washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Coronavirus can cause diabetes, physicians warn

Physicians are warning in a letter published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine that COVID-19 can cause diabetes .
“ There is a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes .
On the one hand , diabetes is associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 , ” the doctors , who hail from different universities , wrote in the letter .
“ On the other hand , new-onset diabetes and severe metabolic complications of preexisting diabetes have been observed in patients with COVID-19.
” One case report from Singapore shows that a previously healthy 37-year-old developed severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
“ As far as SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 infection , this is all very new and emerging data .
The mechanisms for causing acute diabetes and both short- and long-term clinical outcomes are not fully known , ” said Melissa Young , spokeswoman for the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists ( ADCES ) .
“ However , data are showing that individuals with diabetes are at high risk for severe complications and death from COVID-19.
” Ms. Young noted that studies refer to metabolic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms , adding that people with high blood sugar are thought to be at highest risk .
“ Chronic hyperglycemia [ high blood sugar ] decreases the body ’ s ability to fight viruses by suppressing the immune system .
In addition , approximately 90 % of individuals living with Type 2 diabetes and about 50 % of those living with Type 1 diabetes are obese , ” she said , noting that high blood sugar and obesity can increase inflammation in the body .
“ COVID-19 can also cause severe inflammation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the same for the seasonal influenza , ” Ms. Young said .
There are other instances of coronaviruses triggering diabetes : During the 2002-2003 SARS ( severe acute respiratory syndrome ) outbreak in China , some patients with pneumonia caused by the coronavirus developed acute onset diabetes .
After three years , the diabetes in most patients went away but remained in 10 % of patients , according to a 2009 study published in SpringerLink .
Several viruses have been linked to diabetes , including enteroviruses , rotavirus and the mumps virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rubella virus can cause Type 1 diabetes .
“ We have known for many years that viral infections may be linked to the first time a patient has diabetes symptoms .
( Type 1 diabetes presents in a seasonal fashion , a fact often seen with viral infections . )
And viral infections may also trigger the destruction of the insulin-producing islet cell “ factories ” in the pancreas , setting up a chronic autoimmune response , ” Dr. Julian Hamilton-Shield , professor in diabetes at the University of Bristol , wrote in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it is unclear if COVID-19 can cause Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes , speculating that this could be a new form of diabetes , but right now there is too little data .
To gather more data , the authors of The New England Journal of Medicine letter created a global registry to record COVID-19 related diabetes cases .
While evidence points to worse outcomes of COVID-19 for people with diabetes , there is not enough data to show that these individuals are more likely to contract the virus than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association .
About 34 million people in the U.S. or 10.5 % of the population have diabetes , according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The percentage of adults with diabetes increases with age , hitting close to 27 % among those 65 years and older .
In the U.S. , the coronavirus has infected more than 2.2 million people and killed more than 120,000 as of Monday afternoon , data from Johns Hopkins University shows .

Physicians are warning in a letter published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine that COVID-19 can cause diabetes.
“There is a bidirectional relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes. On the one hand, diabetes is associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19,” the doctors, who hail from different universities, wrote in the letter. “On the other hand, new-onset diabetes and severe metabolic complications of preexisting diabetes have been observed in patients with COVID-19.”
One case report from Singapore shows that a previously healthy 37-year-old developed severe diabetes after he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
“As far as SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 infection, this is all very new and emerging data. The mechanisms for causing acute diabetes and both short- and long-term clinical outcomes are not fully known,” said Melissa Young, spokeswoman for the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES). “However, data are showing that individuals with diabetes are at high risk for severe complications and death from COVID-19.”
Ms. Young noted that studies refer to metabolic complications as contributing factors for severe COVID-19 symptoms, adding that people with high blood sugar are thought to be at highest risk.
“Chronic hyperglycemia [high blood sugar] decreases the body’s ability to fight viruses by suppressing the immune system. In addition, approximately 90% of individuals living with Type 2 diabetes and about 50% of those living with Type 1 diabetes are overweight and/or obese,” she said, noting that high blood sugar and being overweight or obese can increase inflammation in the body.
“COVID-19 can also cause severe inflammation, increasing risk for severe complications. This is the same for the seasonal influenza,” Ms. Young said.
There are other instances of coronaviruses triggering diabetes: During the 2002-2003 SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak in China, some patients with pneumonia caused by the coronavirus developed acute onset diabetes. After three years, the diabetes in most patients went away but remained in 10% of patients, according to a 2009 study published in SpringerLink. Several viruses have been linked to diabetes, including enteroviruses, rotavirus and the mumps virus. It also has been suggested that rubella virus can cause Type 1 diabetes.
“We have known for many years that viral infections may be linked to the first time a patient has diabetes symptoms. (Type 1 diabetes presents in a seasonal fashion, a fact often seen with viral infections.) And viral infections may also trigger the destruction of the insulin-producing islet cell “factories” in the pancreas, setting up a chronic autoimmune response,” Dr. Julian Hamilton-Shield, professor in diabetes at the University of Bristol, wrote in an article for TheConversation.com.
Dr. Hamilton-Shield said it is unclear if COVID-19 can cause Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, speculating that this could be a new form of diabetes, but right now there is too little data.
To gather more data, the authors of The New England Journal of Medicine letter created a global registry to record COVID-19 related diabetes cases.
While evidence points to worse outcomes of COVID-19 for people with diabetes, there is not enough data to show that these individuals are more likely to contract the virus than the general population, says the American Diabetes Association.
About 34 million people in the U.S. or 10.5% of the population have diabetes, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of adults with diabetes increases with age, hitting close to 27% among those 65 years and older. In the U.S., the coronavirus has infected more than 2.2 million people and killed more than 120,000 as of Monday afternoon, data from Johns Hopkins University shows.
• Shen Wu Tan can be reached at stan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Massive structure near Stonehenge discovered

Stonehenge , that mysterious , brooding circle of ancient megaliths , still has the capacity to surprise .
A group led by archaeologists from Britain ’ s University of Bradford announced Monday they have discovered about a 1.2-mile wide circle of ancient shafts nearby that they say are most likely from the same Neolithic time period when Stonehenge was erected , and may have marked a boundary to an even larger complex .
The structures near the Neolithic village of Durrington Walls are barely over a mile from the famous Stonehenge site on the Salisbury Plain in south-central England and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BC , the university said in a statement .
“ The area around Stonehenge is amongst the most studied archaeological landscapes on earth and it is remarkable that the application of new technology can still lead to the discovery of such a massive prehistoric structure which , currently , is significantly larger than any comparative prehistoric monument that we know of in Britain , at least , ” Bradford archaeologist Vince Gaffney said .
Researchers have found up to 20 shafts but think there may have been more than 30 in the original @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 feet wide and nearly 33 feat long .
Mr. Gaffney said the size of the shafts — and the circuit they define in the area — are “ without precedent within the UK.
” “ It demonstrates the significance of Durrington Walls Henge , the complexity of the monumental structures within the Stonehenge landscape , and the capacity and desire of Neolithic communities to record their cosmological belief systems in ways , and at a scale , that we had never previously anticipated , ” he said .
Archaeologists speculate that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directed people to religious sites , while warning others not to cross the boundary .
Dr. Nick Snashall , National Trust archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site , said the builders of Stonehenge could very well have “ eaten and feasted ” at the newly discovered site as they rested from their work , offering new clues to the overall spiritual landscape of the time.. “ This astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors , ” he said .
The research at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archaeologists led by the University of Bradford in collaboration with the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project and with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology and a number of British and Scottish universities .
“ After centuries of study of the Stonehenge landscape , the discovery of such an incredible new monument is testament to the value of interdisciplinary research , ” said Prof Henry Chapman of University of Birmingham .
“ Our understanding of this outstanding place has been transformed in recent years , and the identification of such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is always something more to discover.
” Bradford University researchers said some of holes where the shafts are located had been known for a long while , but that remote sensing , sampling and other modern analytical tools , a pattern began to emerge .
Britain is dotted with stone circles build thousands of years ago for reasons that remain mysterious .
One mixed blessing for the researchers trying to understand what they have found : The discovery comes at a time when tourism to the famous Stonehenge site has plummeted because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
• This article was based in part on wire service reports .

Stonehenge, that mysterious, brooding circle of ancient megaliths, still has the capacity to surprise.
A group led by archaeologists from Britain’s University of Bradford announced Monday they have discovered about a 1.2-mile wide circle of ancient shafts nearby that they say are most likely from the same Neolithic time period when Stonehenge was erected, and may have marked a boundary to an even larger complex.
The structures near the Neolithic village of Durrington Walls are barely over a mile from the famous Stonehenge site on the Salisbury Plain in south-central England and have been geologically dated to around 2500 BC, the university said in a statement.
“The area around Stonehenge is amongst the most studied archaeological landscapes on earth and it is remarkable that the application of new technology can still lead to the discovery of such a massive prehistoric structure which, currently, is significantly larger than any comparative prehistoric monument that we know of in Britain, at least,” Bradford archaeologist Vince Gaffney said.
Researchers have found up to 20 shafts but think there may have been more than 30 in the original structure. The shafts are just over 16 feet wide and nearly 33 feat long.
Mr. Gaffney said the size of the shafts — and the circuit they define in the area — are “without precedent within the UK.”
“It demonstrates the significance of Durrington Walls Henge, the complexity of the monumental structures within the Stonehenge landscape, and the capacity and desire of Neolithic communities to record their cosmological belief systems in ways, and at a scale, that we had never previously anticipated,” he said.
Archaeologists speculate that the features and internal post line may have directed people to religious sites, while warning others not to cross the boundary.
Dr. Nick Snashall, National Trust archaeologist for the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, said the builders of Stonehenge could very well have “eaten and feasted” at the newly discovered site as they rested from their work, offering new clues to the overall spiritual landscape of the time..
“This astonishing discovery offers us new insights into the lives and beliefs of our Neolithic ancestors,” he said.
The research at Durrington was done by a group of archaeologists led by the University of Bradford in collaboration with the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project and with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology and a number of British and Scottish universities.
“After centuries of study of the Stonehenge landscape, the discovery of such an incredible new monument is testament to the value of interdisciplinary research,” said Prof Henry Chapman of University of Birmingham. “Our understanding of this outstanding place has been transformed in recent years, and the identification of such a significant and extensive new site highlights that there is always something more to discover.”
Bradford University researchers said some of holes where the shafts are located had been known for a long while, but that remote sensing, sampling and other modern analytical tools, a pattern began to emerge. Britain is dotted with stone circles build thousands of years ago for reasons that remain mysterious.
One mixed blessing for the researchers trying to understand what they have found: The discovery comes at a time when tourism to the famous Stonehenge site has plummeted because of travel and health restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.
• This article was based in part on wire service reports.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Coronavirus, budget cuts imperil Nevada's struggling schools

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada teachers and administrators worry the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic fallout threaten to reverse recent funding hikes passed in 2019 that have buoyed their efforts to lift the state from near the bottom of the nation ’ s education rankings .
For years , Nevada schools have ranked among the nation ’ s worst .
An Education Week report presented to state lawmakers last week ranked the state 44th in the nation in per-pupil spending .
It noted that K-12 student achievement in Nevada was improving at the seventh fastest rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but still ranked 43rd in current achievement scores .
But , the pandemic has sent schools reeling .
As students and teachers adapt to less classroom time , administrators are simultaneously confronting challenges posed by reopening and potential budget cuts .
“ It ’ s very intense , ” Clark County Superintendent Jesus Jara said .
“ It ’ s taken its toll.
” While working on a reopening plan for the district ’ s more than 320,000 students and 33,000 employees , Jara is also closely eyeing the efforts of Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plug the state ’ s $ 812 million hole for the fiscal year ending June 30 .
On June 12 , the Legislature ’ s finance committee approved a plan to address the projected $ 265.3 million shortfall in the state ’ s Distributive School Account , where the state ’ s education dollars are stored .
Tax revenue from gambling , hospitality and live events , which has long underwritten most of the state ’ s budget , has plummeted after the pandemic shuttered businesses and slowed tourism .
Schools are likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax revenue than initially projected .
The alarming figures arrive a year after what many education advocates saw as a triumphant finish to Nevada ’ s 2019 legislative session when lawmakers earmarked $ 2.3 billion in general fund revenue for schools .
They increased funding by $ 327 million to reduce class sizes , allocated an additional $ 72 million to increase pay for teachers and spent more than $ 100 million on reading and safety initiatives .
Cuts will imperil the progress the Legislature addressed , Jara said , and make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improving .
“ If we ’ ve learned anything from the virus , it ’ s that the inequities in urban schools are great , ” he said .
Clark County School District ’ s efforts to transition to remote learning have been hampered by the fact that 70,000 of the district ’ s students don ’ t have access to WiFi-capable devices , Jara said .
As staff puts together a reopening proposal , which they plan to unveil at a June 25 meeting , Jara said he has realized that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transitioning students back to classrooms even more difficult .
The district is planning to rotate groups of elementary , middle and high school students into classrooms by days or by weeks to ensure social distancing and classroom cleaning can take place .
During off-weeks , when students aren ’ t in the classroom , they ’ ll log in to class remotely from home .
The district plans to contain students to classrooms during their lunch periods and is still finalizing its transportation plans .
Purchasing the Chromebook computers necessary to roll out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated $ 21 million , Jara said .
John Vellardita , the executive director of the Clark County Education Association , said he didn ’ t understand the disconnect necessary for state officials to simultaneously pursue reopening and budget cuts , especially given the number of students unable to access remote learning .
“ You can not talk about reopening these schools by cutting the funding at significant levels and at the same time recognize that COVID-19 requires more funding just to be able to reach about one-third of students in Clark County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader said .
Vellardita vowed that teachers won ’ t return to classrooms unless they ’ re confident in the district ’ s safety precautions .
“ We ’ ve made that loud and clear .
We ’ re not putting people ’ s lives at risk if there aren ’ t these types of precautions in these schools , ” he said .
“ You don ’ t roll out a plan and not put one damn dollar on it when everyone knows what it ’ s going to cost to reopen.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chopping block , Vellardita said , unless Nevada lawmakers find new revenue streams beyond taxing gambling , hospitality and adjacent industries .
State lawmakers have long fought over the need to diversify revenue streams and whether the ideal mechanism is raising taxes , investing in luring new industries to the state , or both .
The pandemic has galvanized both sides of the debate , with advocates arguing now is as good of a time as any to wean Nevada off of relying on gambling and hospitality tax revenues and opponents arguing any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inflict further distress on Nevadans already struggling .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada educators worry the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic fallout threaten to reverse recent funding increases aimed at lifting the state from near the bottom of the nation’s educational rankings.
For years, Nevada schools have ranked among the nation’s worst. A report presented last week to state lawmakers showed it ranked 44th in the U.S. for per-pupil spending.
The report said K-12 student achievement was improving at the seventh fastest rate of any state in the country, but still ranked 43rd in current achievement scores.
Now, the pandemic has sent schools reeling. As students and teachers adapt to online classes, administrators are confronting reopening challenges and potential budget cuts.
“It’s very intense,” Clark County Superintendent Jesus Jara said. “It’s taken its toll.”
While working on a reopening plan for the district’s more than 320,000 students and 33,000 employees, Jara is closely monitoring lawmakers’ efforts to plug the state’s $812 million budget hole.
Tax revenue from gambling, hospitality and live events, which has long underwritten most of the state’s budget, plummeted after the pandemic shuttered businesses and slowed tourism. On June 12, the Legislature’s finance committee approved a plan that projected a $265.3 million shortfall in the account for education.
The alarming figures arrive a year after what many education advocates viewed as a triumphant finish to the legislative session - when lawmakers dedicated $2.3 billion for schools, adding $327 million to reduce class sizes, allocating $72 million to boost teacher pay and spending more than $100 million on reading and safety initiatives.
Cuts will imperil the progress, Jara said, and make it more difficult for districts to continue improving. “If we’ve learned anything from the virus, it’s that the inequities in urban schools are great,” he said.
Clark County School District, which encompasses the Las Vegas area and is the nation’s fifth largest, has seen its efforts to transition to remote learning hampered by the fact that 70,000 students don’t have access to Wi-Fi capable devices, Jara said.
As staff puts together a reopening proposal by Thursday, Jara said the district’s large class sizes make transitioning students back to classrooms even more difficult in the era of coronavirus.
The district plans to rotate groups of students into classrooms to ensure social distancing and classroom cleaning can take place, Jara said. On days when students are not in classrooms, they’ll log in to class remotely from home.
Under Jara’s proposal, one cohort of students will attend class on Mondays and Tuesdays, classrooms will be cleaned on Wednesdays and a second cohort will attend class on Thursdays and Fridays.
The district plans to contain students to classrooms during their lunch periods and is still finalizing transportation plans. Purchasing the laptop computers necessary to roll out a remote learning plan could cost an estimated $28 million.
John Vellardita, executive director of the Clark County Education Association, said lawmakers looking to balance the state’s budget should understand reopening costs.
“You cannot talk about reopening these schools by cutting the funding at significant levels and at the same time recognize that COVID-19 requires more funding just to be able to reach about one-third of students in Clark County School District alone,” he said.
Vellardita vowed that teachers won’t return to classrooms unless they’re confident in the district’s safety precautions.
“We’re not putting people’s lives at risk if there aren’t these types of precautions in these schools,” he said. “You don’t roll out a plan and not put one damn dollar on it when everyone knows what it’s going to cost to reopen.”
Lawmakers have long fought over the need to diversify revenue streams and whether the ideal mechanism is raising taxes, luring new industries to the state, or both.
The pandemic has galvanized both sides. Advocates like Vellardita are arguing now is as good a time as any to wean the state from relying on gambling and hospitality tax revenues. Opponents, however, are saying any tax hike could threaten economic recovery and hurt residents who are already struggling.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Judge grants compassionate release to alleged mob enforcer

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A federal judge on Monday ordered the release from prison of an alleged organized crime enforcer who is said to have health issues that place him at heightened risk from coronavirus .
Mario Rainone , 65 , has spent nearly half of his life in prison for extorting borrowers with death threats and throwing a grenade onto a theater roof in an effort to take over the business , among other crimes .
He was serving time for gun possession .
Rainone asked for release to home confinement last month , saying prostate cancer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ susceptible to COVID-19 .
Court records show U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber rejected prosecutors ’ objections and granted Rainone ’ s request , ordering prison officials to release him for time served .
“ The court is optimistic that Rainone understands that given his long criminal history and his advancing age , he is likely to spend the rest of his natural life imprisoned if he breaks the law again , ” Leinenweber wrote , noting Rainone ’ s last conviction for violent crime was more than 30 years ago .
Rainone was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serving time for racketeering and extortion and was not allowed to have a firearm .
Then , in 2009 , authorities found a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver during a search of his home .
Leinenweber gave Rainone a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said Rainone ’ s prostate cancer had been successfully treated seven years earlier , and he accused Rainone of misleading the judge .
Defense attorney Joseph Lopez argued Rainone has been a model prisoner and is no longer a threat to society .
He requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Chicago and work at his brother ’ s jewelry business .

CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge on Monday ordered the release from prison of an alleged organized crime enforcer who is said to have health issues that place him at heightened risk from coronavirus.
Mario Rainone, 65, has spent nearly half of his life in prison for extorting borrowers with death threats and throwing a grenade onto a theater roof in an effort to take over the business, among other crimes. He was serving time for gun possession.
Rainone asked for release to home confinement last month, saying prostate cancer, liver disease and heart problems make him susceptible to COVID-19. Court records show U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber rejected prosecutors’ objections and granted Rainone’s request, ordering prison officials to release him for time served.
“The court is optimistic that Rainone understands that given his long criminal history and his advancing age, he is likely to spend the rest of his natural life imprisoned if he breaks the law again,” Leinenweber wrote, noting Rainone’s last conviction for violent crime was more than 30 years ago.
Rainone was released from prison in in 2006 after serving time for racketeering and extortion and was not allowed to have a firearm. Then, in 2009, authorities found a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver during a search of his home. Leinenweber gave Rainone a mandatory minimum 15-year sentence
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said Rainone’s prostate cancer had been successfully treated seven years earlier, and he accused Rainone of misleading the judge.
Defense attorney Joseph Lopez argued Rainone has been a model prisoner and is no longer a threat to society. He requested to live with his daughter and grandchildren outside Chicago and work at his brother’s jewelry business.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Ex-Arkansas day care worked charged with assaulting 2 kids

FAYETTEVILLE , Ark .
( AP ) - A former day care worker at an Arkansas university was charged on @ @ @ @ @ children .
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that court documents show Joseph Charles O ’ Neill @ @ @ @ @ counts of second-degree sexual assault .
Washington County prosecuting attorney Matt Durrett said the charges @ @ @ @ @ at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center at the University of Arkansas , Fayetteville @ @ @ @ @ at the day care center from Aug. 12 until March 4 , when he was @ @ @ @ @ the university said .
Court documents allege the assaults took place on or about March @ @ @ @ @ assault states the alleged victim was three years old .
Durrett said the charges refer @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill , a Fayetteville resident , was released from jail March 5 on @ @ @ @ @ Court records did not list an attorney for O ’ Neill .

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A former day care worker at an Arkansas university was charged on Monday with allegedly assaulting two children.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that court documents show Joseph Charles O’Neill, 31, faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault.
Washington County prosecuting attorney Matt Durrett said the charges are based on alleged assaults at the Jean Tyson Child Development Study Center at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
O’Neill worked at the day care center from Aug. 12 until March 4, when he was fired after his arrest, the university said.
Court documents allege the assaults took place on or about March 2. Each count of assault states the alleged victim was three years old. Durrett said the charges refer to two separate victims.
O’Neill, a Fayetteville resident, was released from jail March 5 on a $50,000 bond.
Court records did not list an attorney for O’Neill.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Country's oldest city moves to relocate Confederate memorial

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) - Leaders of the country ’ s oldest city moved Monday night to relocate a Confederate memorial that has been a fixture in its historic central plaza for 140 years , taking action after weeks of demonstrations in the Florida city to protest racism and police brutality against Black people .
The St. Augustine City Commission voted 3-2 to relocate a towering obelisk that bears the names of dozens of Confederate soldiers who perished during the Civil War .
The commission made its decision after nine hours of testimony , including the reading out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustrated the clear division among many of the city ’ s residents .
In the weeks after George Floyd ’ s death , protesters by the hundreds have swarmed the historic city .
The memorial has been a key focus of the outrage , with supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement arguing that the memorial is a symbol of slavery and the oppression of African Americans .
Meanwhile , those who want to keep the memorial in its place in the Plaza de la Constitucion assert that it is a remembrance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The obelisk was placed in the plaza in 1879 and is one of the region ’ s oldest Confederate monuments .
The city had taken up the issue of moving the memorial two years ago , but instead decided to install plaques to provide historical context .
But protests spawned by Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis renewed calls for the monument to be moved .
St. Augustine was founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1565 and touts itself as the oldest continuously functioning community in the United States .
With its decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perhaps brick by brick .
But exactly where won ’ t be formally discussed until a decision ’ s been made on how to remove it from its highly-visible perch .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Leaders of the country’s oldest city moved Monday night to relocate a Confederate memorial that has been a fixture in its historic central plaza for 140 years, taking action after weeks of demonstrations in the Florida city to protest racism and police brutality against Black people.
The St. Augustine City Commission voted 3-2 to relocate a towering obelisk that bears the names of dozens of Confederate soldiers who perished during the Civil War.
The commission made its decision after nine hours of testimony, including the reading out loud of more than 300 emails that illustrated the clear division among many of the city’s residents.
In the weeks after George Floyd’s death, protesters by the hundreds have swarmed the historic city. The memorial has been a key focus of the outrage, with supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement arguing that the memorial is a symbol of slavery and the oppression of African Americans.
Meanwhile, those who want to keep the memorial in its place in the Plaza de la Constitucion assert that it is a remembrance of the men who died in the war. The obelisk was placed in the plaza in 1879 and is one of the region’s oldest Confederate monuments.
The city had taken up the issue of moving the memorial two years ago, but instead decided to install plaques to provide historical context. But protests spawned by Floyd’s death in Minneapolis renewed calls for the monument to be moved.
St. Augustine was founded by Spanish conquistadors in 1565 and touts itself as the oldest continuously functioning community in the United States.
With its decision, the memorial will be moved, perhaps brick by brick. But exactly where won’t be formally discussed until a decision’s been made on how to remove it from its highly-visible perch.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--No damage, injuries from 4.6-magnitude California earthquake

LONE PINE , Calif. ( AP ) - An earthquake rattled Central California Monday evening but no damage or injuries @ @ @ @ @ magnitude-4.6 temblor struck at 5:25 p.m. southeast of the community of Lone Pine in Inyo @ @ @ @ @ U.S. Geological Survey .
The area is located between Sequoia National Park and Death Valley @ @ @ @ @ miles north of Los Angeles .

LONE PINE, Calif. (AP) - An earthquake rattled Central California Monday evening but no damage or injuries were immediately reported.
A magnitude-4.6 temblor struck at 5:25 p.m. southeast of the community of Lone Pine in Inyo County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The area is located between Sequoia National Park and Death Valley National Park, about 170 miles north of Los Angeles.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Secret Service tells media to evacuate White House grounds

The press has been evacuated from the White House grounds .
The unusual move — the president is almost always @ @ @ @ @ pool reporters — was made without any explanation Monday evening , CNN reported .
The @ @ @ @ @ demonstrators across the street in Lafayette Park declared the “ Black House Autonomous Zone , @ @ @ @ @ the anarchist police-free enclave in Seattle .
Earlier in the evening , rioters had tried @ @ @ @ @ of Andrew Jackson in the square but failed , and police quickly pushed them away @ @ @ @ @ .

The press has been evacuated from the White House grounds.
The unusual move — the president is almost always followed by at least a pool reporters — was made without any explanation Monday evening, CNN reported.
The Secret Service order came as demonstrators across the street in Lafayette Park declared the “Black House Autonomous Zone,” in apparent imitation of the anarchist police-free enclave in Seattle.
Earlier in the evening, rioters had tried to bring down a statue of Andrew Jackson in the square but failed, and police quickly pushed them away and established a security perimeter.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Denver airport ordered to pay $33.5M for noise violations

DENVER ( AP ) - A judge has ordered Denver International Airport to pay $ 33.5 million for noise violations that affected nearby neighborhoods during a three-year period starting in 2014 .
Jefferson County District Judge Christie Bachmeyer ruled that DIA did not properly monitor aircraft noise , violating an intergovernmental agreement with Adams County dating back to the late 1980s , The Denver Post reported .
The ruling was handed down Friday and made public Monday .
Bachmeyer said the airport must now pay $ 500,000 for each of the 67 violations over the three-year period from 2014 through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airport relied on an arcane and outdated noise modeling system , rather than actual ground measurements , to gauge airport noise .
The county , along with the cities of Thornton , Aurora and Brighton , sued DIA in 2018 over the noise issue , which affected long-established neighborhoods west and south of the airport .
The case went to trial in Jefferson County last fall .
Denver had agreed to measure and minimize aircraft noise as part of its annexation of land in Adams County back in the 1980s for the 53-square-mile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argued at trial .
“ Adams County was willing to take on the burdens of having an international airport as long those burdens were mitigated , ” County Commissioner Steve O ’ Dorisio said Monday .
DIA spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said Monday that airport leaders are “ disappointed in the decision and are considering next steps.
” She did not say if that would include an appeal .
Airport officials have argued that as aviation technology advanced and planes became quieter , the municipalities feared money generated from excessive noise fines would dry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

DENVER (AP) - A judge has ordered Denver International Airport to pay $33.5 million for noise violations that affected nearby neighborhoods during a three-year period starting in 2014.
Jefferson County District Judge Christie Bachmeyer ruled that DIA did not properly monitor aircraft noise, violating an intergovernmental agreement with Adams County dating back to the late 1980s, The Denver Post reported. The ruling was handed down Friday and made public Monday.
Bachmeyer said the airport must now pay $500,000 for each of the 67 violations over the three-year period from 2014 through 2016.
Adams County argued that the airport relied on an arcane and outdated noise modeling system, rather than actual ground measurements, to gauge airport noise. The county, along with the cities of Thornton, Aurora and Brighton, sued DIA in 2018 over the noise issue, which affected long-established neighborhoods west and south of the airport. The case went to trial in Jefferson County last fall.
Denver had agreed to measure and minimize aircraft noise as part of its annexation of land in Adams County back in the 1980s for the 53-square-mile (137-square-kilometer) airport, the county argued at trial.
“Adams County was willing to take on the burdens of having an international airport as long those burdens were mitigated,” County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio said Monday.
DIA spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said Monday that airport leaders are “disappointed in the decision and are considering next steps.” She did not say if that would include an appeal.
Airport officials have argued that as aviation technology advanced and planes became quieter, the municipalities feared money generated from excessive noise fines would dry up - precipitating the most recent litigation.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--N.C. man arrested amid effort to move Confederate monuments

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - North Carolina State Capitol Police on Monday announced the arrest of a man suspected of starting a riot days earlier that led to a pair of damaged Confederate monuments on the old Capitol grounds .
Conrad Paul James , 27 , was charged with inciting a riot , first-degree trespass , resisting an officer and injury to personal property , for events covering two nights , authorities said .
He was arrested Sunday night after he allegedly jumped a fence around the Three Presidents monument in Union Square and failed to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawley said in a news release .
Two statues of Confederate soldiers attached to the obelisk were pulled down by demonstrators Friday night , and the state ’ s governor subsequently ordered the remaining monuments be moved to protect public safety .
By midday Saturday , crews had removed the monument to the Women of the Confederacy and the figure of Henry Lawson Wyatt .
James was in the Wake County jail on a $ 55,000 secured bond , the police statement said .
A jail official didn ’ t have information late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At Gov .
Roy Cooper ’ s direction , the state on Sunday started to remove a 75-foot ( 23 meter ) obelisk near the old 1840 Capitol building .
The soldier standing atop the obelisk was taken down in the morning , but crews couldn ’ t remove the entire monument .
By Monday afternoon , the foundation remained intact with graffiti written on it demanding the state “ take it down.
” Messages of “ BLM ( Black Lives Matter ) ” and “ no justice , no peace ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toppling and removal of monuments to the Confederacy come across North Carolina and the country amid protests against racism and incidents of police brutality and the deaths of African Americans in encounters with law enforcement .
In eastern North Carolina outside the Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville , crews removed a bronze 27-foot ( 8-meter ) Confederate statue early Monday .
It took more than five hours for a crane to lift the statue off its pedestal .
A county news release said the pedestal would be taken away later .
The city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy signed an agreement providing for the relocation of the “ Fame ” Confederate statue .
Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina State Capitol Police on Monday announced the arrest of a man suspected of starting a riot days earlier that led to a pair of damaged Confederate monuments on the old Capitol grounds.
Conrad Paul James, 27, was charged with inciting a riot, first-degree trespass, resisting an officer and injury to personal property, for events covering two nights, authorities said.
He was arrested Sunday night after he allegedly jumped a fence around the Three Presidents monument in Union Square and failed to return to the other side, police Chief Chip Hawley said in a news release.
Two statues of Confederate soldiers attached to the obelisk were pulled down by demonstrators Friday night, and the state’s governor subsequently ordered the remaining monuments be moved to protect public safety. By midday Saturday, crews had removed the monument to the Women of the Confederacy and the figure of Henry Lawson Wyatt.
James was in the Wake County jail on a $55,000 secured bond, the police statement said. A jail official didn’t have information late Monday about whether James had an attorney.
At Gov. Roy Cooper’s direction, the state on Sunday started to remove a 75-foot (23 meter) obelisk near the old 1840 Capitol building. The soldier standing atop the obelisk was taken down in the morning, but crews couldn’t remove the entire monument.
By Monday afternoon, the foundation remained intact with graffiti written on it demanding the state “take it down.” Messages of “BLM (Black Lives Matter)” and “no justice, no peace” also were inscribed on it.
The toppling and removal of monuments to the Confederacy come across North Carolina and the country amid protests against racism and incidents of police brutality and the deaths of African Americans in encounters with law enforcement.
In eastern North Carolina outside the Pitt County Courthouse in Greenville, crews removed a bronze 27-foot (8-meter) Confederate statue early Monday. It took more than five hours for a crane to lift the statue off its pedestal. A county news release said the pedestal would be taken away later.
The city of Salisbury announced Monday afternoon that its local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy signed an agreement providing for the relocation of the “Fame” Confederate statue.
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Follow Anderson at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson.
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Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Timing now right as Weaver takes over as Detroit's GM

DETROIT ( AP ) - The timing eventually worked out for Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons .
The Pistons introduced Weaver as their new general manager on a video conference Monday .
The former Oklahoma City Thunder executive joins a Detroit team that was interested in him previously - and he takes over a GM spot that was vacant for a couple years .
“ We had actually tried to talk to Troy a couple years ago .
OKC wasn ’ t quite ready to let him go , ” Pistons owner Tom Gores said .
“ So he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a while.
” The Pistons shook up their front office two years ago .
Stan Van Gundy had been the coach and team president , and after Detroit moved on from him , there was no official GM .
Ed Stefanski took over the front office , and Dwane Casey was hired as coach .
Now Weaver will fill the GM role , with Stefanski remaining as a senior advisor to Gores .
“ Troy , Ed and Dwane will work on a day-to-day basis with each other , ” Gores said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even higher than normal , GM responsibilities.
” Weaver said he felt loyal to the Thunder and wanted to help bring a championship to Oklahoma City - but he thought now the fit was right with the Pistons .
The Pistons haven ’ t won a playoff game since 2008 , although Weaver described the situation as a “ restoring ” and not a rebuild .
The Pistons went 20-46 this season and traded Andre Drummond in February .
They hope to have more flexibility going forward .
“ We didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time when Ed came on , so we felt like we really needed to clean things up , ” Gores said .
“ I think he did a great job .
… The reason Ed did not come on as GM , we had decided that Ed was going to be one level kind of above that , and that we needed to leave that spot open for our next 10 , 15 years , for somebody like Troy.
” Although the Pistons dealt Drummond and bought out point guard Reggie Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the roster in Blake Griffin .
Weaver mentioned Griffin and guard Derrick Rose immediately when asked about Detroit ’ s roster .
“ Those guys have had some injury history , and they ’ re looking forward to building their careers back , so that stood out .
Excited to get them healthy and help us move forward , ” Weaver said .
“ Then the second piece of it is the young players on the roster - Sekou ( Doumbouya ) , ( Luke ) Kennard , Bruce Brown , Svi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not want to discuss forward Christian Wood because of his free agency .
The Pistons announced the hiring of the 52-year-old Weaver last week .
He spent the past 12 seasons with the Thunder , including three-plus years as vice president of basketball operations .
He served eight seasons as vice president/assistant general manager .
Weaver , Gores , Casey , Stefanski and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem were all on the video conference Monday .
“ I always recognized Troy as one of the top talent evaluators - you just look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a big part of doing that .
Not only that , he ’ s a man of his word , ” Casey said .
“ He ’ s genuine , he ’ s real , and I will say this , and in today ’ s time , with all the unrest , here ’ s an opportunity for an African American man to be named to this position , and I ’ m going to credit Tom and Arn and Ed for opening up the door for the opportunity for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the importance of diversifying the front office with this hire .
“ Did we put an emphasis , and make it a priority ?
Yes , ” Gores said .
“ But at the same time , can ’ t take an ounce away from Troy .
He was the best person in the world for this job .
”

DETROIT (AP) - The timing eventually worked out for Troy Weaver and the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons introduced Weaver as their new general manager on a video conference Monday. The former Oklahoma City Thunder executive joins a Detroit team that was interested in him previously - and he takes over a GM spot that was vacant for a couple years.
“We had actually tried to talk to Troy a couple years ago. OKC wasn’t quite ready to let him go,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said. “So he’s been on our radar for a while.”
The Pistons shook up their front office two years ago. Stan Van Gundy had been the coach and team president, and after Detroit moved on from him, there was no official GM. Ed Stefanski took over the front office, and Dwane Casey was hired as coach.
Now Weaver will fill the GM role, with Stefanski remaining as a senior advisor to Gores.
“Troy, Ed and Dwane will work on a day-to-day basis with each other,” Gores said. “Troy will have normal, and even higher than normal, GM responsibilities.”
Weaver said he felt loyal to the Thunder and wanted to help bring a championship to Oklahoma City - but he thought now the fit was right with the Pistons.
The Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since 2008, although Weaver described the situation as a “restoring” and not a rebuild. The Pistons went 20-46 this season and traded Andre Drummond in February. They hope to have more flexibility going forward.
“We didn’t have a lot of cap room at the time when Ed came on, so we felt like we really needed to clean things up,” Gores said. “I think he did a great job. … The reason Ed did not come on as GM, we had decided that Ed was going to be one level kind of above that, and that we needed to leave that spot open for our next 10, 15 years, for somebody like Troy.”
Although the Pistons dealt Drummond and bought out point guard Reggie Jackson, they still have an expensive star on the roster in Blake Griffin. Weaver mentioned Griffin and guard Derrick Rose immediately when asked about Detroit’s roster.
“Those guys have had some injury history, and they’re looking forward to building their careers back, so that stood out. Excited to get them healthy and help us move forward,” Weaver said. “Then the second piece of it is the young players on the roster - Sekou (Doumbouya), (Luke) Kennard, Bruce Brown, Svi (Mykhailiuk).”
Weaver did not want to discuss forward Christian Wood because of his free agency.
The Pistons announced the hiring of the 52-year-old Weaver last week. He spent the past 12 seasons with the Thunder, including three-plus years as vice president of basketball operations. He served eight seasons as vice president/assistant general manager.
Weaver, Gores, Casey, Stefanski and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem were all on the video conference Monday.
“I always recognized Troy as one of the top talent evaluators - you just look at the finished products in OKC, he had a big part of doing that. Not only that, he’s a man of his word,” Casey said. “He’s genuine, he’s real, and I will say this, and in today’s time, with all the unrest, here’s an opportunity for an African American man to be named to this position, and I’m going to credit Tom and Arn and Ed for opening up the door for the opportunity for him to step in.”
Gores was asked about the importance of diversifying the front office with this hire.
“Did we put an emphasis, and make it a priority? Yes,” Gores said. “But at the same time, can’t take an ounce away from Troy. He was the best person in the world for this job.”
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Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/tag/NBAbasketball


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Shipping containers fall overboard near Hilo

HONOLULU ( AP ) - At least 21 shipping containers fell from overboard into the ocean near Hilo Monday , the U.S. Coast Guard said .
Nine of the 40-foot ( 12-meter ) shipping containers were located and 12 remained missing , the Coast Guard said .
The crew of the tug and barge Ho Omaka Hou saw the containers were missing after mooring in Hilo .
Containers were reportedly adrift approximately 8 miles ( 12.87 kilometers ) north of Hilo and one was reported adrift in Hilo Harbor , the Coast Guard said .
The Coast Guard is investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a salvage team to locate and recover as many containers as possible .
No injuries were reported .
The barge was traveling from Honolulu , said Chris Martin , Young Brothers director of terminal operations .
“ We have deployed a team of investigators to work closely with state and federal officials in determining the cause of the incident , ” Martin said in a statement .
“ Once the site has been declared safe , we will determine the number of containers impacted and contact affected customers.
” The Coast Guard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lookout for containers that may pose a hazard to navigation .

HONOLULU (AP) - At least 21 shipping containers fell from overboard into the ocean near Hilo Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
Nine of the 40-foot (12-meter) shipping containers were located and 12 remained missing, the Coast Guard said.
The crew of the tug and barge Ho Omaka Hou saw the containers were missing after mooring in Hilo. Containers were reportedly adrift approximately 8 miles (12.87 kilometers) north of Hilo and one was reported adrift in Hilo Harbor, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard is investigating and shipping company Young Brothers is working with a salvage team to locate and recover as many containers as possible. No injuries were reported.
The barge was traveling from Honolulu, said Chris Martin, Young Brothers director of terminal operations.
“We have deployed a team of investigators to work closely with state and federal officials in determining the cause of the incident,” Martin said in a statement. “Once the site has been declared safe, we will determine the number of containers impacted and contact affected customers.”
The Coast Guard issued a warning to mariners to keep a lookout for containers that may pose a hazard to navigation.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--'Black House Autonomous Zone' declared amid Washington, D.C. protests

Demonstrators outside the White House have declared a “ Black House Autonomous Zone , ” in apparent imitation of the @ @ @ @ @ According to video from on-scene reporters at Lafayette Park , the demonstrators are marking the @ @ @ @ @ things , desecrating St. John ’ s Episcopal Church .
One video from the Daily @ @ @ @ @ BHAZ ” spray painted on the columns holding up the traditional “ church of presidents.
@ @ @ @ @ despite having been very receptive for weeks toward the protesters , even criticizing President Trump @ @ @ @ @ the church after police had cleared out an earlier round of demonstrators from Lafayette Park @ @ @ @ @ a security perimeter around the historic church .
Other video footage showed people setting up @ @ @ @ @ boards marked “ BHAZ , ” “ Black House Autonomous Zone ” and “ People @ @ @ @ @

Demonstrators outside the White House have declared a “Black House Autonomous Zone,” in apparent imitation of the secessionist enclave in Seattle.
According to video from on-scene reporters at Lafayette Park, the demonstrators are marking the Zone by, among other things, desecrating St. John’s Episcopal Church.
One video from the Daily Caller showed the letters “BHAZ” spray painted on the columns holding up the traditional “church of presidents.”
St. John’s Church has been vandalized with spray paint reading BHAZ (Black House Autonomous Zone) pic.twitter.com/8D7UITVTK0 — Richie🎥McG🍿 (@RichieMcGinniss) June 23, 2020
The church was vandalized despite having been very receptive for weeks toward the protesters, even criticizing President Trump for posing in front of the church after police had cleared out an earlier round of demonstrators from Lafayette Park.
SEE ALSO: Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Square saved by police amid protests
Mr. Trump himself noted the vandalism against the church Monday night, in a tweet that threatened lengthy prison terms on rioters who attack historic sites.
“Numerous people arrested in D.C. for the disgraceful vandalism, in Lafayette Park, of the magnificent Statue of Andrew Jackson, in addition to the exterior defacing of St. John’s Church across the street. 10 years in prison under the Veteran’s Memorial Preservation Act. Beware!” he wrote.
Police would later establish a security perimeter around the demonstrators at the historic church.
Police establishing a perimeter in front of St. John’s Church pic.twitter.com/9rinlhH6gS — Richie🎥McG🍿 (@RichieMcGinniss) June 23, 2020
Other video footage showed people setting up fences, traffic barriers and boards marked “BHAZ,” “Black House Autonomous Zone” and “People’s Fence.”
Protesters outside the White House are attempting to declare a “Black House Autonomous Zone”
pic.twitter.com/FLu9xHm3T7 — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 22, 2020
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Mexican triplets test positive for virus on day of birth

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexico ’ s novel coronavirus cases mounted and added their youngest infections Monday , when triplets tested positive for the virus on the day they were born .
Monica Rangel , the health secretary of the northern state of San Luis Potosi , said the triplets were born May 8 to a mother who was also positive but asymptomatic .
Rangel said the triplets are not believed to be in danger .
She said the case was being studied to see whether the triplets were infected before or after birth was being conducted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been infected outside the womb so quickly .
It is not the first time newborns have tested positive for the virus , but it is rare .
Nationwide , Mexico ’ s confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 4,577 to 185,122 , and the confirmed death toll rose by 759 to 22,584 .
Both numbers are considered significant undercounts due to Mexico ’ s very low levels of testing .
Officials said that levels of infections appear to have stabilized , and held out hopes , as they have many times before , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico’s novel coronavirus cases mounted and added their youngest infections Monday, when triplets tested positive for the virus on the day they were born.
Monica Rangel, the health secretary of the northern state of San Luis Potosi, said the triplets were born May 8 to a mother who was also positive but asymptomatic.
Rangel said the triplets are not believed to be in danger. She said the case was being studied to see whether the triplets were infected before or after birth was being conducted, but said it appeared improbable they could have been infected outside the womb so quickly.
It is not the first time newborns have tested positive for the virus, but it is rare.
Nationwide, Mexico’s confirmed coronavirus cases rose by 4,577 to 185,122, and the confirmed death toll rose by 759 to 22,584.
Both numbers are considered significant undercounts due to Mexico’s very low levels of testing. Officials said that levels of infections appear to have stabilized, and held out hopes, as they have many times before, that the numbers may start declining soon.


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--At least 15 dead in southern Mexico wind-farm feud killings

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - A longstanding feud over a wind-power project has boiled over into grisly violence , after at least 15 people were bludgeoned to death with stones and cement blocks , and some bodies were partly burned .
The government of the Pacific coast community of San Mateo del Mar in Oaxaca state said Monday that 13 men and two women were killed in what he described as an attack by a group of dissident townspeople on Sunday .
But dissidents who successfully opposed wind power projects in the largely Indigenous area say the mayor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checkpoint and began shooting .
The dissidents said “ several ” people were wounded but did not provide an exact figure on those wounded by gunshots .
The prosecutors office in the southern state confirmed the figure of 15 dead , and said a detachment of four detectives , 80 state police and 39 National Guard members had been sent to the scene of the killings .
It was not clear whether the confrontations Saturday and Sunday in San Mateo del Mar began at one of the “ sanitary ” checkpoints that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of coronavirus .
The area has been coveted for its open , windy coast , and the two sides have been feuding for years .
The conflicts date back to 2012 when a consortium of companies tried to build a huge , 396-megawatt off-shore wind farm planned for a narrow spit of land in a lagoon near San Mateo .
The opponents managed to block the project , arguing it would affect their fishing , farming and sacred spaces .
Many residents belong to the Ikoots Indigenous group , sometimes known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced on the same day that Public Safety Secretary Alfonso Durazo praised the south-eastern part of the country , where Oaxaca is located , as the safest part of the country .
“ The southeast is particularly giving the best results in public safety , which is not easy anywhere , but specifically in the southeast the crime rate is much , much less serious than in the rest of the country , ” Durazo said .
That was in part because , before Sunday , the most spectacular violence was occurring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which now accounts for about 15 % to 20 % of all the country ’ s homicides .
Attention was dominated by a weekend roundup of gang members in Guanajuato , which unleashed reprisal burning of vehicles by the Santa Rosa de Lima gang .
That gang is fighting a bloody turf battle against the Jalisco cartel for control of the state .
On Monday , President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the crackdown on the gang was carried out becaue “ we can not let the situation fall into chaos , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have faced for some time now , and we had to act to prevent more bloodshed .
”

MEXICO CITY (AP) - A longstanding feud over a wind-power project has boiled over into grisly violence, after at least 15 people were bludgeoned to death with stones and cement blocks, and some bodies were partly burned.
The government of the Pacific coast community of San Mateo del Mar in Oaxaca state said Monday that 13 men and two women were killed in what he described as an attack by a group of dissident townspeople on Sunday.
But dissidents who successfully opposed wind power projects in the largely Indigenous area say the mayor’s followers ambushed them at a coronavirus checkpoint and began shooting. The dissidents said “several” people were wounded but did not provide an exact figure on those wounded by gunshots.
The prosecutors office in the southern state confirmed the figure of 15 dead, and said a detachment of four detectives, 80 state police and 39 National Guard members had been sent to the scene of the killings.
It was not clear whether the confrontations Saturday and Sunday in San Mateo del Mar began at one of the “sanitary” checkpoints that have sprung up in recent months to stem the spread of coronavirus.
The area has been coveted for its open, windy coast, and the two sides have been feuding for years. The conflicts date back to 2012 when a consortium of companies tried to build a huge, 396-megawatt off-shore wind farm planned for a narrow spit of land in a lagoon near San Mateo.
The opponents managed to block the project, arguing it would affect their fishing, farming and sacred spaces.
Many residents belong to the Ikoots Indigenous group, sometimes known as the Huaves.
The killings were announced on the same day that Public Safety Secretary Alfonso Durazo praised the south-eastern part of the country, where Oaxaca is located, as the safest part of the country.
“The southeast is particularly giving the best results in public safety, which is not easy anywhere, but specifically in the southeast the crime rate is much, much less serious than in the rest of the country,” Durazo said.
That was in part because, before Sunday, the most spectacular violence was occurring in the north, in states like Guanajuato, which now accounts for about 15% to 20% of all the country’s homicides.
Attention was dominated by a weekend roundup of gang members in Guanajuato, which unleashed reprisal burning of vehicles by the Santa Rosa de Lima gang. That gang is fighting a bloody turf battle against the Jalisco cartel for control of the state.
On Monday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said the crackdown on the gang was carried out becaue “we cannot let the situation fall into chaos, anarchy … Guanajuato is a situation we have faced for some time now, and we had to act to prevent more bloodshed.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-22--Fired US attorney refused to sign letter critical of NYC

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - A day before Geoffrey S. Berman was axed from his job as head of the U.S. Attorney ’ s office in Manhattan , he refused to sign onto a letter crafted by senior officials in Washington lambasting New York ’ s mayor for putting COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings .
Berman ’ s refusal didn ’ t directly contribute to his ouster .
But it was another example of the ways in which he appeared to run afoul of Attorney General William Barr and other high-ranking officials at the Justice Department .
According to several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a political donor to President Donald Trump who investigated and charged some of his allies , wasn ’ t a team player .
He operated outside Washington leadership , and won praise from Trump critics as an independent thinker .
And he had refused to even alert Washington to cases his high-profile department was working on .
The people were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity .
As a result , Berman ’ s job often appeared to be in jeopardy .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Trump , despite having been personally interviewed for the job by the president .
Instead , he was installed by a federal court .
As this year wore on in the wake of the prosecution of Rudy Giuliani ’ s associates and the probe of the former mayor , his allies in the prosecutor ’ s office were surprised each time Berman returned from Washington with his job intact .
“ The most surprising thing is that he ’ s held on as long as he has , ” said Danya Perry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented California lawyer Michael Avenatti in his recent fraud trial defense .
The tensions between Berman and the Justice Department reached a breaking point Friday , when Barr issued a surprise press release saying Berman had resigned and would be replaced by the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton , a lawyer who has virtually no experience as a federal prosecutor .
Berman refused to step down , and went into work Saturday .
He eventually consented to leave after Barr said Trump had officially fired him and the second in command @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of Berman ’ s final acts was to refuse to sign onto a letter criticizing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for allowing massive police reform protests even though he had cracked down in April on a group of thousands of mourners at a funeral for a Hasidic leader whose death was reportedly linked to the coronavirus , the people said .
The Hasidim are an insular , ultra-orthodox Jewish sect in Brooklyn .
It is a powerful voting bloc that favored Trump in 2016 .
“ The message to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears to favor certain secular gatherings and disfavor religious gatherings , ” wrote Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband .
Ensuring religious liberty has been a top priority for Barr , whose office has weighed in on several lawsuits around the country seeking to reopen religious gatherings during the pandemic .
The Justice Department sent separate letters last month to the governors of Nevada and California warning that religious gatherings should be held to the same standard as similar secular gatherings when it comes pandemic-related public health orders .
The letter sent to California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all four U.S. attorneys in the state .
The final straw for Berman , though , remains murky .
Justice Department officials insisted the de Blasio letter played no role and Barr didn ’ t know about Berman ’ s refusal to sign it when he sent out the statement .
They said Berman was offered other positions , including running the Justice Department ’ s Civil Division , but declined them .
New Yorkers close to Berman were mystified , especially because the probe into Giuliani is ongoing , and no indictments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McEnany said Trump holds Clayton in high regard and wanted to nominate him to the job so he could stay in government , since he planned to move to New York .
“ Barr was working on a smooth transition , and when Berman chose to respond in the way that he did , he came to the president , and the president agreed and fired this individual , Mr. Berman , as Mr. Clayton now will , in time , get to that position , ” she said .
Berman initially vowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement was confirmed .
He changed his mind late Saturday after he was formally fired , and Barr said he would allow the second in command , Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss , to become acting U.S. attorney .
Among the most high-profile investigations he was overseeing was into Giuliani ’ s business dealings , including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent .
The Southern District has also prosecuted a number of Trump associates , including Trump ’ s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen , who served a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign finance crimes .
Berman has overseen the prosecution of two Florida businessmen , Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman , who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation .
The men were charged in October with federal campaign finance violations , including hiding the origin of a $ 325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump ’ s reelection .
And only days ago , allegations surfaced from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton that the president sought to interfere in an investigation by Berman ’ s office into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cut deals with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan .
Berman ’ s removal has raised questions among congressional leaders , further fueling accusations from Democrats that Barr is politicizing the Justice Department .
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler , D-N.Y. , is prepared to subpoena Barr if he doesn ’ t agree to testify before the committee next week , according to a committee aide .
Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister and Elana Schor in New York and Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report .

COLLEEN LONG, MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) - A day before Geoffrey S. Berman was axed from his job as head of the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan, he refused to sign onto a letter crafted by senior officials in Washington lambasting New York’s mayor for putting COVID-19 restrictions on religious gatherings.
Berman’s refusal didn’t directly contribute to his ouster. But it was another example of the ways in which he appeared to run afoul of Attorney General William Barr and other high-ranking officials at the Justice Department.
According to several people familiar with their relationship, Berman, a political donor to President Donald Trump who investigated and charged some of his allies, wasn’t a team player. He operated outside Washington leadership, and won praise from Trump critics as an independent thinker. And he had refused to even alert Washington to cases his high-profile department was working on. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
As a result, Berman’s job often appeared to be in jeopardy. He was never formally nominated to the post by Trump, despite having been personally interviewed for the job by the president. Instead, he was installed by a federal court.
As this year wore on in the wake of the prosecution of Rudy Giuliani’s associates and the probe of the former mayor, his allies in the prosecutor’s office were surprised each time Berman returned from Washington with his job intact.
“The most surprising thing is that he’s held on as long as he has,” said Danya Perry, a former Manhattan federal prosecutor who represented California lawyer Michael Avenatti in his recent fraud trial defense.
The tensions between Berman and the Justice Department reached a breaking point Friday, when Barr issued a surprise press release saying Berman had resigned and would be replaced by the Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, a lawyer who has virtually no experience as a federal prosecutor. Berman refused to step down, and went into work Saturday. He eventually consented to leave after Barr said Trump had officially fired him and the second in command of the office would take over.
One of Berman’s final acts was to refuse to sign onto a letter criticizing New York Mayor Bill de Blasio for allowing massive police reform protests even though he had cracked down in April on a group of thousands of mourners at a funeral for a Hasidic leader whose death was reportedly linked to the coronavirus, the people said.
The Hasidim are an insular, ultra-orthodox Jewish sect in Brooklyn. It is a powerful voting bloc that favored Trump in 2016.
“The message to the public from New York City’s government appears to favor certain secular gatherings and disfavor religious gatherings,” wrote Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband.
Ensuring religious liberty has been a top priority for Barr, whose office has weighed in on several lawsuits around the country seeking to reopen religious gatherings during the pandemic.
The Justice Department sent separate letters last month to the governors of Nevada and California warning that religious gatherings should be held to the same standard as similar secular gatherings when it comes pandemic-related public health orders. The letter sent to California Gov. Gavin Newsom was signed by all four U.S. attorneys in the state.
The final straw for Berman, though, remains murky. Justice Department officials insisted the de Blasio letter played no role and Barr didn’t know about Berman’s refusal to sign it when he sent out the statement. They said Berman was offered other positions, including running the Justice Department’s Civil Division, but declined them. New Yorkers close to Berman were mystified, especially because the probe into Giuliani is ongoing, and no indictments were imminent.
White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany said Trump holds Clayton in high regard and wanted to nominate him to the job so he could stay in government, since he planned to move to New York.
“Barr was working on a smooth transition, and when Berman chose to respond in the way that he did, he came to the president, and the president agreed and fired this individual, Mr. Berman, as Mr. Clayton now will, in time, get to that position,” she said.
Berman initially vowed to stay on the job until a replacement was confirmed. He changed his mind late Saturday after he was formally fired, and Barr said he would allow the second in command, Deputy U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss, to become acting U.S. attorney.
Among the most high-profile investigations he was overseeing was into Giuliani’s business dealings, including whether he failed to register as a foreign agent.
The Southern District has also prosecuted a number of Trump associates, including Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, who served a prison sentence for lying to Congress and campaign finance crimes.
Berman has overseen the prosecution of two Florida businessmen, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were associates of Giuliani and tied to the Ukraine impeachment investigation. The men were charged in October with federal campaign finance violations, including hiding the origin of a $325,000 donation to a group supporting Trump’s reelection.
And only days ago, allegations surfaced from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton that the president sought to interfere in an investigation by Berman’s office into the state-owned Turkish bank in an effort to cut deals with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Berman’s removal has raised questions among congressional leaders, further fueling accusations from Democrats that Barr is politicizing the Justice Department. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., is prepared to subpoena Barr if he doesn’t agree to testify before the committee next week, according to a committee aide.
___
Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister and Elana Schor in New York and Eric Tucker and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery fell 9 cents to settle at $ 40.37 a barrel Tuesday .
Brent @ @ @ @ @ fell 45 cents to $ 42.63 a barrel .
Wholesale gasoline for July delivery rose @ @ @ @ @ a gallon .
July heating oil fell 2 cents to $ 1.20 a gallon .
@ @ @ @ @ cents to $ 1.64 per 1,000 cubic feet .
Gold for August delivery rose $ @ @ @ @ @ ounce , silver for July delivery rose 16 cents to $ 18.06 an ounce and @ @ @ @ @ to $ 2.66 a pound .
The dollar fell to 106.47 Japanese yen from 106.94 @ @ @ @ @ to $ 1.1311 from $ 1.1261 .

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery fell 9 cents to settle at $40.37 a barrel Tuesday. Brent crude oil for August delivery fell 45 cents to $42.63 a barrel.
Wholesale gasoline for July delivery rose 1 cent to $1.30 a gallon. July heating oil fell 2 cents to $1.20 a gallon. July natural gas fell 3 cents to $1.64 per 1,000 cubic feet.
Gold for August delivery rose $15.60 to $1,782 an ounce, silver for July delivery rose 16 cents to $18.06 an ounce and July copper rose 1 cent to $2.66 a pound.
The dollar fell to 106.47 Japanese yen from 106.94 yen. The euro rose to $1.1311 from $1.1261.


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--Imprisoned Jehovah's Witness gets early release in Russia

MOSCOW ( AP ) - The Jehovah ’ s Witnesses say a Danish member of the religious denomination who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2017 has been granted early release by a court .
Russia officially banned the Jehovah ’ s Witnesses in 2017 and declared the religious group an extremist organization .
Danish member Dennis Christensen was arrested that year for leading a prayer meeting and sentenced to six years in prison .
The denomination ’ s world headquarters in the United States said Tuesday that a Russian court ordered Christensen to pay a 400,000-ruble fine ( $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of his sentence .
The Jehovah ’ s Witnesses say 353 adherents are facing criminal cases in Russia , 34 are imprisoned and 24 are under house arrest .
“ It is unconscionable , after Dennis ’ harrowing experiences in prison , that he should have to pay a fine , ” denomination spokesman Jarrod Lopes said in a statement .
“ Today ’ s ruling also does not erase the fact that Dennis , a peaceful Christian believer , still has to bear the unjust stigma of being convicted as @ @ @ @

MOSCOW (AP) - The Jehovah’s Witnesses say a Danish member of the religious denomination who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2017 has been granted early release by a court.
Russia officially banned the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 2017 and declared the religious group an extremist organization. Danish member Dennis Christensen was arrested that year for leading a prayer meeting and sentenced to six years in prison.
The denomination’s world headquarters in the United States said Tuesday that a Russian court ordered Christensen to pay a 400,000-ruble fine ($5,700) in place of serving out the rest of his sentence. The Jehovah’s Witnesses say 353 adherents are facing criminal cases in Russia, 34 are imprisoned and 24 are under house arrest.
“It is unconscionable, after Dennis’ harrowing experiences in prison, that he should have to pay a fine,” denomination spokesman Jarrod Lopes said in a statement. “Today’s ruling also does not erase the fact that Dennis, a peaceful Christian believer, still has to bear the unjust stigma of being convicted as an extremist,”


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--DOJ turns over 'highly exculpatory' handwritten notes from Peter Strzok in Michael Flynn case

The Justice Department has turned over to Michael Flynn ’ s defense team a page of handwritten notes authored in early 2017 by anti-Trump FBI official Peter Strzok , according to a court filing Tuesday .
Although the notes were not publicly disclosed , Flynn attorney Sidney Powell told The Washington Times they are “ highly and totally exculpatory ” for her client .
“ And I ’ m sure there is more , ” she told the paper .
It may be sometime before the public gets a glimpse of the document , if at all .
The notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous protective order issued by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan , who has been appointed to various judicial positions by Republican and Democratic presidents .
Judge Sullivan will decide if the evidence will become public .
The undated notes are believed to have been written between January 3 or 5 , 2017 , around the same time the FBI suddenly reopened its criminal investigation into Flynn , who briefly served as President Trump ’ s first national security adviser .
Mr. Strzok pushed to keep the case open after consulting with FBI leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the investigation , a previous court filing revealed .
FBI agents interviewed Flynn at the White House a few weeks later .
The document was discovered by Jeff Jensen , the U.S. Attorney for St. Louis , who had been appointed by Attorney General William P. Barr to review the prosecution of Flynn .
“ As we have previously disclosed , beginning in January 20 , the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri has been conducting a review of the Michael T. Flynn investigation , ” a Justice Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney Sidney Powell .
“ The enclosed document was obtained and analyzed by USA EDMO during the course of its review.
” Although it is not clear how significant the most recent find will be , earlier documents uncovered by Mr. Jensen have proven to be bombshells in the case .
Earlier this year , the Justice Department disclosed handwritten documents from Bill Priestap , who previously served as the FBI ’ s top counterintelligence official .
Mr. Priestap questioned whether the purpose of interviewing Flynn was “ to get him to lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him fired.
” Another document disclosed by the Justice Department was an internal FBI memo revealing the bureau sought to close the Flynn case , but Mr. Strozk and other top officials sought to keep it open .
Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the then-Russian ambassador in the transition period before the Trump administration took over .
He has since recanted that plea and professed his innocence .
The Justice Department has pushed to drop the charges , but Judge Sullivan has not immediately granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired federal judge to oppose the department ’ s bid .
A motion to dismiss the charges against Flynn is currently pending in a federal appeals court .

The Justice Department has turned over to Michael Flynn’s defense team a page of handwritten notes authored in early 2017 by anti-Trump FBI official Peter Strzok, according to a court filing Tuesday.
Although the notes were not publicly disclosed, Flynn attorney Sidney Powell told The Washington Times they are “highly and totally exculpatory” for her client.
“And I’m sure there is more,” she said.
It may be some time though before the public gets a glimpse of the document, if at all. The notes are shielded from the public under a previous protective order issued by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan, who has been appointed to various judicial positions by Republican and Democratic presidents.
Judge Sullivan will decide whether the evidence will become public.
Ms. Powell said she will consult with the Justice Department on Wednesday on whether she will file a motion to unseal the notes.
The undated notes are believed to have been written around Jan. 3-5, 2017, about the same time the FBI suddenly reopened its criminal investigation into Flynn, who briefly served as President Trump’s first national security adviser.
Mr. Strzok pushed to keep the case open after consulting with FBI leadership despite failing to turn up any wrongdoing in the investigation, a previous court filing revealed. FBI agents interviewed Flynn at the White House a few weeks later.
The document was discovered by Jeff Jensen, the U.S. Attorney for St. Louis who had been appointed by Attorney General William Barr to review the prosecution of Flynn.
“As we have previously disclosed, beginning in January 20, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri has been conducting a review of the Michael T. Flynn investigation,” a Justice Department official wrote in a letter to Ms. Powell. “The enclosed document was obtained and analyzed by USA EDMO during the course of its review.”
Although it is not clear how significant the most recent find will be, earlier documents uncovered by Mr. Jensen have proven to be bombshells in the case.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department disclosed handwritten documents from Bill Priestap, who previously served as the FBI’s top counterintelligence official. Mr. Priestap questioned whether the purpose of interviewing Flynn was “to get him to lie so we can prosecute him or get him fired.”
Another document disclosed by the Justice Department was an internal FBI memo revealing the bureau sought to close the Flynn case, but Mr. Strozk and other top officials sought to keep it open.
Flynn had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the then-Russian ambassador in the transition period before the Trump administration took over. He has since recanted that plea and professed his innocence.
The Justice Department has pushed to drop the charges, but Judge Sullivan has not immediately granted their request. He also appointed a retired federal judge to oppose the department’s bid.
A motion to dismiss the charges against Flynn is currently pending in a federal appeals court.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--Valparaiso U provost tapped for Blackburn College presidency

CARLINVILLE , Ill. ( AP ) - A top Valparaiso University administrator has been chosen as the next president of southern Illinois ’ Blackburn College .
Mark Biermann will assume the college ’ s presidency on Aug. 15 , the school ’ s trustees announced Monday .
Provost Dr. John McClusky has been the college ’ s interim president since Julie Murray-Jensen resigned in December after less than a year as president , The State-Journal Register reported .
Biermann is currently the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Valparaiso University in northwestern Indiana .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retention and student success , diversity and inclusion , among other areas .
Mike Smiley , chairman of Blackburn College ’ s board of trustees , said Biermann ’ s “ proven leadership and educational experience is the perfect fit for Blackburn.
” “ We believe he is the right person to help shape the college ’ s future and we welcome him and his family to the Blackburn community , ” he said in a statement .
Blackburn College is one of eight work colleges in the country and the only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located in Carlinville , about 45 miles ( 72 kilometers ) north of St. Louis , Missouri .

CARLINVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A top Valparaiso University administrator has been chosen as the next president of southern Illinois’ Blackburn College.
Mark Biermann will assume the college’s presidency on Aug. 15, the school’s trustees announced Monday. Provost Dr. John McClusky has been the college’s interim president since Julie Murray-Jensen resigned in December after less than a year as president, The State-Journal Register reported.
Biermann is currently the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Valparaiso University in northwestern Indiana. He’s overseen academic programs, student affairs, retention and student success, diversity and inclusion, among other areas.
Mike Smiley, chairman of Blackburn College’s board of trustees, said Biermann’s “proven leadership and educational experience is the perfect fit for Blackburn.”
“We believe he is the right person to help shape the college’s future and we welcome him and his family to the Blackburn community,” he said in a statement.
Blackburn College is one of eight work colleges in the country and the only one that is student-managed. It’s located in Carlinville, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of St. Louis, Missouri.


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--Over 60 nations come to defense of International Criminal Court as it faces U.S. sanctions

A majority of the members of the International Criminal Court on Tuesday defended the lone global war crimes court as it faces threats of U.S. sanctions .
President Trump signed an executive order earlier this month authorizing sanctions against officials of the ICC over its investigation into whether U.S. troops committed war crimes in Afghanistan .
The Hague-based ICC announced in March that it would allow prosecutors to open an investigation targeting not only current and former U.S. military , CIA and diplomatic personnel , but also the Taliban , and Afghan government forces for war crimes and crimes against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The decision , marking the first time the court ’ s 18-year history that prosecutors have been authorized to investigate U.S. forces , flew in the face of longtime rejections by American officials to the court ’ s jurisdiction .
Mr. Trump has repeatedly challenged the court ’ s right to prosecute U.S. personnel without American consent .
In a joint statement backed by 67 of the 123 ICC members , the countries on Tuesday said they “ reconfirm our unwavering support for the court as an independent and impartial judicial institution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s move has seen pushback from the United Nations and several allies on the U.N. Security council .
Earlier this month , 10 nations that are parties to the ICC accord , including Britain , Germany and France , issued a statement reiterating “ commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the [ ICC accord ] and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats against the court , its officials and those cooperating with it .
”

A majority of the members of the International Criminal Court on Tuesday defended the lone global war crimes court as it faces threats of U.S. sanctions.
President Trump signed an executive order earlier this month authorizing sanctions against officials of the ICC over its investigation into whether U.S. troops committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
The Hague-based ICC announced in March that it would allow prosecutors to open an investigation targeting not only current and former U.S. military, CIA and diplomatic personnel, but also the Taliban, and Afghan government forces for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the nearly two-decade long conflict.
The decision, marking the first time the court’s 18-year history that prosecutors have been authorized to investigate U.S. forces, flew in the face of longtime rejections by American officials to the court’s jurisdiction. Mr. Trump has repeatedly challenged the court’s right to prosecute U.S. personnel without American consent.
In a joint statement backed by 67 of the 123 ICC members, the countries on Tuesday said they “reconfirm our unwavering support for the court as an independent and impartial judicial institution,” Reuters reported.
The Trump administration’s move has seen pushback from the United Nations and several allies on the U.N. Security council. Earlier this month, 10 nations that are parties to the ICC accord, including Britain, Germany and France, issued a statement reiterating “commitment to uphold and defend the principles and values enshrined in the [ICC accord] and to preserve its integrity undeterred by any threats against the court, its officials and those cooperating with it.”
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-23--Baptist group: Remove rebel symbol from Mississippi flag

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Mississippi ’ s largest religious group said Tuesday that state lawmakers have a moral obligation to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag because many people are “ hurt and shamed ” by the symbol .
“ While some may see the current flag as a celebration of heritage , a significant portion of our state sees it as a relic of racism and a symbol of hatred , ” the Mississippi Baptist Convention said in a statement .
“ The racial overtones of this flag ’ s appearance make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative-leaning and majority-white Southern Baptist group has more than 500,000 members in the state , at more than 2,100 churches .
Mississippi ’ s population is about 3 million , and 38 % of residents are African American .
Protests against racial injustice across the U.S. are focusing new attention on the flag and other Confederate symbols .
The Baptist Convention joins the NCAA , the Southeastern Conference , prominent business organizations and other religious groups in calling for change to the last state flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem - a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 13 white stars .
White supremacists in the Mississippi Legislature embedded the symbol in the upper left corner of the state flag in 1894 , amid backlash to political power that African Americans gained during Reconstruction .
During a 2001 state election , voters chose to keep the design .
Republican Gov .
Tate Reeves has said that if the flag is going to be changed , it should be done by another statewide election .
Legislators are trying to finish their annual session in the next few days .
A bipartisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes to change the flag , but it ’ s a tough task .
Some lawmakers don ’ t want change .
Others want to kick a decision to a statewide election because they think changing the flag could endanger their own political careers .
Members of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus on Tuesday renewed their longstanding calls for the Legislature to remove the Confederate symbol , saying another statewide election would be bitter and divisive .
In 2000 , the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the flag lacked official status because legislators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they updated other state laws in 1906 .
That meant the Confederate-themed design had been used for nearly a century by tradition rather than by law .
Then-Gov .
Ronnie Musgrove , a Democrat , appointed a 17-member commission to study flag design in 2000 and to make recommendations to the Legislature .
Democratic state Rep. Ed Blackmon of Canton served the commission , which held public hearings in late 2000 .
“ You have no idea of the vitriol , the hatred and pronouncements of evil that were bestowed upon those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Tuesday .
“ It brought out the worst in Mississippians.
” Legislators chose in early 2001 to put the issue on the ballot rather than decide it themselves .
Voters rejected a design that would have replaced the Confederate symbol with a blue field topped by a cluster of white stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state .
All of Mississippi ’ s public universities stopped flying the state flag years ago because of the Confederate symbol .
Several cities and counties have also removed it from public property , some long @ @ @ @ @

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Confederate-themed Mississippi flag drew opposition Tuesday from two big forces in the culturally conservative state: Southern Baptists and Walmart.
Walmart said it will stop displaying the Mississippi flag while the state debates whether to change the design. The Mississippi Baptist Convention said lawmakers have a moral obligation to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag because many people are “hurt and shamed” by it.
“We believe it’s the right thing to do, and is consistent with Walmart’s position to not sell merchandise with the confederate flag from stores and online sites, as part of our commitment to provide a welcoming and inclusive experience for all of our customers in the communities we serve,” company spokesperson Anne Hatfield said.
The announcements increase pressure for change in a state that is slow to embrace it. Protests against racial injustice across the U.S. are focusing new attention on Confederate symbols.
Mississippi has the last state flag that includes the Confederate battle emblem: a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars. The NCAA, the Southeastern Conference, prominent business organizations and other religious groups have already called for the state to adopt a more inclusive banner.
The conservative-leaning and majority-white Mississippi Baptist Convention has more than 500,000 members at more than 2,100 churches. Mississippi’s population is about 3 million, and 38% of residents are African American.
“While some may see the current flag as a celebration of heritage, a significant portion of our state sees it as a relic of racism and a symbol of hatred,” the Baptist group said in a statement. “The racial overtones of this flag’s appearance make this discussion a moral issue.”
White supremacists in the Mississippi Legislature embedded the symbol in the upper left corner of the state flag in 1894, amid backlash to political power that African Americans gained during Reconstruction.
During a 2001 state election, voters chose to keep the design. Republican Gov. Tate Reeves has said that if the flag is going to be changed, it should be done by another statewide election.
Legislators are trying to finish their annual session in the next few days. A bipartisan group has been trying to gather enough votes to change the flag, but it’s a tough task. Some lawmakers don’t want change. Others want to kick a decision to a statewide election because they think changing the flag could endanger their own political careers.
Members of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus on Tuesday renewed their longstanding calls for the Legislature to remove the Confederate symbol, saying another statewide election would be bitter and divisive.
In 2000, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that the flag lacked official status because legislators didn’t include the design when they updated other state laws in 1906. That meant the Confederate-themed design had been used for nearly a century by tradition rather than by law. Then-Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, a Democrat, appointed a 17-member commission to study flag design in 2000 and to make recommendations to the Legislature.
Democratic state Rep. Ed Blackmon of Canton served the commission, which held public hearings in late 2000.
“You have no idea of the vitriol, the hatred and pronouncements of evil that were bestowed upon those of us who were present,” Blackmon said Tuesday. “It brought out the worst in Mississippians.”
Legislators chose in early 2001 to put the issue on the ballot rather than decide it themselves. Voters rejected a design that would have replaced the Confederate symbol with a blue field topped by a cluster of white stars representing Mississippi as the 20th state.
All of Mississippi’s public universities stopped flying the state flag years ago because of the Confederate symbol. Several cities and counties have also removed it from public property, some long ago and some recently. On Tuesday, leaders of all 15 community colleges said the state should change the flag.
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Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.