB did not name the occupants of the plane but said in the report that the pilot , who was male , died .
The four people aboard the plane had planned to do a sightseeing flight in the local area , according to the agency .
Police said the Walkers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 64 kilometers ) northeast of Dallas .

BRYAN, Texas (AP) - A small plane that crashed last weekend in Texas, killing three family members and injuring another person, had just taken off from the airport, federal officials said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report Thursday that the pilot had purchased the Piper PA-24-250 airplane about a week earlier.
The plane crashed Sunday afternoon at Coulter Airfield in Bryan, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) northwest of Houston. The NTSB said it came to rest on a grass field on the end of a runway.
Bryan police have identified those killed as 21-year-old Victoria Walker and her parents, 54-year-old David Walker and 51-year-old Tamara Walker.
Police have said the injured person wasn’t related to the family. The NTSB said that person suffered serious injuries.
The NTSB did not name the occupants of the plane but said in the report that the pilot, who was male, died. The four people aboard the plane had planned to do a sightseeing flight in the local area, according to the agency.
Police said the Walkers were from Farmersville, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Dallas.


washingtontimes--2020-09-04--Kentucky tops 800 new virus cases for 4th straight day

FRANKFORT , Ky. ( AP ) - Kentucky topped 800 newly reported coronavirus cases for a fourth straight day and its virus-related death toll approached 1,000 after another day of double-digit deaths , Gov .
Andy Beshear reported Friday .
The Democratic governor also extended his mask mandate for another 30 days to combat the spread of COVID-19 .
In another move , Beshear said he updated an executive order on evictions to reflect the Center for Disease Control ’ s moratorium on residential evictions through Dec. 31 .
The Bluegrass State reported 809 new coronavirus cases Friday , raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases since the pandemic began .
Ninety-eight of the newly reported cases involved children ages 18 and under , the governor said .
On Thursday , the state reported a total of 906 virus cases , and the daily case count had surpassed 800 the prior two days .
Meanwhile , 11 more virus-related deaths were reported Friday , raising the statewide total to 987 .
The state ’ s positivity rate - a rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 - rose slightly to 4.7 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings small to help contain the virus during the long Labor Day weekend .
On Saturday , the Kentucky Derby will be run without fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville , but the race is typically an occasion for widespread partying in the state .
“ I know how much we all want to see our families and friends for this holiday , but for one year , we need to prioritize making sure every person we care about is around to celebrate with us next year , ” the governor said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost so many Kentuckians , and I don ’ t want that loss to be even greater .
It will be if we have a spike in cases.
” Beshear has also urged people to socially distance , wear masks and travel as little as possible during the holiday weekend .
Meanwhile , the governor followed through on his plan to extend his requirement that most people wear masks in public .
Beshear said earlier this week that the facial covering requirement is “ more important than ever ” amid efforts to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
The governor said Friday he renewed another order allowing Kentucky pharmacists to dispense 30-day medication refills .
It was set to expire Sunday .
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 and be fatal .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky topped 800 newly reported coronavirus cases for a fourth straight day and its virus-related death toll approached 1,000 after another day of double-digit deaths, Gov. Andy Beshear reported Friday.
The Democratic governor also extended his mask mandate for another 30 days to combat the spread of COVID-19. In another move, Beshear said he updated an executive order on evictions to reflect the Center for Disease Control’s moratorium on residential evictions through Dec. 31.
The Bluegrass State reported 809 new coronavirus cases Friday, raising the statewide total to more than 51,670 cases since the pandemic began. Ninety-eight of the newly reported cases involved children ages 18 and under, the governor said. On Thursday, the state reported a total of 906 virus cases, and the daily case count had surpassed 800 the prior two days.
Meanwhile, 11 more virus-related deaths were reported Friday, raising the statewide total to 987.
The state’s positivity rate - a rolling figure reflecting the average number of tests coming back positive for COVID-19 - rose slightly to 4.7%.
Beshear urged Kentuckians to keep their gatherings small to help contain the virus during the long Labor Day weekend. On Saturday, the Kentucky Derby will be run without fans at Churchill Downs in Louisville, but the race is typically an occasion for widespread partying in the state.
“I know how much we all want to see our families and friends for this holiday, but for one year, we need to prioritize making sure every person we care about is around to celebrate with us next year,” the governor said in a release. “We have already lost so many Kentuckians, and I don’t want that loss to be even greater. It will be if we have a spike in cases.”
Beshear has also urged people to socially distance, wear masks and travel as little as possible during the holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, the governor followed through on his plan to extend his requirement that most people wear masks in public. Beshear said earlier this week that the facial covering requirement is “more important than ever” amid efforts to reopen schools and protect the economy during the pandemic.
The governor said Friday he renewed another order allowing Kentucky pharmacists to dispense 30-day medication refills. It was set to expire Sunday.
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 and be fatal.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-09-04--North Dakota Supreme Court rejects Democrat replacement bid

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - The North Dakota Supreme Court on Friday ruled against Democrats who petitioned to @ @ @ @ @ insurance commissioner on the November ballot .
Democrats had argued that state law allows them @ @ @ @ @ the court removed their previous candidate because she was ineligible for the office .
Last @ @ @ @ @ justices found Travisia Martin was not eligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner because @ @ @ @ @ falls short of the five-year requirement for the job .
The Democratic-NPL Party ’ s @ @ @ @ @ insurance agent Jason Anderson as its candidate for insurance commissioner and argued that he could @ @ @ @ @ November .
But the justices ruled that the state law allowing political parties to fill @ @ @ @ @ because Martin was not eligible for the office .
Four justices ruled in favor of @ @ @ @ @ , while one justice dissented .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Supreme Court on Friday ruled against Democrats who petitioned to get a replacement candidate for insurance commissioner on the November ballot.
Democrats had argued that state law allows them to substitute a candidate after the court removed their previous candidate because she was ineligible for the office.
Last week, the Supreme Court justices found Travisia Martin was not eligible to hold the office of insurance commissioner because her residency in North Dakota falls short of the five-year requirement for the job. The Democratic-NPL Party’s Executive Committee then endorsed Fargo insurance agent Jason Anderson as its candidate for insurance commissioner and argued that he could appear on the ballot in November.
But the justices ruled that the state law allowing political parties to fill candidate vacancies did not apply because Martin was not eligible for the office.
Four justices ruled in favor of denying the Democrats’ petition, while one justice dissented.


washingtontimes--2020-09-04--Groups raise concerns about new shaft at US nuclear dump

ALBUQUERQUE , N.M. ( AP ) - Crews working at the U.S. government ’ s underground nuclear waste repository in New Mexico are starting a new phase of a contentious project to dig a utility shaft that officials say will increase ventilation at the site where workers entomb the radioactive remnants of decades of bomb-making .
Officials at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant said this week that the $ 75 million project is a top priority and that work will be done round the clock five days a week , with an additional shift on Saturdays .
The shaft will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mile and connect to an underground system of passageways .
After reaching a depth of about 60 feet ( 18 meters ) , workers now will be drilling small holes and using explosive charges to clear more rock .
Adequate ventilation at the repository has been a big issue since 2014 , when a radiation release forced a temporary closure and contamination limited air flow underground where workers dispose of nuclear waste .
That prompted the need for a new ventilation system so full-scale operations could someday resume .
The repository is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clean up waste from decades of U.S. nuclear research and bomb-making .
Over more than 20 years , tons of waste have been stashed deep in the salt caverns at the southern New Mexico site .
Watchdog groups are raising red flags , saying the work is being done before state environmental officials finish a process allowing the public weigh in and before they have issued a final permit .
The New Mexico Environment Department in April granted federal officials temporary approval to start the work as part of a larger request to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Southwest Research and Information Center is among those opposing the project .
The group filed legal challenges , saying environmental officials ignored existing regulations , past agency practices and case law when giving temporary approval for contractors to begin working .
The Environment Department has defended its decision , saying the temporary approval was limited to digging the shaft , not using it .
Don Hancock with the Southwest Research and Information Center said state officials essentially foreordained the permit request by allowing work to begin .
He also said the state has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions and that it reduced the amount of time the public had to comment on the project by delaying the release of a draft permit .
The group has suggested that the shaft , given its size and location , could be used to expand the repository .
It says that creates potential for the government to send high-level and commercial waste to the site , along with new radioactive waste that will be generated by manufacturing plutonium cores for the nation ’ s nuclear arsenal .
Despite congressional limits on the amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipped to the repository , Hancock and other critics said the state ’ s actions have favored the federal government while limiting the public ’ s ability to give their input .
The repository ’ s hazardous waste permit also is up for renewal this year , and more legal wrangling is expected .

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Crews working at the U.S. government’s underground nuclear waste repository in New Mexico are starting a new phase of a contentious project to dig a utility shaft that officials say will increase ventilation at the site where workers entomb the radioactive remnants of decades of bomb-making.
Officials at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant said this week that the $75 million project is a top priority and that work will be done round the clock five days a week, with an additional shift on Saturdays. The shaft will eventually span more than four-tenths of a mile and connect to an underground system of passageways.
After reaching a depth of about 60 feet (18 meters), workers now will be drilling small holes and using explosive charges to clear more rock.
Adequate ventilation at the repository has been a big issue since 2014, when a radiation release forced a temporary closure and contamination limited air flow underground where workers dispose of nuclear waste. That prompted the need for a new ventilation system so full-scale operations could someday resume.
The repository is at the center of a multibillion-dollar effort to clean up waste from decades of U.S. nuclear research and bomb-making. Over more than 20 years, tons of waste have been stashed deep in the salt caverns at the southern New Mexico site.
Watchdog groups are raising red flags, saying the work is being done before state environmental officials finish a process allowing the public weigh in and before they have issued a final permit. The New Mexico Environment Department in April granted federal officials temporary approval to start the work as part of a larger request to dig the shaft and passageways.
The Southwest Research and Information Center is among those opposing the project. The group filed legal challenges, saying environmental officials ignored existing regulations, past agency practices and case law when giving temporary approval for contractors to begin working.
The Environment Department has defended its decision, saying the temporary approval was limited to digging the shaft, not using it.
Don Hancock with the Southwest Research and Information Center said state officials essentially foreordained the permit request by allowing work to begin. He also said the state has not provided any technical basis for its decisions and that it reduced the amount of time the public had to comment on the project by delaying the release of a draft permit.
The group has suggested that the shaft, given its size and location, could be used to expand the repository. It says that creates potential for the government to send high-level and commercial waste to the site, along with new radioactive waste that will be generated by manufacturing plutonium cores for the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Despite congressional limits on the amount and type of waste that can be shipped to the repository, Hancock and other critics said the state’s actions have favored the federal government while limiting the public’s ability to give their input.
The repository’s hazardous waste permit also is up for renewal this year, and more legal wrangling is expected.


washingtontimes--2020-09-04--2nd West Virginia county goes red on state coronavirus map

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - A second county in West Virginia is on track to have schools go virtual-instruction only and cancel extracurricular activities after an increase in coronavirus cases reported on Friday , a day before the state will announce which public schools are allowed to reopen next week .
Monongalia County is the second county to turn red on the state ’ s color-coded map that gauges whether schools are ready for in-class teaching , sports and other activities .
It comes two days after Gov .
Jim Justice ordered the county ’ s bars to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University students packing bars in Morgantown .
Justice said that the map will be next updated on Saturday night to determine which counties can welcome back students for in-person classes on Tuesday .
“ We ’ re about ready to go back to school .
Unfortunately we ’ re going to have some that we just can ’ t turn loose right yet , which is in the best interest of the school , ” Justice said on Friday .
Six counties were marked as orange , meaning in-person classes are allowed but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ color-coded yellow , which allows for counties to fully reopen schools if education leaders take measures such as requiring masks for some grades and limiting crowded activities .
Most of the state ’ s 55 counties were in the green , where disease transmission is minimal .
Monroe County is the other county to be labeled red , where there are more than 25 confirmed coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents .
On Friday , Justice announced the state will devote an additional $ 50 million in federal pandemic relief funds for personal protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Virginia announced six new deaths linked to COVID-19 , bringing the state ’ s total to 243 .
The virus usually results in only mild to moderate symptoms , but is particularly dangerous for the elderly and people with other health problems .

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A second county in West Virginia is on track to have schools go virtual-instruction only and cancel extracurricular activities after an increase in coronavirus cases reported on Friday, a day before the state will announce which public schools are allowed to reopen next week.
Monongalia County is the second county to turn red on the state’s color-coded map that gauges whether schools are ready for in-class teaching, sports and other activities. It comes two days after Gov. Jim Justice ordered the county’s bars to close indefinitely after news of West Virginia University students packing bars in Morgantown.
Justice said that the map will be next updated on Saturday night to determine which counties can welcome back students for in-person classes on Tuesday.
“We’re about ready to go back to school. Unfortunately we’re going to have some that we just can’t turn loose right yet, which is in the best interest of the school,” Justice said on Friday.
Six counties were marked as orange, meaning in-person classes are allowed but no sports. Over a dozen were color-coded yellow, which allows for counties to fully reopen schools if education leaders take measures such as requiring masks for some grades and limiting crowded activities. Most of the state’s 55 counties were in the green, where disease transmission is minimal.
Monroe County is the other county to be labeled red, where there are more than 25 confirmed coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents.
On Friday, Justice announced the state will devote an additional $50 million in federal pandemic relief funds for personal protective equipment and testing capacity at schools.
West Virginia announced six new deaths linked to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 243.
The virus usually results in only mild to moderate symptoms, but is particularly dangerous for the elderly and people with other health problems.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Delaware GOP gubernatorial primary draws surge of candidates

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - Finding Republican candidates to run for office in solid-blue Delaware can sometimes be a challenge , but there ’ s no shortage of GOP contenders hoping to unseat Democratic Gov .
John Carney this year .
Half a dozen Republicans are vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the upcoming primary election on Sept. 15 , spurred in part by anger over the economically damaging restrictions he imposed in response to the coronavirus epidemic .
The field consists of two state senators , two political newcomers and two perennial candidates .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electorate that it presents an opportunity to upset Carney in the general election .
“ If you take a traditional approach , John Carney can ’ t be beat , right ?
” said state GOP chairwoman Jane Brady , noting that Carney has spent decades in politics and has far more money than any of the GOP candidates .
“ I think there ’ s a great deal of anger.
” The Republican Party has endorsed Julianne Murray , a Sussex County criminal defense attorney who sued Carney in federal court over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the coronavirus .
The ban , which was later lifted , temporarily prevented Murray and her husband from renting out their Dewey Beach condominium .
“ I do think it is a referendum on how he has handled it , but I don ’ t think the entire election is about COVID-19 , ” Murray said .
While declaring that she would end the state of emergency , Murray said Delaware was facing serious problems before the virus hit .
She said the state needs to do more to attract businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gross receipts taxes and high energy costs , as well as address poorly performing schools and public safety .
Carney , who faces political newcomer David Lamar Williams Jr. in the Democratic primary , has defended his coronavirus restrictions as necessary to protect public health , while acknowledging the hardships they have caused .
On Sept. 3 , he extended the state of emergency he first declared in March for another 30 days .
He has said he will continue to work on racial justice issues , strengthening public schools , improving Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s waterways .
At the same time , he would maintain his approach of limiting growth in state spending to a level that corresponds with sustainable revenue projections .
Carney , whose campaign did not respond to interview requests , was elected governor in 2016 after serving three terms in the U.S. House .
Challenging Murray in the GOP primary are state Sens .
Colin Bonini and Bryant Richardson , small business owner David Bosco , state tax enforcement officer Dave Graham and businessman Scott Walker .
Walter Carroll , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done a “ horrible job , ” said the GOP field might offer voters more choices , but it probably won ’ t make a difference in the end .
“ The only thought that ’ s going through my head is that it doesn ’ t matter .
Republicans are so outnumbered in Delaware , it just doesn ’ t matter , ” said Carroll , who said the only thing that saved his toy action figures and comic books business from having to close because of coronavirus restrictions were sales he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus struck .
Like Murray , Bosco is a political newcomer bothered by the state ’ s coronavirus response and the widespread shutdown of small businesses .
“ You can ’ t have somebody run a state who doesn ’ t understand business , who has never run a business , who doesn ’ t know the difference between the front and back side of a check , ” said Bosco , who drives an automobile carrier and owns an Airsoft tactical simulation business .
Richardson believes Delawareans deserve more independence from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually realize their party has been drawn too far left .
Known for his strong anti-abortion stance , Richardson said his priorities include public safety , more career pathways for high school students and a drug-prevention curriculum in every school .
Bonini did not respond to phone and email messages requesting an interview and did not appear at the GOP convention .
“ We don ’ t even know where Colin is , because he hasn ’ t come out of wherever he ’ s at , ” quipped Bosco , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knock on doors up and down the state , including in heavily Democratic New Castle County .
Graham and Walker are political gadflies who have run unsuccessfully for statewide office several times before , sometimes after changing their party affiliations .
“ I have high name recognition , ” said Graham , who failed to generate much enthusiasm among voters in three previous bids for governor and two for attorney general .
Walker , meanwhile , has embarked on another one-man campaign of planting hand-painted campaign signs wherever he can , a tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shocked the political establishment by winning the GOP congressional primary .
“ We need a constitutional amendment to clarify emergency powers , ” he said .
“ We can ’ t be ruling by executive orders.
” Democratic candidate Williams , who works for a nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities , did not respond to a request for an interview .
His website states that he is committed to “ a progressive stance on empowered life for all in our communities , ” including affordable housing , advanced health care options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard wage .
”

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Finding Republican candidates to run for office in solid-blue Delaware can sometimes be a challenge, but there’s no shortage of GOP contenders hoping to unseat Democratic Gov. John Carney this year.
Half a dozen Republicans are vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the upcoming primary election on Sept. 15, spurred in part by anger over the economically damaging restrictions he imposed in response to the coronavirus epidemic. The field consists of two state senators, two political newcomers and two perennial candidates.
Republicans believe there is enough unhappiness among the electorate that it presents an opportunity to upset Carney in the general election.
“If you take a traditional approach, John Carney can’t be beat, right?” said state GOP chairwoman Jane Brady, noting that Carney has spent decades in politics and has far more money than any of the GOP candidates. “I think there’s a great deal of anger.”
The Republican Party has endorsed Julianne Murray, a Sussex County criminal defense attorney who sued Carney in federal court over a ban on short-term rentals he imposed because of the coronavirus. The ban, which was later lifted, temporarily prevented Murray and her husband from renting out their Dewey Beach condominium.
“I do think it is a referendum on how he has handled it, but I don’t think the entire election is about COVID-19,” Murray said.
While declaring that she would end the state of emergency, Murray said Delaware was facing serious problems before the virus hit. She said the state needs to do more to attract businesses wary of Delaware’s corporate and gross receipts taxes and high energy costs, as well as address poorly performing schools and public safety.
Carney, who faces political newcomer David Lamar Williams Jr. in the Democratic primary, has defended his coronavirus restrictions as necessary to protect public health, while acknowledging the hardships they have caused. On Sept. 3, he extended the state of emergency he first declared in March for another 30 days.
He has said he will continue to work on racial justice issues, strengthening public schools, improving Delaware’s infrastructure and cleaning up the state’s waterways. At the same time, he would maintain his approach of limiting growth in state spending to a level that corresponds with sustainable revenue projections.
Carney, whose campaign did not respond to interview requests, was elected governor in 2016 after serving three terms in the U.S. House.
Challenging Murray in the GOP primary are state Sens. Colin Bonini and Bryant Richardson, small business owner David Bosco, state tax enforcement officer Dave Graham and businessman Scott Walker.
Walter Carroll, a Dover business owner who believes Carney has done a “horrible job,” said the GOP field might offer voters more choices, but it probably won’t make a difference in the end.
“The only thought that’s going through my head is that it doesn’t matter. Republicans are so outnumbered in Delaware, it just doesn’t matter,” said Carroll, who said the only thing that saved his toy action figures and comic books business from having to close because of coronavirus restrictions were sales he made at a Chicago trade show before the virus struck.
Like Murray, Bosco is a political newcomer bothered by the state’s coronavirus response and the widespread shutdown of small businesses.
“You can’t have somebody run a state who doesn’t understand business, who has never run a business, who doesn’t know the difference between the front and back side of a check,” said Bosco, who drives an automobile carrier and owns an Airsoft tactical simulation business.
Richardson believes Delawareans deserve more independence from government, and that Democratic voters will eventually realize their party has been drawn too far left. Known for his strong anti-abortion stance, Richardson said his priorities include public safety, more career pathways for high school students and a drug-prevention curriculum in every school.
Bonini did not respond to phone and email messages requesting an interview and did not appear at the GOP convention.
“We don’t even know where Colin is, because he hasn’t come out of wherever he’s at,” quipped Bosco, who has recruited a small army of volunteers to knock on doors up and down the state, including in heavily Democratic New Castle County.
Graham and Walker are political gadflies who have run unsuccessfully for statewide office several times before, sometimes after changing their party affiliations.
“I have high name recognition,” said Graham, who failed to generate much enthusiasm among voters in three previous bids for governor and two for attorney general.
Walker, meanwhile, has embarked on another one-man campaign of planting hand-painted campaign signs wherever he can, a tactic that paid off in 2018 when he shocked the political establishment by winning the GOP congressional primary.
“We need a constitutional amendment to clarify emergency powers,” he said. “We can’t be ruling by executive orders.”
Democratic candidate Williams, who works for a nonprofit that serves people with developmental disabilities, did not respond to a request for an interview. His website states that he is committed to “a progressive stance on empowered life for all in our communities,” including affordable housing, advanced health care options for all, and a “livable standard wage.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--'World's loneliest elephant' okayed to quit zoo for new life

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - An elephant who has become a cause celebre for animal rights activists around the world will be allowed to leave his Pakistani zoo and transferred to better conditions , the animal welfare group helping with the case said Saturday .
Dubbed the ‘ world ’ s loneliest elephant ’ by his supporters , Kaavan has languished at a zoo in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for more than 35 years .
Martin Bauer , a spokesman for Four Paws , said the elephant has been finally given medical approval to travel , most likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and better conditions .
The overweight elephant Kaavan underwent a full medical examination at the zoo on Friday , said Bauer .
In May , Pakistan ’ s High Court ordered the Marghazar Zoo closed because of its abysmal conditions blamed on systemic negligence .
Rescuing Kaavan from the zoo ’ s dire conditions attracted the attention of animal activists around the world , and celebrities including U.S. singer Cher , who lobbied for his relocation .
“ Unfortunately , the rescue comes too late for two lions that died during an attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local animal handlers set a fire in their enclosure to force them into their transport crates , ” Bauer said in a statement released on Saturday .
He said Four Paws was invited by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board to safely transfer the remaining animals in the zoo .
Kaavan has until now been forced to live a solitary life in a small enclosure .
Friday ’ s medical examination showed the elephant was overweight , even as he showed signs of malnutrition .
His nails were cracked and overgrown apparently from years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooring that damaged his feet .
“ Following the checks , which confirmed Kaavan is strong enough , steps will now be taken to finalize his relocation to an animal sanctuary potentially in Cambodia , ” Bauer said .
His recovery will be a long one , said Bauer , adding that Kaavan ’ s wounds are more than just physical .
He also suffers behavioral issues .
Kaavan , who lost his partner in 2012 , has battled loneliness as well as poor living conditions .
Both have taken their toll , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also developed stereotypical behavior , which means he shakes his head back and forth for hours .
This is mainly because he is simply bored , ” said Bauer .
The Four Paws team that carried out Kaavan ’ s physical included wildlife veterinarians and experts .
It wasn ’ t immediately known when Kaavan would be able to travel .
Rights activists have lobbied for his relocation since 2016 .

ISLAMABAD (AP) - An elephant who has become a cause celebre for animal rights activists around the world will be allowed to leave his Pakistani zoo and transferred to better conditions, the animal welfare group helping with the case said Saturday.
Dubbed the ‘world’s loneliest elephant’ by his supporters, Kaavan has languished at a zoo in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad for more than 35 years.
Martin Bauer, a spokesman for Four Paws, said the elephant has been finally given medical approval to travel, most likely to Cambodia, where he will find companionship and better conditions.
The overweight elephant Kaavan underwent a full medical examination at the zoo on Friday, said Bauer.
In May, Pakistan’s High Court ordered the Marghazar Zoo closed because of its abysmal conditions blamed on systemic negligence.
Rescuing Kaavan from the zoo’s dire conditions attracted the attention of animal activists around the world, and celebrities including U.S. singer Cher, who lobbied for his relocation.
“Unfortunately, the rescue comes too late for two lions that died during an attempted transfer at the end of July after local animal handlers set a fire in their enclosure to force them into their transport crates,” Bauer said in a statement released on Saturday.
He said Four Paws was invited by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board to safely transfer the remaining animals in the zoo. Kaavan has until now been forced to live a solitary life in a small enclosure.
Friday’s medical examination showed the elephant was overweight, even as he showed signs of malnutrition. His nails were cracked and overgrown apparently from years of living in an improper enclosure with flooring that damaged his feet.
“Following the checks, which confirmed Kaavan is strong enough, steps will now be taken to finalize his relocation to an animal sanctuary potentially in Cambodia,” Bauer said.
His recovery will be a long one, said Bauer, adding that Kaavan’s wounds are more than just physical. He also suffers behavioral issues.
Kaavan, who lost his partner in 2012, has battled loneliness as well as poor living conditions. Both have taken their toll, said Bauer in an interview.
“He also developed stereotypical behavior, which means he shakes his head back and forth for hours. This is mainly because he is simply bored,” said Bauer.
The Four Paws team that carried out Kaavan’s physical included wildlife veterinarians and experts.
It wasn’t immediately known when Kaavan would be able to travel. Rights activists have lobbied for his relocation since 2016.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Fire weather watch for western Oregon starting Monday

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for western Oregon , warning of extreme fire danger early Monday through Wednesday afternoon .
It ’ s unusual for a watch to be issued this far in advance , but computer models suggest an offshore flow event unlike anything normally seen this time of year , according to the weather service .
Strong , dry , winds gusting up to 40 mph are expected flow not only from the Columbia River Gorge toward the Portland metro area and out to the coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north Willamette Valley .
Forecasts call for northeast winds sustained at 10-20 mph .
The wind , relative humidity as low as 10 % to 15 % and dry fuels cause critical fire danger .
The weather service advises extreme caution with any potential ignition sources , including lawn equipment , especially in grassy areas .
Outdoor burning is not recommended throughout western Oregon .
Despite relatively cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday , extreme caution is urged with fire , as any fires that start this weekend could cause extreme danger when strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night and into Tuesday .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for western Oregon, warning of extreme fire danger early Monday through Wednesday afternoon.
It’s unusual for a watch to be issued this far in advance, but computer models suggest an offshore flow event unlike anything normally seen this time of year, according to the weather service. Strong, dry, winds gusting up to 40 mph are expected flow not only from the Columbia River Gorge toward the Portland metro area and out to the coast, but also could extend across the north Willamette Valley.
Forecasts call for northeast winds sustained at 10-20 mph. The wind, relative humidity as low as 10% to 15% and dry fuels cause critical fire danger.
The weather service advises extreme caution with any potential ignition sources, including lawn equipment, especially in grassy areas. Outdoor burning is not recommended throughout western Oregon.
Despite relatively cooler temperatures Friday and Saturday, extreme caution is urged with fire, as any fires that start this weekend could cause extreme danger when strong, dry east winds begin blowing Monday night and into Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Prison program helps inmates connect with their children

DEER LODGE , Mont .
( AP ) - Montana State Prison inmate Jesse Harrison smiled under his face mask as he showed the small clay pot he was painting to fellow inmate Jeramie Carr , who was in the midst of some beadwork .
At first glance , the two burly men might have seemed out of place in the private , home-like interior of a former maintenance building on the prison grounds .
But after a little while , it was evident just how at home they were .
The Deer Lodge prison is pioneering a first-of-its-kind program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children despite the barriers of a prison and a virus .
Both Harrison and Carr were among the first 36 men chosen to pilot the program .
It is called CAMPP , or Connecting Adults and Minors through Positive Parenting .
Montana Correctional Enterprises ’ Education Director Marisa Britton-Bostwick , who helped craft the grant application that secured nearly $ 700,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the program ’ s first three years , said the primary goal of CAMPP is to eventually remove the children of these incarcerated men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care system by ensuring the men have the parenting skills needed when they reintegrate into their communities .
For that reason , Britton-Bostwick said the initial round of about 500 applicants was whittled down to prioritize men within five years of release who have one or more children within the foster care system .
Interviews with the applicants were also conducted to ensure the men wanted to participate for the right reasons .
In 2019 , nearly 4,000 Montanan children were in the foster care system .
A 2017 study conducted by Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center based in Bethesda , Maryland that conducts research on children and child well-being , concluded that Montana ranked second in the nation behind West Virginia with a rate of 16.8 children per 1,000 in foster care .
“ When you see these children light up when they see their fathers , it ’ s powerful , ” said Terryl Gochanour , grant coordinator and educator for Montana Correctional Enterprises .
“ These children deserve their fathers.
” Carr has about two years left on his sentence and said that even though reconnecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 4 , has been difficult for all of them , the hard work has been exceedingly rewarding .
“ I was definitely not focused on my kids like I am now , ” Carr said about his past , adding that CAMPP has given him a positive outlook on his future .
“ There ’ s nothing I want more now than to get out to be with my kids .
It ’ s given me a whole other outlook.
” Harrison is serving the last three years of his 10-year sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ages 10 and 7 , are also participating in the program .
One of the more difficult aspects of program for Harrison has been shifting from a prisoner to a father .
“ I ’ ve really had to learn how to let my defenses down , ” he said , pointing out the stark contrast between prison yard conversations and talking to “ two little girls who like unicorns and guinea pigs.
” Sherry Carlson , one of CAMPP ’ s parenting instructors , said that shift is a key component to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change their way of thinking , ” Carlson told the Independent Record newspaper .
“ Maybe 98 % of the men in this class have experienced trauma .
The stories we hear are things nobody in this room are used to.
” For example , Carlson said some of the men would get defensive about their incarceration , and they had to learn their children have the right to be angry about it .
Sometimes it ’ s as simple as learning how to address their children .
“ We ’ re giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gochanour said .
After the applicants are selected , the permission of the children ’ s current caregivers is sought and some initial parenting instruction takes place .
The men move on to supervised letter writing before progressing to live video calls with their kids and a parenting instructor .
The 12-week program was originally intended to culminate in a three-day “ camp.
” Children and their guardians would travel to Deer Lodge and stay in a hotel on the prison ’ s dime .
Montana State Prison inmates renovated an old storage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house the camp in future years .
Interior walls are painted with bright murals and a privacy fence was erected between the building and the prison for the benefit of the children .
While there , the children and their fathers planned to create “ vision boards , ” craft “ All About Me Posters , ” journal and garden .
The hope is to hold four camps a year for the next three years .
Britton-Bostwick said the creation and operation of CAMPP has been a highly collaborative effort among a variety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The University of Montana provided an evidence-based curriculum that the men could complete on their own in their cell .
Both the state ’ s Department of Public Health and Human Services , which runs the foster care system , and Office of Public Instruction are consulted on a regular basis to ensure the children are emotionally healthy during and after what can be a challenging experience .
Montana chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters also help to keep tabs on the children .
“ It ’ s important to have that support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It can be a very isolating experience to have a parent incarcerated.
” Like every other facet of life , COVID-19 threw a wrench in the plan , and the team had to quickly pivot .
The in-person camp has been canceled , but all the activity materials were boxed up and sent to the children , even the flower pots , soil and seeds .
A “ virtual camp ” was held Aug. 10 to 17 that featured a virtual recital put on by the families as a grand finale .
Harrison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him constantly about CAMPP .
“ A lot of guys see what ’ s going on .
People are excited about it , ” Harrison said .
“ I ’ ll tell you what it ’ s done for me and my kids .
It ’ s given us a second chance at being a family.
” Carr said watching the new relationship he has formed with his daughters grow over the course of the program has been life-changing .
The fathers and children are given matching T-shirts sporting the CAMPP logo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interact with their children in prison garb .
Carr said it is a near daily battle between his wife and his daughters to get them out of those shirts .
“ She has to rip that shirt off of them because they think I ’ m still wearing it , ” Carr said .
” … They ( Montana State Prison staff ) could easily sit back , stick to the same old job and get the same paycheck .
It does mean a lot .
”

DEER LODGE, Mont. (AP) - Montana State Prison inmate Jesse Harrison smiled under his face mask as he showed the small clay pot he was painting to fellow inmate Jeramie Carr, who was in the midst of some beadwork.
At first glance, the two burly men might have seemed out of place in the private, home-like interior of a former maintenance building on the prison grounds. But after a little while, it was evident just how at home they were.
The Deer Lodge prison is pioneering a first-of-its-kind program intended to help incarcerated fathers connect with their children despite the barriers of a prison and a virus. Both Harrison and Carr were among the first 36 men chosen to pilot the program.
It is called CAMPP, or Connecting Adults and Minors through Positive Parenting.
Montana Correctional Enterprises’ Education Director Marisa Britton-Bostwick, who helped craft the grant application that secured nearly $700,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice for the program’s first three years, said the primary goal of CAMPP is to eventually remove the children of these incarcerated men from the state’s over-burdened foster care system by ensuring the men have the parenting skills needed when they reintegrate into their communities.
For that reason, Britton-Bostwick said the initial round of about 500 applicants was whittled down to prioritize men within five years of release who have one or more children within the foster care system. Interviews with the applicants were also conducted to ensure the men wanted to participate for the right reasons.
In 2019, nearly 4,000 Montanan children were in the foster care system. A 2017 study conducted by Child Trends, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center based in Bethesda, Maryland that conducts research on children and child well-being, concluded that Montana ranked second in the nation behind West Virginia with a rate of 16.8 children per 1,000 in foster care.
“When you see these children light up when they see their fathers, it’s powerful,” said Terryl Gochanour, grant coordinator and educator for Montana Correctional Enterprises. “These children deserve their fathers.”
Carr has about two years left on his sentence and said that even though reconnecting with his two daughters, ages 10 and 4, has been difficult for all of them, the hard work has been exceedingly rewarding.
“I was definitely not focused on my kids like I am now,” Carr said about his past, adding that CAMPP has given him a positive outlook on his future. “There’s nothing I want more now than to get out to be with my kids. It’s given me a whole other outlook.”
Harrison is serving the last three years of his 10-year sentence. He and his two daughters, ages 10 and 7, are also participating in the program.
One of the more difficult aspects of program for Harrison has been shifting from a prisoner to a father.
“I’ve really had to learn how to let my defenses down,” he said, pointing out the stark contrast between prison yard conversations and talking to “two little girls who like unicorns and guinea pigs.”
Sherry Carlson, one of CAMPP’s parenting instructors, said that shift is a key component to the program.
“We have to change their way of thinking,” Carlson told the Independent Record newspaper. “Maybe 98% of the men in this class have experienced trauma. The stories we hear are things nobody in this room are used to.”
For example, Carlson said some of the men would get defensive about their incarceration, and they had to learn their children have the right to be angry about it. Sometimes it’s as simple as learning how to address their children.
“We’re giving these guys ways to communicate,” Gochanour said.
After the applicants are selected, the permission of the children’s current caregivers is sought and some initial parenting instruction takes place.
The men move on to supervised letter writing before progressing to live video calls with their kids and a parenting instructor.
The 12-week program was originally intended to culminate in a three-day “camp.” Children and their guardians would travel to Deer Lodge and stay in a hotel on the prison’s dime.
Montana State Prison inmates renovated an old storage facility on the prison grounds that will house the camp in future years. Interior walls are painted with bright murals and a privacy fence was erected between the building and the prison for the benefit of the children.
While there, the children and their fathers planned to create “vision boards,” craft “All About Me Posters,” journal and garden.
The hope is to hold four camps a year for the next three years.
Britton-Bostwick said the creation and operation of CAMPP has been a highly collaborative effort among a variety of state agencies from the get-go.
The University of Montana provided an evidence-based curriculum that the men could complete on their own in their cell. Both the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services, which runs the foster care system, and Office of Public Instruction are consulted on a regular basis to ensure the children are emotionally healthy during and after what can be a challenging experience.
Montana chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters also help to keep tabs on the children.
“It’s important to have that support network,” Britton-Bostwick said. “It can be a very isolating experience to have a parent incarcerated.”
Like every other facet of life, COVID-19 threw a wrench in the plan, and the team had to quickly pivot.
The in-person camp has been canceled, but all the activity materials were boxed up and sent to the children, even the flower pots, soil and seeds. A “virtual camp” was held Aug. 10 to 17 that featured a virtual recital put on by the families as a grand finale.
Harrison said his fellow inmates have been asking him constantly about CAMPP.
“A lot of guys see what’s going on. People are excited about it,” Harrison said. “I’ll tell you what it’s done for me and my kids. It’s given us a second chance at being a family.”
Carr said watching the new relationship he has formed with his daughters grow over the course of the program has been life-changing.
The fathers and children are given matching T-shirts sporting the CAMPP logo, mostly so the men do not have to interact with their children in prison garb. Carr said it is a near daily battle between his wife and his daughters to get them out of those shirts.
“She has to rip that shirt off of them because they think I’m still wearing it,” Carr said. ” … They (Montana State Prison staff) could easily sit back, stick to the same old job and get the same paycheck. It does mean a lot.”


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Quarantine a small price to pay for Australian in Venice

VENICE ( AP ) - Roderick MacKay had to get government approval to leave Australia , spent two weeks in preventive coronavirus quarantine in Rome and will be locked up in a hotel back in Australia for another two weeks upon his return .
But the 33-year-old director says it ’ s a small price to pay to get his first feature film , “ The Furnace , ” to the Venice Film Festival - especially after it took six years to make .
“ The Furnace ” explores a forgotten aspect of the 19th century west Australian gold rush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from India , Afghanistan and Persia - Iran ’ s former name - were brought in by the British colonizers to help open up the Outback , many essentially working as indentured laborers .
“ The Furnace ” follows the story of a young Afghan cameleer played by Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek , who is led astray from his friendship with local Aboriginal people by a shifty gold prospector .
“ It ’ s shining a light on a little known chapter of our history and representing community groups who have not really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” MacKay told The Associated Press .
“ And so I think on the basis of that , that was really the thing that compelled me to come here and do my bit to represent the film.
” That was no easy feat given the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown of MacKay ’ s hometown of Perth , in western Australia , as well as Italy ’ s restrictions on travelers coming from outside Europe .
MacKay had to get federal government approval to leave the country , and successfully made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the only Australian official selection at Venice , where it is screening in the Horizons section for new talent .
“ It turns out , we ’ re kind of representing the country , ” he said .
“ So luckily , or thankfully , they considered that to be a worthy enough cause.
” Upon arrival in Italy , MacKay quarantined at a Rome apartment for two weeks , people-watching from the rooftop terrace , preparing for the festival and watching movies , including Ridley Scott ’ s “ Gladiator ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the zone ” of Rome .
Now at Venice , he is overwhelmed : MacKay had only previously made two short films before “ The Furnace , ” which he conceived of when researching the western Australian gold rush in 2014 .
“ It ’ s taken me six years to get this project off the ground .
So a month in quarantine , really in the scheme of things , is kind of a small blip in the time that I ’ ve taken from my life to realize this project , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he retraces his steps back to Perth , where a government-appointed hotel quarantine awaits him .
“ Not ideal , but we understand that it ’ s necessary in these times , ” he said .
“ And hey , perhaps it ’ ll be a nice sort of two-week window to just process everything that we ’ ve been up to here in this extraordinary time.
” The festival , the first major in-person cinema showcase after COVID-19 locked down the film industry , wraps up on Sept. 12 .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are competing for the Golden Lion in the main selection .

VENICE (AP) - Roderick MacKay had to get government approval to leave Australia, spent two weeks in preventive coronavirus quarantine in Rome and will be locked up in a hotel back in Australia for another two weeks upon his return.
But the 33-year-old director says it’s a small price to pay to get his first feature film,“The Furnace,” to the Venice Film Festival - especially after it took six years to make.
“The Furnace” explores a forgotten aspect of the 19th century west Australian gold rush, when Muslim and Sikh camel handlers from India, Afghanistan and Persia - Iran’s former name - were brought in by the British colonizers to help open up the Outback, many essentially working as indentured laborers.
“The Furnace” follows the story of a young Afghan cameleer played by Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek, who is led astray from his friendship with local Aboriginal people by a shifty gold prospector.
“It’s shining a light on a little known chapter of our history and representing community groups who have not really been represented in Australia’s history,” MacKay told The Associated Press. “And so I think on the basis of that, that was really the thing that compelled me to come here and do my bit to represent the film.”
That was no easy feat given the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown of MacKay’s hometown of Perth, in western Australia, as well as Italy’s restrictions on travelers coming from outside Europe.
MacKay had to get federal government approval to leave the country, and successfully made the case that “The Furnace” was the only Australian official selection at Venice, where it is screening in the Horizons section for new talent.
“It turns out, we’re kind of representing the country,” he said. “So luckily, or thankfully, they considered that to be a worthy enough cause.”
Upon arrival in Italy, MacKay quarantined at a Rome apartment for two weeks, people-watching from the rooftop terrace, preparing for the festival and watching movies, including Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” to “get in the vibe, in the zone” of Rome.
Now at Venice, he is overwhelmed: MacKay had only previously made two short films before “The Furnace,” which he conceived of when researching the western Australian gold rush in 2014.
“It’s taken me six years to get this project off the ground. So a month in quarantine, really in the scheme of things, is kind of a small blip in the time that I’ve taken from my life to realize this project,” he said.
After Venice, he retraces his steps back to Perth, where a government-appointed hotel quarantine awaits him.
“Not ideal, but we understand that it’s necessary in these times,” he said. “And hey, perhaps it’ll be a nice sort of two-week window to just process everything that we’ve been up to here in this extraordinary time.”
The festival, the first major in-person cinema showcase after COVID-19 locked down the film industry, wraps up on Sept. 12. In addition to the Horizons competition, 18 films are competing for the Golden Lion in the main selection.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Paddlewheels found from Lake Champlain steamer sunk in 1819

COLCHESTER , Vt. ( AP ) - The two paddlewheels from the second commercial steamboat that sailed Lake Champlain more than two centuries ago have been found on the bottom of the lake , officials said .
The paddlewheels from the steamboat Phoenix were discovered last weekend off Colchester Shoal in separate dives by Gary Lefebvre of Colchester using a remotely operated vehicle .
The discovery was announced Friday by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum .
The Phoenix was launched in 1815 .
It sailed a regular schedule between Whitehall , New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping at ports along the lake .
The style of the paddlewheels and the charring indicated it came from the Phoenix , which burned off Colchester on Sept. 4 , 1819 , killing six of the 46 passengers and crew on board .
The hull burned to the waterline and drifted south to where it came to rest on the shoal .
The ice later dragged the wreckage off the shoal to where it now rests .
“ The Phoenix is one of the earliest known steamboat wrecks in the United States , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures adds to the significance of this nationally significant Underwater Preserve , ” Scott Dillon , senior historic preservation review coordinator for the Division for Historic Preservation , said in a statement .
The wreck of the Phoenix , which is part of the Vermont Underwater Historic Preserve , is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
It is accessible to experienced scuba divers .
A depth reading from a photo taken of one of the paddlewheels by the remote operated vehicle indicates at least one of them is in much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vessel .

COLCHESTER, Vt. (AP) - The two paddlewheels from the second commercial steamboat that sailed Lake Champlain more than two centuries ago have been found on the bottom of the lake, officials said.
The paddlewheels from the steamboat Phoenix were discovered last weekend off Colchester Shoal in separate dives by Gary Lefebvre of Colchester using a remotely operated vehicle.
The discovery was announced Friday by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
The Phoenix was launched in 1815. It sailed a regular schedule between Whitehall, New York, and St. Johns, Quebec, stopping at ports along the lake.
The style of the paddlewheels and the charring indicated it came from the Phoenix, which burned off Colchester on Sept. 4, 1819, killing six of the 46 passengers and crew on board.
The hull burned to the waterline and drifted south to where it came to rest on the shoal. The ice later dragged the wreckage off the shoal to where it now rests.
“The Phoenix is one of the earliest known steamboat wrecks in the United States, and the discovery of the well-preserved paddlewheel structures adds to the significance of this nationally significant Underwater Preserve,” Scott Dillon, senior historic preservation review coordinator for the Division for Historic Preservation, said in a statement.
The wreck of the Phoenix, which is part of the Vermont Underwater Historic Preserve, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is accessible to experienced scuba divers.
A depth reading from a photo taken of one of the paddlewheels by the remote operated vehicle indicates at least one of them is in much deeper water than the body of the vessel.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Sudan declares state of emergency over deadly floods

CAIRO ( AP ) - Sudanese authorities declared their country a natural disaster area and imposed a three-month state of emergency across the country after rising floodwaters and heavy rainfall killed around 100 people and inundated over 100,000 houses since late July .
The announcement was made late Friday following a meeting of the country ’ s Defense and Security Council which is headed by a top government official , Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan .
Flooding caused by seasonal heavy rainfall , mostly in neighboring Ethiopia , led the Nile River to rise about 17.5 meters late in August , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a century according to the Sudanese Irrigation Ministry .
The ministry said water levels of the Blue Nile are higher than the 1988 flood levels that destroyed tens of thousands of homes in several parts of Sudan and displaced over one million people .
Labor and Social Development Minister Lina al-Sheikh said the flooding had killed some 100 people , as well as injured at least 46 people and affected more than 500,000 people across the country .
More than 100,000 houses across the country were totally or partly collapsed , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the situation is expected to get worse over the coming weeks , as above-average rains are forecast until the end of September .
The capital of Khartoum was hit hard in the past two weeks .
Residents in several districts of the city were seen erecting barricades and other shields as water from the Nile swept through several neighborhoods , in footage circulating online .
The military deployed troops to help evacuate people and build barricades in Khartoum as well as distribute food , after flooding there cut roads and swept away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs , or OCHA , said access to clean water , which is critical amid the coronavirus pandemic , has also been reduced , with the floods knocking out or contaminating some 2,000 water sources .
OCHA said last week that the flooding also damaged at least 43 schools and 2,671 health facilities across the country , and that large swaths of agricultural land across the country were also flooded in the middle of the harvest season .
The U.N. refugee agency , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees and internally displaced people were affected , particularly in North Darfur province , where 15 people have died and a further 23 have gone missing .
OCHA urged wider support from the international community , as a $ 1.6 billion humanitarian plan for Sudan is less than 44 % funded and aid stocks have been “ depleted rapidly.
” Seasonal rains and flooding last year left a total of 78 people dead in 16 of Sudan ’ s 18 provinces , between July and August , according to the U.N .

CAIRO (AP) - Sudanese authorities declared their country a natural disaster area and imposed a three-month state of emergency across the country after rising floodwaters and heavy rainfall killed around 100 people and inundated over 100,000 houses since late July.
The announcement was made late Friday following a meeting of the country’s Defense and Security Council which is headed by a top government official, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan.
Flooding caused by seasonal heavy rainfall, mostly in neighboring Ethiopia, led the Nile River to rise about 17.5 meters late in August, the highest level it has reached in about a century according to the Sudanese Irrigation Ministry.
The ministry said water levels of the Blue Nile are higher than the 1988 flood levels that destroyed tens of thousands of homes in several parts of Sudan and displaced over one million people.
Labor and Social Development Minister Lina al-Sheikh said the flooding had killed some 100 people, as well as injured at least 46 people and affected more than 500,000 people across the country. More than 100,000 houses across the country were totally or partly collapsed, she said.
The U.N. humanitarian agency has warned that the situation is expected to get worse over the coming weeks, as above-average rains are forecast until the end of September.
The capital of Khartoum was hit hard in the past two weeks. Residents in several districts of the city were seen erecting barricades and other shields as water from the Nile swept through several neighborhoods, in footage circulating online.
The military deployed troops to help evacuate people and build barricades in Khartoum as well as distribute food, after flooding there cut roads and swept away houses and belongings.
Earlier this week, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said access to clean water, which is critical amid the coronavirus pandemic, has also been reduced, with the floods knocking out or contaminating some 2,000 water sources.
OCHA said last week that the flooding also damaged at least 43 schools and 2,671 health facilities across the country, and that large swaths of agricultural land across the country were also flooded in the middle of the harvest season.
The U.N. refugee agency, or UNHCR, said tens of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people were affected, particularly in North Darfur province, where 15 people have died and a further 23 have gone missing.
OCHA urged wider support from the international community, as a $1.6 billion humanitarian plan for Sudan is less than 44% funded and aid stocks have been “depleted rapidly.”
Seasonal rains and flooding last year left a total of 78 people dead in 16 of Sudan’s 18 provinces, between July and August, according to the U.N.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Pope set to make first trip since pandemic to saint's town

VATICAN CITY ( AP ) - Pope Francis is next month set to make what would be his first visit outside Rome since Italy was put under lockdown in early March when it became the first country in Europe to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus pandemic .
The pope is to journey to Assisi , the birthplace in the central Italian region of Umbria of his namesake saint , to sign an authoritative papal letter to clergy and faithful worldwide - a document known as an encyclical , the Vatican said Saturday .
The encyclical is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and after the pandemic , a theme Francis evoked repeatedly during the pandemic .
Encyclicals lay out a pontiff ’ s views on important issues and usually shape Catholic teaching and policy in the years to come .
“ Because of the health situation , it ’ s the desire of the Holy Father that the visit be carried out privately , without any participation by the faithful , ” a reference to rank-and-file Catholics , the Vatican said .
The encyclical will be entitled in Italian “ ’ Fratelli tutti ’ sulla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The English-language version ’ s title wasn ’ t given , but it roughly translates to “ ’ Brothers all ’ on brotherhood and social friendship.
” “ Brothers all , ” is a saying of St. Francis that the pope has cited in the past .
Francis has repeatedly stressed how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically revealed how fragile existence can be and how vitally important it is for people to unite in helping each other , with special attention to the poor .
Francis ’ last trip away from Rome was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in late February of this year , just as the COVID-19 outbreak was erupting in northern Italy .
A couple of weeks later , the Italian government banned travel between regions and even towns until late spring , when the spread of the coronavirus in the country began to slow .
This year seems set to become the first year in decades that a pope hasn ’ t made a pilgrimage abroad .
Francis will celebrate Mass near St. Francis ’ tomb , which is under the lower level of the Basilica @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Oct. 4 , the church celebrates the saint ’ s annual feast day .
“ It is with great joy and in prayer that we welcome and await the private visit of Pope Francis , ” said the Rev .
Mauro Gambetti , an official of the Franciscan Sacred Convent in Assisi .
The one-day trip will “ highlight the importance of and the need for brotherhood , ” he said in a statement .
Francis issued his last encyclical , “ Praised Be , ” 2015 .
In the landmark document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worldwide on healing and protecting the natural environment .

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis is next month set to make what would be his first visit outside Rome since Italy was put under lockdown in early March when it became the first country in Europe to feel the full brunt of the coronavirus pandemic.
The pope is to journey to Assisi, the birthplace in the central Italian region of Umbria of his namesake saint, to sign an authoritative papal letter to clergy and faithful worldwide - a document known as an encyclical, the Vatican said Saturday.
The encyclical is expected to stress the value of brotherly relations during and after the pandemic, a theme Francis evoked repeatedly during the pandemic. Encyclicals lay out a pontiff’s views on important issues and usually shape Catholic teaching and policy in the years to come.
“Because of the health situation, it’s the desire of the Holy Father that the visit be carried out privately, without any participation by the faithful,” a reference to rank-and-file Catholics, the Vatican said.
The encyclical will be entitled in Italian “’Fratelli tutti’ sulla fraternita’ e l’amicizia sociale.” The English-language version’s title wasn’t given, but it roughly translates to “’Brothers all’ on brotherhood and social friendship.”
“Brothers all,” is a saying of St. Francis that the pope has cited in the past.
Francis has repeatedly stressed how the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically revealed how fragile existence can be and how vitally important it is for people to unite in helping each other, with special attention to the poor.
Francis’ last trip away from Rome was to the southern Italian city of Bari, in late February of this year, just as the COVID-19 outbreak was erupting in northern Italy.
A couple of weeks later, the Italian government banned travel between regions and even towns until late spring, when the spread of the coronavirus in the country began to slow.
This year seems set to become the first year in decades that a pope hasn’t made a pilgrimage abroad.
Francis will celebrate Mass near St. Francis’ tomb, which is under the lower level of the Basilica of St. Francis. The next day, Oct. 4, the church celebrates the saint’s annual feast day.
“It is with great joy and in prayer that we welcome and await the private visit of Pope Francis,” said the Rev. Mauro Gambetti, an official of the Franciscan Sacred Convent in Assisi. The one-day trip will “highlight the importance of and the need for brotherhood,” he said in a statement.
Francis issued his last encyclical, “Praised Be,” 2015. In the landmark document, Francis exhorted people to work together worldwide on healing and protecting the natural environment.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Taliban return to Doha setting stage for Afghan peace talks

Islamabad ( AP ) - Taliban officials say a senior delegation returned early Saturday to Qatar , paving the way for the start of peace talks with the Afghan government that are expected to take place in the tiny Gulf state .
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media .
The negotiations are the second , critical part to a peace deal the U.S. signed with the Taliban in February in Doha .
The Taliban delegation ’ s arrival in Qatar , where the group keeps its political office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blamed the militants for delays in starting talks .
In a tweet on Saturday , the spokesman for Kabul ’ s High Council for National Reconciliation , Faraidoon Khwazoon , said the government was ready to start direct negotiations .
“ The process of releasing the prisoners is over and there is no excuse for delaying the talks , but the Taliban are still not ready to take part in the talks , ” he said , without further elaboration .
Until its February deal with the U.S. , the Taliban refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington has ramped up pressure on Afghans on both sides of the conflict to open up negotiations over what a post-war Afghanistan might look like , how rights of women and minorities would be protected , and how the tens of thousands of armed Taliban and government-allied militias are disarmed and re-integrated .
The U.S. Security Adviser Robert O ’ Brien had a long call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last week .
American officials have also pressed neighboring Pakistan to get the Taliban to the table .
Relentless delays over the exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government and 1,000 by the Taliban - have hindered efforts to get intra-Afghan talks started .
In late August , a delegation led by the Taliban ’ s political office head and the chief negotiator of the February deal with the United States , Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar came to Pakistan .
While little was revealed about the details of his meetings with Pakistani officials , it is believed he was pressed to get started with intra-Afghan talks .
With many of the Taliban leadership council living in Pakistan , Islamabad has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to push negotiations forward .
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly said he wants peace talks started and that a military solution for Afghanistan is an impossibility .
Pakistani officials reportedly met a second time with Baradar on Friday before his return to Doha again pressing for a swift start to Afghan peace talks , it is believed .
U.S. and Afghan officials have both said they want to see a reduction in violence in the conflict going into talks with the Taliban , but the militant group maintains that a cease-fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks begin .
Washington ’ s February agreement with the Taliban was reached to allow the exit of American troops after nearly 20 years at war in keeping with a promise President Donald Trump made during the 2016 U.S. election campaign .
The withdrawal , which has already begun , is not dependent on the success of the Afghan negotiations but rather on commitments made by the Taliban to fight terrorist groups and ensure Afghanistan can not be used to attack America or its allies .
Associated Press Writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Islamabad (AP) - Taliban officials say a senior delegation returned early Saturday to Qatar, paving the way for the start of peace talks with the Afghan government that are expected to take place in the tiny Gulf state.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The delayed negotiations are the second, critical part to a peace deal the U.S. signed with the Taliban in February in Doha.
The Taliban delegation’s arrival in Qatar, where the group keeps its political office, came as a top Afghan government body blamed the militants for delays in starting talks.
In a tweet on Saturday, the spokesman for Kabul’s High Council for National Reconciliation, Faraidoon Khwazoon, said the government was ready to start direct negotiations.
“The process of releasing the prisoners is over and there is no excuse for delaying the talks, but the Taliban are still not ready to take part in the talks, ” he said, without further elaboration.
In a surprise late night Saturday tweet, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed announced a shakeup in the Taliban negotiation team. The Taliban’s Chief Justice Abdul Hakim has been named the lead negotiator replacing Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who will be deputy negotiator. The appointment of Hakim, who is close to the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhunzada, brings the Taliban’s negotiating team to 21. There was no explanation for the sudden changes.
Until its February deal with the U.S., the Taliban refused to directly negotiate with the Afghan government. The current Kabul negotiating team is a collection of government and opposition officials.
The U.S. State Department said in a statement Saturday that its envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who brokered the February peace deal left for Qatar on the previous day to press for an “immediate” start to negotiations between the warring Afghan sides.
Washington has ramped up pressure on Afghans on both sides of the conflict to open up negotiations over what a post-war Afghanistan might look like, how rights of women and minorities would be protected, and how the tens of thousands of armed Taliban and government-allied militias are disarmed and re-integrated.
“The Afghan people are ready for a sustainable reduction in violence and a political settlement that will end the war,” the State Department statement said.
The U.S. Security Adviser Robert O’Brien had a long call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last week. American officials have also pressed neighboring Pakistan to get the Taliban to the table.
Relentless delays over the exchange of prisoners -5,000 held by the Afghan government and 1,000 by the Taliban - have hindered efforts to get intra-Afghan talks started.
In late August, a delegation led by the Taliban’s political office head and the chief negotiator of the February deal with the United States, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar came to Pakistan. While little was revealed about the details of his meetings with Pakistani officials, it is believed he was pressed to get started with intra-Afghan talks.
With many of the Taliban leadership council living in Pakistan, Islamabad has been pressed by Washington to use its influence to push negotiations forward. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly said he wants peace talks started and that a military solution for Afghanistan is an impossibility.
Pakistani officials reportedly met a second time with Baradar on Friday before his return to Doha again pressing for a swift start to Afghan peace talks, it is believed.
U.S. and Afghan officials have both said they want to see a reduction in violence in the conflict going into talks with the Taliban, but the militant group maintains that a cease-fire would only be on the agenda once talks begin.
Washington’s February agreement with the Taliban was reached to allow the exit of American troops after nearly 20 years at war in keeping with a promise President Donald Trump made during the 2016 U.S. election campaign. The withdrawal, which has already begun, is not dependent on the success of the Afghan negotiations but rather on commitments made by the Taliban to fight terrorist groups and ensure Afghanistan cannot be used to attack America or its allies.
_______
Associated Press Writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul, Afghanistan, contributed to this report


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--Former Cook Islands leader dies from virus in New Zealand

WELLINGTON , New Zealand ( AP ) - Joe Williams may have been 85 years old , but when the coronavirus struck this year , the Auckland doctor worked extra hard to warn his Pacific Island patients of its dangers .
His friend suggested he take a vacation , but Williams was having none of it .
“ That ’ s the trouble with young people - they ’ re always thinking about time off , ” Williams jokingly told Dr. Api Talemaitoga , the 60-year-old recalled .
“ I ’ ll be all right , don ’ t worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catching the virus last month and died from it Friday night , friends and family said .
Known to many affectionately as Papa Joe , Williams was a medical leader who served a brief stint as prime minister of the Cook Islands .
Williams was born in the Cook Islands and split his time living there and in New Zealand .
He graduated from Otago Medical School and later completed a master ’ s degree in public health at the University of Hawaii .
He was recognized by the World Health Organization for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stamp out the tropical disease lymphatic filariasis , commonly known as elephantiasis .
In Auckland , he started a clinic that grew to serve over 15,000 patients , many of them Pacific Islanders who traveled from all over to see him .
Williams became the patron of the Pasifika Medical Association , a group that would have yearly conferences either in New Zealand or in the islands and would often attract about 300 people .
“ I have this vision of him at breakfast and dinner walking around talking to everybody , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested in the younger Pasifika doctors coming through , finding out who they were and what they were specializing in .
He was a real fatherly figure.
” He loved talking so much that a planned five-minute speech would sometimes take an hour .
Nephew Kiki Maoate , a surgeon and president of the Pasifika Medical Association , said he eventually gave up trying to get his uncle off the stage .
“ Along with everything else he did , he was a great orator , ” Maoate said .
“ He acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Williams first got involved in politics in 1964 , serving as New Zealand ’ s representative to the Cook Islands .
With a population of just under 10,000 , the Cooks is self-governing but in free association with New Zealand .
Williams later served various political roles in the Cooks , including prime minister for several months in 1999 .
“ It was a real rock-and-roll time in Cook Island politics , ” with frequent leadership changes , Maoate said .
In 2011 , Williams was awarded a New Zealand honor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Cook Islands community .
Last month , Auckland had its first community transmission of the coronavirus in more than three months , and it spread in the Pacific Island community .
Maoate said he called his uncle a couple of days before he was admitted to the hospital and thought he sounded very tired .
He said Williams seemed to be making progress in fighting the disease but then it suddenly took him .
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Williams was a dedicated and passionate man .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a politician , Dr. Williams made a serious mark on the communities he served , ” Peters said .
“ He will be greatly missed in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
” Williams is survived by his wife , Jill ; children Richard , Karina , Joanna and Jamie ; and a number of grandchildren .

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Joe Williams may have been 85 years old, but when the coronavirus struck this year, the Auckland doctor worked extra hard to warn his Pacific Island patients of its dangers. His friend suggested he take a vacation, but Williams was having none of it.
“That’s the trouble with young people - they’re always thinking about time off,” Williams jokingly told Dr. Api Talemaitoga, the 60-year-old recalled. “I’ll be all right, don’t worry about me.”
But Williams ended up catching the virus last month and died from it Friday night, friends and family said. Known to many affectionately as Papa Joe, Williams was a medical leader who served a brief stint as prime minister of the Cook Islands.
Williams was born in the Cook Islands and split his time living there and in New Zealand. He graduated from Otago Medical School and later completed a master’s degree in public health at the University of Hawaii.
He was recognized by the World Health Organization for his work in the Cook Islands helping stamp out the tropical disease lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis.
In Auckland, he started a clinic that grew to serve over 15,000 patients, many of them Pacific Islanders who traveled from all over to see him.
Williams became the patron of the Pasifika Medical Association, a group that would have yearly conferences either in New Zealand or in the islands and would often attract about 300 people.
“I have this vision of him at breakfast and dinner walking around talking to everybody,” Talemaitoga said. “He was particularly interested in the younger Pasifika doctors coming through, finding out who they were and what they were specializing in. He was a real fatherly figure.”
He loved talking so much that a planned five-minute speech would sometimes take an hour. Nephew Kiki Maoate, a surgeon and president of the Pasifika Medical Association, said he eventually gave up trying to get his uncle off the stage.
“Along with everything else he did, he was a great orator,” Maoate said. “He acknowledged people and really got into his story.”
Williams first got involved in politics in 1964, serving as New Zealand’s representative to the Cook Islands. With a population of just under 10,000, the Cooks is self-governing but in free association with New Zealand.
Williams later served various political roles in the Cooks, including prime minister for several months in 1999.
“It was a real rock-and-roll time in Cook Island politics,” with frequent leadership changes, Maoate said.
In 2011, Williams was awarded a New Zealand honor, the Queens Service Order, for services to the Cook Islands community.
Last month, Auckland had its first community transmission of the coronavirus in more than three months, and it spread in the Pacific Island community.
Maoate said he called his uncle a couple of days before he was admitted to the hospital and thought he sounded very tired. He said Williams seemed to be making progress in fighting the disease but then it suddenly took him.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Williams was a dedicated and passionate man.
“As a doctor, a health researcher and as a politician, Dr. Williams made a serious mark on the communities he served,” Peters said. “He will be greatly missed in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands.”
Williams is survived by his wife, Jill; children Richard, Karina, Joanna and Jamie; and a number of grandchildren.


washingtontimes--2020-09-05--'Hotel Rwanda' hero denied access to lawyer, supporters say

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) - Supporters of the man portrayed in “ Hotel Rwanda ” say Rwandan authorities have denied a lawyer access to Paul Rusesabagina nearly a week after the outspoken government critic was paraded in handcuffs and accused of terrorism .
In a statement early Saturday , the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation said Rusesabagina , a U.S. permanent resident and Belgian citizen , has had no consular visits , and it rejected the Rwandan government ’ s claim that it had talked to his sons about a potential visit as “ not true.
” “ Paul ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been allowed to talk to him , ” it added .
The family has said they believe he was “ kidnapped ” during a visit to Dubai and that he would never knowingly have boarded a plane for Rwanda ’ s capital , Kigali .
He has lived outside the East African nation since 1996 .
Rusesabagina was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 for saving the lives of more than 1,200 people as a hotel manager during Rwanda ’ s 1994 genocide in which some 800,000 Tutsis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have not responded to questions about how and where Rusesabagina was apprehended , and have not publicly shared any international arrest warrant .
They have referred to “ international cooperation ” but given no details .
“ There is a deliberate effort to sanitize and present Rusesabagina as a victim , ” the state-run Rwandan newspaper The New Times said in an editorial Saturday that rejected allegations he was arrested because of his criticism of the government .
Rwandan authorities have granted what they called an “ exclusive ” interview with Rusesabagina to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which he said he had been treated with “ kindness ” but did not discuss the accusations against him or how he was apprehended .
It is not clear when Rusesabagina will appear in court .
Rwandan law says a suspect can be in provisional detention for 15 days , renewable for up to 90 days .
The Rwandan government has said it issued an arrest warrant for Rusesabagina to answer charges of serious crimes including terrorism , arson , kidnap , and murder perpetrated against unarmed civilians .
Police called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sponsor and member of violent , armed , extremist terror outfits including the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change.
” Rwanda points to a video posted online in 2018 in which Rusesabagina says “ it is imperative that in 2019 we speed up the liberation struggle of the Rwandan people … the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda , as all political means have been tried and failed.
” The MRCD has an armed wing , the National Liberation Front , that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2018 and 2019 .
Rwanda arrested NLF spokesman Callixte Nsabimana last year .
Rusesabagina in the past has denied the charges that he financially supports Rwandan rebels , saying he is being targeted for criticizing the administration of President Paul Kagame over human rights abuses .
Rusesabagina ’ s detention has prompted concern among human rights activists that this was the latest example of the Rwandan government targeting critics beyond its borders .
The U.S. government has said it expects the Rwandan government to provide “ humane treatment , adhere to the rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent legal process ” for Rusesabagina .

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Supporters of the man portrayed in “Hotel Rwanda” say Rwandan authorities have denied a lawyer access to Paul Rusesabagina nearly a week after the outspoken government critic was paraded in handcuffs and accused of terrorism.
In a statement early Saturday, the Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation said Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident and Belgian citizen, has had no consular visits, and it rejected the Rwandan government’s claim that it had talked to his sons about a potential visit as “not true.”
“Paul’s wife has called the jail and has not been allowed to talk to him,” it added.
The family has said they believe he was “kidnapped” during a visit to Dubai and that he would never knowingly have boarded a plane for Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. He has lived outside the East African nation since 1996.
Rusesabagina was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 for saving the lives of more than 1,200 people as a hotel manager during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.
Rwandan authorities have not responded to questions about how and where Rusesabagina was apprehended, and have not publicly shared any international arrest warrant. They have referred to “international cooperation” but given no details.
“There is a deliberate effort to sanitize and present Rusesabagina as a victim,” the state-run Rwandan newspaper The New Times said in an editorial Saturday that rejected allegations he was arrested because of his criticism of the government.
Rwandan authorities have granted what they called an “exclusive” interview with Rusesabagina to a Kenyan newspaper, The East African, in which he said he had been treated with “kindness” but did not discuss the accusations against him or how he was apprehended.
It is not clear when Rusesabagina will appear in court. Rwandan law says a suspect can be in provisional detention for 15 days, renewable for up to 90 days.
The Rwandan government has said it issued an arrest warrant for Rusesabagina to answer charges of serious crimes including terrorism, arson, kidnap, and murder perpetrated against unarmed civilians. Police called him the suspected “founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits including the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change.”
Rwanda points to a video posted online in 2018 in which Rusesabagina says “it is imperative that in 2019 we speed up the liberation struggle of the Rwandan people … the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda, as all political means have been tried and failed.”
The MRCD has an armed wing, the National Liberation Front, that has been accused of attacks inside Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. Rwanda arrested NLF spokesman Callixte Nsabimana last year.
Rusesabagina in the past has denied the charges that he financially supports Rwandan rebels, saying he is being targeted for criticizing the administration of President Paul Kagame over human rights abuses.
Rusesabagina’s detention has prompted concern among human rights activists that this was the latest example of the Rwandan government targeting critics beyond its borders.
The U.S. government has said it expects the Rwandan government to provide “humane treatment, adhere to the rule of law and provide a fair and transparent legal process” for Rusesabagina.