washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Confusion as California counties modify stay-at-home orders

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Six San Francisco Bay Area counties that imposed the first broad stay-at-home orders in California because of the coronavirus loosened them - slightly - for the first time Wednesday , joining a growing list of local governments that are cracking the door to a less-restrictive life .
The announcement was part of a dizzying list of modified orders making it difficult to keep up with what is allowed and what is not .
Tennis will be OK in Sacramento starting Friday , but not in San Francisco , where public health officials say it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to share a ball .
Compounding the confusion : Some elements of the revised orders won ’ t take effect because they conflict with the statewide stay-at-home order , which is still in place .
“ I want to remind everyone that we must all abide by all the local health orders and the state health orders .
That means whichever is stricter , in some cases that is the state order , ” Santa Clara County legal counsel James Williams said .
“ It is important that we adhere to the stricter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities said the more restrictive local order will end Thursday and be replaced by the state order , which does not have an end date .
The new local order opens trails and parks for hiking , biking and horseback riding .
A requirement for face coverings continues but does have an expiration date of June 19 .
The Bay Area order allows for landscaping , construction and other outdoor businesses , such as flea markets and nurseries , so long as social distancing is maintained .
And in what could be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifies that summer camps are allowed , but only for children of people allowed to work under the state order .
The children must remain in groups of 12 or fewer and with the same supervisor and may not mingle with kids outside their group .
It ’ s not clear if that element complies with the state order .
When asked about it Wednesday , Newsom said it was “ a point of clarification ” his administration will be discussing with local officials .
The changes in local orders reflect the growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Newsom ’ s order and his plan for a slow and methodical reopening of the nation ’ s most populous state even as other states such as Florida move much more quickly .
With much of the economy closed , more than 3.7 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since March 12 .
In Auburn , northeast of Sacramento , salon owner Tisha Fernhoff said she has started taking an occasional client to help pay her rent and meet other expenses .
She ’ s among a smattering of owners across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders that closed their businesses because they are considered nonessential .
Virus hospitalizations have been virtually flat for several weeks in California and the state has dodged the dreaded massive surge of patients experienced by New York and several other states .
Newsom reiterated Wednesday it would be weeks before he makes the first significant modification to the state order , urging people to remain at home to prevent unintended outbreaks among the state ’ s most high-risk populations , including nursing homes .
“ It won ’ t be on the basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on the basis of what we want , but what we need to do , ” Newsom said .
“ And what we need to do from my humble perspective is listen to the public health experts.
” But each of the state ’ s 58 counties have their own public health experts , and many are starting to ask Newsom to open up the state .
On Monday , six rural Northern California counties sent a letter to the governor asking him to let them reopen , noting they only had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of 500,000 people .
On Tuesday , another Northern California county with few cases joined the chorus .
El Dorado County said its order would expire Thursday and urged Newsom to loosen his order .
“ Due to the efforts taken by our county , we have clearly demonstrated the ability to protect our residents from COVID-19 and we are requesting your approval to allow for the limited , phased reopening of our economy that allows for the eventual safe return of El Dorado County to normal operations and activities in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter .
In Southern California , the Newport Beach City Council rejected a proposal on Tuesday that would have closed beaches for the next three weekends .
Newsom had chastised Orange County , where Newport Beach is located , and Ventura County for having open beaches where crowds gathered during the warm weekend .
In an odd moment during Newsom ’ s daily briefing that is streamed on social media , a reporter called on to ask a question said she was in the middle of an interview with Orange County Supervisor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone .
In an apparent reference to the county modifying its public health orders , he blurted out “ the sheriff will not come and ticket you.
” Newsom responded by noting Orange County- the third-most populous county in the state - has the fourth-highest number of virus hospitalizations in the state .
“ I ’ m concerned about that , ” he said .
Santa Clara County Health Director Dr. Sara Cody said local officials have come up with their own metrics to measure infection rates , hospitalizations and testing to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
If that happens , she said , stricter rules will be back .
But she acknowledged there may be other health effects from forcing people to stay home , as well as the burgeoning unemployment the pandemic restrictions have caused .
“ I wish I could give you a set timeline for when this was going to end .
My family asks me , my friends ask me - we don ’ t have a date , ” she said , noting that there still is no vaccine , so “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections in place for a very , very long time .
”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Gavin Newsom will order all beaches and state parks closed Friday after tens of thousands of people flocked to the seashore last weekend during a heat wave despite his stay-at-home order, according to a memo sent Wednesday evening to police chiefs around the state.
Eric Nuñez, president of the California Police Chiefs Association, said it was sent to give chiefs time to plan ahead of Newsom’s expected announcement Thursday.
A message to the governor’s office seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.
Newsom this week targeted beachgoers in Orange and Ventura counties, calling them an example of “what not to do” if the state wants to continue its progress fighting the coronavirus. While many beaches and trails throughout the state have been closed for weeks, others have remained open with warnings for visitors to practice social distancing and more have reopened.
In Newport Beach, some 80,000 visitors hit the beach over the weekend, although lifeguards said most people exercised social distancing. With criticism swirling, the Newport Beach City Council met Tuesday and rejected a proposal to close the beaches for the next three weekends.
Nearby Laguna Beach approved a limited reopening. Beaches across San Diego County reopened Monday, with a few exceptions.
The governor’s order is sure to draw fire as pressure is building to ease restrictions and slowly reopen the state.
While beaches and parks close across the state Friday, in sparsely populated Modoc County schools, hair salons, churches, restaurants, the county’s only movie theater and other business will reopen Friday as long as people stay six feet away from each other, said Ned Coe, a cattle rancher and county supervisor.
The rural county in the northeast corner of California has about 9,000 people living in 4,200 square miles (11,000 square kilometers) and zero reported cases of COVID-19, Coe said.
“Just as our physical health is is vital for our citizens, so is the mental health and economic health of our citizens,” he said.
Coe said officials sent a letter about a week ago to Gov. Newsom asking him to ease restriction in the county but have not received a response. He said he didn’t expect Newsom to take legal action against the county that survives on cattle ranching and travelers.
“The governor himself has indicated that it is time to start opening in a staged and safe manner, and that obviously has to be different for different areas of the state,” he said.
Six San Francisco Bay Area counties that imposed the first broad stay-at-home orders in California because of the coronavirus loosened them - slightly - for the first time Wednesday, joining a growing list of local governments that are cracking the door to a less-restrictive life.
The announcement was part of a dizzying list of modified orders making it difficult to keep up with what is allowed and what is not. Tennis will be OK in Sacramento starting Friday, but not in San Francisco, where public health officials say it’s still not safe for people to share a ball.
Compounding the confusion: Some elements of the revised orders won’t take effect because they conflict with the statewide stay-at-home order, which is still in place.
“I want to remind everyone that we must all abide by all the local health orders and the state health orders. That means whichever is stricter, in some cases that is the state order,” Santa Clara County legal counsel James Williams said. “It is important that we adhere to the stricter of both.”
The Bay Area order allows for landscaping, construction and other outdoor businesses, such as flea markets and nurseries, so long as social distancing is maintained. And in what could be a critical addition for many parents, it specifies that summer camps are allowed, but only for children of people allowed to work under the state order. The children must remain in groups of 12 or fewer and with the same supervisor and may not mingle with kids outside their group.
It’s not clear if that element complies with the state order. When asked about it Wednesday, Newsom said it was “a point of clarification” his administration will be discussing with local officials.
The changes in local orders reflect the growing unrest among some residents and government officials over Newsom’s order and his plan for a slow and methodical reopening of the nation’s most populous state even as other states such as Florida move much more quickly.
With much of the economy closed, more than 3.7 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since March 12. In Auburn, northeast of Sacramento, salon owner Tisha Fernhoff said she has started taking an occasional client to help pay her rent and meet other expenses. She’s among a smattering of owners across the state who have dodged public health orders that closed their businesses because they are considered nonessential.
Newsom reiterated Wednesday it would be weeks before he makes the first significant modification to the state order, urging people to remain at home to prevent unintended outbreaks among the state’s most high-risk populations, including nursing homes.
“It won’t be on the basis of pressure, it won’t be on the basis of what we want, but what we need to do,” Newsom said. “And what we need to do from my humble perspective is listen to the public health experts.”
But each of the state’s 58 counties have their own public health experts, and many are starting to ask Newsom to open up the state. On Monday, six rural Northern California counties sent a letter to the governor asking him to let them reopen, noting they only had 69 confirmed virus cases among a combined population of 500,000 people.
Santa Clara County Health Director Dr. Sara Cody said local officials have come up with their own metrics to measure infection rates, hospitalizations and testing to ensure that infections don’t start rising again. If that happens, she said, stricter rules will be back.
But she acknowledged there may be other health effects from forcing people to stay home, as well as the burgeoning unemployment the pandemic restrictions have caused.
“I wish I could give you a set timeline for when this was going to end. My family asks me, my friends ask me - we don’t have a date,” she said, noting that there still is no vaccine, so “we are going to need to have protections in place for a very, very long time.”
___
Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Olga R. Rodriguez, Janie Har and Juliet Williams in San Francisco contributed reporting.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Desert locusts pose threat for farmers in the Horn of Africa

Farmers in the Horn of Africa are witnessing a “ crisis within a crisis ” as the largest infestation of locusts in a generation or more combines with a deadly virus never before seen in history , regional specialists warned Wednesday .
Billions of desert locusts pose a severe threat to vulnerable populations in East Africa and beyond , health officials warn , threatening food stocks and livelihoods just as the coronavirus pandemic appears set to peak .
Vast swarms of desert locusts speckle the plains of the region , threatening populations in Kenya , Somalia , Ethiopia , Yemen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst Kenya has seen in 70 years , and the worst Somalia and Ethiopia have seen a quarter-century .
“ The current situation in East Africa remains alarming as swarms continue to mature .
… The threat to food security is there and remains high , ” Dominique Burgeon , a director within the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization ( FAO ) said Wednesday .
Mr. Burgeon appeared with other officials on a telebriefing on the locust crisis hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nims , deputy director of USAID ’ s Office of Food for Peace , “ everyone is going have to try to balance what is important .
… I think that [ we need to ] continue essential humanitarian operations [ while ] looking broadly to include nutrition , locusts , [ and ] feeding that is already going on — how do we operate within that dynamic of COVID-19 ?
” The desert locust , a migratory winged grasshopper , can travel hundreds of miles a day while devouring fields of crops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , a swarm of locusts can destroy enough crops to feed 2,500 people for an entire year .
Coupled with the virus pandemic , an estimated 73 million people across Africa are facing acute food insecurity .
Public health experts worry mass infection and widespread crop destruction could have lasting repercussions .
An upsurge in cyclone frequency in 2018 and 2019 created the perfect breeding ground for the desert locust , and farmers have been waging an uphill battle after locust populations initially appeared in the region in May 2018 , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , the locust population breeds and hatches new eggs every three months , doubling the total population quarterly .
While maintaining communication with governments across East Africa , the FAO is assisting local farmers with ground and aerial spraying meant to diminish locust populations .
The FAO has also developed an aerial surveillance system across the region to track the swarms .
But the presence of COVID-19 in the region is making efforts more difficult , as travel restrictions and social distancing measures limit movement and contact .
Despite restrictions , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aid organizations should find new ways to “ remain very vigilant and beef up interventions.
” In April , the U.N. more than doubled its aid request from $ 70 million to $ 153 million to fight the locust spread , particularly in Sudan .
The grant will allow them to continue ground operations and offer aid packages to farmers who have lost crops .
As farmers continue to prepare for the upcoming harvest in June and July , they fear a resurgence in the population of locusts .
In response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their investment into farms this year , a move which threatens to have long-term repercussions on supply chains and profit .
“ Uncertainty in an agriculture supply chain can really be contagious , so when farmers experience uncertainty in one season and that affects their investment decisions and their income , whether you are directly impacted by locusts or not , you might realize a small profit that year , ” said Stephanie Hanson , senior vice president of One Acre Fund , a nonprofit that supports Kenyan farmers .

Farmers in the Horn of Africa are witnessing a “crisis within a crisis” as the largest infestation of locusts in a generation or more combines with a deadly virus never before seen in history, regional specialists warned Wednesday.
Billions of desert locusts pose a severe threat to vulnerable populations in East Africa and beyond, health officials warn, threatening food stocks and livelihoods just as the coronavirus pandemic appears set to peak.
Vast swarms of desert locusts speckle the plains of the region, threatening populations in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Sudan. The locust outbreak is the worst Kenya has seen in 70 years, and the worst Somalia and Ethiopia have seen a quarter-century.
“The current situation in East Africa remains alarming as swarms continue to mature. … The threat to food security is there and remains high,” Dominique Burgeon, a director within the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) said Wednesday.
Mr. Burgeon appeared with other officials on a telebriefing on the locust crisis hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Wednesday.
With the threat from COVID-19 building, said Matt Nims, deputy director of USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, “everyone is going have to try to balance what is important. … I think that [we need to] continue essential humanitarian operations [while] looking broadly to include nutrition, locusts, [and] feeding that is already going on — how do we operate within that dynamic of COVID-19?”
The desert locust, a migratory winged grasshopper, can travel hundreds of miles a day while devouring fields of crops in mere minutes. In a single day, a swarm of locusts can destroy enough crops to feed 2,500 people for an entire year.
Coupled with the virus pandemic, an estimated 73 million people across Africa are facing acute food insecurity. Public health experts worry mass infection and widespread crop destruction could have lasting repercussions.
An upsurge in cyclone frequency in 2018 and 2019 created the perfect breeding ground for the desert locust, and farmers have been waging an uphill battle after locust populations initially appeared in the region in May 2018, Mr. Burgeon said.
Thriving in the wet conditions, the locust population breeds and hatches new eggs every three months, doubling the total population quarterly.
While maintaining communication with governments across East Africa, the FAO is assisting local farmers with ground and aerial spraying meant to diminish locust populations. The FAO has also developed an aerial surveillance system across the region to track the swarms.
But the presence of COVID-19 in the region is making efforts more difficult, as travel restrictions and social distancing measures limit movement and contact.
Despite restrictions, Mr. Burgeon said locusts must remain a priority and aid organizations should find new ways to “remain very vigilant and beef up interventions.”
In April, the U.N. more than doubled its aid request from $70 million to $153 million to fight the locust spread, particularly in Sudan. The grant will allow them to continue ground operations and offer aid packages to farmers who have lost crops.
As farmers continue to prepare for the upcoming harvest in June and July, they fear a resurgence in the population of locusts. In response, many Kenyan farmers have chosen to lower their investment into farms this year, a move which threatens to have long-term repercussions on supply chains and profit.
“Uncertainty in an agriculture supply chain can really be contagious, so when farmers experience uncertainty in one season and that affects their investment decisions and their income, whether you are directly impacted by locusts or not, you might realize a small profit that year,” said Stephanie Hanson, senior vice president of One Acre Fund, a nonprofit that supports Kenyan farmers.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Coalition pushes for pot tax break amid coronavirus crisis

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A coalition of marijuana companies , churches and advocacy groups is asking California Gov .
Gavin Newsom for a temporary cut in the state ’ s hefty pot taxes .
The group that includes the California State Conference of the NAACP , Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and the industry group Southern California Coalition warned in a letter to the governor that the coronavirus crisis and a crashing economy will take an especially heavy toll on businesses run by minorities who were disproportionately targeted during the decades-long drug war .
“ If action is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and friends may be pushed into the gray , or worse , back into the illicit market , ” said the letter , dated April 23 .
“ At a time where unemployment is at a record high , the legal industry is seeing its customers flock to lower priced cannabis products in the illegal market regardless of quality or safety , ” the group said .
“ As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of color , our social equity businesses and our customers will be impacted even more , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal sales in 2018 .
But the state ’ s legal marijuana industry has long blamed tax rates that can approach 50 % in some areas for driving business into the illicit market .
According to some estimates , consumers are spending roughly $ 3 in the state ’ s underground pot economy for every $ 1 in the legal one .
Because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level , most banks don ’ t want to do business with pot companies , and they aren ’ t included in the federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
Other groups that signed the letter included Americans for Safe Access , Black Women ’ s Cannabis Council , the California Minority Alliance and the National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A coalition of marijuana companies, churches and advocacy groups is asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a temporary cut in the state’s hefty pot taxes.
The group that includes the California State Conference of the NAACP, Los Angeles Metropolitan Churches and the industry group Southern California Coalition warned in a letter to the governor that the coronavirus crisis and a crashing economy will take an especially heavy toll on businesses run by minorities who were disproportionately targeted during the decades-long drug war.
“If action is not taken now many of our business colleagues and friends may be pushed into the gray, or worse, back into the illicit market,” said the letter, dated April 23.
“At a time where unemployment is at a record high, the legal industry is seeing its customers flock to lower priced cannabis products in the illegal market regardless of quality or safety,” the group said.
“As COVID-19 continues to disproportionately impact communities of color, our social equity businesses and our customers will be impacted even more,” the group warned.
California kicked off broad legal sales in 2018. But the state’s legal marijuana industry has long blamed tax rates that can approach 50% in some areas for driving business into the illicit market. According to some estimates, consumers are spending roughly $3 in the state’s underground pot economy for every $1 in the legal one.
Because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, most banks don’t want to do business with pot companies, and they aren’t included in the federal coronavirus rescue package that will help other businesses.
Other groups that signed the letter included Americans for Safe Access, Black Women’s Cannabis Council, the California Minority Alliance and the National Diversity and Inclusion Cannabis Alliance.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Scrutinized malaria drug purchase to be refunded in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY ( AP ) - Utah will be refunded $ 800,000 it spent to buy malaria drugs once touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus despite warnings from doctors , officials said Wednesday .
Leaders in both Utah and Oklahoma have faced scrutiny for spending millions of dollars combined to purchase the drugs many other states obtained for free .
Republican Gov .
Gary Herbert said the pharmacy has agreed to the refund , and an internal review found no wrongdoing in the no-bid contract with the Utah compounding pharmacy Meds in Motion .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared the drug might help and there could be shortages of it , he said .
Since then , though , warnings have mounted from the Food and Drug Administration and others .
“ All involved acted proactively , preemptively and prudently during an emergency in an effort to save lives ” and got a “ fair price ” for the medication , Hebert said in a statement .
The left-leaning nonprofit Alliance for a Better Utah disagrees and has filed a price-gouging complaint arguing the $ 40 per pack drug was grossly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet been delivered , and will now be donated instead to be used in developing countries .
Herbert also canceled an additional plan to spend $ 8 million more to buy 200,000 additional treatments from the same company .
A review by The Associated Press found Utah was one of a very few states that had spent any money on the drug .
Many others have received it through donations or from the federal stockpile .
Oklahoma ’ s $ 2 million purchase of the drug has also drawn scrutiny , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
The attorney general has requested an investigative audit of the Department of Health spending , but declined to comment on whether the request was related to the drug purchase .

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Utah will be refunded $800,000 it spent to buy malaria drugs once touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus despite warnings from doctors, officials said Wednesday.
Leaders in both Utah and Oklahoma have faced scrutiny for spending millions of dollars combined to purchase the drugs many other states obtained for free.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert said the pharmacy has agreed to the refund, and an internal review found no wrongdoing in the no-bid contract with the Utah compounding pharmacy Meds in Motion. It was made at a time when it appeared the drug might help and there could be shortages of it, he said. Since then, though, warnings have mounted from the Food and Drug Administration and others.
“All involved acted proactively, preemptively and prudently during an emergency in an effort to save lives” and got a “fair price” for the medication, Hebert said in a statement.
The left-leaning nonprofit Alliance for a Better Utah disagrees and has filed a price-gouging complaint arguing the $40 per pack drug was grossly overpriced.
Herbert said the medication had not yet been delivered, and will now be donated instead to be used in developing countries.
Herbert also canceled an additional plan to spend $8 million more to buy 200,000 additional treatments from the same company.
A review by The Associated Press found Utah was one of a very few states that had spent any money on the drug. Many others have received it through donations or from the federal stockpile.
Oklahoma’s $2 million purchase of the drug has also drawn scrutiny, though Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has defended it. The attorney general has requested an investigative audit of the Department of Health spending, but declined to comment on whether the request was related to the drug purchase.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Arabbers deliver donated chicken to Baltimore residents

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Several pounds of free frozen chicken were delivered Wednesday to residents of Baltimore ’ s west side by street vendors who normally sell produce from horse-drawn carts .
Baltimore-based distributor Holly Poultry donated 2,000 pounds of chicken to the University of Maryland , Baltimore ’ s Community Engagement Center to assist residents for whom it may be difficult to go to a grocery store amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The center partnered with the Southwest Baltimore ’ s Arabber Preservation Society to deliver the chicken door to door .
Arabber Anthony Savoy wore blue disposable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled his horse-drawn cart along streets in West Baltimore .
Much like his yell when selling fruits and vegetables , Savoy ’ s yell cried “ free chicken.
” Residents at one intersection ran up to a cart and lined up while another Arabber handed out a bag of frozen chicken and a bag of hot dog buns to each person .
He turned away a woman who was not wearing a mask or gloves and told the crowd everyone needed to be protected .
The woman returned and chased the cart while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving the food .
The university estimates the distributor ’ s donation will help 900 families .

BALTIMORE (AP) - Several pounds of free frozen chicken were delivered Wednesday to residents of Baltimore’s west side by street vendors who normally sell produce from horse-drawn carts.
Baltimore-based distributor Holly Poultry donated 2,000 pounds of chicken to the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Community Engagement Center to assist residents for whom it may be difficult to go to a grocery store amid the coronavirus pandemic. The center partnered with the Southwest Baltimore’s Arabber Preservation Society to deliver the chicken door to door.
Arabber Anthony Savoy wore blue disposable gloves and a face mask as he pulled his horse-drawn cart along streets in West Baltimore. Much like his yell when selling fruits and vegetables, Savoy’s yell cried “free chicken.”
Residents at one intersection ran up to a cart and lined up while another Arabber handed out a bag of frozen chicken and a bag of hot dog buns to each person. He turned away a woman who was not wearing a mask or gloves and told the crowd everyone needed to be protected. The woman returned and chased the cart while putting on her gloves and mask before receiving the food.
The university estimates the distributor’s donation will help 900 families.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--LeBron James to honor Class of 2020 with all-star event

NEW YORK ( AP ) - LeBron James is putting together an all-star event to honor and celebrate the high school class of 2020 , which has had its graduation season upended by the coronavirus pandemic .
The LeBron James Family Foundation , XQ Institute and The Entertainment Industry Foundation on Wednesday announced that the one-hour special , “ Graduate Together : America Honors the High School Class of 2020 , ” will air simultaneously on NBC , ABC , CBS and Fox on May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT .
The event will pay tribute to high schoolers graduating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ James , Pharrell Williams , Malala Yousafzai , the Jonas Brothers , Bad Bunny , Yara Shahidi , Ben Platt , Lena Waithe and H.E.R .
“ I wanted to help create a show that looked and felt very different from traditional specials .
Something that spoke to kids in a different way .
These kids worked so hard to graduate and what is happening to them is truly unfair , ” James said in a statement to The Associated Press .
“ I hope we can give them and their families something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Graduate Together ” was curated by high school students , educators and the American Federation of Teachers .
It will feature commencement speeches , performances and more .
It will also air on TikTok , Facebook , YouTube , Complex Networks , PeopleTV and other digital platforms .
Other participants in the event include Megan Rapinoe , YBN Cordae , Chika , Charli D ’ Amelio , Dixie D ’ Amelio , Loren Gray , Brandan “ Bmike ” Odums , Henry Platt and Jonah Platt .

NEW YORK — LeBron James is putting together an all-star event to honor and celebrate the high school class of 2020, which has had its graduation season upended by the coronavirus pandemic.
The LeBron James Family Foundation, XQ Institute and The Entertainment Industry Foundation on Wednesday announced that the one-hour special, “Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020,” will air simultaneously on NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox on May 16 at 8 p.m. EDT. The event will pay tribute to high schoolers graduating this year and will include appearances by James, Pharrell Williams, Malala Yousafzai, the Jonas Brothers, Bad Bunny, Yara Shahidi, Ben Platt, Lena Waithe and H.E.R.
“I wanted to help create a show that looked and felt very different from traditional specials. Something that spoke to kids in a different way. These kids worked so hard to graduate and what is happening to them is truly unfair,” James said in a statement to The Associated Press. “I hope we can give them and their families something cool that makes their accomplishment feel special.”
“Graduate Together” was curated by high school students, educators and the American Federation of Teachers. It will feature commencement speeches, performances and more. It will also air on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Complex Networks, PeopleTV and other digital platforms.
Other participants in the event include Megan Rapinoe, YBN Cordae, Chika, Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Loren Gray, Brandan “Bmike” Odums, Henry Platt and Jonah Platt.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--FIFPro lauds growth of women's game but calls for protection

A report on the state of women ’ s soccer globally lauded the growth of the game while also calling for greater support for players , including better wages , as well as the need for industry labor standards .
Based on surveys of players worldwide , the report released Wednesday by the international players union FIFPro showed club salaries are generally rising .
When the top and bottom 5 % are removed , average club salaries for respondents rose from about $ 2,350 a month in 2016 to $ 3,980 a month in 2018 .
But 3.6 % said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the report , “ Raising Our Game , ” was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and came almost two weeks after the players ’ association warned the pandemic could pose an “ almost existential threat ” to the women ’ s game .
Some effects have already been seen .
On Tuesday , AFC Fylde ’ s women ’ s team was disbanded , the first team cut amid the financial fallout caused by the suspension of sporting events across Europe .
Reading FC placed its women ’ s team on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first team in the top-tier Women ’ s Super League to do so .
For the report , FIFPro surveyed national team players from countries represented at the Women ’ s World Cup in France last year and other nations : 186 players from 18 different countries responded .
FIFPro also requested information and data from all 24 federations represented at the World Cup and all six FIFA confederations .
According to the report , 54 % of players said their teams did not have adequate support staffs , and 61 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club had a defined strategy for growth for its women ’ s team .
“ Women ’ s football can not follow in the footsteps of the men ’ s game nor be positioned as its little sister , ” the report says .
“ We must learn from the challenges and opportunities we have seen develop across the football industry and use this knowledge to help lay the foundation for a sustainable global employment market built on healthy and safe working environments , ” the report stated .
The women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the report noted , boosted by investment and high-profile corporate sponsorship deals with firms including Barclay ’ s , Visa and Budweiser , as well as other factors .
However , attendance at games has not reflected that growth .
Total attendance at the World Cup fell from a high of 1,353,506 in 2015 - when the field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams - to 1,131,312 last summer in France .
The National Women ’ s Soccer League in the United States and the top division in France were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in attendance last year .
There have also been other success stories , like the match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona last year that drew a women ’ s club football record of 60,739 fans .
The television audience for premier women ’ s events is growing .
The total audience reached for the World Cup last year was 993.5 million , 1.12 billion with digital media audiences included .
The audience for the final in France was up 56 % over 2015 .
The report also pointed to new media channels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , broadcasting rights for women ’ s games are often sold in tandem with men ’ s matches , making it difficult to determine the value of the women ’ s game as its own product .

A report on the state of global women’s soccer lauded the growth of the game while calling for greater support for players, including better wages and industry labor standards.
Based on surveys of players worldwide, the report released Wednesday by the international players union FIFPro showed club salaries are generally rising but still don’t provide a living wage for many women.
When the top and bottom 5% are removed, average club salaries for respondents rose from about $2,350 a month in 2016 to $3,980 a month in 2018. But 3.6% said they received no salary.
In addition to low wages, players also highlighted poor working conditions, including the lack of basic support staff, subpar facilities and shoddy fields.
The release of the report, “Raising Our Game,” was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and came almost two weeks after the players’ association warned the pandemic could pose an “almost existential threat” to the women’s game. Some effects have already been seen.
On Tuesday, the AFC Fylde team in England was disbanded, the first team cut amid the financial fallout caused by the suspension of sporting events across Europe. Reading FC placed its women’s team on the government furlough plan this week, the first team in the top-tier Women’s Super League to do so.
“In many ways the crisis right now validates those gaps and those concerns and those calls for action that we had actually identified, because we’re seeing now, under the surface, the fragility on which the women’s game is still built,” FIFPro General Secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said on a conference call with reporters Thursday morning.
For the report, FIFPro surveyed national team players from countries represented at the Women’s World Cup in France last year and other nations: 186 players from 18 different countries responded. FIFPro also requested information and data from all 24 federations represented at the World Cup and all six FIFA confederations.
According to the report, 54% of players said their teams didn’t have adequate support staffs, and 61% said they didn’t know if their club had a defined strategy for growth for its women’s team.
The report comes amid growing calls for equitable pay in women’s soccer, led by the World Cup-winning U.S. national team. The team has sued U.S. Soccer alleging gender discrimination.
“Women’s football cannot follow in the footsteps of the men’s game nor be positioned as its little sister,” the report says. “We must learn from the challenges and opportunities we have seen develop across the football industry and use this knowledge to help lay the foundation for a sustainable global employment market built on healthy and safe working environments,” the report stated.
The women’s game had been on an upward trajectory, the report noted, boosted by investment and high-profile corporate sponsorship deals with firms including Barclay’s, Visa and Budweiser, as well as other factors.
“We see that the women’s game is proving its value to both the sport and society. The industry is growing and professionalization is underway in many regions around the world,” said Amanda Vandervort, FIFPro chief women’s football officer. ”But we need to take action and establish, implement and enforce global industry standards for working conditions and women’s football to protect the players and ensure that there is a just and stable growth of the industry into the future.”
Attendance at games has not necessarily reflected that growth. Total attendance at the World Cup fell from a high of 1,353,506 in 2015 - when the field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams - to 1,131,312 last summer in France.
The National Women’s Soccer League in the United States and the top division in France were the only major professional leagues to see a rise in attendance last year. There have also been success stories, like the match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona last year that drew a women’s club football record of 60,739 fans.
The television audience for premier women’s events is growing. The total audience reached for the World Cup last year was 993.5 million, 1.12 billion with digital media audiences included. The audience for the final in France was up 56% over 2015. The report also pointed to new media channels fueling the visibility of the game.
However, broadcasting rights for women’s games are often sold in tandem with men’s matches, making it difficult to determine the value of the women’s game as its own product.
FIFPro called for minimum global labor standards for women’s soccer, higher tournament standards, increased collective bargaining efforts and greater attention paid to how player well-being is impacted by the competition calendar.
“My hope would be that people read the Raising Our Game report and take from it the call to action very seriously, with labor standards and opportunities to engage players in the dialog about what a just and sustainable football club looks like in the future,” Vandervort said.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Youth wrestling coach accused of sexually assaulting girl

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Prosecutors have charged a youth wrestling coach with sexually assaulting a young girl he coached in Eden Prairie .
Mustafa Shabazz , 43 , of Burnsville , was charged Tuesday in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree sexual assault .
The Hennepin County Attorney ’ s Office said the girl was 9 when she began wrestling with Shabazz as her coach in early 2018 in Eden Prairie .
After she recovered from an injury , the girl refused to return to wrestling the following spring .
A spokesman for Eden Prairie Schools tells the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrestling coach at Eden Prairie High School for the 2018-2019 season , but that the alleged assault did not involve a student from the district or happen at a school-sponsored event .
The district has received no complaints about Shabazz ’ s time as a coach at the high school .
According to the criminal complaint , the girl told a friend and her parents that Shabazz assaulted her .
She told an investigator that Shabazz touched her “ numerous ” times while demonstrating wrestling moves , and that he claimed the incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summons and is due in court June 1 .
A home telephone listing for Shabazz could not be found , and court records do not list an attorney who could comment for him .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Prosecutors have charged a youth wrestling coach with sexually assaulting a young girl he coached in Eden Prairie.
Mustafa Shabazz, 43, of Burnsville, was charged Tuesday in Hennepin County with one count of second-degree sexual assault.
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said the girl was 9 when she began wrestling with Shabazz as her coach in early 2018 in Eden Prairie. After she recovered from an injury, the girl refused to return to wrestling the following spring.
A spokesman for Eden Prairie Schools tells the Star Tribune that Shabazz was an assistant wrestling coach at Eden Prairie High School for the 2018-2019 season, but that the alleged assault did not involve a student from the district or happen at a school-sponsored event.
The district has received no complaints about Shabazz’s time as a coach at the high school.
According to the criminal complaint, the girl told a friend and her parents that Shabazz assaulted her. She told an investigator that Shabazz touched her “numerous” times while demonstrating wrestling moves, and that he claimed the incidents were accidents.
Shabazz was charged by summons and is due in court June 1. A home telephone listing for Shabazz could not be found, and court records do not list an attorney who could comment for him.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--4 current or ex Meridian officers charged in embezzlement

MERIDIAN , Miss .
( AP ) - Three current police officers in Meridian , Mississippi , and one former officer in the same department are charged with theft and embezzlement of public money , according to federal indictments that were unsealed Wednesday .
The four were indicted Nov. 6 and arraigned Wednesday , according to news release from U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst .
Court records show Meridian Police Department Capt .
James F. Arrington , 62 , was indicted on two counts of theft and embezzlement of more than $ 22,000 during 2016 and 2017 .
Sgt .
Dareall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on two counts of theft and embezzlement of more than $ 14,000 between October 2016 and September 2018 .
Officer Tenesia A. Evans , 37 , was indicted on one count of theft and embezzlement of $ 5,779 between October 2017 and September 2018 .
Former officer Erica L. Harmon , 51 , was indicted on one count of theft and embezzlement of $ 5,073 between August 2018 and February 2019 .
All four appeared for arraignment Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball in Jackson , and he released them on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon , and attorneys representing Arrington , Thompson and Harmon could not immediately be reached after business hours .
Court records did not list an attorney for Evans .
Each faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a fine of $ 250,000 for theft from an agency receiving federal funds .
Trials are scheduled to begin June 8 for Thompson , June 22 for Arrington and Harmon and July 6 for Evans , each before a different federal judge .

MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) - Three current police officers in Meridian, Mississippi, and one former officer in the same department are charged with theft and embezzlement of public money, according to federal indictments that were unsealed Wednesday.
The four were indicted Nov. 6 and arraigned Wednesday, according to news release from U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
Court records show Meridian Police Department Capt. James F. Arrington, 62, was indicted on two counts of theft and embezzlement of more than $22,000 during 2016 and 2017.
Sgt. Dareall D. Thompson, 41, was indicted on two counts of theft and embezzlement of more than $14,000 between October 2016 and September 2018.
Officer Tenesia A. Evans, 37, was indicted on one count of theft and embezzlement of $5,779 between October 2017 and September 2018.
Former officer Erica L. Harmon, 51, was indicted on one count of theft and embezzlement of $5,073 between August 2018 and February 2019.
All four appeared for arraignment Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball in Jackson, and he released them on bond.
Prosecutors announced the indictments late Wednesday afternoon, and attorneys representing Arrington, Thompson and Harmon could not immediately be reached after business hours. Court records did not list an attorney for Evans.
Each faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for theft from an agency receiving federal funds. Trials are scheduled to begin June 8 for Thompson, June 22 for Arrington and Harmon and July 6 for Evans, each before a different federal judge.


washingtontimes--2020-04-29--Michael Flynn case: FBI goal was 'get him to lie,' bombshell documents reveal

Bombshell documents unsealed late Wednesday revealed that top FBI officials viewed the goal of interviewing former national security adviser Michael Flynn in 2017 as to “ get him to lie , so we can prosecute him or get him fired.
” A handwritten note included in the documents disclosed that agents wanted to get Flynn to “ admit breaking the Logan Act , ” which restricts communication between private citizens and foreign governments , and catch him in a lie .
It is not immediately clear who authored the note , but Fox News reported it was written by former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new revelations boost Flynn ’ s effort to unravel the government ’ s case against him .
He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a former Russian ambassador about sanctions on the country , but in January he told a federal judge he “ was innocent of this crime.
” He filed to withdraw his guilty plea after the Justice Department requested a sentence of up to six months in prison , although the department later relented admitting probation would be appropriate .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Justice Department had turned over all of its exculpatory evidence to Flynn before he pleaded guilty .
Last week the Justice Department said it turned over several documents to the legal team that had been discovered in a review ordered by Attorney General William P. Barr .
It is not clear if the documents made public Wednesday are among the trove of records the Justice Department provided .
Mr. Barr in February appointed Jeffrey Jensen , the U.S. Attorney in St. Louis , to examine the Flynn case .
The documents unsealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has produced results for Flynn ’ s legal team .
Included in the documents revealed Wednesday was an email exchange between ex-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page , who found themselves in the public eye after their anti-Trump texts became public .
In the exchange , Mr. Strzok and Ms .
Page discussed how the interviews should approach telling Flynn that lying to the FBI is a federal crime .
Ms .
Page suggests that if FBI policy supports it , the agents should just casually mention it during the interview .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an easy way to just casually slip that in , ” she wrote .
“ Of course as you know sir , federal law makes it a crime to… ” The FBI ’ s 2017 interview with Flynn has always been a source of contention in the case .
Even the bureau ’ s top brass have admitted the interview raised questions .
Former FBI Director James Comey admitted in 2018 the interview didn ’ t follow the bureau ’ s protocol .
Then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe described the interview as “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was telling the truth .
Flynn has always insisted he never said anything untrue to the FBI in the interview , in which the government maintains he denied discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition .
“ I did not lie to them .
I believed I was honest with them to the best of my recollection , ” he wrote in a January legal filing .
Flynn admitted in the same filing he didn ’ t remember if he discussed sanctions with the ambassador .
But in 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims that he told a series of falsehoods to the FBI .
In fact , Flynn told a federal judge he had violated the law at his plea hearing .
More documents in the case could be unsealed this week .
Flynn ’ s attorney Sidney Powell said last week her team “ found further evidence of misconduct ” by prosecutors including “ baseless threats ” to indict Flynn .

Bombshell documents unsealed late Wednesday revealed that top FBI officials viewed the goal of interviewing former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in 2017 was to “get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired.”
A handwritten note included in the documents disclosed that agents wanted to get Flynn to “admit breaking the Logan Act,” which restricts communication between private citizens and foreign governments, and catch him in a lie.
The Logan Act is an arcane federal law restricting communication between private U.S. citizens and foreign governments.
It is not immediately clear who authored the note, but Fox News reported it was written by former FBI general counsel James A. Baker.
The new revelations boost Flynn’s effort to unravel the government’s case against him. He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a former Russian ambassador about sanctions on the country, but in January he told a federal judge he “was innocent of this crime.”
He filed to withdraw his guilty plea after the Justice Department requested a sentence of up to six months in prison, although the department later relented admitting probation would be appropriate.
DOCUMENT: Unsealed documents from Michael Flynn's case
The newly unearthed documents raise questions about whether the Justice Department had turned over all of its exculpatory evidence to Flynn before he pleaded guilty.
Last week, the Justice Department said it turned over several documents to the legal team that had been discovered in a review ordered by Attorney General William P. Barr. It is not clear if the documents made public Wednesday are among the trove of records the Justice Department provided.
The documents made public Wednesday were among the materials provided to Flynn’s team.
Mr. Barr in February appointed Jeffrey Jensen, the U.S. attorney in St. Louis, to examine the Flynn case. The documents unsealed Wednesday are evidence that that probe has produced results for Flynn’s legal team.
Included in the documents Wednesday is an email exchange between ex-FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who found themselves in the public eye after their anti-Trump texts became public.
In the exchange, Mr. Strzok and Ms. Page discussed how the interviews should approach telling Flynn that lying to the FBI is a federal crime.
Ms. Page suggests that if FBI policy supports it, the agents should just casually mention it during the interview.
“[I]t would be an easy way to just casually slip that in,” she wrote. “Of course as you know sir, federal law makes it a crime to …”
The FBI’s 2017 interview with Flynn has always been a source of contention in the case. Even the bureau’s top brass have admitted the interview raised questions.
Former FBI Director James B. Comey admitted in 2018 that the interview didn’t follow the bureau’s protocol. Then-Deputy Director Andrew McCabe described the interview as “very odd” because it appeared that Flynn was telling the truth.
Flynn has always insisted he never said anything untrue to the FBI in the interview, in which the government maintains he denied discussing sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition.
“I did not lie to them. I believed I was honest with them to the best of my recollection,” he wrote in a January legal filing.
Flynn admitted in the same filing he didn’t remember if he discussed sanctions with the ambassador.
But in 2017, he offered no rebuttal to prosecutors’ claims that he told a series of falsehoods to the FBI. In fact, Flynn told a federal judge he had violated the law at his plea hearing.
More documents in the case could be unsealed this week. Flynn’s attorney Sidney Powell said last week her team “found further evidence of misconduct” by prosecutors including “baseless threats” to indict Flynn.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--EPL's Saudi piracy concerns as Newcastle takeover assessed

The English Premier League has to decide whether to approve Saudi Arabia ’ s takeover of Newcastle while concerned that piracy of its broadcasts from the kingdom poses a “ significant risk ” to the competition ’ s revenue .
The league wrote to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in February complaining about the bootlegging of live match coverage by the Saudi-based beoutQ service , according to newly released documents .
Having received submissions about beoutQ ’ s conduct from global soccer bodies , also including FIFA , the American government confirmed on Wednesday in its annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and piracy ” that Saudi Arabia would remain on its “ Priority Watch List.
” The Premier League ’ s own grievances with the Saudis are a further complication for the lawyers having to decide whether northeast English club Newcastle can become majority owned by Saudi ’ s Public Investment Fund .
It is a sovereign wealth fund overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who , Amnesty told the Premier League , has been involved in a “ sweeping crackdown on human rights ” as the activists try to thwart the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a three-year contract worth $ 500 million to exclusively air the Premier League across the Middle East , has also asked for the buyout of Newcastle to be potentially blocked due to the inaction on broadcasting piracy .
BeIN had the backing of the Premier League in its Feb. 5 submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative .
“ A high proportion of the Premier League ’ s revenue is generated from the sale of exclusive audio-visual broadcasting rights , ” the London-based soccer competition wrote in the letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online piracy , such as that committed in Saudi Arabia and detailed below , continues to place this revenue at significant risk .
“ This in turn threatens the Premier League ’ s ability to continue investing in , and contributing to , the quality of the competition , the sport more generally , community projects and the wider global economy.
” The Premier League has tried to pursue legal action in Riyadh “ against the beoutQ service and its facilitators in Saudi Arabia ” but said they have been “ frustrated following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withdraw their services.
” The pirating of its Qatar-owned broadcasts is a proxy in the three-year Gulf crisis that has seen Saudi Arabia lead an economic and diplomatic boycott of Doha .
Qatar has been accused of supporting extremism , which the tiny , super-rich nation denies .
“ After several years of widely publicized Saudi-based piracy and inadequate and ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights on the part of Saudi authorities , ” the Premier League wrote , “ we are concerned that piracy may become generally accepted as an appropriate means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive enforcement efforts by the Saudi government against copyright piracy , and the making available of civil actions against all instances of copyright piracy , the situation will only deteriorate over time.
” BeoutQ has shifted to providing feeds via a streaming rather than via satellite service in the last year , with the league saying there could be three million set-top boxes in Saudi Arabia and the wider region .
“ Despite repeated complaints by beIN and other rights holders , Saudi Arabia has never brought criminal action against beoutQ , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League wrote .
The Premier League has declined to comment on the approval process for the Newcastle takeover , beyond pointing to the owners ’ and directors ’ test which looks into potential criminal conduct by people running its clubs .
PIF is seeking to be the 80 % majority partner in a 300 million pound ( $ 370 million ) takeover alongside the wealthy British-based Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley .

The English Premier League has to decide whether to approve Saudi Arabia’s takeover of Newcastle while concerned that piracy of its broadcasts from the kingdom poses a “significant risk” to the competition’s revenue.
The league wrote to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in February complaining about the bootlegging of live match coverage by the Saudi-based beoutQ service, according to newly released documents.
Having received submissions about beoutQ’s conduct from global soccer bodies, also including FIFA, the American government confirmed on Wednesday in its annual report on “notorious markets for counterfeiting and piracy” that Saudi Arabia would remain on its “Priority Watch List.”
The Premier League’s own grievances with the Saudis are a further complication for the lawyers having to decide whether northeast English club Newcastle can become majority owned by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund.
It is a sovereign wealth fund overseen by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who, Amnesty told the Premier League, has been involved in a “sweeping crackdown on human rights” as the activists try to thwart the takeover.
Qatar-owned beIN Sports, which has a three-year contract worth $500 million to exclusively air the Premier League across the Middle East, has also asked for the buyout of Newcastle to be potentially blocked due to the inaction on broadcasting piracy.
BeIN had the backing of the Premier League in its Feb. 5 submission to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
“A high proportion of the Premier League’s revenue is generated from the sale of exclusive audio-visual broadcasting rights,” the London-based soccer competition wrote in the letter. “The scale and nature of online piracy, such as that committed in Saudi Arabia and detailed below, continues to place this revenue at significant risk.
“This in turn threatens the Premier League’s ability to continue investing in, and contributing to, the quality of the competition, the sport more generally, community projects and the wider global economy.”
The Premier League has tried to pursue legal action in Riyadh “against the beoutQ service and its facilitators in Saudi Arabia” but said they have been “frustrated following the decision by multiple legal representatives to withdraw their services.”
The pirating of its Qatar-owned broadcasts is a proxy in the three-year Gulf crisis that has seen Saudi Arabia lead an economic and diplomatic boycott of Doha. Qatar has been accused of supporting extremism, which the tiny, super-rich nation denies.
“After several years of widely publicized Saudi-based piracy and inadequate and ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights on the part of Saudi authorities,” the Premier League wrote, “we are concerned that piracy may become generally accepted as an appropriate means of watching sports content.
“Barring aggressive enforcement efforts by the Saudi government against copyright piracy, and the making available of civil actions against all instances of copyright piracy, the situation will only deteriorate over time.”
BeoutQ has shifted to providing feeds via a streaming rather than via satellite service in the last year, with the league saying there could be three million set-top boxes in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.
“Despite repeated complaints by beIN and other rights holders, Saudi Arabia has never brought criminal action against beoutQ, or its Saudi facilitators,” the Premier League wrote.
The Premier League has declined to comment on the approval process for the Newcastle takeover, beyond pointing to the owners’ and directors’ test which looks into potential criminal conduct by people running its clubs.
Newcastle is owned by British retail entrepreneur Mike Ashley.
PIF is seeking to be the 80% majority partner in a 300 million pound ($370 million) takeover alongside the wealthy British-based Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Woman charged in crash that left officer critically injured

JERSEY CITY , N.J. ( AP ) - A New York City woman who authorities say was speeding when she @ @ @ @ @ in New Jersey that critically injured a police officer has been charged with assault by @ @ @ @ @ Amandeep Tiwana , 27 , of the Flushing section of Queens , was charged Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ County Prosecutor ’ s Office .
It wasn ’ t known Thursday if she ’ @ @ @ @ @ Tiwana ’ s vehicle was approaching an accident scene on Route 139 eastbound in Jersey @ @ @ @ @ road divider around 1 a.m. Tuesday , authorities have said .
The vehicle then hit @ @ @ @ @ Siano III , an officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized in critical condition , authorities said .
Tiwana and two Jersey City police officers @ @ @ @ @ for minor injuries .
Authorities have said the police officers were securing the scene of @ @ @ @ @ traffic control on the roadway , which leads into the Holland Tunnel .

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) - A New York City woman who authorities say was speeding when she caused a chain reaction accident in New Jersey that critically injured a police officer has been charged with assault by auto, authorities said.
Amandeep Tiwana, 27, of the Flushing section of Queens, was charged Wednesday, according to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. It wasn’t known Thursday if she’s retained an attorney.
Tiwana’s vehicle was approaching an accident scene on Route 139 eastbound in Jersey City when it struck a road divider around 1 a.m. Tuesday, authorities have said. The vehicle then hit a police cruiser and Peter Siano III, an officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police force.
Siano remains hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said. Tiwana and two Jersey City police officers were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
Authorities have said the police officers were securing the scene of the earlier crash and doing traffic control on the roadway, which leads into the Holland Tunnel.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Driver, 18, arrested after skateboarder run over, killed

VANCOUVER , Wash. ( AP ) - An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he allegedly drove into a skateboarder in a Vancouver , Washington , parking lot Wednesday and killed him .
Joshua Jones , 18 , was booked in Clark County Jail on a second-degree murder charge , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
It wasn ’ t immediately known if he has a lawyer to comment for him .
Vancouver police said a 45-year-old man became trapped under a car at about 1:05 p.m. in a shopping complex parking lot .
Police said the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had been skateboarding when he approached Jones ’ vehicle and punched the window .
Witnesses reported Jones made a U-turn in his car and drove toward the man , and didn ’ t brake until after he had struck him , police said .
Witnesses tried to free the man with a car jack , the Vancouver Fire Department said .
Fire and rescue crews eventually freed him and he was taken to a hospital , where he died , authorities said .
Vancouver Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said she hadn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having known each other previously .
She said as far as she knows , Jones remained at or near the scene after he hit the man .

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he allegedly drove into a skateboarder in a Vancouver, Washington, parking lot Wednesday and killed him.
Joshua Jones, 18, was booked in Clark County Jail on a second-degree murder charge, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. It wasn’t immediately known if he has a lawyer to comment for him.
Vancouver police said a 45-year-old man became trapped under a car at about 1:05 p.m. in a shopping complex parking lot.
Police said the man, whose name they did not release, had been skateboarding when he approached Jones’ vehicle and punched the window.
Witnesses reported Jones made a U-turn in his car and drove toward the man, and didn’t brake until after he had struck him, police said.
Witnesses tried to free the man with a car jack, the Vancouver Fire Department said. Fire and rescue crews eventually freed him and he was taken to a hospital, where he died, authorities said.
Officers interviewed Jones and arrested him.
Vancouver Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said she hadn’t heard anything about the two men having known each other previously. She said as far as she knows, Jones remained at or near the scene after he hit the man.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Joe Biden announces vice presidential selection committee

Joseph R. Biden on Thursday announced the members of his vice presidential selection committee .
Former Sen. Chris Dodd of @ @ @ @ @ Rochester of Delaware , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former White House Counsel Cynthia @ @ @ @ @ for Mr. Biden ’ s running mate .
“ Selecting a vice presidential candidate is @ @ @ @ @ decisions in a presidential campaign , and no one knows this more than Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ ’ Malley Dillon , campaign manager of Biden for President .
“ These four co-chairs @ @ @ @ @ of our party , and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be @ @ @ @ @ process.
” Mr. Biden has vowed to name a woman as his vice president .
@ @ @ @ @ say he would pick a woman of color .

Joseph R. Biden on Thursday announced the members of his vice presidential selection committee.
Former Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former White House Counsel Cynthia Hogan will lead the search for Mr. Biden’s running mate.
“Selecting a vice presidential candidate is one of the most important decisions in a presidential campaign, and no one knows this more than Joe Biden,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, campaign manager of Biden for President. “These four co-chairs reflect the strength and diversity of our party, and will provide tremendous insight and expertise to what will be a rigorous selection and vetting process.”
Mr. Biden has vowed to name a woman as his vice president. But he has refused to say he would pick a woman of color.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--American Airlines posts $2.2 billion loss during pandemic

American Airlines reported a staggering loss of $ 2.24 billion for the first quarter , when the coronavirus pandemic triggered a sharp drop in air travel .
The airline ’ s revenue fell 19 % while costs continued to rise even as the virus spread .
The situation has grown more dire since the first quarter ended .
Air travel within the U.S. has plunged 95 % from a year ago , judging by the number of people screened at the nation ’ s airports .
“ Never before has our airline , or our industry , faced such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Parker said .
American ’ s massive loss compared with a profit of $ 185 million in the same quarter last year .
American said that adjusted for non-recurring items , it lost $ 2.65 per share .
That was worse than the average forecast of a $ 2.08 per share loss from 15 analysts surveyed by FactSet .
Parker highlighted American ’ s efforts to bolster its liquidity - building up enough cash , it hopes , to ride out the pandemic - including getting $ 5.8 billion in federal aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
American estimated that it ended March with $ 6.8 billion in cash and other liquidity , including $ 2 billion that it raised during the first quarter .
The Fort Worth , Texas-based airline has cut its flying schedule by 80 % in May and June , grounded hundreds of planes , and offered early retirement and partially paid leave to cut labor costs .
Cheaper fuel caused by the collapse in energy prices will contribute to a reduction of more than $ 12 billion in its 2020 spending , the airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of difficult work ahead of us , ” Parker said in a statement that also cited uncertainty about the future .
American ’ s loss dwarfed the $ 534 million loss reported last week by Delta Air Lines , which is slightly larger by revenue .
United Airlines was scheduled to issue first-quarter figures later Thursday .

DALLAS (AP) - American Airlines and United Airlines lost a combined $4 billion in the first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic triggered a sharp drop in air travel, and the airlines are busy borrowing enough money to survive until passengers return in large numbers.
Thursday’s reports from two of the nation’s four biggest airlines captured only the first weeks of the pandemic’s impact in the U.S. The situation facing the airline industry has grown more dire since the first quarter ended: Air travel in the U.S. during April remained down 95% from a year ago, judging by the number of people screened at the nation’s airports.
“Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge,” American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said.
With little money coming in from ticket sales, and unsure when the public will feel like flying again, airlines are hunkering down. They are raising money on private credit markets and borrowing from the federal government. They are slashing flight schedules, parking planes, and urging employees to retire early or take leaves of absence.
American reported a loss of $2.24 billion, the biggest loss since it came out of bankruptcy and merged with US Airways in 2013. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline has cut its flight schedule by 80% in April and May and 70% in June. Fewer passengers will mean fewer employees.
“We’re going to be somewhat smaller than we intended to be” a year from now, Parker said in an interview. “Because we’re going to need to be smaller, we’re going to need to do something with the number of employees we have.”
American began the year with more than 133,000 employees. About 4,500 workers have taken early retirement, and about another 34,000 have accepted partially paid leave for three to 12 months, or fewer hours of work. Some of those taking leave couldn’t find child care.
Under the terms of federal aid they accepted, American and other U.S. airlines can’t lay off workers until October. Parker said he thinks he can avoid layoffs after that, but it depends on how quickly air travel recovers.
“If demand doesn’t rebound at all, and we’re in October, we’re all going to need to be figuring out what to do,” he said.
Chicago-based United posted a $1.7 billion loss, its biggest since 2008. The loss was expected, since United said last week that it suffered a pretax loss of $2.1 billion.
The airline is shrinking its flight schedule by 90% in May and probably a similar amount in June.
United CEO Oscar Munoz said deep schedule cuts and aggressive borrowing to boost liquidity would help the company bounce back when demand returns. He did not offer a prediction for when that might happen.
Both airlines stressed efforts to bolster liquidity - building up enough cash, they hope, to ride out the pandemic. They were recently approved for federal payroll help - $5.8 billion for American and $5 billion for United.
American estimated that it ended March with $6.8 billion in cash and other liquidity and will have $11 billion at the end of June. United said it had $9.6 billion in liquidity this week. American has applied for another $4.75 billion in loans from the Treasury Department at around 4% interest, and United is leaning toward applying although executives say they might not actually draw down the money if they can get better terms on the private markets.
The borrowing produces cash but does nothing to sell seats on planes.
Parker told The Associated Press that there has been a recent uptick in bookings - mostly for trips at least three months away - but it has been modest.
American’s first-quarter loss compared with a profit of $185 million in the same period last year. American said that adjusted for non-recurring items, it lost $2.65 per share. That was worse than the average forecast of a $2.08 per share loss from 15 analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue dropped 19%.
Similarly, United swung to a loss after earning $292 million in the first quarter of 2019. The adjusted loss of $2.57 per share was not as bad as the $2.85 a share loss that analysts had expected. Revenue fell 17%.
Shares of both airlines fell about 5%.
The American and United losses dwarfed the $534 million loss reported last week by Delta Air Lines, which is slightly larger by revenue, and a $94 million loss posted by Southwest Airlines this week.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Reward offered in animal poisonings in northern Wisconsin

The U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest of someone @ @ @ @ @ and wildlife in northern Wisconsin .
The agency says it ’ s offering a $ @ @ @ @ @ leads to the arrest and/or charges being filed against a responsible party .
Four dogs @ @ @ @ @ month in Forest County .
Testing on two of the pets , a 4-year-old yellow @ @ @ @ @ 24 and a 3-year-old German shepherd that died April 1 , confirmed that they died @ @ @ @ @ dogs died last weekend .
Tests are pending .
WLUK-TV reports officials believe the deaths @ @ @ @ @ poisonings in Florence , Forest and Marinette counties that have been investigated for about a @ @ @ @ @ , seven pet dogs have died .
The U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service asks @ @ @ @ @ its office in Madison .

CRANDON, Wis. (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of someone who is poisoning pets and wildlife in northern Wisconsin.
Four dogs have died in the past month in Forest County. Testing on two of the pets, a 4-year-old yellow Labrador retriever that died April 24 and a 3-year-old German shepherd that died April 1, confirmed that they died from poisoning. Tests are pending after two more dogs died last weekend.
Officials believe the deaths are related to the ongoing poisonings in Florence, Forest and Marinette counties that have been investigated for about a year, WLUK-TV reported. So far, seven pet dogs have died.
Investigators also found dead coyotes, weasels and wolves, and lab tests confirmed the animals were also poisoned, WSAW-TV reported.
The dog deaths have all occurred on public land, investigators said.
The reward is for information that leads to the arrest and/or charges being filed against a responsible party, the Fish and Wildlife Service said. It asks anyone with information to contact its office in Madison.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Patrol: Nebraska trooper injured in 2-vehicle Lincoln crash

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - A state trooper injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lincoln is recovering @ @ @ @ @ hospital , the Nebraska State Patrol reported .
The patrol said in a news release @ @ @ @ @ morning on O Street in Lincoln when a eastbound car making a left turn collided @ @ @ @ @ westbound cruiser .
The trooper was taken to a Lincoln hospital for several broken bones @ @ @ @ @ .
The driver of the car was also taken to a Lincoln hospital with serious @ @ @ @ @ life-threatening .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A state trooper injured in a two-vehicle crash in Lincoln is recovering after being released from the hospital, the Nebraska State Patrol reported.
The patrol said in a news release that the crash happened Wednesday morning on O Street in Lincoln when a eastbound car making a left turn collided with the trooper’s westbound cruiser.
The trooper was taken to a Lincoln hospital for several broken bones in one of his hands. The driver of the car was also taken to a Lincoln hospital with serious injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
The Lincoln Police Department investigate the crash.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--European Central Bank cuts rate on cheap loans to banks, offers new credit to banks to cushion econo

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) - European Central Bank cuts rate on cheap loans to banks , offers new @ @ @ @ @ economy against outbreak .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - European Central Bank cuts rate on cheap loans to banks, offers new credit to banks to cushion economy against outbreak.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Twitter swings to 1Q loss despite revenue growth as costs up

Twitter posted a loss in the first quarter as the social media company ’ s higher expenses outweighed revenue growth @ @ @ @ @ reported Thursday that average daily users grew 24 % year over year , the highest @ @ @ @ @ company ’ s history .
Twitter has added 14 million daily users since the previous @ @ @ @ @ growth was driven by seasonal strength , product improvements and interest in coronavirus .
Last @ @ @ @ @ its daily user base , or the number of users who log in at least @ @ @ @ @ ads on the platform .
The daily metric has replaced its monthly user count , @ @ @ @ @ no longer disclose .
Other companies , such as Facebook , give both daily and @ @ @ @ @ three months ended in March , Twitter posted a loss of $ 8.4 million , @ @ @ @ @ , on revenue of $ 807.6 million .
On average analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast @ @ @ @ @ 10 cents on revenue of $ 783 million .

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Twitter’s stock tumbled Thursday after the company failed to show that it’s weathering the pandemic-borne digital advertising slump the same way its bigger rivals Facebook and Google are.
The San Francisco-based social company’s higher expenses outweighed its revenue growth in the first three months of the year, leading to a loss of $8.4 million.
And when asked during a conference call how April looked in terms of revenue, executives pointed back to the second half of March - when advertising declined.
That period is “the best time frame to look at if you want to think about what it’s been like for us,” Twitter’s Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal said.
Facebook, in contrast, said on Wednesday that after a March decline, it saw “signs of stability” in the first three weeks of April. And it said ad revenue during that period has been flat compared with the year-ago period.
Google parent company Alphabet also posted results this week that didn’t look “quite as bad as some people had feared,” said Edward Jones analyst David Heger.
All three companies are seeing an increase in usage, since the virus outbreak has forced people to stay at home. Twitter reported that average daily users grew 24% year over year, the highest growth rate in the company’s history.
Twitter has added 14 million daily users since the previous quarter. The company said growth was driven by seasonal strength, product improvements and interest in coronavirus.
Last year, Twitter started disclosing its daily user base, or the number of users who log in at least once a day and see ads on the platform. The daily metric has replaced its monthly user count, which Twitter said it will no longer disclose. Other companies, such as Facebook, give both daily and monthly counts.
For the three months ended in March, Twitter amounted to 1 cent per share, on revenue of $807.6 million. A year ago, the company earned $190.8 million, or 25 cents per share, on a big tax benefit. Revenue totaled $786.9 million.
On average analysts surveyed by FactSet forecast quarterly earnings per share of 10 cents on revenue of $783 million.
The company previously withdrew full-year financial guidance and said Thursday it’s not providing second-quarter estimates either.
Its shares fell $2.41, or 7.8%, to close Thursday at $28.68.
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AP Business Writer Dorothea Degen in New York contributed to this story.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Man admits fatally shooting neighbor's therapy dog

MAPLE SHADE , N.J. ( AP ) - A man who fatally shot his neighbor ’ s therapy dog last @ @ @ @ @ animal cruelty , authorities said .
William Stroemel , 64 , of Maple Shade , @ @ @ @ @ a weapons possession count as part of a plea deal with Burlington County prosecutors .
@ @ @ @ @ receive a five-year state prison term when he ’ s sentenced July 29 .
Stroemel @ @ @ @ @ shoot Toby , a 9-year-old Pomeranian-poodle mix , after the dog was escaped from his @ @ @ @ @ 17 .
The dog ’ s owner is a Vietnam War veteran , and family @ @ @ @ @ helped relieve his post-traumatic stress disorder .
The dog , who was shot in the @ @ @ @ @ euthanized a day after the shooting .
Authorities have not said why Stroemel shot the @ @ @ @ @ after he shot Toby , he gave the air rifle to an acquaintance and asked @ @ @ @ @ him .

MAPLE SHADE, N.J. (AP) - A man who fatally shot his neighbor’s therapy dog last year has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, authorities said.
William Stroemel, 64, of Maple Shade, also pleaded guilty Wednesday to a weapons possession count as part of a plea deal with Burlington County prosecutors. They will recommend that he receive a five-year state prison term when he’s sentenced July 29.
Stroemel used an air rifle to shoot Toby, a 9-year-old Pomeranian-poodle mix, after the dog was escaped from his owner’s home Sept. 17. The dog’s owner is a Vietnam War veteran, and family members have said the animal helped relieve his post-traumatic stress disorder.
The dog, who was shot in the head, had to be euthanized a day after the shooting.
Authorities have not said why Stroemel shot the animal. They say that after he shot Toby, he gave the air rifle to an acquaintance and asked him to hold it for him.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Bond set at $500,000 for man accused of killing mother

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - Bond has been set at $ 500,000 cash for a man @ @ @ @ @ mother in Sioux Falls .
The body of 63-year-old Teresa Cate was found Monday afternoon @ @ @ @ @ check on a foul odor .
Police Lt. Terrance Matia said at a briefing Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ in the past 10 days .
“ Due to decomposition of the remains , we @ @ @ @ @ autopsy to be done to give us some more information , Matia said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ that this was a homicide.
” Officers arrested the 36-year-old Pritchard Tuesday evening on probable @ @ @ @ @ hearing is scheduled for May 14 .
Matia said Cate was killed in the apartment @ @ @ @ @ specific about where on her body she was shot .
Pritchard ’ s charges of @ @ @ @ @ without consent and misusing an electronic communication device are unrelated to the homicide .

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Bond has been set at $500,000 cash for a man accused of fatally shooting his mother in Sioux Falls.
Anthony Pritchard appeared in Lincoln County court Wednesday afternoon.
The body of 63-year-old Teresa Cate was found Monday afternoon after police were called to check on a foul odor. Police Lt. Terrance Matia said at a briefing Wednesday that Cate had died sometime in the past 10 days.
“Due to decomposition of the remains, we had to wait for an autopsy to be done to give us some more information, Matia said. “That led us to believe that this was a homicide.”
Officers arrested the 36-year-old Pritchard Tuesday evening on probable first-degree murder. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14.
Matia said Cate was killed in the apartment, but declined to be specific about where on her body she was shot.
Pritchard’s charges of taking pictures and distributing them without consent and misusing an electronic communication device are unrelated to the homicide.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--Another glut of US unemployment applications is expected

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The U.S. government is expected Thursday to issue another bleak report on the layoffs that @ @ @ @ @ s workforce since the coronavirus forced businesses across the country to shut down starting last @ @ @ @ @ will likely report that several million more people filed for unemployment benefits last week , @ @ @ @ @ applied for aid in the previous five weeks .
All told , the layoffs add @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. job losses on record .
Across nearly every industry , nonessential businesses have @ @ @ @ @ been sent home with no clear idea of when or whether they might be recalled @ @ @ @ @ be months or years off , though governors in a few states have begun allowing @ @ @ @ @ certain restrictions .
For April , economists say the unemployment rate could go as high @ @ @ @ @ would be the highest rate since the Great Depression , when it reached 25 % @

WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 3.8 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the U.S. economy slid further into a crisis that is becoming the most devastating since the 1930s.
Roughly 30.3 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the six weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors and slash their workforces. That is more people than live in the New York and Chicago metropolitan areas combined, and it’s by far the worst string of layoffs on record. It adds up to more than one in six American workers.
With more employers cutting payrolls to save money, economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%. That would be the highest rate since it reached 25% during the Great Depression.
Some outside reviews suggest that the number of job losses is likely even higher than is captured in the weekly unemployment claims. A poll by two academic economists, Alexander Bick and Adam Blandin, found that the U.S. economy may have lost 34 million jobs since mid-March, when the coronavirus shutdowns began.
A key reason for that emerges from a survey by the Economic Policy Institute. It found that up to 12 million more people have lost jobs but haven’t filed a claim for benefits, either because they couldn’t get through their state’s overwhelmed system or they didn’t try, perhaps because it was too difficult.
“These findings imply the official count of unemployment insurance claims likely drastically understates the extent of employment reductions,” wrote Ben Zipperer and Elise Gould, economists at EPI.
It also suggests that the government’s efforts to limit job cuts, primarily through loans to small businesses, have had little effect so far. Small businesses that have received loans may have obtained them only in the past week or two. Still, many have said they don’t plan to immediately rehire their workers if their businesses are closed.
This week, the government estimated that the economy shrank at a 4.8% annual rate in the first three months of this year, the sharpest quarterly drop since the 2008 financial crisis. Yet the picture is likely to grow far worse: The economy is expected to contract in the April-June quarter by as much as 40% at an annual rate. No previous quarter has been anywhere near as weak since the government began keeping such records after World War II.
As businesses across the country have shut down and laid off tens of millions of workers, the economy has sunk into a near-paralysis in just a few weeks. Factories, hotels, restaurants, department stores, movie theaters and many small businesses are shuttered. Home sales are falling. Households are slashing spending. Consumer confidence is sinking.
On Thursday, the government said consumer spending plummeted 7.5% in March - the worst monthly drop on record. The plunge reflected only the first weeks of the business shutdown; April’s consumer spending report will show an even steeper fall.
Applications have surged for most racial and ethnic groups, as of the end of March, according to government data. White Americans made up 55% of workers seeking jobless aid in March, African-Americans nearly 15%. Those proportions haven’t changed much recently. Asians, Native Americans and other racial groups made up the rest.
Hispanic Americans made up 21% of the applicants in March. The government classifies Hispanics as an ethnic group, so they also overlap with whites and blacks.
Thursday’s figures also showed that states have approved the jobless benefit applications of nearly 18 million people. This figure is much lower than the total number of people who have sought unemployment aid since the virus struck, in part because it lags behind by one week. Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, estimates that that number translates into 64% of initial applications being approved as of the week ending April 18.
But not all those 18 million have received their checks yet. That’s likely making it hard for many Americans to pay their bills.
“Tomorrow is May 1st - if people don’t have their checks, I don’t know how they’re going to pay their rent or other bills coming due,” Gould said.
Americans’ confidence in the economy and in their future incomes has plunged, a sentiment that could slow the rebound once more states and cities allow businesses to open. Consumer confidence, as measured by the Conference Board, has plummeted to a six-year low, and its measure of how Americans regard the current economy fell by a record amount.
In the meantime, the jobless are struggling to get by and secure their unemployment benefits.
In Sunrise, Florida, Jessica Salm had just started working at a Chili’s when the restaurant closed March 16. It took her six days to file her claim through Florida’s overloaded website. Her first unemployment check - $494 for two weeks - didn’t arrive until Friday, a month later. Before then, Salm relied on a $225 payment from her union, which she used to pay her phone bill. Her phone is critical: It’s how she applied for unemployment aid.
Salm, 36, has also received two $600 checks provided by the federal government’s relief package. But the benefits have all been used to pay her mortgage, car payment, car insurance, health insurance and the $1,500 credit card bill that she and her fiancé have built up. Salm hopes to return to work soon. But she fears for her health and isn’t sure what kind of business the restaurant will do.
“I’m not sure how that’s going to work with everyone still fearful,” she said.
In the United States and overseas, layoffs are mounting. Boeing announced this week that it would cut 10% of its workforce through layoffs, buyouts and attrition. The company has been hammered by the collapse in air travel and troubles with its 737 MAX aircraft.
Lyft said it’s shedding nearly 1,000 jobs, 17% of its workers, and the ride-hailing company said its senior executives would take pay cuts.
In Europe, joblessness has reached 7.4%, the statistics agency Eurostat reported Thursday. Millions of other European workers are being supported by temporary short-hours programs under which governments pay most of their salaries in return for companies agreeing not to lay people off.
Many laid-off workers in the United States are still struggling to obtain unemployment aid.
Early this month, Norma Ferrufino lost her job as a janitor at an office building in Washington, D.C., after having worked there for nearly 30 years after the building’s owner switched contractors. The new contractor rehired all her co-workers except for her and four other older employees, she said.
Ferrufino has applied for jobless benefits but has so far received only postcards saying her application is pending. She is desperate to return to her old job because there are so few other opportunities available now. Ferrufino, 54, also worries that businesses won’t want to hire her now that she is over 50. She also misses her former co-workers.
“They all hope I can come back,” she said through an interpreter, breaking down in tears. “I’ve known some for 28 years, it makes me so sad.”
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AP data journalist Larry Fenn in New York and AP writers Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen and Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-04-30--1 dead, 5 injured in wrong-way crash near Bismarck

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - The North Dakota State Patrol a driver going the wrong way on Interstate @ @ @ @ @ crash that took his life and injured five others , including three young children .
@ @ @ @ @ driving a Chevy pickup truck westbound on the interstate about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when he @ @ @ @ @ with five people inside , including children ages 4 , 6 and 8 , according @ @ @ @ @ driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene .
Those in the Ford @ @ @ @ @ Bismarck hospital .
Their conditions were not immediately available .
The crash four miles east @ @ @ @ @ traffic for more than two hours .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota State Patrol a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 94 near Bismarck caused a crash that took his life and injured five others, including three young children.
Rodell Kramer, 49, of Bismarck was driving a Chevy pickup truck eastbound in the westbound lanes of the interstate about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday when he crashed into a Ford pickup with five people inside, including children ages 4, 6 and 8, according to the patrol.
Kramer was pronounced dead at the scene. Those in the Ford truck were taken to a Bismarck hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The crash four miles east of Menoken shut down eastbound traffic for more than two hours.
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This story has been corrected to shows that the driver of the Chevy pickup was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes instead of westbound.