washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Prison sentence for driver in deadly 2018 multi-car pileup

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A driver who drove while drunk and high , setting off a 2018 multi-car @ @ @ @ @ and injured others , was sentenced Friday to six to 15 years in prison .
@ @ @ @ @ of Brooklyn , had pleaded guilty in July to aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges @ @ @ @ @ crash on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens .
Prosecutors said he was weaving through @ @ @ @ @ crashed into the back of an Acura at more than 80 mph , sending it @ @ @ @ @ airborne before it landed and was hit by another car .
A passenger and two @ @ @ @ @ killed .
Prosecutors said seven cars were either hit with debris or crashed in the @ @ @ @ @ ’ s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and he also tested positive @ @ @ @ @ in marijuana that causes people to get high .

NEW YORK (AP) - A driver who drove while drunk and high, setting off a 2018 multi-car pileup that killed a man and injured others, was sentenced Friday to six to 15 years in prison.
Alex Elicier, 31, of Brooklyn, had pleaded guilty in July to aggravated vehicular homicide and other charges stemming from the August 2018 crash on the Van Wyck Expressway in Queens.
Prosecutors said he was weaving through early morning traffic when he crashed into the back of an Acura at more than 80 mph, sending it into the guardrail and then airborne before it landed and was hit by another car.
A passenger and two dogs in the Acura were killed. Prosecutors said seven cars were either hit with debris or crashed in the incident.
Prosecutors said Elicier’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and he also tested positive for THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes people to get high.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Chad Wolf, Homeland Security acting secretary: Twitter a 'threat' to U.S. security over censorship

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf labeled Twitter a “ threat ” to America ’ s security on Friday , saying that the tech giant ’ s quick trigger finger in censoring government agencies could deny people information they need to be safe .
Mr. Wolf ’ s comments came after an embarrassing incident in which Twitter expunged a tweet about the border wall and locked the account of the head of Customs and Border Protection , saying it was “ hateful ” to claim that “ walls work ” to stop gang members and criminals from getting across .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ restoring the tweet and access to the account .
“ It is dangerous and damaging when any publisher arbitrarily and unfoundedly decides , as it did here , that the facts and policies of a particular presidential administration constitute ‘ violence ’ — in order to censor them , ” Mr. Wolf wrote in a letter to Twitter ’ s CEO .
He continued : “ And in the case of Twitter , this can cut off an essential mode of communication between U.S. government officials and the public .
In doing so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important national and homeland security issues.
” Mr. Wolf said Twitter can ’ t say it was an accident He revealed that CBP ’ s first attempt to appeal Twitter ’ s decision was rebuffed .
Only after the agency went public — with Mr. Wolf and acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan detailing the censorship while standing in front of the border wall in Texas on Thursday — that Twitter relented .
The company also bungled its communications with the press .
It told The Washington Times at 2 p.m. Thursday that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweet wasn ’ t actually restored until later in the afternoon .
And the company said the decision was reversed “ following an appeal by the account owner.
” In fact , Mr. Wolf said , that initial appeal was denied , and it was only after he and Mr. Morgan took their complaints to the public that the company reversed itself .
The decision to censor Mr. Morgan came just hours after Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified to the Senate over his company ’ s policies , defending their rules as unbiased @

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf labeled Twitter a “threat” to America’s security on Friday, saying that the tech giant’s quick trigger finger in censoring government agencies could deny people information they need to be safe.
Mr. Wolf’s comments came after an embarrassing incident in which Twitter expunged a tweet about the border wall and locked the account of the head of Customs and Border Protection, saying it was “hateful” to claim that “walls work” to stop gang members and criminals from getting across.
Twitter caved after nearly 24 hours, restoring the tweet and access to the account.
“It is dangerous and damaging when any publisher arbitrarily and unfoundedly decides, as it did here, that the facts and policies of a particular presidential administration constitute ‘violence’ — in order to censor them,” Mr. Wolf wrote in a letter to Twitter’s CEO.
He continued: “And in the case of Twitter, this can cut off an essential mode of communication between U.S. government officials and the public. In doing so, Twitter is sabotaging public discourse regarding important national and homeland security issues.”
Mr. Wolf said Twitter can’t say it was an accident He revealed that CBP’s first attempt to appeal Twitter’s decision was rebuffed. Only after the agency went public — with Mr. Wolf and acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan detailing the censorship while standing in front of the border wall in Texas on Thursday — that Twitter relented.
The company also bungled its communications with the press. It told The Washington Times at 2 p.m. Thursday that the censorship had been reversed, but the tweet wasn’t actually restored until later in the afternoon.
And the company said the decision was reversed “following an appeal by the account owner.”
In fact, Mr. Wolf said, that initial appeal was denied, and it was only after he and Mr. Morgan took their complaints to the public that the company reversed itself.
The decision to censor Mr. Morgan came just hours after Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified to the Senate over his company’s policies, defending their rules as unbiased.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Texas AG sues to block COVID-19 shutdown in El Paso County

EL PASO , Texas ( AP ) - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday joined several El Paso County restaurant owners in suing to block a county order shutting down all non-essential activities for two weeks .
The suit , filed in state court in El Paso , comes a day after County Judge Ricardo Samaniego ordered the shutdown amid a skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases he said was “ overwhelming ” the county ’ s medical resources .
In-person dining was among the non-essential activities Samaniego ’ s order targeted .
The order also closed bars , gyms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salons , and directed residents to shelter in place except for essential tasks .
Grocery and drug stores , funeral homes , health care services and government activities were among activities deemed essential , as were all election-related activities .
According to the lawsuit , the county order violates Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s emergency orders that reopened those targeted activities .
In a letter to Samaniego , Paxton wrote that Abbott ’ s most recent order “ explicitly preempts all contradictory local orders , ” rendering the county judge ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issuing the order Thursday , Samaniego said , “ Our hospitals are at capacity , our medical professionals are overwhelmed , and if we don ’ t respond we will see unprecedented levels of death.
” Samaniego , the county ’ s top elected official , assured that county officials “ have done everything possible ” to avoid shutting down the county ’ s economy .
“ We need to build capacity for hospitals , build capacity , to shore up contact tracing and identify hot spots , ” he said .
El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a combined metropolitan population of 3 million people , represent a hotspot in the deadly comeback of the virus across the entire U.S. Health officials blaming the spike on family gatherings , multiple generations living in the same household and younger people going out to shop or conduct business .
Ten of the 115 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday were reported in El Paso County alone , raising the county ’ s death toll to 595 for the outbreak that ’ s ravaged Texas since early March .
The county also reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state ’ s 5,933 new cases .
The county had 15.5 % of the state ’ s 100,991 active cases , the first time Texas had topped 100,000 active cases since Aug. 27 .
The true number of cases in Texas is likely higher though because many people haven ’ t been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
And the 939 COVID-19 hospitalizations in El Paso County account for 16.7 % of the state ’ s 5,627 coronavirus cases requiring hospitalization .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday joined several El Paso County restaurant owners in suing to block a county order shutting down all non-essential activities for two weeks.
The suit, filed in state court in El Paso, comes a day after County Judge Ricardo Samaniego ordered the shutdown amid a skyrocketing number of COVID-19 cases he said was “overwhelming” the county’s medical resources.
In-person dining was among the non-essential activities Samaniego’s order targeted. The order also closed bars, gyms, tattoo parlors and nail and hair salons, and directed residents to shelter in place except for essential tasks. Grocery and drug stores, funeral homes, health care services and government activities were among activities deemed essential, as were all election-related activities.
According to the lawsuit, the county order violates Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency orders that reopened those targeted activities. In a letter to Samaniego, Paxton wrote that Abbott’s most recent order “explicitly preempts all contradictory local orders,” rendering the county judge’s order “invalid and unenforceable.”
In issuing the order Thursday, Samaniego said, “Our hospitals are at capacity, our medical professionals are overwhelmed, and if we don’t respond we will see unprecedented levels of death.” Samaniego, the county’s top elected official, assured that county officials “have done everything possible” to avoid shutting down the county’s economy.
“We need to build capacity for hospitals, build capacity, to shore up contact tracing and identify hot spots,” he said.
El Paso and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, with a combined metropolitan population of 3 million people, represent a hotspot in the deadly comeback of the virus across the entire U.S. Health officials blaming the spike on family gatherings, multiple generations living in the same household and younger people going out to shop or conduct business.
Ten of the 115 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday were reported in El Paso County alone, raising the county’s death toll to 595 for the outbreak that’s ravaged Texas since early March. The county also reported 1,348 new cases, almost 23% of the state’s 5,933 new cases. The county had 15.5% of the state’s 100,991 active cases, the first time Texas had topped 100,000 active cases since Aug. 27.
The true number of cases in Texas is likely higher though because many people haven’t been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
And the 939 COVID-19 hospitalizations in El Paso County account for 16.7% of the state’s 5,627 coronavirus cases requiring hospitalization. The state number is the highest since Aug. 20.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Rock climber dies after falling from Boulder's 2nd Flatiron

BOULDER , Colo. ( AP ) - Authorities say a climber died after falling from the Second Flatiron in Boulder @ @ @ @ @ officials say park rangers were called to the scene Friday morning and started CPR .
@ @ @ @ @ while scrambling on the rock face , was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later .
@ @ @ @ @ not been released .
The death investigation is ongoing , but sheriff ’ s officials @ @ @ @ @ .
No other information has been released .
The Flatirons , just southwest of the @ @ @ @ @ popular among rock climbers and are sometimes ascended without the protection of ropes .

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - Authorities say a climber died after falling from the Second Flatiron in Boulder County.
Sheriff’s officials say park rangers were called to the scene Friday morning and started CPR. The climber, who fell while scrambling on the rock face, was pronounced dead about 20 minutes later. His name and age have not been released.
The death investigation is ongoing, but sheriff’s officials do not suspect foul play. No other information has been released.
The Flatirons, just southwest of the University of Colorado, are popular among rock climbers and are sometimes ascended without the protection of ropes.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--New Orleans police officers shot in 'ambush'

NEW ORLEANS — A suspect is in custody after two New Orleans police officers were shot Friday in the city ’ s French Quarter in what the police chief described as an “ ambush.
” The officers were on routine patrol when they were ambushed and fired upon by an individual traveling as a passenger in a pedicab , Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said at a news conference near the scene .
It was unknown how many shots were fired , he said .
Ferguson said one officer was shot in the left cheek , below the eye and was listed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bullet is lodged in his skull , ” he said .
The other officer had minor abrasions to an arm .
“ This is a dark day for our officers and I ask that you keep them in your prayers , ” he said .
Both officers were brought to a hospital by other officers who responded to the scene , Ferguson said .
The suspect was apprehended by other responding officers and a gun was also found , the superintendent said .
The suspect was also transported to a hospital because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the official .
“ Our officers did not discharge any weapons in this incident , ” Ferguson said .
“ He was not physically harmed.
” “ Our officers didn ’ t have any engagement with this individual , ” he said .
“ They were going in different directions and as he crossed the intersection he began to fire on our officers.
” Ferguson said they are working to identify the suspect , who refused to provide his name or any other information .
The officer who was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years , the other officer is a 16-year veteran of the department , Ferguson said .
The officers ’ names were not immediately released .

NEW ORLEANS — A suspect is in custody after two New Orleans police officers were shot Friday in the city’s French Quarter in what the police chief described as an “ambush.”
The officers were on routine patrol when they were ambushed and fired upon by an individual traveling as a passenger in a pedicab, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said at a news conference near the scene. It was unknown how many shots were fired, he said.
Ferguson said one officer was shot in the left cheek, below the eye and was listed in serious but stable condition. “The bullet is lodged in his skull,” he said.
The other officer had minor abrasions to an arm.
“This is a dark day for our officers and I ask that you keep them in your prayers,” he said.
Both officers were brought to a hospital by other officers who responded to the scene, Ferguson said.
The suspect was apprehended by other responding officers and a gun was also found, the superintendent said.
The suspect was also transported to a hospital because of an unknown medical condition, according to the official. “Our officers did not discharge any weapons in this incident,” Ferguson said. “He was not physically harmed.”
“Our officers didn’t have any engagement with this individual,” he said. “They were going in different directions and as he crossed the intersection he began to fire on our officers.”
Ferguson said they are working to identify the suspect, who refused to provide his name or any other information.
The officer who was shot in the face has been with the force for four years, the other officer is a 16-year veteran of the department, Ferguson said.
The officers’ names were not immediately released.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Oklahoma virus cases rise by 1,041; state still in red zone

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Oklahoma health officials reported 1,302 new cases Friday of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
That raised the state ’ s total by 1.1 % to 121,495 since the outbreak struck at the start of March , the Oklahoma State Department of Health said .
That kept Oklahoma in the COVID-19 “ red zone , ” Johns Hopkins University reported .
Of those cases , 15,032 are active , an increase of 64 from Thursday .
Of those active cases , 865 have required hospitalization , down by 20 from Wednesday and by 91 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , state health officials said .
However , the true number of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
Twenty COVID-19 patients died since Thursday , raising the Oklahoma toll for the outbreak to 1,326 .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness , including pneumonia and death .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma health officials reported 1,302 new cases Friday of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
That raised the state’s total by 1.1% to 121,495 since the outbreak struck at the start of March, the Oklahoma State Department of Health said. That kept Oklahoma in the COVID-19 “red zone,” Johns Hopkins University reported.
Of those cases, 15,032 are active, an increase of 64 from Thursday. Of those active cases, 865 have required hospitalization, down by 20 from Wednesday and by 91 from the record high set Oct. 23, state health officials said.
However, the true number of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
Twenty COVID-19 patients died since Thursday, raising the Oklahoma toll for the outbreak to 1,326.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--New Orleans Police: 2 officers 'ambushed' in French Quarter

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - A suspect is in custody after two New Orleans police officers were shot Friday in the city ’ s French Quarter in what the police chief described as an “ ambush.
” The officers were on routine patrol in the popular tourist area when they were ambushed and fired upon by an individual traveling as a passenger in a pedicab , Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said at a news conference near the scene .
It was unknown how many shots were fired , he said .
Ferguson said one officer was shot below the eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bullet in his skull .
The officer was listed in serious but stable condition Friday .
The other officer suffered minor abrasions to an arm .
“ This is a dark day for our officers and I ask that you keep them in your prayers , ” Ferguson added .
Both officers were brought to a hospital by other officers who responded to the scene , according to the official .
The suspect was apprehended by other responding officers and was also transported to a hospital because of an unknown medical condition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found at the scene .
“ Our officers did not discharge any weapons in this incident , ” Ferguson said , adding that the suspect “ was not physically harmed.
” “ Our officers didn ’ t have any engagement with this individual , ” he said .
“ They were going in different directions and as he crossed the intersection he began to fire on our officers.
” Ferguson said the agency is working to identify the suspect , who refused to provide his name or any other information .
The officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been with the force for four years , the other officer is a 16-year veteran of the department , Ferguson said .
The officers ’ names were not immediately released .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A suspect is in custody after two New Orleans police officers were shot Friday in the city’s French Quarter in what the police chief described as an “ambush.”
The officers were on routine patrol in the popular tourist area when they were ambushed and fired upon by an individual traveling as a passenger in a pedicab, Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said at a news conference near the scene. It was unknown how many shots were fired, he said.
Ferguson said one officer was shot below the eye in the left cheek, lodging a bullet in his skull. The officer was listed in serious but stable condition Friday. The other officer suffered minor abrasions to an arm.
“This is a dark day for our officers and I ask that you keep them in your prayers,” Ferguson added.
Both officers were brought to a hospital by other officers who responded to the scene, according to the official.
The suspect was apprehended by other responding officers and was also transported to a hospital because of an unknown medical condition, the superintendent said. A gun was found at the scene.
“Our officers did not discharge any weapons in this incident,” Ferguson said, adding that the suspect “was not physically harmed.”
“Our officers didn’t have any engagement with this individual,” he said. “They were going in different directions and as he crossed the intersection he began to fire on our officers.”
Ferguson said the agency is working to identify the suspect, who refused to provide his name or any other information.
The officer who was shot in the face has been with the force for four years, the other officer is a 16-year veteran of the department, Ferguson said.
The officers’ names were not immediately released.


washingtontimes--2020-10-30--Trump tells Minnesota to beat back 'arrogant far left' on Election Day

President Trump on Friday told a Minnesota rally that the election was their chance to deal a blow to the “ arrogant far left ” that allowed unchecked rioting this summer .
“ We ’ re not just running against sleepy Joe Biden .
We ’ re running against the arrogant far left , ” Mr. Trump told a small rally crowd at an airport in Rochester .
Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz limited the crowd to 250 , citing pandemic restrictions , but thousands of Trump fans still gathered outside the airport .
“ The Democratic governor tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away your freedom and your rights , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ He would cancel — a word they are very familiar with , canceled , canceled culture — but I said no way I will never abandon the people.
” He said it was the Democrats ’ same misaligned priorities that allowed looting , arson and violence during Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd .
“ The radical left is determined to obliterate the middle class .
They think they can take your money , attack your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your voices , ” Mr. Trump said .
Mr. Trump nearly took Minnesota in 2016 , falling just 1.5 % short of being the first Republican presidential contender to win it since Richard Nixon .
The state is in play this year .
Recent polls show Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden with a lead of between 3 points and 6 points , which doesn ’ t make him overly confident .
Earlier in the day , Mr. Biden paid a visit to St. Paul .
“ Keith Ellison sided with flag-burning extremists over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The rhetoric amplified Mr. Trump ’ s law-and-order message in a state that was on the front line of the summer ’ s protest violence , with more than 150 buildings burned and more than $ 500 million in damage in Minneapolis .
“ I want to thank the thousands of people who were barred from entry by radical Democrats .
You are American patriots , ” Mr. Trump said .

President Trump on Friday told a Minnesota rally that the election was their chance to deal a blow to the “arrogant far left” that allowed unchecked rioting this summer.
“We’re not just running against sleepy Joe Biden. We’re running against the arrogant far left,” Mr. Trump told a small rally crowd at an airport in Rochester.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz limited the crowd to 250, citing pandemic restrictions, but thousands of Trump fans still gathered outside the airport.
“The Democratic governor tried to silence the people of Minnesota and take away your freedom and your rights,” Mr. Trump said. “He would cancel — a word they are very familiar with, canceled, canceled culture — but I said no way I will never abandon the people.”
He said it was the Democrats’ same misaligned priorities that allowed looting, arson and violence during Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd.
“The radical left is determined to obliterate the middle class. They think they can take your money, attack your values, indoctrinate your children and silence your voices,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump nearly took Minnesota in 2016, falling just 1.5% short of being the first Republican presidential contender to win it since Richard Nixon.
The state is in play this year. Recent polls show Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden with a lead of between 3 points and 6 points, which doesn’t make him overly confident.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Biden paid a visit to St. Paul.
Mr. Trump also blasted Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a liberal Democrat.
“Keith Ellison sided with flag-burning extremists over law-abiding Americans,” said the president.
The rhetoric amplified Mr. Trump’s law-and-order message in a state that was on the front line of the summer’s protest violence, with more than 150 buildings burned and more than $500 million in damage in Minneapolis.
“I want to thank the thousands of people who were barred from entry by radical Democrats. You are American patriots,” Mr. Trump said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--Scottish actor Sean Connery has died at the age of 90 -- BBC

LONDON ( AP ) - Scottish actor Sean Connery , considered by many to have been the best James Bond @ @ @ @ @ was 90 .
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “ heartbroken ” at @ @ @ @ @ nation today mourns one of her best loved sons , ” she said .
In @ @ @ @ @ played James Bond seven times , starting with “ Dr .
No ” in 1962 @ @ @ @ @ suave secret agent for a generation of fans .
He also had major roles in @ @ @ @ @ and the Last Crusade , ” “ Highlander ” and “ The Hunt for Red @ @ @

Sean Connery, the Scottish-born actor who first portrayed British secret agent James Bond in movies and defined the iconic character for decades to follow, has died at the age of 90, the film franchise confirmed Saturday.
Mr. Connery died in his sleep overnight while in the Bahamas, the BBC first reported. He had been “unwell for some time,” his son, Jason Connery, told the British news organization.
The first star to depict MI-6 agent 007 in motion pictures, Mr. Connery played the British spy in several films released as part of the series beginning with “Dr. No” in 1962.
Mr. Connery played Bond in subsequent films released during the next decade including “From Russia With Love,” “Goldfinger,” “Thunderball,” “You Only Live Twice” and “Diamonds Are Forever.”
He reprised the role for “Never Say Never Again” in 1983, and later went on to iconic roles in blockbusters outside the Bond franchise, playing Soviet defector Capt. Marko Ramius in 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” grizzled Chicago police officer Jim Malone in 1987’s “The Untouchables,” and the dapper Prof. Henry Jones, father of the title character in the 1989 adventure “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
“He was and shall always be remembered as the original James Bond whose indelible entrance into cinema history began when he announced those unforgettable words — ‘The name’s Bond… James Bond’ — he revolutionized the world with his gritty and witty portrayal of the sexy and charismatic secret agent,” longtime Bond movie producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement.
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“He is undoubtedly largely responsible for the success of the film series and we shall be forever grateful to him,” the producers said in the statement.
Mr. Connery was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000, and he received the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2006.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--The Latest: Wimbledon champ Halep tests positive for virus

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has @ @ @ @ @ says she has “ mild symptoms.
” The 29-year-old Romanian player said on Twitter that @ @ @ @ @ and “ recovering well from mild symptoms.
” She added , “ I feel good… @ @ @ @ @ together.
” Halep is ranked No .
2 in the world .
She won Wimbledon @ @ @ @ @ Open in 2018 .
Wimbledon was cancelled this year because of the pandemic .
Halep @ @ @ @ @ to fears of catching COVID-19 .
She said in August that she preferred to stay @ @ @ @ @

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
___
Illinois is playing Purdue without starting quarterback Brandon Peters and tight end Griffin Moore.
Both tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and will be sidelined 21 days per Big Ten protocol. Both would be eligible to return for the Nov. 21 game at Nebraska.
Illinois also announced that contact tracing sidelined several other players for the Purdue game and next week’s game against Minnesota.
Sophomore Matt Robinson started at quarterback for the Ilini. He played in eight games last year and started two.
The Illini opened the season last week at Wisconsin, whose team has had 22 players and staff test positive for COVID-19 this week.
___
Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has tested positive for COVID-19 and says she has “mild symptoms.”
The 29-year-old Romanian player said on Twitter that she is self-isolating at home and “recovering well from mild symptoms.”
She added, “I feel good… we will get through this together.”
Halep is ranked No. 2 in the world. She won Wimbledon in 2019 and the French Open in 2018. Wimbledon was cancelled this year because of the pandemic.
Halep skipped the U.S. Open due to fears of catching COVID-19. She said in August that she preferred to stay and train in Europe.
___
More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--57 tons of unwanted drugs collected in New England take back

BOSTON ( AP ) - Officials collected more than 115,000 pounds of expired , unused and unwanted drugs during the @ @ @ @ @ Back Day in New England .
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration held the event on @ @ @ @ @ of drugs collected increased by a factor of more than four since the first such @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement .
The states of Massachusetts and @ @ @ @ @ than 40,000 pounds of prescription drugs and vaping devices , the justice department said .
@ @ @ @ @ Brian D. Boyle said the drugs have been “ taken out of harm ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ”

BOSTON (AP) - Officials collected more than 115,000 pounds of expired, unused and unwanted drugs during the 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in New England.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration held the event on Oct. 26. The volume of drugs collected increased by a factor of more than four since the first such event in September 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.
The states of Massachusetts and Maine each accounted for more than 40,000 pounds of prescription drugs and vaping devices, the justice department said. DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle said the drugs have been “taken out of harm’s way across New England.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--Woman, 8-year-old girl killed when SUV jumps curb in Queens

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A 65-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl were fatally struck by a sport utility @ @ @ @ @ in Queens , police said .
It happened at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Jamaica .
@ @ @ @ @ of the Range Rover she was driving and jumped the curb , hitting the two @ @ @ @ @ The victims were taken to a hospital , where they were pronounced dead .
They @ @ @ @ @ Cong and 8-year-old Jashanty Cole .
The driver remained at the scene and was not @ @ @ @ @ .
Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that the crash was “ heartbreaking and gut-wrenching ” @ @ @ @ @ wife , Chirlane McCray , were sending prayers to the victims ’ families .

NEW YORK (AP) - A 65-year-old woman and an 8-year-old girl were fatally struck by a sport utility vehicle that jumped the curb in Queens, police said.
It happened at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Jamaica. A 47-year-old woman lost control of the Range Rover she was driving and jumped the curb, hitting the two victims, police said.
The victims were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead. They were identified as 65-year-old Yuniang Cong and 8-year-old Jashanty Cole.
The driver remained at the scene and was not immediately charged, police said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted that the crash was “heartbreaking and gut-wrenching” and said he and his wife, Chirlane McCray, were sending prayers to the victims’ families.


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--More than 60 new laws will take effect in Oklahoma on Nov. 1

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Hundreds of new Oklahoma laws usually take effect every year , this year there will be only about 60 because legislators were not able to meet as much due to the coronavirus pandemic .
All new laws will become operative on Sunday , The Oklahoman reported .
One law to modernize court proceedings was propelled by the pandemic .
It allows for video conferencing at every stage of civil and criminal proceedings in district courts .
Rep. Nicole Miller , an Edmond Republican , and Sen. Michael Brooks , an Oklahoma City Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceedings .
Another law is aimed at preventing porch piracy , which happens more frequently because of increased online shopping .
The bill makes it a misdemeanor to steal from a delivery vehicle , mailbox or doorstep on first and second offenses .
If someone commits the crime three or more times within a 60-day period , it becomes a felony .
Another law requires health insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use disorders as they do with physical illnesses .
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready will be responsible for making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in accordance with a 2008 federal law that requires financial parity .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Hundreds of new Oklahoma laws usually take effect every year, but this year there will be only about 60 because legislators were not able to meet as much due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All new laws will become operative on Sunday, The Oklahoman reported.
One law to modernize court proceedings was propelled by the pandemic. It allows for video conferencing at every stage of civil and criminal proceedings in district courts. Rep. Nicole Miller, an Edmond Republican, and Sen. Michael Brooks, an Oklahoma City Democrat, said the bill offers more flexibility for proceedings.
Another law is aimed at preventing porch piracy, which happens more frequently because of increased online shopping. The bill makes it a misdemeanor to steal from a delivery vehicle, mailbox or doorstep on first and second offenses. If someone commits the crime three or more times within a 60-day period, it becomes a felony.
Another law requires health insurance companies to cover mental health and substance use disorders as they do with physical illnesses. Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready will be responsible for making sure that all in-state health plans are in accordance with a 2008 federal law that requires financial parity.


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--West Virginia native returns home for performance

The Charleston native , who spends much of her time now in Nashville , said that ’ s partly because of her love for West Virginia .
“ I ’ m also still on the family plan from back home , ” she said .
Ferrell said her work as a singer has brought her back to the Mountain State on occasion , with gigs in Morgantown and Huntington , but she can ’ t recall the last time she was in Charleston .
That changes this week , as Ferrell returns to the Capital City for a Mountain Stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center .
The show not only marks Ferrell ’ s return to Charleston , but Mountain Stage ’ s return to live music .
Sunday night ’ s performance , which will be streamed online , is the first for Mountain Stage since Feb. 23 .
Because of safety measures in place due to the ongoing pandemic , Ferrell and the other musicians will be performing to a mostly empty house , save for a few camera operators and show staff .
Still , the singer said getting to perform on Mountain Stage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve always wanted to play Mountain Stage , ” she said .
“ I ’ m so grateful to get the chance.
” Getting to perform on the show will be like coming home - almost .
“ I used to live next door , on Franklin Road , ” she said .
Ferrell burst onto the local music scene nearly a decade ago as the lead singer for the popular rock band 600lbs of Sin .
She was charismatic , wildly talented and had a stunning voice , but was also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , Ferrell left Charleston .
In a 2012 interview , Mike Pushkin , who played with Ferrell in 600lbs of Sin , said he heard Ferrell had hopped a train like an old school hobo and rode off into the sunset .
“ I just wanted to do that for a while .
I was romanticizing about a lot of that , ” Ferrell said .
“ There ’ ve been so many chapters in my life .
You just look back and say , ‘ That happened ?
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hitchhiked , caught trains and occasionally toured with friends .
Her trips took her around the country .
She ended up in Nashville a couple of times , but also spent time in Seattle .
“ But I needed to get away from that , ” Ferrell said .
Nashville was a better place for her , she said , though it took a little time for her to find her feet .
“ I love it , ” she said .
“ There are just so many good players here .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eventually , Ferrell found a home with The Cowpokes , a vintage country-western band that played traditional honky-tonk music at American Legion Post 82 , in Nashville .
“ It was every Tuesday night , ” she said .
“ It was something I looked forward to.
” The gig was good exposure for Ferrell , but she was dissatisfied .
The Cowpokes played songs from the 1930s and 1940s .
She said she loved the music , but wanted to step out on her own and do her own material .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little buzz , ” she said .
She soon attracted the attention of Rounder Records , which signed her to a multiple record deal and helped her land a slot opening for the Avett Brothers during the band ’ s Dominican Republic Festival .
“ It took about a year to make that happen , ” Ferrell said .
“ There ’ s a process .
You ’ ve got to build a team , and also do your part .
“ I feel like we have a little family now .
”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Sierra Ferrell’s phone number still has a 304 area code.
The Charleston native, who spends much of her time now in Nashville, said that’s partly because of her love for West Virginia. “I’m also still on the family plan from back home,” she said.
Ferrell said her work as a singer has brought her back to the Mountain State on occasion, with gigs in Morgantown and Huntington, but she can’t recall the last time she was in Charleston.
That changes this week, as Ferrell returns to the Capital City for a Mountain Stage performance 7 p.m. Sunday at the Culture Center.
The show not only marks Ferrell’s return to Charleston, but Mountain Stage’s return to live music. Sunday night’s performance, which will be streamed online, is the first for Mountain Stage since Feb. 23.
Because of safety measures in place due to the ongoing pandemic, Ferrell and the other musicians will be performing to a mostly empty house, save for a few camera operators and show staff.
Still, the singer said getting to perform on Mountain Stage is a treat.
“I’ve always wanted to play Mountain Stage,” she said. “I’m so grateful to get the chance.”
Getting to perform on the show will be like coming home - almost.
“I used to live next door, on Franklin Road,” she said.
Ferrell burst onto the local music scene nearly a decade ago as the lead singer for the popular rock band 600lbs of Sin. She was charismatic, wildly talented and had a stunning voice, but was also a little eccentric.
A little over eight years ago, Ferrell left Charleston. In a 2012 interview, Mike Pushkin, who played with Ferrell in 600lbs of Sin, said he heard Ferrell had hopped a train like an old school hobo and rode off into the sunset.
“I just wanted to do that for a while. I was romanticizing about a lot of that,” Ferrell said. “There’ve been so many chapters in my life. You just look back and say, ‘That happened?’ ”
After leaving Charleston, Ferrell said she hitchhiked, caught trains and occasionally toured with friends. Her trips took her around the country. She ended up in Nashville a couple of times, but also spent time in Seattle.
“But I needed to get away from that,” Ferrell said.
Nashville was a better place for her, she said, though it took a little time for her to find her feet.
“I love it,” she said. “There are just so many good players here. You’re never short of players.”
Eventually, Ferrell found a home with The Cowpokes, a vintage country-western band that played traditional honky-tonk music at American Legion Post 82, in Nashville.
“It was every Tuesday night,” she said. “It was something I looked forward to.”
The gig was good exposure for Ferrell, but she was dissatisfied. The Cowpokes played songs from the 1930s and 1940s. She said she loved the music, but wanted to step out on her own and do her own material.
“I played around town and created a little buzz,” she said.
She soon attracted the attention of Rounder Records, which signed her to a multiple record deal and helped her land a slot opening for the Avett Brothers during the band’s Dominican Republic Festival.
“It took about a year to make that happen,” Ferrell said. “There’s a process. You’ve got to build a team, and also do your part.
“I feel like we have a little family now.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--Officer's wife searches for answers 10 years after his death

NORFOLK , Va. ( AP ) - Victor Decker walked down Oceana Boulevard on a rainy night in 2010 - a young , well-liked Norfolk police officer who ’ d earned headlines the year before for singlehandedly stopping two robbers who ’ d just killed their victim .
Minutes later he ’ d be dead himself .
He was found facedown near his pickup in Virginia Beach , lying just inside the gate of a city-run borrow pit , murdered at age 25 , a single , close-range shot to his head .
A decade later , Decker ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains the only still-unsolved killing of a cop in Hampton Roads .
It ’ s possibly the biggest whodunit on our books since someone gunned down Norfolk ’ s former mayor in 1972 .
The mysterious murder of a police officer stunned the community .
The story consumed the news .
Multitudes packed his mega-church funeral .
Officers across the state covered their badges with black bands .
It took police nearly two years to make arrests - two young Black men from Norfolk - and the charges fell apart before trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence that the two men even knew each other .
Prosecutors have insisted , though , that Decker ’ s killers wound up behind bars anyway , even if it was for other crimes .
But many remain haunted by it all , convinced the real murderer is still out there .
Decker ’ s death was chronicled in a 2017 Virginian-Pilot series and an award-winning podcast called The Shot that delved into dark corners .
Whispers stirred in the aftermath but led nowhere .
There ’ s mostly been silence since .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls Beach police regularly to ask for updates .
There haven ’ t been any , but she aims to ensure the file isn ’ t covered with dust .
She ’ s also been asking for the return of Decker ’ s impounded pickup and other items swept from their home as potential evidence .
This summer , police finally offered to release a pistol that had been hers .
But they made an error , accidentally giving her a .38 revolver they ’ d seized from Kareem Hassan Turner , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged .
It wasn ’ t the suspected murder weapon - that gun has never been found , at least to public knowledge .
And police did apologize to Dawn for the mix-up .
But she can ’ t understand how they made such an error , letting the wrong gun leave their property and evidence facility .
“ I was shocked , ” Dawn said .
“ I mean people make mistakes and stuff but that ’ s a pretty large mistake.
” Ten years after her husband ’ s death , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life , still grappling with ghosts and half-healed wounds .
There is no closure .
No answers for their daughter Charlotte , who was 8 months old when her father was killed .
No line-of-duty benefits - the payout families receive when an officer ’ s death can be linked to the job .
And no way to confront the man she married about a secret exposed during the investigation : Decker was running around on her .
Unfaithful .
As much as that stings , it doesn ’ t change her bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlotte ’ s dad .
For the funny , blond-haired boy she met all those years ago at Independence Middle School .
For all they promised and did for each other , no matter how imperfect .
And for the simple fact that no one should get away with murder .
Crimes go unsolved all the time .
That ’ s rare when the victim is a police officer .
Someone has rebuilt Decker ’ s roadside memorial - a 6-foot blue cross .
It ’ s just outside the borrow pit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ naval air station .
The paint looks fresh .
A “ thin blue line ” flag billows , whipped by the whoosh of traffic on Oceana Boulevard .
Dawn said the memorial was destroyed a few years ago , its cross yanked up and thrown into nearby bushes .
She doesn ’ t know who vandalized it or who replaced it .
She moved to the outskirts of Richmond two and half years ago , a fresh start for her growing family - a new husband , two stepdaughters and a new baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she hopes to move back to Hampton Roads , where she returns regularly to see family , friends or take part in events like the recent COPS Walk , raising money for the survivors of fallen police .
She stops by the roadside memorial every time she ’ s in town .
Once , her face was especially familiar in these parts - a grieving widow on TV or in the papers , begging anyone with information to come forward .
She and Decker married in their early 20s .
By then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a bike patrol in the downtown corridor , he worked nights , a uniform in the middle of the bustling after-hours scene .
Capable and even-tempered , he forged a good reputation with his colleagues as well as the club crowd .
He became an official hero after a 2009 shootout .
Two 19-year-olds out on bond had robbed and killed a man as he sat in a car on Bank Street .
Decker pedaled toward the sound of gunfire , exchanged shots with one of the robbers , eventually killing him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Decker Officer of the Year .
The governor gave him a medal .
He was applauded at civic dinners .
A celebrity .
On the night he died , Dawn and Charlotte were in Georgia visiting her grandparents .
Decker met up with some friends at Atlantis Gentlemen ’ s Club on Oceana Boulevard .
It ’ s unclear if he ’ d ever been there before .
Atlantis was having a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness and the place was packed .
Dancers were working a pole in pink thong bikinis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Decker wound up about 100 yards down the road near the gate to the borrow pit .
He left a 9mm handgun in his pickup .
Police rarely go anywhere unarmed but no weapons were allowed in the club .
He drank and socialized .
At closing time , around 2 a.m. , he made the walk back to his truck alone in the rain .
His body was discovered around 7 a.m. the next morning .
There were no signs of a struggle .
The gun had been jammed to his forehead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward - like someone had put Decker on his knees , execution style .
His wallet was gone , along with the gun he ’ d left in his truck .
His cellphone and wedding ring weren ’ t taken .
Beneath his T-shirt , Beach police found his silver NPD badge , hanging from a lanyard around his neck .
With little-to-no forensics and no eyewitnesses , VBPD beat the bushes , interviewing hundreds of people .
They pored over video from a security camera at the jet base .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little more than shadows and flashes of light .
In the end , police relied on a string of jailhouse snitches to bring charges against Turner and Raymond Lewis Perry , young men from tough neighborhoods in Norfolk .
Perry had an extensive criminal record .
Turner had mostly low-level offenses .
Police figured they ’ d killed Decker in a random robbery .
But the cases crumbled before trial when the No .
1 inmate informant was caught on tape bragging about how he was lying to get his own sentence reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was already serving a long sentence for another crime .
Turner was released but his freedom was short-lived .
Four months later , he was part of a trio who tried to rob a man then shot him as he ran .
Prosecutors have pointed to Turner ’ s conviction for that crime as a sign - confirmation that even though they hadn ’ t been able to nail him for Decker ’ s death , he and Perry had done the deed .
But others think Turner fell victim to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Decker case .
He became the killer he was already assumed to be .
Questions abound from defense attorneys and crime experts who were featured in The Shot series .
Decker ’ s murder didn ’ t have the hallmarks of a random robbery - it was up-close and seemed personal .
Professional even .
And no real evidence ever materialized tying Turner or Perry to the crime or Decker , much less each other .
Both had steadily denied involvement .
Perry even passed a polygraph administered by a legendary former-FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jennifer Stanton , who is now the capital defender for the South Region of Virginia , is among those who believe police and prosecutors got it all wrong .
“ Nothing has changed my mind , ” she said .
She sees the recent gun mix-up with Dawn as “ completely indicative of how bad the whole investigation was.
” Police confirmed in an interview last week that they ’ d attempted to return a “ personal item - a firearm ” to Dawn , but they won ’ t verify that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even though paperwork inside the package she received noted that the .38 was confiscated from him .
Deputy Police Chief Pat Gallagher explained the mistake as “ a misunderstanding over the item in question.
” He repeatedly accepted “ full responsibility , ” saying he ’ s the one who made the call to release it .
“ We wanted to provide Dawn with some closure , ” he said .
“ It was not learned until after the fact that this was the wrong item.
” An officer was promptly dispatched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The error could create a future chain-of-custody problem for prosecutors if the .38 is ever used as evidence in any court case .
Dawn would have to testify as to how she wound up with it in her possession for a time .
“ It ’ s not the way we would have preferred for it to happen , ” Gallagher said , “ but it happened.
” Gallagher won ’ t say if detectives still believe Turner and Perry are guilty of Decker ’ s murder .
But without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains officially open .
It ’ s been shifted , however , to the cold case unit , staffed by a handful of full- and part-time investigators and analysts .
Tony Suchy , one of the investigators , said the unit has 99 cold cases in its files : 63 homicides and 36 missing persons - stretching from 1970 to 2014 .
Cases are pulled with an eye toward “ solvability , ” he said .
The unit scours autopsies , crime scene photos and looks for opportunities to apply new technology to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year ’ s arrest of an 80-year-old man in New York for the 1973 double-homicide of two women vacationing at the Oceanfront - proof that it ’ s “ never too late ” to crack a case , Suchy said .
Witness are often re-interviewed .
Time may fade details but it can also make a person more willing to talk .
Maybe they ’ ve had a falling out with someone who was involved or they were afraid back then but aren ’ t now .
“ You might be much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gallagher said the Decker case is “ off the shelf ” and being reviewed - welcome news to Dawn .
“ I ’ ve been asking for someone new to take a look at this for years , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve probably got more questions now than I ’ ve ever had.
” Gallagher understands it ’ s frustrating for survivors to get so little information from police .
Family members become angry and upset , arguing that they “ have a right to know , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that statement whole-heartedly .
I have a wife and two children .
I would want to know.
” But tight lips are crucial , he said .
If too much gets out , it can “ poison ” the information that comes back in , ruining the chance for a successful prosecution .
If the murder weapon or the gun stolen from Decker ’ s truck that night is ever found , it could point the way to a major break .
Gallagher won ’ t say if either has surfaced or there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tipsters are asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP .
Decker ’ s case isn ’ t getting special treatment , he said , but it does hit home even more than most .
Yes , he was off-duty that night and out partying , but he was a decorated , fellow officer from a sister city and “ there ’ s no denying that , ” Gallagher said .
Dawn ’ s limbo continues - wondering if it was indeed random , or an act of rage or jealousy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was revenge for something he did as a cop ?
Or maybe his killer was another cop ?
Did he see something out by the borrow pit that got him killed ?
She ’ s been “ grasping at straws ” for too long , said Kevin Zingraff , Dawn ’ s new husband .
“ Good , bad , or indifferent , ” he said , she needs a resolution .
“ This is a constant struggle every day of the year , but most especially during the month of October , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been more than patient .
”

JOANNE KIMBERLIN and GARY A. HARKI, The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Victor Decker walked down Oceana Boulevard on a rainy night in 2010 - a young, well-liked Norfolk police officer who’d earned headlines the year before for singlehandedly stopping two robbers who’d just killed their victim.
Minutes later he’d be dead himself. He was found facedown near his pickup in Virginia Beach, lying just inside the gate of a city-run borrow pit, murdered at age 25, a single, close-range shot to his head.
A decade later, Decker’s death on Oct. 26, 2010, remains the only still-unsolved killing of a cop in Hampton Roads.
It’s possibly the biggest whodunit on our books since someone gunned down Norfolk’s former mayor in 1972.
The mysterious murder of a police officer stunned the community. The story consumed the news. Multitudes packed his mega-church funeral. Officers across the state covered their badges with black bands.
It took police nearly two years to make arrests - two young Black men from Norfolk - and the charges fell apart before trial. Defense attorneys say they never saw any evidence that the two men even knew each other. Prosecutors have insisted, though, that Decker’s killers wound up behind bars anyway, even if it was for other crimes.
But many remain haunted by it all, convinced the real murderer is still out there.
Decker’s death was chronicled in a 2017 Virginian-Pilot series and an award-winning podcast called The Shot that delved into dark corners.
Whispers stirred in the aftermath but led nowhere. There’s mostly been silence since.
Dawn Decker, his widow, still calls Beach police regularly to ask for updates. There haven’t been any, but she aims to ensure the file isn’t covered with dust.
She’s also been asking for the return of Decker’s impounded pickup and other items swept from their home as potential evidence.
This summer, police finally offered to release a pistol that had been hers. But they made an error, accidentally giving her a .38 revolver they’d seized from Kareem Hassan Turner, one of the men who’d been charged.
It wasn’t the suspected murder weapon - that gun has never been found, at least to public knowledge. And police did apologize to Dawn for the mix-up.
But she can’t understand how they made such an error, letting the wrong gun leave their property and evidence facility.
“I was shocked,” Dawn said. “I mean people make mistakes and stuff but that’s a pretty large mistake.”
Ten years after her husband’s death, she’s moved on with her life, still grappling with ghosts and half-healed wounds.
There is no closure. No answers for their daughter Charlotte, who was 8 months old when her father was killed. No line-of-duty benefits - the payout families receive when an officer’s death can be linked to the job. And no way to confront the man she married about a secret exposed during the investigation: Decker was running around on her. Unfaithful.
As much as that stings, it doesn’t change her bottom line. She wants justice. For Charlotte’s dad. For the funny, blond-haired boy she met all those years ago at Independence Middle School. For all they promised and did for each other, no matter how imperfect.
And for the simple fact that no one should get away with murder.
Crimes go unsolved all the time. That’s rare when the victim is a police officer.
Someone has rebuilt Decker’s roadside memorial - a 6-foot blue cross. It’s just outside the borrow pit, across from a side entrance to the naval air station. The paint looks fresh. A “thin blue line” flag billows, whipped by the whoosh of traffic on Oceana Boulevard.
Dawn said the memorial was destroyed a few years ago, its cross yanked up and thrown into nearby bushes. She doesn’t know who vandalized it or who replaced it.
She moved to the outskirts of Richmond two and half years ago, a fresh start for her growing family - a new husband, two stepdaughters and a new baby sister for Charlotte.
But soon, she hopes to move back to Hampton Roads, where she returns regularly to see family, friends or take part in events like the recent COPS Walk, raising money for the survivors of fallen police.
She stops by the roadside memorial every time she’s in town.
Once, her face was especially familiar in these parts - a grieving widow on TV or in the papers, begging anyone with information to come forward.
She and Decker married in their early 20s. By then, he’d joined NPD. Assigned to a bike patrol in the downtown corridor, he worked nights, a uniform in the middle of the bustling after-hours scene. Capable and even-tempered, he forged a good reputation with his colleagues as well as the club crowd.
He became an official hero after a 2009 shootout. Two 19-year-olds out on bond had robbed and killed a man as he sat in a car on Bank Street. Decker pedaled toward the sound of gunfire, exchanged shots with one of the robbers, eventually killing him and cuffing the other. NPD named Decker Officer of the Year. The governor gave him a medal. He was applauded at civic dinners. A celebrity.
On the night he died, Dawn and Charlotte were in Georgia visiting her grandparents. Decker met up with some friends at Atlantis Gentlemen’s Club on Oceana Boulevard. It’s unclear if he’d ever been there before. Atlantis was having a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness and the place was packed. Dancers were working a pole in pink thong bikinis.
Looking for a place to park, Decker wound up about 100 yards down the road near the gate to the borrow pit. He left a 9mm handgun in his pickup. Police rarely go anywhere unarmed but no weapons were allowed in the club. He drank and socialized. At closing time, around 2 a.m., he made the walk back to his truck alone in the rain.
His body was discovered around 7 a.m. the next morning. There were no signs of a struggle. The gun had been jammed to his forehead. The bullet’s trajectory was downward - like someone had put Decker on his knees, execution style.
His wallet was gone, along with the gun he’d left in his truck. His cellphone and wedding ring weren’t taken. Beneath his T-shirt, Beach police found his silver NPD badge, hanging from a lanyard around his neck.
With little-to-no forensics and no eyewitnesses, VBPD beat the bushes, interviewing hundreds of people. They pored over video from a security camera at the jet base. But the video was grainy and dark, offering little more than shadows and flashes of light.
In the end, police relied on a string of jailhouse snitches to bring charges against Turner and Raymond Lewis Perry, young men from tough neighborhoods in Norfolk.
Perry had an extensive criminal record. Turner had mostly low-level offenses. Police figured they’d killed Decker in a random robbery.
But the cases crumbled before trial when the No. 1 inmate informant was caught on tape bragging about how he was lying to get his own sentence reduced.
Perry remained in prison, where he was already serving a long sentence for another crime. Turner was released but his freedom was short-lived. Four months later, he was part of a trio who tried to rob a man then shot him as he ran.
Prosecutors have pointed to Turner’s conviction for that crime as a sign - confirmation that even though they hadn’t been able to nail him for Decker’s death, he and Perry had done the deed.
But others think Turner fell victim to the notoriety that was thrust upon him by the Decker case. He became the killer he was already assumed to be.
Questions abound from defense attorneys and crime experts who were featured in The Shot series. Decker’s murder didn’t have the hallmarks of a random robbery - it was up-close and seemed personal. Professional even. And no real evidence ever materialized tying Turner or Perry to the crime or Decker, much less each other. Both had steadily denied involvement. Perry even passed a polygraph administered by a legendary former-FBI examiner.
Perry’s attorney, Jennifer Stanton, who is now the capital defender for the South Region of Virginia, is among those who believe police and prosecutors got it all wrong.
“Nothing has changed my mind,” she said.
She sees the recent gun mix-up with Dawn as “completely indicative of how bad the whole investigation was.”
Police confirmed in an interview last week that they’d attempted to return a “personal item - a firearm” to Dawn, but they won’t verify that it turned out to be Turner’s, even though paperwork inside the package she received noted that the .38 was confiscated from him.
Deputy Police Chief Pat Gallagher explained the mistake as “a misunderstanding over the item in question.” He repeatedly accepted “full responsibility,” saying he’s the one who made the call to release it.
“We wanted to provide Dawn with some closure,” he said. “It was not learned until after the fact that this was the wrong item.”
An officer was promptly dispatched to Dawn’s home to recover it. The error could create a future chain-of-custody problem for prosecutors if the .38 is ever used as evidence in any court case. Dawn would have to testify as to how she wound up with it in her possession for a time.
“It’s not the way we would have preferred for it to happen,” Gallagher said, “but it happened.”
Gallagher won’t say if detectives still believe Turner and Perry are guilty of Decker’s murder. But without a trial to conclude the case, it remains officially open.
It’s been shifted, however, to the cold case unit, staffed by a handful of full- and part-time investigators and analysts.
Tony Suchy, one of the investigators, said the unit has 99 cold cases in its files: 63 homicides and 36 missing persons - stretching from 1970 to 2014.
Cases are pulled with an eye toward “solvability,” he said. The unit scours autopsies, crime scene photos and looks for opportunities to apply new technology to old evidence.
Such advances led to last year’s arrest of an 80-year-old man in New York for the 1973 double-homicide of two women vacationing at the Oceanfront - proof that it’s “never too late” to crack a case, Suchy said.
Witness are often re-interviewed. Time may fade details but it can also make a person more willing to talk. Maybe they’ve had a falling out with someone who was involved or they were afraid back then but aren’t now.
“You might be much more forthcoming,” Suchy said.
Gallagher said the Decker case is “off the shelf” and being reviewed - welcome news to Dawn.
“I’ve been asking for someone new to take a look at this for years,” she said. “I’ve probably got more questions now than I’ve ever had.”
Gallagher understands it’s frustrating for survivors to get so little information from police. Family members become angry and upset, arguing that they “have a right to know,” he said. “And I empathize with that statement whole-heartedly. I have a wife and two children. I would want to know.”
But tight lips are crucial, he said. If too much gets out, it can “poison” the information that comes back in, ruining the chance for a successful prosecution.
If the murder weapon or the gun stolen from Decker’s truck that night is ever found, it could point the way to a major break. Gallagher won’t say if either has surfaced or there are any new leads. As always, tipsters are asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
Decker’s case isn’t getting special treatment, he said, but it does hit home even more than most. Yes, he was off-duty that night and out partying, but he was a decorated, fellow officer from a sister city and “there’s no denying that,” Gallagher said.
Dawn’s limbo continues - wondering if it was indeed random, or an act of rage or jealousy, or a calculated hit. Maybe it was revenge for something he did as a cop? Or maybe his killer was another cop? Did he see something out by the borrow pit that got him killed?
She’s been “grasping at straws” for too long, said Kevin Zingraff, Dawn’s new husband.
“Good, bad, or indifferent,” he said, she needs a resolution.
“This is a constant struggle every day of the year, but most especially during the month of October,” he said.
“She has been more than patient.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--Delaware school serves more than a million meals in pandemic

NEWARK , Del .
( AP ) - From the outside , it looks like an ordinary school .
But a step inside the Tarbiyah School reveals an operation that ’ s anything but .
The small Islamic school has served 1.3 million meals since March .
Serving from 5,000 to 7,000 meals a day , that ’ s more than even Delaware ’ s largest school districts .
In what used to be the cafeteria of the Newark school , boxes filled with food are piled high on every available surface .
Non-perishable foods take up spare classrooms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cart meals across Delaware , offering a hot meal to any child 18 and under who needs it , regardless of if they attend the school .
Amna Latif , director of Tarbiyah , oversees a team of about 150 staff and volunteers who help pull off the daily meal deliveries .
She never thought it would grow to this .
At the start of the pandemic , schools quickly needed to figure out how to continue feeding kids who relied on daily school lunches .
When the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Latif and her team jumped to action .
Volunteers and staff members suggested neighborhoods and community centers where they knew children would need food .
Friday , March 13 was the day Gov .
John Carney closed schools for two weeks .
After a weekend filing applications with the Department of Education , Tarbiyah was serving meals by Monday .
The school started with the goal of serving 1,800 meals per day .
“ We were scared .
Are we even going to be able to give those out ?
Will there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ When we started , we gave out everything , and there was a need for more.
” Soon , the school was serving up to 7,000 meals daily , all reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
The handful of distribution sites grew to 34 across northern Delaware , serving children in Newark , Wilmington , New Castle and as far south as Dover .
The school has since scaled back to 13 distribution sites , turning some over to school districts needing to keep school nutrition staff employed through virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Tarbiyah staff and volunteers continue to feed children who otherwise would have been forgotten by the system , targeting motels , homeless shelters and neighborhoods in need .
The food insecurity rate in Delaware is 12.6 % , according to the Food Bank of Delaware .
Economic fallout from the pandemic likely added 50,000 people to the 121,000 Delawareans who struggle to afford food , according to Food Bank estimates .
Food insecurity among children is even higher .
Among Delaware kids , 38,680 are food insecure , that ’ s 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I still feel we ’ re not reaching out to everybody .
We still have a lot of children that are not being served , ” Latif said .
“ The need is huge .
Cutting off some of the hunger , giving them access to nutritious meals is our goal , it ’ s our purpose.
” Latif and her husband Naveed Baqir moved from Pakistan to the United States in 2003 , both on scholarship to complete master ’ s degrees at Eastern Illinois University .
Moving to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Latif was warned that people would make fun of her niqab , a veil worn by some Muslim women covering everything but their eyes .
“ What we saw about the U.S. was mostly in movies , just like anybody over here would learn about Muslim culture through the media , ” she said .
Instead , Latif and Baqir found an accommodating and curious community .
The pair took part in many interfaith sessions , sharing their culture and answering questions about their religion .
In the country on student visas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university .
Their free time was spent volunteering any way they could .
It was just a matter of figuring out where her service was most needed .
Latif completed her doctorate in education leadership in 2010 .
At the time , her daughter Maryam Baqir was 3 and about to start school .
But there were no options for an Islamic education in Newark .
So that year , teaching four students out of her home , Latif founded the Tarbiyah School – Arabic for “ raising a child.
” News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth in the Islamic community .
Demand pushed the family to move the school to its current location off Old Baltimore Pike .
When Maryam attended Tarbiyah , students would volunteer with Meals on Wheels and with homeless shelters .
Now 15 and attending Newark Charter School , she still helps her mother give back .
When classes ended in June , Maryam spent the summer helping pack and deliver meals every day .
“ I feel like most people don ’ t really realize how many kids don ’ t have meals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools for meals , ” Maryam said .
The day starts with deliveries – milk for the day , as well as the hot meals prepared by the school ’ s distributor , restaurant Indian Sizzler .
The morning is a flurry of activity , packing meals and getting them out to meal distribution sites .
Then comes the paperwork .
Massive binders for each meal site , tracking the number of meals served , along with any leftovers .
In the afternoons , volunteers start packing non-perishables for breakfasts , ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For it to happen every single day is what makes it so inspirational and stunning , ” said Sen. Bryan Townsend , D-Newark .
“ All this time , while schools were sorting out different frameworks , for this group to come together and build rapport in the community and deliver food , it ’ s beautiful.
” Tarbiyah ’ s distribution locations have helped fill in gaps school districts haven ’ t been able to cover , Latif said .
Like the school , the program has largely grown through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , as well as volunteers .
Melva Robinson had been feeding families in motels on her own since March , using her own money and donations from friends and families to gather anything people needed .
One day , she saw a car driving down the highway with a sign advertising free meals for children .
“ God led me to pick up and call them , ” Robinson said .
“ I knew the need was there .
But this opened my eyes , there ’ s other people out there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet that need.
” When the pandemic first started , it was Shormin Akther who suggested the school connect with nearby homeless shelters .
She couldn ’ t help but think of the single mothers and children living there .
A supervisor at Tarbiyah , Akther regularly makes deliveries at Mary Mother of Hope House locations in Wilmington .
About 10 years before , she and her children were homeless and living in the same shelter .
She doesn ’ t take a single day off in her deliveries , she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of difference in their lives , ” Latif said .
“ Parents are relieved , they don ’ t have to worry about the meals for their children .
It ’ s something less to worry about.
” USDA guidelines only allow Tarbiyah to give meals to children 18 and under .
But volunteers still bring families extra groceries , clothing , diapers and books .
When a family doesn ’ t show up for a few days , volunteers start to worry .
Families offer tea and conversation from a safe distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families know meals are on the way .
“ I don ’ t know if I ’ ve ever seen a better example of a community coming together over a long term , ” Townsend said .
“ This isn ’ t like a flood clean up or a storm clean up .
This the relentless reaching out to the community from a place of purest sincerity and volunteerism.
” To see the extensive and daily operation in the school is staggering , Townsend said .
For such a small school to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in awe .
Most everyone who comes across the school ’ s work is surprised by the scale .
“ I knew it was going to get big , ” Maryam said .
“ Whenever we start something , it usually gets really big.
” Her parents moved to a small town in a new country pursuing their education .
She watched her mother grow a small homeschool group into a school of 250 kids .
Risk is in their genes , her mother jokes .
Of course the meal program would grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God tells us to serve people selflessly , ” Latif said .
“ Do not ever expect anything back from anybody .
Expect things from God .
Serving people , doing service to the community , helping them with their needs , that ’ s fulfilling to my heart .
”

NEWARK, Del. (AP) - From the outside, it looks like an ordinary school.
But a step inside the Tarbiyah School reveals an operation that’s anything but.
The small Islamic school has served 1.3 million meals since March. Serving from 5,000 to 7,000 meals a day, that’s more than even Delaware’s largest school districts.
In what used to be the cafeteria of the Newark school, boxes filled with food are piled high on every available surface. Non-perishable foods take up spare classrooms and hallways.
And every weekday, volunteers cart meals across Delaware, offering a hot meal to any child 18 and under who needs it, regardless of if they attend the school.
Amna Latif, director of Tarbiyah, oversees a team of about 150 staff and volunteers who help pull off the daily meal deliveries. She never thought it would grow to this.
At the start of the pandemic, schools quickly needed to figure out how to continue feeding kids who relied on daily school lunches. When the U.S. Department of Agriculture allowed schools to shift to summer meal programs, Latif and her team jumped to action. Volunteers and staff members suggested neighborhoods and community centers where they knew children would need food.
Friday, March 13 was the day Gov. John Carney closed schools for two weeks.
After a weekend filing applications with the Department of Education, Tarbiyah was serving meals by Monday.
The school started with the goal of serving 1,800 meals per day.
“We were scared. Are we even going to be able to give those out? Will there be leftovers?” Latif said. “When we started, we gave out everything, and there was a need for more.”
Soon, the school was serving up to 7,000 meals daily, all reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The handful of distribution sites grew to 34 across northern Delaware, serving children in Newark, Wilmington, New Castle and as far south as Dover.
The school has since scaled back to 13 distribution sites, turning some over to school districts needing to keep school nutrition staff employed through virtual learning.
Eight months into the pandemic, Tarbiyah staff and volunteers continue to feed children who otherwise would have been forgotten by the system, targeting motels, homeless shelters and neighborhoods in need.
The food insecurity rate in Delaware is 12.6%, according to the Food Bank of Delaware. Economic fallout from the pandemic likely added 50,000 people to the 121,000 Delawareans who struggle to afford food, according to Food Bank estimates.
Food insecurity among children is even higher. Among Delaware kids, 38,680 are food insecure, that’s 19%, and higher than last year.
“I still feel we’re not reaching out to everybody. We still have a lot of children that are not being served,” Latif said. “The need is huge. Cutting off some of the hunger, giving them access to nutritious meals is our goal, it’s our purpose.”
SELFLESSLY SERVING
Latif and her husband Naveed Baqir moved from Pakistan to the United States in 2003, both on scholarship to complete master’s degrees at Eastern Illinois University.
Moving to the small, majority white college town, Latif was warned that people would make fun of her niqab, a veil worn by some Muslim women covering everything but their eyes.
“What we saw about the U.S. was mostly in movies, just like anybody over here would learn about Muslim culture through the media,” she said.
Instead, Latif and Baqir found an accommodating and curious community. The pair took part in many interfaith sessions, sharing their culture and answering questions about their religion.
In the country on student visas, they were only allowed to work at the university. Their free time was spent volunteering any way they could.
It was just a matter of figuring out where her service was most needed.
Latif completed her doctorate in education leadership in 2010. At the time, her daughter Maryam Baqir was 3 and about to start school.
But there were no options for an Islamic education in Newark. So that year, teaching four students out of her home, Latif founded the Tarbiyah School – Arabic for “raising a child.”
News of the school spread by word of mouth in the Islamic community. Demand pushed the family to move the school to its current location off Old Baltimore Pike.
When Maryam attended Tarbiyah, students would volunteer with Meals on Wheels and with homeless shelters. Now 15 and attending Newark Charter School, she still helps her mother give back. When classes ended in June, Maryam spent the summer helping pack and deliver meals every day.
“I feel like most people don’t really realize how many kids don’t have meals at home and rely so much on schools for meals,” Maryam said.
A CONSTANT EFFORT
The day starts with deliveries – milk for the day, as well as the hot meals prepared by the school’s distributor, restaurant Indian Sizzler. The morning is a flurry of activity, packing meals and getting them out to meal distribution sites.
Then comes the paperwork. Massive binders for each meal site, tracking the number of meals served, along with any leftovers.
In the afternoons, volunteers start packing non-perishables for breakfasts, ready to do it all again the next day.
“For it to happen every single day is what makes it so inspirational and stunning,” said Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark. “All this time, while schools were sorting out different frameworks, for this group to come together and build rapport in the community and deliver food, it’s beautiful.”
Tarbiyah’s distribution locations have helped fill in gaps school districts haven’t been able to cover, Latif said. Like the school, the program has largely grown through word of mouth, connecting families in need, as well as volunteers.
Melva Robinson had been feeding families in motels on her own since March, using her own money and donations from friends and families to gather anything people needed.
One day, she saw a car driving down the highway with a sign advertising free meals for children.
“God led me to pick up and call them,” Robinson said. “I knew the need was there. But this opened my eyes, there’s other people out there doing tremendous and wonderful things to help meet that need.”
When the pandemic first started, it was Shormin Akther who suggested the school connect with nearby homeless shelters. She couldn’t help but think of the single mothers and children living there.
A supervisor at Tarbiyah, Akther regularly makes deliveries at Mary Mother of Hope House locations in Wilmington. About 10 years before, she and her children were homeless and living in the same shelter.
She doesn’t take a single day off in her deliveries, she said.
“We’re making some kind of difference in their lives,” Latif said. “Parents are relieved, they don’t have to worry about the meals for their children. It’s something less to worry about.”
USDA guidelines only allow Tarbiyah to give meals to children 18 and under. But volunteers still bring families extra groceries, clothing, diapers and books.
When a family doesn’t show up for a few days, volunteers start to worry. Families offer tea and conversation from a safe distance. Some volunteers use WhatsApp to let families know meals are on the way.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a better example of a community coming together over a long term,” Townsend said. “This isn’t like a flood clean up or a storm clean up. This the relentless reaching out to the community from a place of purest sincerity and volunteerism.”
To see the extensive and daily operation in the school is staggering, Townsend said. For such a small school to put out over 1 million meals left him in awe.
Most everyone who comes across the school’s work is surprised by the scale.
Everyone but Maryam Baqir.
“I knew it was going to get big,” Maryam said. “Whenever we start something, it usually gets really big.”
Her parents moved to a small town in a new country pursuing their education. She watched her mother grow a small homeschool group into a school of 250 kids. Risk is in their genes, her mother jokes.
Of course the meal program would grow to what it is now.
“God tells us to serve people selflessly,” Latif said. “Do not ever expect anything back from anybody. Expect things from God. Serving people, doing service to the community, helping them with their needs, that’s fulfilling to my heart.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-31--Fright night: Virginia haunted house lures in crowds

QUICKSBURG , Va. ( AP ) - Haunted hallways and howls of horror lie in wait around every turn where fiends of the night lurk and screech .
Even Freddy Kreuger might run from the nightmares come to life in the twisted world of clowns , claustrophobia and creepy creatures at Shenandoah Caverns .
When the sun falls and darkness grows , American Fright Night comes to life to lure travelers through Clown Town , The Christmas Massacre and other horrific halls .
American Celebration on Parade is normally a wonderland of pop culture and history mementos trapped in time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ werewolves carry through the mountains and cauldrons begin to bubble and boil , the 40,000-square-foot joyful sea of floats and props becomes a dark whirlpool of darkness and mysteries that are designed to petrify .
Lingering where you least expect , Trent Lawrence finds joy after dusk chasing visitors with a roaring tool of terror .
Lawrence previously worked in maintenance for the caverns and was among the team who first designed American Fright Night four years ago .
He no longer works regularly for the caverns , but loves visiting haunted places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troupe of actors each fall to scare unsuspecting visitors .
“ You get a taste of clowns , a taste of death , a taste of being in closed spaces when you start , ” Lawrence said .
“ It ’ s probably one of my number one haunted houses .
… I still scare myself when I walk through it , and I ’ m expecting it.
” Shenandoah Caverns ’ website boasts that its Halloween attraction of nightmares is the Valley ’ s largest all-indoor haunted house .
Lawrence said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rebuilt and redesigned annually , but the creators also add pieces each night to change the experience .
“ They always change some small details every night , so Bo and Zach are pretty much the masterminds from day one to the end , ” he said .
“ They make it creepier to be there every night .
It ’ s probably one of the best homemade haunted houses you can go to for what your money is.
” Cousins Bo Wills and Zachary Foley are the designers and producers of American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreaming up ways to incorporate the massive floats and stage settings into gruesome and unnerving scenes made creepier with ominous lighting and special effects .
“ We try to do different themes throughout based on the floats we have in the building , ” he said .
“ It kind of evolved from a certain theme of a float and carry that on into a haunted house theme and try to change it up from year to year to change it up and make it different.
” Wills said this year is unique @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parade to full advantage to transform the building into a “ whimsical nightmare ” of monstrous proportions .
“ We tried to emphasize more on the floats on the building to make you feel like you ’ re small in a way , kind of like you ’ re in a big snow globe , ‘ Alice in Wonderland ’ type of feeling .
Like you are tiny in a big world , ” Wills said .
“ Different things to affect the senses in a way is kind of my influence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yourself.
” Because of COVID-19 concerns and regulations , actors are unable to touch visitors , passageways are wider and hanging pieces are removed .
Kevin Tamai sent his Boy Scout troop from Woodbridge to tour the caves and visit American Fright Night last weekend .
Tamai said he is a big fan of all the events Shenandoah Caverns puts on and can not wait to experience this year ’ s haunted house himself .
“ Fright nights are a great indoor attraction that supports the local community and the school , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wonderful experience there.
” Director of Marketing and Events Melissa Nguyen described American Fright Night as comparable to a retro fun house tinged with horror through terrifying themes in various rooms that proved a success with visitors since the exhibition had record-breaking nights the past two Saturdays .
“ The lighting and music is set to every theme , so you get all the senses , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a really cool experience .
I ’ ve never been in anything like it before.
” Tickets are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for students at the door .
Children under 12 years of age are not advised to trek the haunted attraction and all children must be accompanied by adults .
Groups of approximately six go in every few minutes for staggered lines and the entire attraction takes approximately 30-minutes to escape .
Shenandoah Caverns is located at 375 Caverns Rd .
in Quicksburg .

QUICKSBURG, Va. (AP) - Haunted hallways and howls of horror lie in wait around every turn where fiends of the night lurk and screech. Even Freddy Kreuger might run from the nightmares come to life in the twisted world of clowns, claustrophobia and creepy creatures at Shenandoah Caverns.
When the sun falls and darkness grows, American Fright Night comes to life to lure travelers through Clown Town, The Christmas Massacre and other horrific halls.
American Celebration on Parade is normally a wonderland of pop culture and history mementos trapped in time. But as the echoing cries of werewolves carry through the mountains and cauldrons begin to bubble and boil, the 40,000-square-foot joyful sea of floats and props becomes a dark whirlpool of darkness and mysteries that are designed to petrify.
Lingering where you least expect, Trent Lawrence finds joy after dusk chasing visitors with a roaring tool of terror.
Lawrence previously worked in maintenance for the caverns and was among the team who first designed American Fright Night four years ago. He no longer works regularly for the caverns, but loves visiting haunted places and makes sure to join the treacherous troupe of actors each fall to scare unsuspecting visitors.
“You get a taste of clowns, a taste of death, a taste of being in closed spaces when you start,” Lawrence said. “It’s probably one of my number one haunted houses. … I still scare myself when I walk through it, and I’m expecting it.”
Shenandoah Caverns’ website boasts that its Halloween attraction of nightmares is the Valley’s largest all-indoor haunted house. Lawrence said the setup always varies since it’s rebuilt and redesigned annually, but the creators also add pieces each night to change the experience.
“They always change some small details every night, so Bo and Zach are pretty much the masterminds from day one to the end,” he said. “They make it creepier to be there every night. It’s probably one of the best homemade haunted houses you can go to for what your money is.”
Cousins Bo Wills and Zachary Foley are the designers and producers of American Fright Night. Wills said he enjoys dreaming up ways to incorporate the massive floats and stage settings into gruesome and unnerving scenes made creepier with ominous lighting and special effects.
“We try to do different themes throughout based on the floats we have in the building,” he said. “It kind of evolved from a certain theme of a float and carry that on into a haunted house theme and try to change it up from year to year to change it up and make it different.”
Wills said this year is unique as the team used American Celebration on Parade to full advantage to transform the building into a “whimsical nightmare” of monstrous proportions.
“We tried to emphasize more on the floats on the building to make you feel like you’re small in a way, kind of like you’re in a big snow globe, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ type of feeling. Like you are tiny in a big world,” Wills said. “Different things to affect the senses in a way is kind of my influence. What can stir your consciousness into second-guessing yourself.”
Because of COVID-19 concerns and regulations, actors are unable to touch visitors, passageways are wider and hanging pieces are removed.
Kevin Tamai sent his Boy Scout troop from Woodbridge to tour the caves and visit American Fright Night last weekend. Tamai said he is a big fan of all the events Shenandoah Caverns puts on and cannot wait to experience this year’s haunted house himself.
“Fright nights are a great indoor attraction that supports the local community and the school,” he said. “Forty-five scouts had a wonderful experience there.”
Director of Marketing and Events Melissa Nguyen described American Fright Night as comparable to a retro fun house tinged with horror through terrifying themes in various rooms that proved a success with visitors since the exhibition had record-breaking nights the past two Saturdays.
“The lighting and music is set to every theme, so you get all the senses,” she said. “It’s a really cool experience. I’ve never been in anything like it before.”
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students at the door. Children under 12 years of age are not advised to trek the haunted attraction and all children must be accompanied by adults. Groups of approximately six go in every few minutes for staggered lines and the entire attraction takes approximately 30-minutes to escape.
Shenandoah Caverns is located at 375 Caverns Rd. in Quicksburg.