washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Mauritius seeks compensation as oil spill cleanup continues

JOHANNESBURG ( AP ) - Mauritius says it is seeking compensation from the owners of a Japanese ship that spilled oil after it grounded in the shallow waters off the Indian Ocean island nation , while urgent efforts continue to pump out the remaining fuel .
The MV Wakashio has spilled 1,000 tons of its cargo of 4,000 tons of oil into the sea , fouling the coastline of Mauritius , including a protected wetlands area .
That threatens 35 years of work to restore the area , environmental activists said Wednesday .
An estimated 2,500 tons of fuel has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a coral reef at Pointe d ’ Esny , a sanctuary for rare wildlife .
Workers are racing to empty the ship before it breaks up in heavy seas and further pollutes the shore .
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Mauritius will seek compensation for the extensive environmental damage from the Wakashio ’ s owner , Nagashiki Shipping .
He has declared the oil spill a national disaster .
Jugnauth ’ s government is under pressure to explain why it did not take immediate action to empty the ship when it ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , after pounding by waves , the ship cracked and began leaking .
Some of the turquoise waters surrounding Mauritius were stained a muddy black , fouling mangrove wetlands and drenching waterbirds and reptiles with sticky oil .
Thousands of Mauritians have been working for days to reduce the damage by making improvised booms from fabric and stuffed with straw and sugar cane leaves to try to contain the oil ’ s spread .
Others have scooped up oil from the shallow waters .
It is estimated that nearly 400 tons that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
France sent a naval ship , military aircraft and technical advisers from the nearby island of Reunion after Mauritius appealed for help last week .
Japanese experts have arrived on the island and are assisting the effort .
The United Nations is sending experts .
“ It ’ s essential that the ship is emptied before it breaks up , ” said Jean Hugue Gardenne of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation .
“ Quite a lot of oil has been pumped out in the past few days , but we can not let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already.
” The wildlife foundation is alarmed that the oil spill will ruin the work that it has done since 1985 to restore that area , Gardenne said .
“ We have planted about 200,000 indigenous trees to restore the coastal forest , ” he told The Associated Press .
“ We re-introduced endangered birds , including the pink pigeon , the olive white-eye and the critically endangered Mauritius fody to the Isle aux Aigrettes .
Now all this is threatened as the oil is seeping into the soil and the coral reefs @ @

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Mauritius says it is seeking compensation from the owners of a Japanese ship that spilled oil after it grounded in the shallow waters off the Indian Ocean island nation, while urgent efforts continue to pump out the remaining fuel.
The MV Wakashio has spilled 1,000 tons of its cargo of 4,000 tons of oil into the sea, fouling the coastline of Mauritius, including a protected wetlands area. That threatens 35 years of work to restore the area, environmental activists said Wednesday.
An estimated 2,500 tons of fuel has been pumped from the ship, stranded on a coral reef at Pointe d’Esny, a sanctuary for rare wildlife. Workers are racing to empty the ship before it breaks up in heavy seas and further pollutes the shore.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said Mauritius will seek compensation for the extensive environmental damage from the Wakashio’s owner, Nagashiki Shipping. He has declared the oil spill a national disaster.
Jugnauth’s government is under pressure to explain why it did not take immediate action to empty the ship when it ran aground on July 25. Two weeks later, after pounding by waves, the ship cracked and began leaking.
Some of the turquoise waters surrounding Mauritius were stained a muddy black, fouling mangrove wetlands and drenching waterbirds and reptiles with sticky oil.
Thousands of Mauritians have been working for days to reduce the damage by making improvised booms from fabric and stuffed with straw and sugar cane leaves to try to contain the oil’s spread. Others have scooped up oil from the shallow waters. It is estimated that nearly 400 tons that spilled have been removed from the sea.
France sent a naval ship, military aircraft and technical advisers from the nearby island of Reunion after Mauritius appealed for help last week. Japanese experts have arrived on the island and are assisting the effort. The United Nations is sending experts.
“It’s essential that the ship is emptied before it breaks up,” said Jean Hugue Gardenne of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. “Quite a lot of oil has been pumped out in the past few days, but we cannot let up. There is so much damage already.”
The wildlife foundation is alarmed that the oil spill will ruin the work that it has done since 1985 to restore that area, Gardenne said.
“We have planted about 200,000 indigenous trees to restore the coastal forest,” he told The Associated Press. “We re-introduced endangered birds, including the pink pigeon, the olive white-eye and the critically endangered Mauritius fody to the Isle aux Aigrettes. Now all this is threatened as the oil is seeping into the soil and the coral reefs.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Ex-nurse sentenced to federal prison for distributing heroin

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Federal prosecutors say a Vancouver , Washington , woman who worked as a @ @ @ @ @ Oregon , has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison for conspiring to sell @ @ @ @ @ Nunn , 60 , pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with conspiracy to @ @ @ @ @ controlled substances , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
In February 2018 , Nunn was found driving @ @ @ @ @ about 93 grams of heroin in her purse , according to federal prosecutors .
Court @ @ @ @ @ talking with others by cellphone about the price and quantity of methamphetamine and heroin between @ @ @ @ @ 2018 .
Nunn had worked as a registered nurse at Adventist Medical Center in Portland @ @ @ @ @ Michelle Sturdevant , 62 , also of Vancouver , was sentenced earlier this year to @ @ @ @ @ She was found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin @ @ @ @ @ distribute heroin .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Vancouver, Washington, woman who worked as a registered nurse in Portland, Oregon, has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison for conspiring to sell drugs.
Rene Elene Griffin Nunn, 60, pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging her with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
In February 2018, Nunn was found driving from Vancouver to Portland with about 93 grams of heroin in her purse, according to federal prosecutors.
Court records show she also was talking with others by cellphone about the price and quantity of methamphetamine and heroin between September 2017 and January, 2018.
Nunn had worked as a registered nurse at Adventist Medical Center in Portland.
Her accomplice, Darlene Michelle Sturdevant, 62, also of Vancouver, was sentenced earlier this year to 14 years in prison. She was found guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--King County sheriffs investigate body found in dumpster

BURIEN , Wash. ( AP ) - Detectives are investigating after a man ’ s body was found inside a @ @ @ @ @ evening .
KCPQ-TV reports the King County Sheriff ’ s Office spokesperson said the man @ @ @ @ @ near Highline Public Schools .
A sheriff ’ s office spokesperson said Burien Police and @ @ @ @ @ investigating the incident .
The identity of the man or a possible suspect has not @ @ @

BURIEN, Wash. (AP) - Detectives are investigating after a man’s body was found inside a dumpster in Burien late Tuesday evening.
KCPQ-TV reports the King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the man was found inside the container near Highline Public Schools.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson said Burien Police and KCSO Major Crimes Detectives are investigating the incident.
The identity of the man or a possible suspect has not been released.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Victims fight back when man takes car with child inside

DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - A man and a woman fought off a carjacker who tried to take a vehicle from a Daytona Beach gas station with a child in the back seat Monday , police said Surveillance video from the 7-Eleven shows a man get out of a Dodge Charger and walk to the passenger side , where a woman got out of the vehicle .
As they stood there , a man later identified as Ayodele Akiode got in the car and started to drive away , Daytona Beach police said .
The woman jumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window , trying to stop the man , according to WKMG .
The man who was with her went to the driver ’ s side and began punching the alleged carjacker through the window of the moving vehicle .
The car rolled through the parking lot and crashed into a pole , police said .
That caused the man and woman to fall to the ground , arrest records show .
The child was not injured , but was taken to the hospital with the man and woman , WKMG reported .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report said the crashed caused an estimated $ 10,000 worth of damage to the car and $ 2,000 in damage to the pole .
Akiode , 34 , is facing attempted kidnapping and carjacking charges and remained in jail on Tuesday morning .
A lawyer for him was not listed on court records .

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A man and a woman fought off a carjacker who tried to take a vehicle from a Daytona Beach gas station with a child in the back seat Monday, police said
Surveillance video from the 7-Eleven shows a man get out of a Dodge Charger and walk to the passenger side, where a woman got out of the vehicle. As they stood there, a man later identified as Ayodele Akiode got in the car and started to drive away, Daytona Beach police said.
The woman jumped halfway through the passenger’s side window, trying to stop the man, according to WKMG. The man who was with her went to the driver’s side and began punching the alleged carjacker through the window of the moving vehicle.
The car rolled through the parking lot and crashed into a pole, police said. That caused the man and woman to fall to the ground, arrest records show.
The child was not injured, but was taken to the hospital with the man and woman, WKMG reported. Their conditions were not available.
A police report said the crashed caused an estimated $10,000 worth of damage to the car and $2,000 in damage to the pole.
Akiode, 34, is facing attempted kidnapping and carjacking charges and remained in jail on Tuesday morning. A lawyer for him was not listed on court records.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Amid crises, UNICEF USA launches program to help kids in US

NEW YORK ( AP ) - For more than 70 years , the U.S. affiliate of UNICEF has supported the global work of that U.N. agency , most of it focused on aiding children in developing countries .
On Wednesday , amid overlapping domestic crises , UNICEF USA announced its first major program supporting children in the United States .
Michael Nyenhuis , UNICEF USA ’ s president and CEO , said his agency will be investing $ 1 million this year on an initiative to help U.S. cities become more child-friendly .
He said Houston , Minneapolis and San @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the program , with Prince George ’ s County in Maryland expected to follow soon .
“ Children in our country don ’ t fare as well as children in other wealthy countries around the world , so we have a lot of work to do , ” Nyenhuis said .
“ Then you magnify the reality of that with the COVID crisis and the issues of racial injustice , and you say , ’ Something ’ s wrong , ’ ” he added .
“ The answer is probably best found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal level.
” The initiative ’ s goal is to encourage cities to make themselves safer for children , and ensure there is equitable access to social programs , parks and playgrounds .
Participating cities also will be urged to find ways for children to participate in civic life , for example through formation of an advisory council comprised of young people .
Wednesday ’ s announcement was timed to occur on International Youth Day .
UNICEF , founded in 1946 , has devoted most of its efforts over the decades to children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poverty , war , disease and disasters , although it occasionally has supported programs in industrialized countries .
In the United States , UNICEF supported children affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 , helping reunite children with their families and providing school-in-a-box kits .
More recently , UNICEF and UNICEF USA worked with U.S.-based non-governmental agencies to assist migrant children on the U.S. side of the border with Mexico .
UNICEF USA ’ s primary work over the years has been to promote and raise funds for UNICEF ’ s work in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide such support .
Nyenhuis said the new initiative will be its first ongoing program aimed at supporting American children across the country , though there have been temporary operations in specific areas of the U.S. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner last year became the first U.S. mayor to join other mayors from around the world to sign a UNICEF-backed manifesto pledging to make their cities more child-friendly .
Turner , in a telephone interview , said he was excited to be connecting with the roughly 3,500 municipalities in 40 countries which are part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Initiative .
“ When it comes to establishing best practices and strategies to create safer , more inclusive cities for our children , this is an ideal network , ” he said .
He expressed particular concern about children from Black , Latino and other minority families .
“ These communities of color were already on the margins , and the new shocks and stresses have pushed them even further , ” he said .
“ Children are the ones having to bear the brunt of all this.
” UNICEF USA has selected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates for the Child Friendly Cities Initiative .
Among them is Rimsha Sayed , 19 , who is heading into her sophomore year at the University of Houston and hopes to go on to medical school .
Sayed also hopes the city develops a school-based program to raise awareness among students about the dangers of human trafficking .
She said it was not until her junior year in high school that she learned that Houston was a major hub for trafficking .

NEW YORK (AP) - For more than 70 years, the U.S. affiliate of UNICEF has supported the global work of that U.N. agency, most of it focused on aiding children in developing countries. On Wednesday, amid overlapping domestic crises, UNICEF USA announced its first major program supporting children in the United States.
Michael Nyenhuis, UNICEF USA’s president and CEO, said his agency will be investing $1 million this year on an initiative to help U.S. cities become more child-friendly. He said Houston, Minneapolis and San Francisco are the first cities to commit to the program, with Prince George’s County in Maryland expected to follow soon.
“Children in our country don’t fare as well as children in other wealthy countries around the world, so we have a lot of work to do,” Nyenhuis said.
“Then you magnify the reality of that with the COVID crisis and the issues of racial injustice, and you say, ’Something’s wrong,’” he added. “The answer is probably best found at the municipal level rather than the federal level.”
The initiative’s goal is to encourage cities to make themselves safer for children, and ensure there is equitable access to social programs, parks and playgrounds. Participating cities also will be urged to find ways for children to participate in civic life, for example through formation of an advisory council comprised of young people.
Wednesday’s announcement was timed to occur on International Youth Day.
UNICEF, founded in 1946, has devoted most of its efforts over the decades to children in developing countries who are disadvantaged by poverty, war, disease and disasters, although it occasionally has supported programs in industrialized countries.
In the United States, UNICEF supported children affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, helping reunite children with their families and providing school-in-a-box kits. More recently, UNICEF and UNICEF USA worked with U.S.-based non-governmental agencies to assist migrant children on the U.S. side of the border with Mexico.
UNICEF USA’s primary work over the years has been to promote and raise funds for UNICEF’s work in other countries, and it will continue to provide such support.
Nyenhuis said the new initiative will be its first ongoing program aimed at supporting American children across the country, though there have been temporary operations in specific areas of the U.S.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner last year became the first U.S. mayor to join other mayors from around the world to sign a UNICEF-backed manifesto pledging to make their cities more child-friendly.
Turner, in a telephone interview, said he was excited to be connecting with the roughly 3,500 municipalities in 40 countries which are part of UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative.
“When it comes to establishing best practices and strategies to create safer, more inclusive cities for our children, this is an ideal network,” he said.
He expressed particular concern about children from Black, Latino and other minority families.
“These communities of color were already on the margins, and the new shocks and stresses have pushed them even further,” he said. “Children are the ones having to bear the brunt of all this.”
UNICEF USA has selected several young people to be national youth advocates for the Child Friendly Cities Initiative. Among them is Rimsha Sayed, 19, who is heading into her sophomore year at the University of Houston and hopes to go on to medical school.
Sayed also hopes the city develops a school-based program to raise awareness among students about the dangers of human trafficking. She said it was not until her junior year in high school that she learned that Houston was a major hub for trafficking.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Fire department trainer alleges interference by officials

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( AP ) - A former St. Paul fire district chief has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the fire department ’ s leaders interfered with the training of recruits and that created risks for the public and fellow firefighters .
Jovan Palmieri was the training chief before he left the fire department last year .
His lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court Monday says he spent more than three years trying to remedy the training problems and was retaliated against .
Palmieri “ opposed and reported what he reasonably believed to be violations of national and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit said .
Palmieri said he observed Fire Chief Butch Inks and Assistant Chief Mike Gaede “ engage in multiple incidents of interference and obstruction in the proper and safe training ” of recruits , the St Paul Pioneer Press reported .
Inks said in a statement that “ as a 26-year veteran of the St. Paul Fire Department , the safety of our firefighters and all those we serve has always been my top priority.
” Among other things , Palmieri alleges Inks intervened on behalf of recruits who weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they graduated over the objections of Palmieri and training staff .
The suit seeks damages in excess of $ 75,000 .

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A former St. Paul fire district chief has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the fire department’s leaders interfered with the training of recruits and that created risks for the public and fellow firefighters.
Jovan Palmieri was the training chief before he left the fire department last year. His lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court Monday says he spent more than three years trying to remedy the training problems and was retaliated against.
Palmieri “opposed and reported what he reasonably believed to be violations of national and state firefighter training standards,” the lawsuit said.
Palmieri said he observed Fire Chief Butch Inks and Assistant Chief Mike Gaede “engage in multiple incidents of interference and obstruction in the proper and safe training” of recruits, the St Paul Pioneer Press reported.
Inks said in a statement that “as a 26-year veteran of the St. Paul Fire Department, the safety of our firefighters and all those we serve has always been my top priority.”
Among other things, Palmieri alleges Inks intervened on behalf of recruits who weren’t meeting the required training standards, and they graduated over the objections of Palmieri and training staff.
The suit seeks damages in excess of $75,000.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Seattle media companies appeal police protest subpoena

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A group of news outlets has appealed to the Washington Supreme Court to block a Seattle Police Department subpoena pursuing unpublished images of protester activity .
The Seattle Times and four local television stations argued in the Tuesday filing that the images are protected by the state ’ s reporter shield law , and a King County Superior Court judge erred when ordering their release , The Seattle Times reported .
In Washington and most states journalists are shielded from law enforcement subpoenas , except for limited circumstances .
The laws are an extension of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against government interference in news gathering .
Under King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee ’ s ruling , the media companies must by Aug. 21 hand over raw and unpublished news photos and video footage from racial injustice protests in Seattle on May 30 .
The Seattle Police Department says the images would help identify several people who set fire to five police vehicles and stole two police guns .
In Tuesday ’ s filings , the media companies skipped the Court of Appeals and directly asked the Supreme Court to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is resolved .
“ We ’ re hopeful the state Supreme Court will recognize the harm this subpoena poses for all journalists and news organizations in Washington , and to the public in general , ” said Ray Rivera , managing editor of The Seattle Times .
American journalists have been attacked by both protesters and police across the country in recent months , including in Seattle .
Demonstrators against police violence often fear their images will be used by law enforcement for retaliation .
“ Knowing too well the carnage that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools , our communities , and our homes should they fall into the wrong hands , SPD will not apologize for exercising its due diligence to use all means available under the law and through our courts to protect against such an outcome , ” Truscott wrote .
In recent weeks the judge ’ s ruling came under fire from First Amendment groups , the ACLU , press organizations and members of the Seattle City Council , who asked City Attorney Pete Holmes to drop the subpoena .

SEATTLE (AP) - A group of news outlets has appealed to the Washington Supreme Court to block a Seattle Police Department subpoena pursuing unpublished images of protester activity.
The Seattle Times and four local television stations argued in the Tuesday filing that the images are protected by the state’s reporter shield law, and a King County Superior Court judge erred when ordering their release, The Seattle Times reported.
In Washington and most states journalists are shielded from law enforcement subpoenas, except for limited circumstances. The laws are an extension of the First Amendment, meant to guard against government interference in news gathering.
Under King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee’s ruling, the media companies must by Aug. 21 hand over raw and unpublished news photos and video footage from racial injustice protests in Seattle on May 30.
The Seattle Police Department says the images would help identify several people who set fire to five police vehicles and stole two police guns.
In Tuesday’s filings, the media companies skipped the Court of Appeals and directly asked the Supreme Court to halt enforcement of the subpoena until the appeal is resolved.
“We’re hopeful the state Supreme Court will recognize the harm this subpoena poses for all journalists and news organizations in Washington, and to the public in general,” said Ray Rivera, managing editor of The Seattle Times.
American journalists have been attacked by both protesters and police across the country in recent months, including in Seattle. Demonstrators against police violence often fear their images will be used by law enforcement for retaliation.
Seattle police spokesperson Sgt. Lauren Truscott defended the subpoena in a Tuesday statement.
“Knowing too well the carnage that can be wrought by these firearms in our schools, our communities, and our homes should they fall into the wrong hands, SPD will not apologize for exercising its due diligence to use all means available under the law and through our courts to protect against such an outcome,” Truscott wrote.
In recent weeks the judge’s ruling came under fire from First Amendment groups, the ACLU, press organizations and members of the Seattle City Council, who asked City Attorney Pete Holmes to drop the subpoena.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Gym that defied closure order has business license revoked

BELLMAWR , N.J. ( AP ) - Officials in a southern New Jersey town have voted to rescind the business license of a gym that has repeatedly defied Gov .
Phil Murphy ’ s executive order to remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Bellmawr Borough Council voted 5 to 1 on Tuesday night to act against the Atilis Gym .
The vote came after an hour-long hearing .
Ian Smith , one of the gym ’ s co-owners .
attended the session .
He and his business partner , Frank Trumbetti , have vowed to continue their fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received several citations for violating the closure order and were arrested late last month on contempt and other charges .
The gym opened its doors in May , starting a legal battle over whether Murphy ’ s order for non-essential businesses to remain closed was constitutional .
The owners have said they have taken steps to ensure social distancing , including taping off workout stations and operating at 20 % of capacity and were also taking patrons ’ temperatures and requiring them to wear masks unless they were in the middle of lifting @ @

BELLMAWR, N.J. (AP) - Officials in a southern New Jersey town have voted to rescind the business license of a gym that has repeatedly defied Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order to remain closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Bellmawr Borough Council voted 5-to-1 on Tuesday night to act against the Atilis Gym. The vote came after an hour-long hearing.
Ian Smith, one of the gym’s co-owners. attended the session. He and his business partner, Frank Trumbetti, have vowed to continue their fight to operate the gym. They have received several citations for violating the closure order and were arrested late last month on contempt and other charges.
The gym opened its doors in May, starting a legal battle over whether Murphy’s order for nonessential businesses to remain closed was constitutional.
The owners have said they have taken steps to ensure social distancing, including taping off workout stations and operating at 20% of capacity and were also taking patrons’ temperatures and requiring them to wear masks unless they were in the middle of lifting weights.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--NYC livery driver charged with rape of 12-year-old girl

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A New York City livery cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old @ @ @ @ @ his car , police said .
Rafael Martinez , 32 , was charged Tuesday with @ @ @ @ @ , sexual abuse , endangering the welfare of a child , menacing and assault .
@ @ @ @ @ s parents ordered a livery cab Tuesday evening to pick up the girl in Brooklyn @ @ @ @ @ that the driver parked the car , climbed into the back seat and raped her @ @ @ @ @ girl off at her destination .
She was treated at a hospital .
It could @ @ @ @ @ Martinez had a lawyer .

NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City livery cab driver was arrested for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl in the backseat of his car, police said.
Rafael Martinez, 32, was charged Tuesday with rape, criminal sex act, sexual abuse, endangering the welfare of a child, menacing and assault.
Officials said the girl’s parents ordered a livery cab Tuesday evening to pick up the girl in Brooklyn. The girl told investigators that the driver parked the car, climbed into the back seat and raped her.
He then dropped the girl off at her destination. She was treated at a hospital.
It could not immediately be determined if Martinez had a lawyer.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--North Macedonia: Police find 148 migrants in trucks

SKOPJE , North Macedonia ( AP ) - Police in North Macedonia say they have discovered 148 migrants crammed into trucks in two separate operations in central and northern parts of the country , and have arrested two men on suspicion of trafficking migrants .
Police said their patrol stopped a truck and accompanying passenger car near the town of Demir Kapija , about 110 km ( 70 miles ) south of the capital Skopje , on Wednesday .
They , found 103 migrants , including 29 children , packed into the truck .
The majority - 81 people - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Afghanistan , eight from India , two from Egypt and one each from Iran and Syria .
Two men from North Macedonia were arrested as suspected smugglers .
The migrants were transferred to a migrant shelter in the southern border town of Gevgelija pending deportation to Greece , where they are believed to have crossed into North Macedonia from .
Another 45 migrants from Syria , Bangladesh , Somalia , Pakistan and the Palestinian territory were found in an abandoned truck near the northern village of Vaksince , near the border with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truck driver fled the scene .
The Greek border with North Macedonia was closed earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
But trafficking networks remain active , ferrying migrants who make their way from Turkey into Greece and then attempt to head north , through Serbia to more prosperous countries in the European Union .
Police said that in July alone they had detained a total of 567 migrants attempting to illegally transit North Macedonia and had arrested nine people , including three Serbian nationals , suspected of migrant trafficking @

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) - Police in North Macedonia say they have discovered 148 migrants crammed into trucks in two separate operations in central and northern parts of the country, and have arrested two men on suspicion of trafficking migrants.
Police said their patrol stopped a truck and accompanying passenger car near the town of Demir Kapija, about 110 km (70 miles) south of the capital Skopje, on Wednesday. They, found 103 migrants, including 29 children, packed into the truck. The majority - 81 people - were from Pakistan, while 10 were from Afghanistan, eight from India, two from Egypt and one each from Iran and Syria. Two men from North Macedonia were arrested as suspected smugglers.
The migrants were transferred to a migrant shelter in the southern border town of Gevgelija pending deportation to Greece, where they are believed to have crossed into North Macedonia from.
Another 45 migrants from Syria, Bangladesh, Somalia, Pakistan and the Palestinian territory were found in an abandoned truck near the northern village of Vaksince, near the border with Serbia, late Wednesday. Police said the truck driver fled the scene.
The Greek border with North Macedonia was closed earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. But trafficking networks remain active, ferrying migrants who make their way from Turkey into Greece and then attempt to head north, through Serbia to more prosperous countries in the European Union.
Police said that in July alone they had detained a total of 567 migrants attempting to illegally transit North Macedonia and had arrested nine people, including three Serbian nationals, suspected of migrant trafficking.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Bubba Wallace, Columbia Sportswear sign sponsorship deal

Corporate interest in Bubba Wallace has picked up momentum and NASCAR ’ s only Black full-time driver has signed a new sponsor that includes funding for his Richard Petty Motorports team .
Columbia Sportswear Co. on Wednesday announced a multiyear sponsorship with Wallace as a brand ambassador that will also put the company on the No .
43 at Dover later this month and one to two other races not yet announced .
Wallace , in his third full season at NASCAR ’ s top Cup Series level , has gained national attention over the last several months as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban the Confederate flag at its events , promotes a message of “ compassion , love , understanding ” in his quest for inclusivity and has led the conversation among his peers about racial equality .
Joe Boyle , Columbia Brand president , told The Associated Press the company took notice of Wallace during the coronavirus pandemic when NASCAR was one of the first sports to return to competition in May .
It gave Wallace the spotlight during national unrest over racial inequalities .
“ With COVID there ’ s not a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with popular culture and everything Bubba has stood up for , we had really been watching him as he rose to national attention , ” Boyle said .
“ Everything he stood for , in terms of his fortitude , courage , conviction around what he is standing up for , that ’ s what really Columbia has stood up for all these years , as well.
” Wallace is an outdoors enthusiast and budding photographer .
As discussions on sponsorship began , Wallace sent the company photographs of himself wearing a prized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Columbia apparel purchase .
“ It wasn ’ t the ( activism ) that stood out for us , it was that he grew up in the outdoors , ” Boyle said .
“ His favorite activities to do outside the track is photography , hiking , biking , golf - it ’ s just a natural fit.
” Columbia is an established brand in active outdoor lifestyle apparel , footwear , accessories and equipment .
It plans to use the deal with Wallace - its first NASCAR driver and team sponsorship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Finding sponsorship has been difficult during Wallace ’ s career .
He joined RPM , co-owned by Hall of Famer Richard Petty , in 2017 but a lack of proper funding has long slowed the team on the track .
Wallace began this season with only 16 of 36 races sold to corporate sponsors .
It has taken time for deals to come together in the months since Wallace found his voice .
He signed a personal sponsorship agreement with Beats by Dre in July , a deal announced ahead of schedule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump targeting Wallace in a tweet .
One week later , Cash App signed on to sponsor Wallace for five races .
“ It ’ s just incredible momentum that we have right now , ” Wallace told AP .
“ These are the types of deals that we ’ ve always talked about that we needed to be successful on and off the race track.
” The deals are slowly coming in as Wallace , a free agent , plots his future in NASCAR .
He has received a contract extension offer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a larger stake in team ownership - Wallace already owns a piece of the team - and he has options elsewhere .
Wallace , a six-time winner in NASCAR ’ s Truck Series , liked the deal with Columbia because it is an authentic partnership that represents his interests .
“ We ’ re trying to find ways to incorporate photography while being outdoors , ” Wallace said .
“ But also it is about getting people outdoors that don ’ t have the same access that we do to getting outdoors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a little bit of a hike for them to get to a state park , just to be able to go hiking or fishing .
“ We are trying to come up with creative and elaborate ways to give them access and give back to communities , which all ties in with what is going on in the world about us diving deep into communities and making a bigger footprint and impact.
” If Wallace does not return to RPM next season , the Columbia sponsorship would follow him to a @ @ @ @ @

Corporate interest in Bubba Wallace has picked up momentum and NASCAR’s only Black full-time driver has signed a new sponsor that includes funding for his Richard Petty Motorports team.
Columbia Sportswear Co. on Wednesday announced a multiyear sponsorship with Wallace as a brand ambassador that will also put the company on the No. 43 at Dover later this month and one to two other races not yet announced.
Wallace, in his third full season at NASCAR’s top Cup Series level, has gained national attention over the last several months as an activist. He successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its events, promotes a message of “compassion, love, understanding” in his quest for inclusivity and has led the conversation among his peers about racial equality.
Joe Boyle, Columbia Brand president, told The Associated Press the company took notice of Wallace during the coronavirus pandemic when NASCAR was one of the first sports to return to competition in May. It gave Wallace the spotlight during national unrest over racial inequalities.
“With COVID there’s not a lot of sports that have been on and with popular culture and everything Bubba has stood up for, we had really been watching him as he rose to national attention,” Boyle said. “Everything he stood for, in terms of his fortitude, courage, conviction around what he is standing up for, that’s what really Columbia has stood up for all these years, as well.”
Wallace is an outdoors enthusiast and budding photographer. As discussions on sponsorship began, Wallace sent the company photographs of himself wearing a prized bright yellow ski jacket that was his first Columbia apparel purchase.
“It wasn’t the (activism) that stood out for us, it was that he grew up in the outdoors,” Boyle said. “His favorite activities to do outside the track is photography, hiking, biking, golf - it’s just a natural fit.”
Columbia is an established brand in active outdoor lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment. It plans to use the deal with Wallace - its first NASCAR driver and team sponsorship agreement - to promote its product lines.
Finding sponsorship has been difficult during Wallace’s career. He joined RPM, co-owned by Hall of Famer Richard Petty, in 2017 but a lack of proper funding has long slowed the team on the track. Wallace began this season with only 16 of 36 races sold to corporate sponsors.
It has taken time for deals to come together in the months since Wallace found his voice. He signed a personal sponsorship agreement with Beats by Dre in July, a deal announced ahead of schedule when the company responded to President Donald Trump targeting Wallace in a tweet.
One week later, Cash App signed on to sponsor Wallace for five races.
“It’s just incredible momentum that we have right now,” Wallace told AP. “These are the types of deals that we’ve always talked about that we needed to be successful on and off the race track.”
The deals are slowly coming in as Wallace, a free agent, plots his future in NASCAR. He has received a contract extension offer from RPM co-owner Andrew Murstein that promises a larger stake in team ownership - Wallace already owns a piece of the team - and he has options elsewhere.
Wallace, a six-time winner in NASCAR’s Truck Series, liked the deal with Columbia because it is an authentic partnership that represents his interests.
“We’re trying to find ways to incorporate photography while being outdoors,” Wallace said. “But also it is about getting people outdoors that don’t have the same access that we do to getting outdoors, so maybe inner city kids that it’s a little bit of a hike for them to get to a state park, just to be able to go hiking or fishing.
“We are trying to come up with creative and elaborate ways to give them access and give back to communities, which all ties in with what is going on in the world about us diving deep into communities and making a bigger footprint and impact.”
If Wallace does not return to RPM next season, the Columbia sponsorship would follow him to a new team in 2021.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Body found at mountain pass ID'd as missing Auburn woman

SEATTLE ( AP ) - A body found near Snoqualmie Pass last week has been identified as that of a @ @ @ @ @ after her car was found on fire in downtown Tacoma .
King County Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ body on Aug. 5 and a medical examiner on Monday identified her as Diana Davis @ @ @ @ @ suburb , officials said .
The pass is about 70 miles ( 113 kilometers ) @ @ @ @ @ reported missing July 29 after her 2013 silver Chevy Impala was found engulfed in flames @ @ @ @ @ two days earlier at a community garden .
The Tacoma Police Department and King County @ @ @ @ @ now investigate the case as a homicide , KING-TV reported .
Police declined to provide @ @ @ @ @ death or potential suspects .
Davis is survived by her son , daughter and grandchildren @ @ @ @ @ website .

SEATTLE (AP) - A body found near Snoqualmie Pass last week has been identified as that of a woman who was reported missing after her car was found on fire in downtown Tacoma.
King County Sheriff’s Office officials discovered the body on Aug. 5 and a medical examiner on Monday identified her as Diana Davis of Auburn, a Tacoma suburb, officials said. The pass is about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Tacoma.
Davis was reported missing July 29 after her 2013 silver Chevy Impala was found engulfed in flames. She was last seen two days earlier at a community garden.
The Tacoma Police Department and King County Sheriff’s Office will now investigate the case as a homicide, KING-TV reported.
Police declined to provide more details about Davis’ death or potential suspects.
Davis is survived by her son, daughter and grandchildren, according to a fundraising website.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--NJ Supreme Court to rule on law authorizing $10B in debt

TRENTON , N.J. ( AP ) - Calling it an “ unprecedented ” ruling , New Jersey ’ s Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously upheld a law authorizing the governor to borrow nearly $ 10 billion to close budget gaps opened by the coronavirus outbreak .
The ruling is a victory for Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy and the Democrat-led Legislature , which passed the law to close what Murphy said is a roughly $ 10 billion budget gap through June 2021 .
It ’ s a defeat for the state Republican Party , which had filed the suit challenging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the constitution that holds debt can not be counted as revenue in the annual budget process .
“ Statutes challenged on constitutional grounds can be declared void only if their ‘ repugnancy to the constitution is clear beyond reasonable doubt , ’ ” the court ’ s opinion said .
“ Plaintiffs have not met that heavy burden.
” The court attached some strings to the authorization for $ 9.9 billion in debt .
The justices say the money must be spent “ to meet the emergency.
” They also imposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically calling on the treasurer to certify the state ’ s revenue figures and the shortfall resulting from the pandemic before each batch of borrowing .
“ In other words , if , at the time the State seeks to borrow money or issue bonds , the Governor or the Treasurer certifies that the shortfall resulting from the pandemic is estimated to be $ 7 billion , the State can not borrow more than that amount , ” the court wrote .
The state GOP swiped at the court , suggesting it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirms that all three branches of the New Jersey state government are firmly in the grasp of the Democrat Party , ” party chair Doug Steinhardt said in a statement .
“ The only way to put an end to out of control spending is to send more Republicans to Trenton.
” Murphy , speaking in Trenton at an unrelated event , said the ruling means the state budget he will unveil on Aug. 25 can move forward .
He said the funds would be used for schools and to help protect residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond that .
“ I am grateful for this decision because we knew that not only were we right in our decision to take this step … but also because the alternative would have been something that no one up here or anywhere wanted to experience , ” Murphy said .
Murphy will be unveiling a new fiscal 2021 budget this month because he and lawmakers extended the previous fiscal year due to the outbreak .
The fiscal year typically ends June 30 .

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Calling it an “unprecedented” ruling, New Jersey’s Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously upheld a law authorizing the governor to borrow nearly $10 billion to close budget gaps opened by the coronavirus outbreak.
The ruling is a victory for Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and the Democrat-led Legislature, which passed the law to close what Murphy said is a roughly $10 billion budget gap through June 2021.
It’s a defeat for the state Republican Party, which had filed the suit challenging the law, arguing that it violated part of the constitution that holds debt cannot be counted as revenue in the annual budget process.
“Statutes challenged on constitutional grounds can be declared void only if their ‘repugnancy to the constitution is clear beyond reasonable doubt,’” the court’s opinion said. “Plaintiffs have not met that heavy burden.”
The court attached some strings to the authorization for $9.9 billion in debt. The justices say the money must be spent “to meet the emergency.”
They also imposed a new requirement on the administration, specifically calling on the treasurer to certify the state’s revenue figures and the shortfall resulting from the pandemic before each batch of borrowing.
“In other words, if, at the time the State seeks to borrow money or issue bonds, the Governor or the Treasurer certifies that the shortfall resulting from the pandemic is estimated to be $7 billion, the State cannot borrow more than that amount,” the court wrote.
The state GOP swiped at the court, suggesting it was a political decision.
“This decision confirms that all three branches of the New Jersey state government are firmly in the grasp of the Democrat Party,” party chair Doug Steinhardt said in a statement. “The only way to put an end to out of control spending is to send more Republicans to Trenton.”
Murphy, speaking in Trenton at an unrelated event, said the ruling means the state budget he will unveil on Aug. 25 can move forward. He said the funds would be used for schools and to help protect residents, but he wasn’t specific beyond that.
“I am grateful for this decision because we knew that not only were we right in our decision to take this step … but also because the alternative would have been something that no one up here or anywhere wanted to experience,” Murphy said.
Murphy will be unveiling a new fiscal 2021 budget this month because he and lawmakers extended the previous fiscal year due to the outbreak. The fiscal year typically ends June 30.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--1 of 2 girls convicted in Slender Man stabbing loses appeal

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - One of two Wisconsin girls who repeatedly stabbed a classmate because she believed a fictional horror character named Slender Man would attack her family if she didn ’ t kill the girl lost an appeal Wednesday .
Morgan Geyser was 12 at the time of the 2014 attack , which Payton Leutner survived .
Geyser ’ s attorney Matthew Pinix had argued that she should have been charged with attempted second-degree intentional homicide , which would have placed the case in juvenile court .
Instead , she was charged with attempted first-degree intentional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult court .
But Wisconsin ’ s 2nd District Court of Appeals found that the Waukesha County Circuit Court correctly kept the case in adult court , saying it found probable cause that she had committed attempted first-degree intentional homicide .
Pinix said he planned to appeal Wednesday ’ s ruling to the Wisconsin Supreme Court .
“ Morgan ’ s fight is not over , ” Pinix said .
“ The court of appeals dodged serious issues in the case and admittedly struggled with some of the areas of law.
” Waukesha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecuted the case , declined to comment .
Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison .
She was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect .
Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier lured Payton Leutner from a sleepover to a nearby wooded park in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha .
Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times , as Weier encouraged her , leaving the girl for dead .
All three girls were 12 at the time .
Leutner recalled in a 2019 interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stabbing , Weier told her to lay down on the ground and cover herself with sticks and leaves , as part of what Leutner believed to be a game of hide-and-seek .
After the stabbing , Leutner said she eventually got up , grabbed trees for support , and made her way to a road where a bicyclist found her and called for help .
Geyser was ordered to spend 40 years in a mental health institution because she was the mastermind and did the stabbing , prosecutors said .
Weier was committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
Geyser ’ s attorney argued on appeal that Geyser couldn ’ t really understand what rights she gave up when she agreed to speak alone with a detective while she was in custody and confessed to the stabbing .
The appeals court said it didn ’ t need to rule on whether the lower court made a mistake in allowing the comments to police .
Even if the lower court was wrong , “ such error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt due to the additional , unchallenged and overwhelming evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court said .
The case drew widespread attention in part because of the girls ’ fascination with the Slender Man character .
Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudson in 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-edited into everyday images of children at play .
He ’ s typically depicted as a slim , spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face .
He has grown into a popular boogeyman and has appeared in video games , online stories and a 2018 movie .
This story was first published on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated on August 12 , 2020 to correct the charges involved .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - One of two Wisconsin girls who repeatedly stabbed a classmate because she believed a fictional horror character named Slender Man would attack her family if she didn’t kill the girl lost an appeal Wednesday.
Morgan Geyser was 12 at the time of the 2014 attack, which Payton Leutner survived. Geyser’s attorney Matthew Pinix had argued that she should have been charged with attempted second-degree intentional homicide, which would have placed the case in juvenile court. Instead, she was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, which put the case in adult court.
But Wisconsin’s 2nd District Court of Appeals found that the Waukesha County Circuit Court correctly kept the case in adult court, saying it found probable cause that she had committed attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
Pinix said he planned to appeal Wednesday’s ruling to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
“Morgan’s fight is not over,” Pinix said. “The court of appeals dodged serious issues in the case and admittedly struggled with some of the areas of law.”
Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper, who prosecuted the case, declined to comment.
Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors to avoid prison. She was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Geyser and co-defendant Anissa Weier lured Payton Leutner from a sleepover to a nearby wooded park in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times, as Weier encouraged her, leaving the girl for dead. All three girls were 12 at the time.
Leutner recalled in a 2019 interview with ABC News how, before the stabbing, Weier told her to lay down on the ground and cover herself with sticks and leaves, as part of what Leutner believed to be a game of hide-and-seek. After the stabbing, Leutner said she eventually got up, grabbed trees for support, and made her way to a road where a bicyclist found her and called for help.
Geyser was ordered to spend 40 years in a mental health institution because she was the mastermind and did the stabbing, prosecutors said. Weier was committed to a mental health facility for 25 years.
Geyser’s attorney argued on appeal that Geyser couldn’t really understand what rights she gave up when she agreed to speak alone with a detective while she was in custody and confessed to the stabbing.
The appeals court said it didn’t need to rule on whether the lower court made a mistake in allowing the comments to police.
Even if the lower court was wrong, “such error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt due to the additional, unchallenged and overwhelming evidence in this case,” the appeals court said.
The case drew widespread attention in part because of the girls’ fascination with the Slender Man character. Slender Man was created online by Eric Knudson in 2009 as a mysterious specter photo-edited into everyday images of children at play. He’s typically depicted as a slim, spidery figure in a black suit with a featureless white face. He has grown into a popular boogeyman and has appeared in video games, online stories and a 2018 movie.
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Follow Scott Bauer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbauerAP
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This story was first published on August 12, 2020. It was updated on August 12, 2020 to correct the charges involved.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--EU slaps duties on Cambodia exports over rights concerns

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - The European Union on Wednesday began to reimpose customs duties on certain exports from Cambodia in response to what it said are concerns about the Southeast Asian country ’ s human rights record .
The European Commission , which supervises trade deals and relations on behalf of the 27 member nations of the world ’ s biggest trading bloc , said the duties would be put on clothes , footwear and travel goods .
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the country would not compromise on matters of national principle to avoid the EU measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beg ( the EU ) … abandoning our sovereignty and independence , ” Phay Siphan told reporters .
He said the government had prepared for the loss of 20 % of its EU tariff privileges through measures to help garment factory workers and others who would be affected .
The commission announced in February that it planned to withdraw key tariff preferences amounting to about one-fifth of the 1 billion euros ( $ 1.2 billion ) worth of Cambodian exports that go to the EU each year due to “ serious and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said the EU gave Cambodia opportunities to develop its export industry and create jobs , and that the bloc would continue to provide help to combat the impact of the coronavirus in the country .
“ Nonetheless , our continued support does not diminish the urgent need for Cambodia to respect human rights and labor rights , ” Hogan said in a statement .
He said free access to Europe ’ s market might be restored “ provided we see substantial improvement in that respect.
” In February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regret about the EU intentions , saying the move to bring back customs duties was politically driven and “ triggered by many misperceptions and misunderstandings about the actual realities in Cambodia.
” The decision hits the “ Everything But Arms ” - or EBA - program that Cambodia has with the EU , which grants preferential access to the European market for products other than weapons .
Several other developing nations have such arrangements .
The EU is Cambodia ’ s largest trading partner , accounting for 45 % of Cambodian exports in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU , largely from the garment industry , were worth 5.4 billion euros ( $ 6.4 billion ) in 2018 , with 95.7 % covered by EBA tariff preferences .

BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union on Wednesday began to reimpose customs duties on certain exports from Cambodia in response to what it said are concerns about the Southeast Asian country’s human rights record.
The European Commission, which supervises trade deals and relations on behalf of the 27 member nations of the world’s biggest trading bloc, said the duties would be put on clothes, footwear and travel goods.
Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan said the country would not compromise on matters of national principle to avoid the EU measures.
“We cannot kneel down and beg (the EU) … abandoning our sovereignty and independence,” Phay Siphan told reporters.
He said the government had prepared for the loss of 20% of its EU tariff privileges through measures to help garment factory workers and others who would be affected.
The commission announced in February that it planned to withdraw key tariff preferences amounting to about one-fifth of the 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) worth of Cambodian exports that go to the EU each year due to “serious and systematic concerns related to human rights.”
Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan said the EU gave Cambodia opportunities to develop its export industry and create jobs, and that the bloc would continue to provide help to combat the impact of the coronavirus in the country.
“Nonetheless, our continued support does not diminish the urgent need for Cambodia to respect human rights and labor rights,” Hogan said in a statement. He said free access to Europe’s market might be restored “provided we see substantial improvement in that respect.”
In February, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry had expressed regret about the EU intentions, saying the move to bring back customs duties was politically driven and “triggered by many misperceptions and misunderstandings about the actual realities in Cambodia.”
The decision hits the “Everything But Arms” - or EBA - program that Cambodia has with the EU, which grants preferential access to the European market for products other than weapons. Several other developing nations have such arrangements.
The EU is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 45% of Cambodian exports in 2018. Cambodia’s exports to the EU, largely from the garment industry, were worth 5.4 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in 2018, with 95.7% covered by EBA tariff preferences.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Arrest made in stray-bullet shooting death of Topeka woman

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Police have made an arrested in the death of a Topeka woman who @ @ @ @ @ bullet as she stood in her front yard .
The shooting happened late the night @ @ @ @ @ Lyn Ross , 62 , was in her yard .
Tony Reece Dante Baird , @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , the Capital-Journal reported .
He faces charges of first-degree murder , aggravated assault @ @ @ @ @ of a firearm at an occupied vehicle .
Police had earlier said they were searching @ @ @ @ @ video images in the area at the time of the shooting .
Police have said @ @ @ @ @ in the crossfire of people shooting at each other .
Ross was a real estate @ @ @ @ @ and operated Homes By Ross in Topeka , according to her family .

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Police have made an arrested in the death of a Topeka woman who was killed by a stray bullet as she stood in her front yard.
The shooting happened late the night of Aug. 5 as Jerrie Lyn Ross, 62, was in her yard.
Tony Reece Dante Baird, 29, was arrested late Tuesday, the Capital-Journal reported. He faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and the reckless criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle.
Police had earlier said they were searching for a suspect seen in video images in the area at the time of the shooting.
Police have said Ross was innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of people shooting at each other. Ross was a real estate and property manager who owned and operated Homes By Ross in Topeka, according to her family.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Israel says it foiled hackers targeting defense industry

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - Israel said Wednesday it foiled a cyberattack targeting its defense industry by a shadowy group that the U.S. has linked to North Korea .
The Israeli Defense Ministry said hackers with the Lazarus Group built fake profiles on the LinkedIn social network and posed as the CEOs and senior officials of international companies .
They then offered job opportunities to employees at major Israeli defense firms in an attempt to gain access to their computers and networks to steal sensitive information .
The ministry says the attacks were detected “ in real time ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ harm or disruption ” to the targeted networks .
The ministry said the Lazarus Group is “ backed by a foreign country , ” without elaborating .
It did not immediately respond to a request for further comment .
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Lazarus Group last September , saying it was controlled by the North Korean government .
It said the Lazarus Group was behind the devastating WannaCry ransomware , which froze 300,000 computers across 150 countries in 2017 , and the destructive cyber attack against Sony Pictures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a researcher at Kaspersky , a cybersecurity company , said that in the alleged attack on Israel , Lazarus appears to have been attempting technology theft rather than financial gain .
“ This is a very interesting development , because we tend to see Lazarus as an actor focused mostly on funds collection , ” he said .
“ But as any other state-backed actor , its missions are diverse , and I think this is a prime example of other areas of interest the group has.
” Israel said it thwarted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water infrastructure , which was widely attributed to its archenemy Iran .
Israel is suspected of retaliating two weeks later with a cyberattack on an Iranian port .
Israel and Iran have engaged in years of covert battles that have included high-tech hacking and cyberattacks .
Most famously , U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are suspected of unleashing a computer worm called Stuxnet that disrupted Iran ’ s nuclear program .

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel said Wednesday it foiled a cyberattack targeting its defense industry by a shadowy group that the U.S. has linked to North Korea.
The Israeli Defense Ministry said hackers with the Lazarus Group built fake profiles on the LinkedIn social network and posed as the CEOs and senior officials of international companies. They then offered job opportunities to employees at major Israeli defense firms in an attempt to gain access to their computers and networks to steal sensitive information.
The ministry says the attacks were detected “in real time” and thwarted. It said there was no “harm or disruption” to the targeted networks.
The ministry said the Lazarus Group is “backed by a foreign country,” without elaborating. It did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against the Lazarus Group last September, saying it was controlled by the North Korean government.
It said the Lazarus Group was behind the devastating WannaCry ransomware, which froze 300,000 computers across 150 countries in 2017, and the destructive cyber attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2014.
Ivan Kwiatkowski, a researcher at Kaspersky, a cybersecurity company, said that in the alleged attack on Israel, Lazarus appears to have been attempting technology theft rather than financial gain.
“This is a very interesting development, because we tend to see Lazarus as an actor focused mostly on funds collection,” he said. “But as any other state-backed actor, its missions are diverse, and I think this is a prime example of other areas of interest the group has.”
Israel said it thwarted a major cyberattack earlier this year targeting its water infrastructure, which was widely attributed to its archenemy Iran. Israel is suspected of retaliating two weeks later with a cyberattack on an Iranian port.
Israel and Iran have engaged in years of covert battles that have included high-tech hacking and cyberattacks. Most famously, U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are suspected of unleashing a computer worm called Stuxnet that disrupted Iran’s nuclear program.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Ricketts bans Chinese app on state phones, citing security

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - Nebraska Gov .
Pete Ricketts has banned the Chinese app TikTok on @ @ @ @ @ security concerns .
Ricketts announced the ban Wednesday , days after President Donald Trump ordered @ @ @ @ @ with the app ’ s Chinese owners .
Ricketts said Nebraska ’ s ban is @ @ @ @ @ against cyberattacks .
“ The Chinese government has long engaged in systematic , covert efforts @ @ @ @ @ U.S. governments , companies , and individuals , ” he said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ by a company based in China , TikTok is legally obligated to provide data from @ @ @ @ @ ’ s communist regime upon request .
”

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has banned the Chinese app TikTok on state government phones, citing security concerns.
Ricketts announced the ban Wednesday, days after President Donald Trump ordered a sweeping ban on dealings with the app’s Chinese owners.
Ricketts said Nebraska’s ban is intended to protect the state against cyberattacks.
“The Chinese government has long engaged in systematic, covert efforts to access sensitive data from U.S. governments, companies, and individuals,” he said in a statement. “As an app owned by a company based in China, TikTok is legally obligated to provide data from its users to the country’s communist regime upon request.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Dutch lawmakers criticize government's coronavirus measures

THE HAGUE , Netherlands ( AP ) - The leader of one of the parties in Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte ’ s ruling coalition joined opposition lawmakers Wednesday in criticizing the government ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis , and in particular of a decision to make some quarantine measures mandatory .
The criticism came during a debate that interrupted the Dutch parliament ’ s summer recess , and amid sharply rising infection rates in the Netherlands where more than 6,100 people are confirmed to have died of COVID-19 .
The attacks by opposition lawmakers - and criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s coalition - underscored how the broad political support for the government ’ s coronavirus policy in the early stages of the outbreak is crumbling as infections rise again following the relaxation on July 1 of many lockdown measures .
“ If I look at how the Cabinet has reacted over the past weeks , the word that springs to mind is chaos , ” opposition Labor Party leader Lodewijk Asscher said as he opened the debate with Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge .
The Dutch public health institute said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections in the last week , 1,448 more than the week earlier .
The confirmed number of people who have died of COVID-19 rose by nine to 6,159 .
The true number of deaths could be higher because not all people who died of suspected COVID-19 were tested .
The government announced on Tuesday evening that it is planning to introduce mandatory quarantine for people identified by local health authorities as having been in close contact with somebody infected with the coronavirus , and for travelers returning from high-risk countries .
Opposition lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw attention from what they see as shortcomings in contact tracing and delays in testing .
Populist Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders called the measure “ disproportionate .
It looks like minister De Jonge is overcompensating for his lack of authority.
” Rob Jetten , leader of coalition party D66 , also was critical of the move , which came days after Rutte had stressed at a nationally televised press conference that he did want to impose mandatory coronavirus measures .
Jetten urged the government to increase testing and contact tracing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Get it done .
And by that I don ’ t mean threaten … punishments , ” Jetten said .
Rutte defended the decision , saying it was sparked by concerns that people were not cooperating with contact tracers and voluntary quarantine measures .
If people don ’ t self-quarantine , “ there is a real chance that somebody will continue to pass on the virus , ” Rutte said .
“ That is dangerous and that ’ s why we have been considering for a while what we can do .
”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The leader of one of the parties in Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s ruling coalition joined opposition lawmakers Wednesday in criticizing the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis, and in particular of a decision to make some quarantine measures mandatory.
The criticism came during a debate that interrupted the Dutch parliament’s summer recess, and amid sharply rising infection rates in the Netherlands where more than 6,100 people are confirmed to have died of COVID-19.
The attacks by opposition lawmakers - and criticism from one of the parties in Rutte’s coalition - underscored how the broad political support for the government’s coronavirus policy in the early stages of the outbreak is crumbling as infections rise again following the relaxation on July 1 of many lockdown measures.
“If I look at how the Cabinet has reacted over the past weeks, the word that springs to mind is chaos,” opposition Labor Party leader Lodewijk Asscher said as he opened the debate with Rutte and Health Minister Hugo de Jonge.
The Dutch public health institute said Tuesday that there were 4,036 new confirmed infections in the last week, 1,448 more than the week earlier. The confirmed number of people who have died of COVID-19 rose by nine to 6,159. The true number of deaths could be higher because not all people who died of suspected COVID-19 were tested.
The government announced on Tuesday evening that it is planning to introduce mandatory quarantine for people identified by local health authorities as having been in close contact with somebody infected with the coronavirus, and for travelers returning from high-risk countries.
Opposition lawmakers slammed the announcement as a maneuver to draw attention from what they see as shortcomings in contact tracing and delays in testing.
Populist Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders called the measure “disproportionate. It looks like minister De Jonge is overcompensating for his lack of authority.”
Rob Jetten, leader of coalition party D66, also was critical of the move, which came days after Rutte had stressed at a nationally televised press conference that he did want to impose mandatory coronavirus measures.
Jetten urged the government to increase testing and contact tracing.
“I say to the minister: Get it done. And by that I don’t mean threaten … punishments,” Jetten said.
Rutte defended the decision, saying it was sparked by concerns that people were not cooperating with contact tracers and voluntary quarantine measures.
If people don’t self-quarantine, “there is a real chance that somebody will continue to pass on the virus,” Rutte said. “That is dangerous and that’s why we have been considering for a while what we can do.”
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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Georgia appeals ruling that blocked restrictive abortion law

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Georgia is appealing a federal judge ’ s ruling that permanently blocked the restrictive abortion measure lawmakers passed last year .
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled last month that the law can not take effect because it violates the U.S. Constitution .
Lawyers for the state on Tuesday appealed that ruling to the 11th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals .
The law sought to ban abortions once a “ detectable human heartbeat ” is present , with some limited exceptions .
Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realize they are expecting , according to a legal challenge .
Jones was ruling on a lawsuit filed by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union , Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Georgia abortion providers and an advocacy group .
“ The district court blocked Georgia ’ s abortion ban , because it violates over 50 years of Supreme Court precedent and fails to trust women to make their own personal decisions , ” ACLU of Georgia legal director Sean Young said in an emailed statement Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about one thing : letting her decide .
Abortion care remains legal throughout the State of Georgia.
” The law defines a “ detectable human heartbeat ” as “ embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac.
” Referring to a document from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , the lawsuit says “ cells that eventually form the basis for development of the heart later in pregnancy ” produce “ cardiac activity ” that can be detected by ultrasound as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The law makes exceptions in the case of rape and incest , as long as the woman files a police report first .
It also allows for abortions after cardiac activity is detected when the life of the woman is at risk or when a fetus is determined not to be viable because of a serious medical condition .
“ The Court rejects the State defendants ’ argument that the statutory purpose solely concerns ‘ promoting fetal well-being , ’ ” Jones wrote .
Instead , he wrote , the law ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide - and “ established abortion related precedents ” supports the argument that the purpose of the law “ was to ban or de facto ban abortion.
” Jones refused to leave any parts of the law in effect , including a provision that would have granted personhood to a fetus , giving it the same legal rights as people have after they are born .
For example , a mother could have claimed a fetus as a dependent to reduce taxes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp vowed to appeal right after Jones struck down the law .
Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy .
Georgia ’ s so-called heartbeat law is one of a wave of laws passed recently by Republican-controlled legislatures in an attack on the Roe v. Wade ruling .

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is appealing a federal judge’s ruling that permanently blocked the restrictive abortion measure lawmakers passed last year.
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled last month that the law cannot take effect because it violates the U.S. Constitution. Lawyers for the state on Tuesday appealed that ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The law sought to ban abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” is present, with some limited exceptions. Cardiac activity can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women realize they are expecting, according to a legal challenge.
Jones was ruling on a lawsuit filed by attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Georgia abortion providers and an advocacy group.
“The district court blocked Georgia’s abortion ban, because it violates over 50 years of Supreme Court precedent and fails to trust women to make their own personal decisions,” ACLU of Georgia legal director Sean Young said in an emailed statement Tuesday. “This case has always been about one thing: letting her decide. Abortion care remains legal throughout the State of Georgia.”
The law defines a “detectable human heartbeat” as “embryonic or fetal cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the heart within the gestational sac.” Referring to a document from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the lawsuit says “cells that eventually form the basis for development of the heart later in pregnancy” produce “cardiac activity” that can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.
The law makes exceptions in the case of rape and incest, as long as the woman files a police report first. It also allows for abortions after cardiac activity is detected when the life of the woman is at risk or when a fetus is determined not to be viable because of a serious medical condition.
“The Court rejects the State defendants’ argument that the statutory purpose solely concerns ‘promoting fetal well-being,’” Jones wrote.
Instead, he wrote, the law’s specific references to Roe v. Wade - the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide - and “established abortion related precedents” supports the argument that the purpose of the law “was to ban or de facto ban abortion.”
Jones refused to leave any parts of the law in effect, including a provision that would have granted personhood to a fetus, giving it the same legal rights as people have after they are born. For example, a mother could have claimed a fetus as a dependent to reduce taxes.
Tuesday’s appeal was not unexpected. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp vowed to appeal right after Jones struck down the law.
Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy.
Georgia’s so-called heartbeat law is one of a wave of laws passed recently by Republican-controlled legislatures in an attack on the Roe v. Wade ruling.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Commander: Military accounts for 7% of Hawaii virus cases

HONOLULU ( AP ) - The head of the U.S. military ’ s Indo-Pacific Command has said that service members and their families represent about 7 % of the coronavirus cases in Hawaii .
Adm. Phil Davidson released the infection figures in a memo to Indo-Pacific service component commanders , The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday .
The memo cites the 7 % figure , which translates into about 204 service members among the 2,914 people in Hawaii who had been infected with the virus when Davidson issued his message .
About 43,000 active duty military members , 9,600 National Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military employees live and work in Hawaii .
The U.S. Department of Defense does not normally report the aggregate number of COVID-19 cases among service members at individual units , bases or combatant commands because of security concerns .
All military commands in Hawaii were operating at Health Protection Condition Charlie , an elevated risk of sustained community transmission , said Davidson , who is based at Camp H.M. Smith on Oahu .
A 14-day “ restriction of movement ” remains in effect for service members arriving on island , Davidson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s memo , Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara , director of emergency management for Hawaii , said a 14-day self-quarantine exemption previously granted for military family members arriving on “ permanent change of station ” orders had been revoked .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .

HONOLULU (AP) - The head of the U.S. military’s Indo-Pacific Command has said that service members and their families represent about 7% of the coronavirus cases in Hawaii.
Adm. Phil Davidson released the infection figures in a memo to Indo-Pacific service component commanders, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday.
The memo cites the 7% figure, which translates into about 204 service members among the 2,914 people in Hawaii who had been infected with the virus when Davidson issued his message.
About 43,000 active duty military members, 9,600 National Guard and Reserve, 60,000 dependents and 20,000 military employees live and work in Hawaii.
The U.S. Department of Defense does not normally report the aggregate number of COVID-19 cases among service members at individual units, bases or combatant commands because of security concerns.
All military commands in Hawaii were operating at Health Protection Condition Charlie, an elevated risk of sustained community transmission, said Davidson, who is based at Camp H.M. Smith on Oahu.
A 14-day “restriction of movement” remains in effect for service members arriving on island, Davidson said.
A day after the release of Davidson’s memo, Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, director of emergency management for Hawaii, said a 14-day self-quarantine exemption previously granted for military family members arriving on “permanent change of station” orders had been revoked.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Black victims of U-Michigan doc seek equity in settlements

NOVI , Mich. ( AP ) - Dwight Hicks left New Jersey as a teenager , seeking to take a step toward his NFL dreams by playing football at the University of Michigan .
Hicks was willing to do whatever it took to compete in the 1970s and says the price paid included being sexually assaulted by the late Dr. Robert Anderson during examinations .
Hicks , a two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers , is among dozens of Black former University of Michigan student-athletes who are asking to be treated fairly as the university settles hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars .
They say victims should receive compensation “ based on their trauma rather than based on their color.
” “ I ’ m here today speaking for people that could not speak for themselves , that feel ashamed , but it ’ s about not being silent , ” Hicks said Wednesday following a news conference at a hotel in the Detroit suburb of Novi .
“ You see an injustice , you speak up .
You have to.
” Most personal injury cases are settled out of court with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projects lower lifetime earnings for Blacks , Latinos and women than white men , said Parker Stinar , an attorney with Denver-based Wahlberg , Woodruff , Nimmo & Sloane law firm .
Hicks was joined by former Michigan wrestler Airron Richardson , now a doctor in Chicago , to discuss their experiences .
“ I still love the University of Michigan , ” said Hicks , who captained the football team in 1977 .
“ I hope the University of Michigan understands and acknowledges what happened to so many of us .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trauma that was bestowed on us.
” Stinar said nearly half of the 750 men who say they were sexually abused by Anderson are Black .
“ As plaintiff trial lawyers , we are familiar with the prejudices that jurors have against plaintiffs , especially plaintiffs that are minority men , ” said Stinar , whose firm represents more than 100 clients with claims against Anderson .
“ Historically , Black men receive the lowest verdict or settlement awards , especially compared to white men and women.
” Anderson worked at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He died in 2008 .
Campus police began investigating him in 2018 after a former student-athlete wrote to athletic director Warde Manuel .
The university has acknowledged some employees were aware of accusations against Anderson before then .
The university has not yet shared details of any settlement process , a spokesman said Tuesday in an email .
Insurance companies and courts rely on testimony of economic experts who use wage tables to calculate damages , according to a 2018 report by the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impact Your Life ’ s Worth : Discrimination in Civil Damage Awards ” says the data typically comes from the quarterly population survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .
That data often is based on the race , ethnicity and gender of the person filing the lawsuit , and since Blacks , Latinos and Hispanics and women of all races typically earn less than white men , damages awarded often are less than what white men would receive , the report said .
“ The practice of forensic economists using race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damages really hurts communities of color and women because historically they have been paid less because of structural and systemic discrimination in the workplace , ” said Dariely Rodriguez , director of the Economic Justice Project of the Lawyers ’ Committee and the report ’ s co-author .
The Associated Press left messages Tuesday seeking comment from the National Association of Forensic Economics .
Richardson , who joined the Wednesday news conference , is not yet part of the lawsuits against the school .
He arrived as a sophomore in 1994 on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson for his annual physicals and occasionally for strep throat .
“ I vividly remember being in the exam room , him looking in my throat , him giving me antibiotics , ” said Richardson , 44 .
“ But he also did a genital exam and I remember seeing posters on the exam room talking about how to properly perform a testicular exam.
” Anderson performed the exam under the guise of checking for cancer , said Richardson , who is Black .
“ I feel like I was too naïve , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was helping us .
It wasn ’ t until later when I ’ m in medical school understanding that ’ s not part of a normal exam .
”

NOVI, Mich. (AP) - Dwight Hicks left New Jersey as a teenager, seeking to take a step toward his NFL dreams by playing football at the University of Michigan.
Hicks was willing to do whatever it took to compete in the 1970s and says the price paid included being sexually assaulted by the late Dr. Robert Anderson during examinations.
Hicks, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, is among dozens of Black former University of Michigan student-athletes who are asking to be treated fairly as the university settles hundreds of lawsuits expected to cost the institution millions of dollars. They say victims should receive compensation “based on their trauma rather than based on their color.”
“I’m here today speaking for people that could not speak for themselves, that feel ashamed, but it’s about not being silent,” Hicks said Wednesday following a news conference at a hotel in the Detroit suburb of Novi. “You see an injustice, you speak up. You have to.”
Most personal injury cases are settled out of court with the amounts often based on data that projects lower lifetime earnings for Blacks, Latinos and women than white men, said Parker Stinar, an attorney with Denver-based Wahlberg, Woodruff, Nimmo & Sloane law firm.
Hicks was joined by former Michigan wrestler Airron Richardson, now a doctor in Chicago, to discuss their experiences.
“I still love the University of Michigan,” said Hicks, who captained the football team in 1977. “I hope the University of Michigan understands and acknowledges what happened to so many of us. And I would hope that they would recognize the trauma that was bestowed on us.”
Stinar said nearly half of the 750 men who say they were sexually abused by Anderson are Black.
“As plaintiff trial lawyers, we are familiar with the prejudices that jurors have against plaintiffs, especially plaintiffs that are minority men,” said Stinar, whose firm represents more than 100 clients with claims against Anderson. “Historically, Black men receive the lowest verdict or settlement awards, especially compared to white men and women.”
Anderson worked at the university from the mid-1960s through 2003. He died in 2008. Campus police began investigating him in 2018 after a former student-athlete wrote to athletic director Warde Manuel. The university has acknowledged some employees were aware of accusations against Anderson before then.
The university has not yet shared details of any settlement process, a spokesman said Tuesday in an email.
Insurance companies and courts rely on testimony of economic experts who use wage tables to calculate damages, according to a 2018 report by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
“How Race, Ethnicity, and Gender Impact Your Life’s Worth: Discrimination in Civil Damage Awards” says the data typically comes from the quarterly population survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
That data often is based on the race, ethnicity and gender of the person filing the lawsuit, and since Blacks, Latinos and Hispanics and women of all races typically earn less than white men, damages awarded often are less than what white men would receive, the report said.
“The practice of forensic economists using race, gender or ethnicity to calculate civil damages really hurts communities of color and women because historically they have been paid less because of structural and systemic discrimination in the workplace,” said Dariely Rodriguez, director of the Economic Justice Project of the Lawyers’ Committee and the report’s co-author.
The Associated Press left messages Tuesday seeking comment from the National Association of Forensic Economics.
Richardson, who joined the Wednesday news conference, is not yet part of the lawsuits against the school. He arrived as a sophomore in 1994 on the Ann Arbor campus and was seen by Anderson for his annual physicals and occasionally for strep throat.
“I vividly remember being in the exam room, him looking in my throat, him giving me antibiotics,” said Richardson, 44. “But he also did a genital exam and I remember seeing posters on the exam room talking about how to properly perform a testicular exam.”
Anderson performed the exam under the guise of checking for cancer, said Richardson, who is Black.
“I feel like I was too naïve,” he said. “I believed he was helping us. It wasn’t until later when I’m in medical school understanding that’s not part of a normal exam.”
___
Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Mich.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Boy killed in personal watercraft collision on Iowa lake

CLEAR LAKE , Iowa ( AP ) - A 14-year-old boy died in a personal watercraft collision on Clear Lake @ @ @ @ @ said .
The collision of the two recreational watercraft happened around noon Tuesday , according @ @ @ @ @ from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources .
Officials did not give details on how @ @ @ @ @ say the teen killed was operating one of the watercraft involved .
His name had @ @ @ @ @ morning .
A 12-year-old child operating the second watercraft sustained minor injuries , investigators said @ @ @ @ @ the second watercraft was not injured .

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) - A 14-year-old boy died in a personal watercraft collision on Clear Lake in north-central Iowa, officials said.
The collision of the two recreational watercraft happened around noon Tuesday, according to a news release Wednesday from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Officials did not give details on how the crash occurred, but say the teen killed was operating one of the watercraft involved. His name had not been released by Wednesday morning.
A 12-year-old child operating the second watercraft sustained minor injuries, investigators said, and a passenger on the second watercraft was not injured.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--Alaska Senate president faces Republican primary challenge

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska ’ s state Senate President will be challenged for her Anchorage seat in the upcoming state Republican primary .
Cathy Giessel will face challenger Roger Holland in the Aug. 18 primary election , Alaska Public Media reported Tuesday .
Holland criticizes Giessel ’ s leadership of the Senate , while she says her approach reflects the importance of compromise in governing .
Giessel is a lifelong Alaska resident who has served in the Senate for 10 years with two years as Senate president .
She has helped shaped energy policy as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Giessel said experience will be paramount in addressing the state ’ s budget difficulties .
“ The state of Alaska is facing perhaps the most challenging time financially that we ’ ve faced since statehood , ” she said .
“ It ’ s a time when experience and knowledge is critical to finding a productive path forward.
” More budget cuts are necessary to close a gap of more than $ 2 billion , Giessel said , adding that cuts proposed last year by Republican Gov .
Mike Dunleavy were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement of the binding caucus , which requires members to vote with leadership on procedural votes and the budget .
Giessel said anyone is free to leave the caucus , while residents benefit from lawmakers being able to compromise .
“ The wakeup call I believe happens when people arrive in Juneau and discover there are 59 other people , all of whom have different interests than theirs , ” she said .
Holland , who has lived in Alaska for 11 years , said Giessel has lost touch with “ what her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Republican state with Republican majorities in the House and Senate and a Republican governor.
” Holland wants larger spending cuts , but said he would need to make a closer study of Dunleavy ’ s previous budget proposal .
Holland said he was not familiar with the details of the budget ’ s two largest pieces , including transferring more than $ 400 million in oil property taxes from municipalities to the state government and cutting state aid to public schools by a quarter .
Holland supports drawing more from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for the next year or two than is currently outlined under state law .
Holland said he opposes a binding caucus , even if ending the practice leads to policy results with which he disagrees .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska’s state Senate President will be challenged for her Anchorage seat in the upcoming state Republican primary.
Cathy Giessel will face challenger Roger Holland in the Aug. 18 primary election, Alaska Public Media reported Tuesday.
Holland criticizes Giessel’s leadership of the Senate, while she says her approach reflects the importance of compromise in governing.
Giessel is a lifelong Alaska resident who has served in the Senate for 10 years with two years as Senate president. She has helped shaped energy policy as the longtime chair of the Senate Resources Committee.
Giessel said experience will be paramount in addressing the state’s budget difficulties.
“The state of Alaska is facing perhaps the most challenging time financially that we’ve faced since statehood,” she said. “It’s a time when experience and knowledge is critical to finding a productive path forward.”
More budget cuts are necessary to close a gap of more than $2 billion, Giessel said, adding that cuts proposed last year by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy were not appropriate.
Giessel has been criticized for enforcement of the binding caucus, which requires members to vote with leadership on procedural votes and the budget. Giessel said anyone is free to leave the caucus, while residents benefit from lawmakers being able to compromise.
“The wakeup call I believe happens when people arrive in Juneau and discover there are 59 other people, all of whom have different interests than theirs,” she said.
Holland, who has lived in Alaska for 11 years, said Giessel has lost touch with “what her job should be as a Republican senator in a Republican state with Republican majorities in the House and Senate and a Republican governor.”
Holland wants larger spending cuts, but said he would need to make a closer study of Dunleavy’s previous budget proposal.
Holland said he was not familiar with the details of the budget’s two largest pieces, including transferring more than $400 million in oil property taxes from municipalities to the state government and cutting state aid to public schools by a quarter.
Holland supports drawing more from the Alaska Permanent Fund’s earnings reserve account for the next year or two than is currently outlined under state law.
Holland said he opposes a binding caucus, even if ending the practice leads to policy results with which he disagrees.


washingtontimes--2020-08-12--1st sports betting retail location opening in New Hampshire

SEABROOK , N.H. ( AP ) - The first sports betting retail location is opening in New Hampshire , a little over a year after Gov .
Chris Sununu signed a bill legalizing betting on professional and college sports in the state .
DraftKings Sportsbook at The Brook was opening Wednesday in Seabrook .
Sports fans will now be able to place legal bets on all major professional and collegiate U.S. sports at the location .
Seabrook was one of a number of towns where residents voted to allow the operation of sports betting retail locations .
The 90,000 square-foot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greyhound racing track has betting kiosks and video walls .
It features “ The Stadium , ” offering stadium seating on couches and movie theater-style chairs with three cinema-size screens and hundreds of TVs .
Nevada-based Eureka Casino Resorts , which developed The Brook , includes a plan for physical distancing and hand sanitizer stations , in addition to requiring guests and employees to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic .
The New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings launched mobile sports betting in the state in December .
DraftKings has committed to operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since December , total sports betting in New Hampshire has exceeded $ 65 million .
New Hampshire became the second New England state to offer sports betting , after Rhode Island .

SEABROOK, N.H. (AP) - The first sports betting retail location is opening in New Hampshire, a little over a year after Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill legalizing betting on professional and college sports in the state.
DraftKings Sportsbook at The Brook was opening Wednesday in Seabrook. Sports fans will now be able to place legal bets on all major professional and collegiate U.S. sports at the location. Seabrook was one of a number of towns where residents voted to allow the operation of sports betting retail locations.
The 90,000 square-foot facility that once was home to a greyhound racing track has betting kiosks and video walls. It features “The Stadium,” offering stadium seating on couches and movie theater-style chairs with three cinema-size screens and hundreds of TVs.
Nevada-based Eureka Casino Resorts, which developed The Brook, includes a plan for physical distancing and hand sanitizer stations, in addition to requiring guests and employees to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic.
The New Hampshire Lottery and DraftKings launched mobile sports betting in the state in December. DraftKings has committed to operating at least four retail sportsbook locations statewide. Since December, total sports betting in New Hampshire has exceeded $65 million.
New Hampshire became the second New England state to offer sports betting, after Rhode Island.