Recent Kansas editorials

Kansans who listened to any part of Friday ’ s meeting of the State Finance Council first would be amazed , then embarrassed , and finally outraged about the way their government is run .
The council convened by telephone to discuss Gov .
Laura Kelly ’ s request to extend the state ’ s declaration of a COVID-19 emergency beyond Sept. 15 .
Kelly said she needed the extension to qualify for federal pandemic assistance and to protect the operation of the state ’ s courts .
That seems simple enough .
Everyone on the council , Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be extended , and the finance council needed to do it .
But Republican leadership insisted on explicit language in the resolution prohibiting Kelly from closing Kansas businesses in the coming weeks .
Kelly said she had no intention of shutting anyone ’ s doors , but they wanted it in writing .
Chaos .
Members accused one another of bad faith , playing politics , shutting off debate .
Motions were made , and votes were cast .
Lawyers offered language , which was rejected .
Republicans wanted Kelly to surrender the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she wasn ’ t interested .
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“ There ’ s absolutely no need to do it , ” Kelly said , later adding , “ Unless some mushroom cloud of coronavirus should spread all across the state of Kansas , I would have absolutely no intention of putting in a statewide stay-home order.
” Republicans were unsatisfied .
“ It ’ s time for the gamesmanship to end , governor , ” state Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of irony , or self-awareness .
“ Everyone wants to stop this virus , ” state Sen. Susan Wagle said , which may be true but misses the point .
Wagle and her GOP colleagues were far more interested in stopping Laura Kelly than in stopping COVID-19 .
Finally , in the afternoon , reason prevailed .
Kelly agreed to formally say she did not intend to use her authority to close any businesses , and everyone climbed on board .
Kansans will be better protected by the extended declaration .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the newly-elected Legislature in 2021 than to rewrite the laws addressing the governor ’ s powers and responsibilities when dealing with emergencies like COVID-19 .
It ’ s now clear that the laws written this June addressing those powers were slapdash efforts .
Any governor - in fact , all governors - must have broad powers to address dangers such as a global epidemic .
Kansas law is confusing and restrictive , which in turn pushes the state to the edge of crisis about every 30 days .
That has to be fixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course .
And exercising that oversight when the full Legislature is out of session is difficult .
That ’ s why the finance council is involved .
But the structure assumes , wrongly , that members of the council will operate in good faith to review the governor ’ s decisions .
They have not .
Why have we not seen such brinkmanship in Missouri , where Gov .
Mike Parson has exercised similar executive powers ?
That ’ s easy : The same party controls the legislature and the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ branches , you get the mess we now see in Kansas .
Kansas lawmakers must revisit the state ’ s emergency response structure .
It should extend the time a governor can issue emergency orders and require the full Legislature to convene for debate over those orders if necessary .
If that seems clunky , so be it .
The people ’ s business should not be held hostage to one or two legislative leaders who have political reasons for obstructionism .
The health of Kansans and their government is at stake .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliable voting system .
Administered by the states , elections throughout our country have traditionally been quick and reliable .
These are important points to state outright , and loudly .
We do not - and have not - faced widespread voter fraud .
It does not occur during in-person voting , and it does not occur in states that have adopted universal mail-in balloting , either .
So ignore our president ’ s claims of rigging or dishonest elections .
He ’ s lying , effortlessly and with no concerns for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s more , ignore his calls to vote twice .
For some reason , President Trump has decided to tell his supporters to vote by mail and then , on Election Day , head to their polling places .
If their mail-in ballots aren ’ t recorded , he said , they should vote again .
There ’ s only one problem with that : Double voting is a crime .
States have different rules on when mail-in votes might be counted , so depending on the state the president might inspire an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election law .
As we ’ ve said before , and we ’ ll no doubt say again : This is unacceptable .
Trump has no interest in an accurate count , of course .
Republican operatives have begun to acknowledge that there ’ s no way he will actually win the popular vote .
After all , in 2016 , he lost that tally to Hillary Clinton by some 3 million ballots .
No , what the president cares about is sowing chaos in a small number of swing states - to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheated out of a victory that was rightly his .
It ’ s not difficult to figure out , not if you ’ ve followed Trump for the past several years .
His bottomless need for affirmation outweigh any concern for voters or the republic .
Trump ’ s spokespeople deny that he has any intent to encourage double voting .
He ’ s merely interested in ensuring an accurate count , they say .
But it ’ s pretty interesting that ensuring an accurate count , to our president , means encouraging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve seen time and again , our president sees the world entirely through the prism of his own self-interest .
It has proved toxic to our nation and our political dialogue .
It has proved catastrophic as COVID-19 spread .
We can ’ t allow that naked self-interest to overwhelm our free and fair elections .
Cancer is not much good for anything , but it can be useful today in helping understand the stain Donald Trump has left on the presidency .
Unlike COVID-19 - a disease still in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know someone who has died from cancer .
So , it is easy enough to imagine sitting in an exam room with a cancer doctor .
The doctor knows that you have cancer , but he doesn ’ t want you to panic , so he decides to not tell you that you have cancer .
Or , maybe , he does acknowledge that you have cancer , but he decides - again , for your sake - to not tell you the true mortality rate for your particular type of cancer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act ?
Of course not .
It violates an oath , but , more importantly , it violates the standards of human decency .
The president violated those standards as well when earlier this year he repeatedly and intentionally provided the public with such dubious information about the dangers of COVID-19 .
He said he did so because he didn ’ t want to create a panic .
That simply is not a credible explanation .
If the president can ’ t figure out how to explain the dangers of a disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 3 % without creating a national panic , then that should be a prime example of his unfitness for the job .
For heaven ’ s sake , COVID-19 is not an asteroid hurtling toward earth leaving the human race with no hope for survival .
Even an unskilled communicator can figure out how to pass along the basic safety tips and guidance for reducing your chances of contracting the disease , while also providing hope and assurance that the American way of life is durable , adaptable and will return in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease .
COVID is not the end of America .
The country has faced greater challenges before .
It should be worrisome that the president couldn ’ t figure out how to do that .
Even if you are a supporter of the president , that should create worry .
It was not that difficult of a task .
What also should worry everyone , including supporters of the president , is that he openly and repeatedly talked about how he was misleading the public about COVID , and he told all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disseminate information to the public .
On an audio recording .
That is just a major breakdown in logic .
If you are trying to not create a panic , why would you tell a reporter that this disease is really a lot more dangerous than you ’ ve ever told the public ?
If the chains of logic are working at all , you have to understand that the reporter simply is going to tell the public what you said , thus destroying your reason for hiding the information from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late night television host Jimmy Fallon said of Trump : “ I ’ d say at this point , the dude needs to give himself some hush money.
” In all seriousness , though , there is reason to worry that the president ’ s mental acuity is in decline .
Is there any Trump supporter who honestly thinks it was a good idea for the president to reveal this to Bob Woodward ?
At this point , we can hope that two things come out of this presidential debacle .
One , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refusing to wear masks and take other simple precautions due to the words of Trump , hopefully they will take his true beliefs about the virus into consideration and change their ways .
That ’ s not likely , but America still will prevail in this fight anyway .
We will defeat COVID , but it will take longer and be more deadly than it should have been .
In some ways , the second prospect is more critical .
Supporters of the president have a chance to simply say that on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should not be a difficult statement .
You don ’ t have to renounce everything the president has done .
You don ’ t have to apologize for your vote .
You don ’ t have to give up on the idea of “ draining the swamp.
” All you have to do is say that people deserve to be treated better than that .
All you have to acknowledge is a leader shouldn ’ t provide information to his followers that he knows puts them at greater risk of contracting a potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was indecent .
Do not defend indecency .
No act of loyalty should require that .

The Kansas City Star, Sept. 12
Kansans who listened to any part of Friday’s meeting of the State Finance Council first would be amazed, then embarrassed, and finally outraged about the way their government is run.
The council convened by telephone to discuss Gov. Laura Kelly’s request to extend the state’s declaration of a COVID-19 emergency beyond Sept. 15. Kelly said she needed the extension to qualify for federal pandemic assistance and to protect the operation of the state’s courts.
That seems simple enough. Everyone on the council, Republicans and Democrats, agreed the declaration needed to be extended, and the finance council needed to do it.
But Republican leadership insisted on explicit language in the resolution prohibiting Kelly from closing Kansas businesses in the coming weeks. Kelly said she had no intention of shutting anyone’s doors, but they wanted it in writing.
Chaos. Members accused one another of bad faith, playing politics, shutting off debate. Motions were made, and votes were cast. Lawyers offered language, which was rejected. Republicans wanted Kelly to surrender the power their own bill had given her, and she wasn’t interested.
“There’s absolutely no need to do it,” Kelly said, later adding, “Unless some mushroom cloud of coronavirus should spread all across the state of Kansas, I would have absolutely no intention of putting in a statewide stay-home order.”
Republicans were unsatisfied. “It’s time for the gamesmanship to end, governor,” state Rep. Dan Hawkins said, without a hint of irony, or self-awareness.
“Everyone wants to stop this virus,” state Sen. Susan Wagle said, which may be true but misses the point. Wagle and her GOP colleagues were far more interested in stopping Laura Kelly than in stopping COVID-19.
Finally, in the afternoon, reason prevailed. Kelly agreed to formally say she did not intend to use her authority to close any businesses, and everyone climbed on board.
Kansans will be better protected by the extended declaration. But there will be no more important task for the newly-elected Legislature in 2021 than to rewrite the laws addressing the governor’s powers and responsibilities when dealing with emergencies like COVID-19.
It’s now clear that the laws written this June addressing those powers were slapdash efforts. Any governor - in fact, all governors - must have broad powers to address dangers such as a global epidemic. Kansas law is confusing and restrictive, which in turn pushes the state to the edge of crisis about every 30 days. That has to be fixed.
Legislative oversight is important, of course. And exercising that oversight when the full Legislature is out of session is difficult. That’s why the finance council is involved.
But the structure assumes, wrongly, that members of the council will operate in good faith to review the governor’s decisions. They have not.
Why have we not seen such brinkmanship in Missouri, where Gov. Mike Parson has exercised similar executive powers? That’s easy: The same party controls the legislature and the governor’s mansion. When different parties control different branches, you get the mess we now see in Kansas.
Kansas lawmakers must revisit the state’s emergency response structure. It should extend the time a governor can issue emergency orders and require the full Legislature to convene for debate over those orders if necessary.
If that seems clunky, so be it. The people’s business should not be held hostage to one or two legislative leaders who have political reasons for obstructionism. The health of Kansans and their government is at stake.
_____
The Topeka Capital-Journal, Sept. 8
The United States has a strong and reliable voting system. Administered by the states, elections throughout our country have traditionally been quick and reliable.
These are important points to state outright, and loudly. We do not - and have not - faced widespread voter fraud. It does not occur during in-person voting, and it does not occur in states that have adopted universal mail-in balloting, either.
So ignore our president’s claims of rigging or dishonest elections. He’s lying, effortlessly and with no concerns for the potential damage to democracy.
What’s more, ignore his calls to vote twice.
For some reason, President Trump has decided to tell his supporters to vote by mail and then, on Election Day, head to their polling places. If their mail-in ballots aren’t recorded, he said, they should vote again.
There’s only one problem with that: Double voting is a crime. States have different rules on when mail-in votes might be counted, so depending on the state the president might inspire an untold number of people to actively break election law.
As we’ve said before, and we’ll no doubt say again: This is unacceptable.
Trump has no interest in an accurate count, of course. Republican operatives have begun to acknowledge that there’s no way he will actually win the popular vote. After all, in 2016, he lost that tally to Hillary Clinton by some 3 million ballots. No, what the president cares about is sowing chaos in a small number of swing states - to claim to his followers that he was cheated out of a victory that was rightly his.
It’s not difficult to figure out, not if you’ve followed Trump for the past several years. His bottomless need for affirmation outweigh any concern for voters or the republic.
Trump’s spokespeople deny that he has any intent to encourage double voting. He’s merely interested in ensuring an accurate count, they say. But it’s pretty interesting that ensuring an accurate count, to our president, means encouraging people to break the law.
As we’ve seen time and again, our president sees the world entirely through the prism of his own self-interest. It has proved toxic to our nation and our political dialogue. It has proved catastrophic as COVID-19 spread. We can’t allow that naked self-interest to overwhelm our free and fair elections.
______
The Lawrence Journal-World, Sept. 9
Cancer is not much good for anything, but it can be useful today in helping understand the stain Donald Trump has left on the presidency.
Unlike COVID-19 - a disease still in its infancy - almost all of us personally know someone who has died from cancer. So, it is easy enough to imagine sitting in an exam room with a cancer doctor. The doctor knows that you have cancer, but he doesn’t want you to panic, so he decides to not tell you that you have cancer. Or, maybe, he does acknowledge that you have cancer, but he decides - again, for your sake - to not tell you the true mortality rate for your particular type of cancer.
Is that any way for a doctor to act? Of course not. It violates an oath, but, more importantly, it violates the standards of human decency.
The president violated those standards as well when earlier this year he repeatedly and intentionally provided the public with such dubious information about the dangers of COVID-19.
He said he did so because he didn’t want to create a panic. That simply is not a credible explanation. If the president can’t figure out how to explain the dangers of a disease that has a U.S. mortality rate of about 3% without creating a national panic, then that should be a prime example of his unfitness for the job.
For heaven’s sake, COVID-19 is not an asteroid hurtling toward earth leaving the human race with no hope for survival. Even an unskilled communicator can figure out how to pass along the basic safety tips and guidance for reducing your chances of contracting the disease, while also providing hope and assurance that the American way of life is durable, adaptable and will return in full force when we certainly defeat this disease. COVID is not the end of America. The country has faced greater challenges before.
It should be worrisome that the president couldn’t figure out how to do that. Even if you are a supporter of the president, that should create worry. It was not that difficult of a task.
What also should worry everyone, including supporters of the president, is that he openly and repeatedly talked about how he was misleading the public about COVID, and he told all of this to a person whose job is to disseminate information to the public. On an audio recording. That is just a major breakdown in logic. If you are trying to not create a panic, why would you tell a reporter that this disease is really a lot more dangerous than you’ve ever told the public? If the chains of logic are working at all, you have to understand that the reporter simply is going to tell the public what you said, thus destroying your reason for hiding the information from the public in the first place.
As late night television host Jimmy Fallon said of Trump: “I’d say at this point, the dude needs to give himself some hush money.”
In all seriousness, though, there is reason to worry that the president’s mental acuity is in decline. Is there any Trump supporter who honestly thinks it was a good idea for the president to reveal this to Bob Woodward?
At this point, we can hope that two things come out of this presidential debacle. One, if there truly were people who were refusing to wear masks and take other simple precautions due to the words of Trump, hopefully they will take his true beliefs about the virus into consideration and change their ways. That’s not likely, but America still will prevail in this fight anyway. We will defeat COVID, but it will take longer and be more deadly than it should have been.
In some ways, the second prospect is more critical. Supporters of the president have a chance to simply say that on this point the president was wrong. That should not be a difficult statement. You don’t have to renounce everything the president has done. You don’t have to apologize for your vote. You don’t have to give up on the idea of “draining the swamp.”
All you have to do is say that people deserve to be treated better than that. All you have to acknowledge is a leader shouldn’t provide information to his followers that he knows puts them at greater risk of contracting a potentially fatal disease.
What the president did was indecent. Do not defend indecency. No act of loyalty should require that.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Many in Alaska mailed primary ballots later than recommended

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - Many Alaska voters are mailing absentee ballots later than a one-week deadline recommended by the U.S .
Postal Service , based on an analysis of recent primary voting .
A comparison of the past three statewide primaries by The Anchorage Daily News found that the state ’ s Aug. 18 primary ballots did not arrive unusually late at the Alaska Division of Elections , the newspaper reported Monday .
But late ballot mailing by Alaska voters could affect the result of voting in November , when an even higher number of absentee votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record number submitted in last month ’ s primary .
The Postal Service recommends a deadline of a week because ballots typically travel by first-class mail and the majority arrives between two and five days after being sent , Postal Service documents said .
More ballots arrive at the Alaska Division of Elections after the primary election day than in the three weeks before , indicating many Alaskans are mailing ballots just days before the election , according to absentee voter files from the previous three primary elections .
Mailing ballots after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots because state law requires them to be postmarked by Election Day .
Most postmarking takes place in Anchorage , a day or more away by mail from most of the state .
Late postmarks are the second highest reason why the elections division rejects absentee ballots .
In one example , North Pole Republican Sen. John Coghill lost his recent primary race by 14 votes .
There were 30 mailed votes in his district rejected by the elections division for various reasons .
Handwritten dates on ballot envelopes show some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but had postmarks from the day after the election .
The election division left those votes unopened in accordance with state law .
“ I think people are going to have to be alerted that if they ’ re going to have to vote absentee in Fairbanks , they ’ re going to have to get things in a day ahead of the deadline , ” Coghill said .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Many Alaska voters are mailing absentee ballots later than a one-week deadline recommended by the U.S. Postal Service, based on an analysis of recent primary voting.
A comparison of the past three statewide primaries by The Anchorage Daily News found that the state’s Aug. 18 primary ballots did not arrive unusually late at the Alaska Division of Elections, the newspaper reported Monday.
But late ballot mailing by Alaska voters could affect the result of voting in November, when an even higher number of absentee votes are expected to be cast than the record number submitted in last month’s primary.
The Postal Service recommends a deadline of a week because ballots typically travel by first-class mail and the majority arrives between two and five days after being sent, Postal Service documents said.
More ballots arrive at the Alaska Division of Elections after the primary election day than in the three weeks before, indicating many Alaskans are mailing ballots just days before the election, according to absentee voter files from the previous three primary elections.
Mailing ballots after the recommended date increases the number of rejected ballots because state law requires them to be postmarked by Election Day.
Most postmarking takes place in Anchorage, a day or more away by mail from most of the state. Late postmarks are the second highest reason why the elections division rejects absentee ballots.
In one example, North Pole Republican Sen. John Coghill lost his recent primary race by 14 votes. There were 30 mailed votes in his district rejected by the elections division for various reasons.
Handwritten dates on ballot envelopes show some of the rejected ballots were mailed on Election Day, but had postmarks from the day after the election. The election division left those votes unopened in accordance with state law.
“I think people are going to have to be alerted that if they’re going to have to vote absentee in Fairbanks, they’re going to have to get things in a day ahead of the deadline,” Coghill said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Bellingham buys 125 acres at Lake Whatcom for $1.8 million

BELLINGHAM , Wash. ( AP ) - The City of Bellingham has acquired 125 acres of land around Lake Whatcom @ @ @ @ @ $ 1.8 million .
The Bellingham Herald reports City Council President Gene Knutson announced the @ @ @ @ @ was discussed in a closed session Monday afternoon .
No other information about the deal @ @ @ @ @ makes wooden utility poles from Douglas fir and Western red cedar , according to its @ @ @ @ @ around the lake - the source of drinking water for 100,000 people - has been @ @ @ @ @ years .

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - The City of Bellingham has acquired 125 acres of land around Lake Whatcom from the Oeser Co. for $1.8 million.
The Bellingham Herald reports City Council President Gene Knutson announced the purchase, which he said was discussed in a closed session Monday afternoon.
No other information about the deal was immediately available.
Oeser makes wooden utility poles from Douglas fir and Western red cedar, according to its website.
Preservation of land around the lake - the source of drinking water for 100,000 people - has been a primary goal for several years.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Donald Trump says he wanted Bashar Assad killed: 'I would have rather taken him out'

President Trump said on Tuesday that he was inclined to support a mission to assassinate Syrian leader Bashar Assad in 2017 but that former Defense Secretary James Mattis was against it .
“ I would have rather taken him out , ” Mr. Trump said on “ Fox & Friends.
” “ I had him all set .
Mattis didn ’ t want to do it.
” “ I don ’ t regret that — I could have lived either way with that , ” the president said .
In his 2018 book , “ Fear , ” author Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assad killed after a reported 2017 chemical weapons attack .
The president denied that in 2018 , saying such a mission “ was never even contemplated.
” Mr. Trump said he read Mr. Woodward ’ s new book , “ Rage , ” on Monday evening but that it was boring and inaccurate .
Mr. Woodward has released tapes from his interviews with the president for the new book in which the president talks openly about downplaying the threat of the coronavirus pandemic .
Mr. Trump says he didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

President Trump said on Tuesday that he was inclined to support a mission to assassinate Syrian leader Bashar Assad in 2017 but that former Defense Secretary James Mattis was against it.
“I would have rather taken him out,” Mr. Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I had him all set. Mattis didn’t want to do it.”
“I don’t regret that — I could have lived either way with that,” the president said.
In his 2018 book, “Fear,” author Bob Woodward writes that Mr. Trump wanted Mr. Assad killed after a reported 2017 chemical weapons attack.
The president denied that in 2018, saying such a mission “was never even contemplated.”
Mr. Trump said he read Mr. Woodward’s new book, “Rage,” on Monday evening but that it was boring and inaccurate.
Mr. Woodward has released tapes from his interviews with the president for the new book in which the president talks openly about downplaying the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr. Trump says he didn’t want to instill panic in the American people.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--1 of 3 cubs orphaned by famous bear's death killed by bus

WEST LEBANON , N.H. ( AP ) - One of three black bear cubs orphaned by the recent death of their famous mother was hit and killed by a bus in New Hampshire , authorities said .
The 30-pound ( 14-kilogram ) cub was struck Monday afternoon after it ran out onto Route 10 into the bus , in West Lebanon , said Michael Hinsley , deputy fire chief in nearby Hanover .
The cub was similar to an 8-month-old cub that was rescued on Aug. 31 , which was determined to the offspring of the mother , known as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bear rehabilitation center in Lyme and took in the rescued cub , buried the remains of the cub in the crash .
He told the Valley News , “ it was one of Mink ’ s. ” Andrew Timmins , New Hampshire Fish and Game black bear project leader , agreed Tuesday , saying the cub was hit very close to where the first one was successfully captured .
“ It ’ s really unfortunate , ” he said .
The status of the third cub isn ’ t known , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cub was hit by a vehicle last week around the same location .
“ Bears can absorb a hard hit and survive , however , that obviously applies less to a small bear , ” Timmins said .
“ Because we don ’ t know how hard the cub was hit last week , we lack the ability to predict its survival.
” Hinsley said he would continue to monitor the area and work with residents and landowners to find the cub .
Officials had been searching for the cubs since Mink was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had gained fame when New Hampshire Gov .
Chris Sununu spared her life in 2017 and when she traveled thousands of miles in a looping route through Vermont and New Hampshire to return to her home territory after being relocated to near the Canadian border .
Mink had been set to be euthanized , along with three of her earlier offspring , in 2017 after repeated problems with them feeding from trash and bird feeders culminated in two bears entering a home in Hanover .
Sununu instead ordered them to be moved to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the yearlings was killed within weeks by a hunter in Quebec .
Mink wasn ’ t captured then because she left town to mate and later returned with four cubs in 2018 .
She was fitted with a tracking collar in June of that year and moved about 120 miles ( 190 kilometers ) north , but returned to the Hanover area in 2019 .

WEST LEBANON, N.H. (AP) - One of three black bear cubs orphaned by the recent death of their famous mother was hit and killed by a bus in New Hampshire, authorities said.
The 30-pound (14-kilogram) cub was struck Monday afternoon after it ran onto Route 10, in West Lebanon, said Michael Hinsley, deputy fire chief in nearby Hanover.
The cub was similar to an 8-month-old cub that was rescued Aug. 31 and determined to the offspring of the mother, known as Mink.
Ben Kilham, who runs a bear rehabilitation center in Lyme and took in the rescued cub, buried its remains. He told the Valley News, “It was one of Mink’s.”
Andrew Timmins, New Hampshire Fish and Game black bear project leader, agreed Tuesday, saying the cub was hit very close to where the first one was successfully captured.
The status of the third cub isn’t known, although authorities are investigating a report that a cub was hit by a vehicle last week around the same location.
“Bears can absorb a hard hit and survive, however, that obviously applies less to a small bear,” Timmins said. “Because we don’t know how hard the cub was hit last week, we lack the ability to predict its survival.”
Hinsley said he would continue to monitor the area and work with residents and landowners to find the cub.
Officials had been searching for the cubs since Mink was found dead in late August. She gained fame when Gov. Chris Sununu spared her life in 2017 and when she traveled thousands of miles in a looping route through Vermont and New Hampshire to return to her home territory after being relocated to near the Canadian border.
Mink had been set to be euthanized, along with three of her earlier offspring, in 2017 after repeated problems with them feeding from trash and bird feeders culminated in two bears entering a home in Hanover.
Sununu instead ordered them to be moved to far northern New Hampshire. One of the yearlings was killed within weeks by a hunter in Quebec.
Mink wasn’t captured then because she left town to mate and later returned with four cubs in 2018. She was fitted with a tracking collar in June of that year and moved about 120 miles (190 kilometers) north, but returned to the Hanover area in 2019.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Police: Woman dies in elevator accident in Boston

BOSTON ( AP ) - A woman in her 30s was killed in an elevator accident in a Boston apartment @ @ @ @ @ Police responded to the building in the city ’ s Allston neighborhood just after 5 @ @ @ @ @ “ trauma ” in the five-story building , police spokesman John Boyle said .
The @ @ @ @ @ , a major thoroughfare through the city .
Officers found the woman in the elevator @ @ @ @ @ She was pronounced dead at the scene .
Her name was not made public .
@ @ @ @ @ to the hospital suffering from shock , but was not physically hurt , police said @ @ @ @ @ investigation and police are looking at surveillance video from inside the building .
The federal @ @ @ @ @ is also investigating , police said .

BOSTON (AP) - A woman in her 30s was killed in an elevator accident in a Boston apartment building, police say.
Police responded to the building in the city’s Allston neighborhood just after 5 p.m. Monday for reports of “trauma” in the five-story building, police spokesman John Boyle said.
The building is on Commonwealth Avenue, a major thoroughfare through the city.
Officers found the woman in the elevator on the first floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name was not made public.
A second person was taken to the hospital suffering from shock, but was not physically hurt, police said.
The death remains under investigation and police are looking at surveillance video from inside the building.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating, police said.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--St. Louis matches homicide total for all of last year

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A teenage girl shot to death in St. Louis has become the city ’ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , matching the total for all of 2019 with 3 1/2 months still to @ @ @ @ @ Police responded to a call around 6 p.m. Monday in the Riverview neighborhood in far @ @ @ @ @ the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound .
She died later at a hospital .
@ @ @ @ @ victim ’ s name or age but say she is a minor .
Homicides and @ @ @ @ @ alarming levels since June 1 , despite several efforts aimed at curbing violence .
St. @ @ @ @ @ the nation ’ s highest per capita homicide rates for several years .

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A 15-year-old girl shot to death in St. Louis has become the city’s 194th homicide victim in 2020, matching the total for all of 2019 with 3 1/2 months still to go in the year.
Police responded to a call around 6 p.m. Monday in the Riverview neighborhood in far northern St. Louis and found the victim, identified Tuesday as Deosha Purnell, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police have released no further details but were seeking the public’s help in solving the case.
Homicides and non-fatal shootings have spiked to alarming levels since June 1, despite several efforts aimed at curbing violence.
St. Louis has had one of the nation’s highest per-capita homicide rates for several years.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Man shot in Edina hospital parking ramp

Man shot in Edina hospital parking ramp

EDINA , Minn. ( AP ) - A suburban Twin Cities hospital was locked down as police searched for the @ @ @ @ @ in its parking ramp .
Police were called to M Health Fairview Southdale hospital in @ @ @ @ @ .
Investigators say the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery .
The victim @ @ @ @ @ , despite his injuries , was able to give police a description of the suspect @ @ @ @ @ condition was not released .
The lockdown at the hospital was lifted just before midnight @

EDINA, Minn. (AP) - A suburban Twin Cities hospital was locked down as police searched for the person who shot a man in its parking ramp.
Police were called to M Health Fairview Southdale hospital in Edina about 9 p.m. Monday. Investigators say the shooting was the result of an attempted robbery.
The victim is a 45-year-old man who, despite his injuries, was able to give police a description of the suspect. The victim’s condition was not released.
The lockdown at the hospital was lifted just before midnight.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Air Force tests new anti-drone laser weapon

Drones are one of the 21st century ’ s most dangerous weapons , and the U.S. Air Force soon may have a new weapon to defend against them .
The Air Force earlier this month successfully tested Boeing ’ s Compact Laser Weapon System ( CLWS ) , which was mounted on top of a small military vehicle and was able to protect a convoy from simulated drone attacks .
“ In a future scenario , an integrated and networked direct energy capability — as demonstrated in this exercise by CLWS — would provide operators with vital information and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speeds , ” Ron Dauk , program manager of Boeing ’ s Laser and Electro-Optical Systems , said in a statement .
The test itself was carried out at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada .
But the CLWS system , Boeing said , transmitted live video and data to operators at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland .
Officials said the system ’ s ability to connect personnel thousands of miles apart and provide them with real-time information on threats will be a crucial capability for the military going forward .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed drone technology , other nations are rapidly gaining ground .
The proliferation of the unmanned aircraft has spurred the Pentagon to devote time and money to cutting-edge anti-drone programs that can defend U.S. personnel from enemy attacks .

Drones are one of the 21st century’s most dangerous weapons, and the U.S. Air Force soon may have a new weapon to defend against them.
The Air Force earlier this month successfully tested Boeing’s Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS), which was mounted on top of a small military vehicle and was able to protect a convoy from simulated drone attacks.
“In a future scenario, an integrated and networked direct energy capability — as demonstrated in this exercise by CLWS — would provide operators with vital information and a means to respond to threats at greater speeds,” Ron Dauk, program manager of Boeing’s Laser and Electro-Optical Systems, said in a statement.
The test itself was carried out at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. But the CLWS system, Boeing said, transmitted live video and data to operators at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Officials said the system’s ability to connect personnel thousands of miles apart and provide them with real-time information on threats will be a crucial capability for the military going forward.
While the U.S. remains the global leader in armed drone technology, other nations are rapidly gaining ground. The proliferation of the unmanned aircraft has spurred the Pentagon to devote time and money to cutting-edge anti-drone programs that can defend U.S. personnel from enemy attacks.
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Veteran dies after fight at eastern Missouri bar

WENTZVILLE , Mo .
( AP ) - Two men are charged with second-degree murder after an Air Force veteran died from injuries from a bar fight in eastern Missouri .
Chaise Dunlap , 27 , of Old Monroe , was injured early Saturday in Wentzville .
His mother , Cresent Dunlap , told the newspaper on Monday that her son died of severe head trauma and had been hospitalized on life support .
Devin Dodson , 24 , of Wentzville , and Deangelo Williams , 30 , of St. Louis were charged in the killing .
Charging documents say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night at the Lava Lounge Hookah and Bar .
Those documents say Williams was walking to his car when Dunlap followed him yelling racial slurs .
Williams allegedly told police he punched Dunlap and went to his girlfriend ’ s car and retrieved a vehicle jack from the trunk .
The charging documents say Williams told police he saw Dodson fighting with Dunlap on the ground and struck Dunlap in the head and neck with the vehicle jack in an effort to break up the fight .
But the charging documents accuse Williams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unconscious .

WENTZVILLE, Mo. (AP) - Two men are charged with second-degree murder after an Air Force veteran died from injuries from a bar fight in eastern Missouri.
Chaise Dunlap, 27, of Old Monroe, was injured early Saturday in Wentzville. His mother, Cresent Dunlap, told the newspaper on Monday that her son died of severe head trauma and had been hospitalized on life support.
Devin Dodson, 24, of Wentzville, and Deangelo Williams, 30, of St. Louis were charged in the killing.
Charging documents say there had been several fights earlier that night at the Lava Lounge Hookah and Bar. Those documents say Williams was walking to his car when Dunlap followed him yelling racial slurs.
Williams allegedly told police he punched Dunlap and went to his girlfriend’s car and retrieved a vehicle jack from the trunk.
The charging documents say Williams told police he saw Dodson fighting with Dunlap on the ground and struck Dunlap in the head and neck with the vehicle jack in an effort to break up the fight.
But the charging documents accuse Williams of striking Dunlap twice more after he was unconscious.
Dunlap is survived by a 4-year-old daughter.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Group pushes changes to Confederate imagery at Georgia park

STONE MOUNTAIN , Ga. ( AP ) - An activist group has presented its plans for changes to Confederate imagery at Georgia ’ s popular Stone Mountain Park , including a suggestion that it stop maintaining a colossal sculpture of Confederate leaders .
Members of the Stone Mountain Action Coalition spoke Monday at a meeting with board members of the association responsible for the park , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
“ We don ’ t believe that taking a piecemeal , token kind of approach to adding little trinkets here and there is going to be good enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the way that people see it , ” said Ryan Gravel , a coalition co-chair .
The group is also proposing that officials remove the Confederate flags at the base of the mountain , change the names of streets and other park features with Confederate affiliations and refocus the park on themes such as racial reconciliation and justice , the newspaper reported .
“ We ’ re open to some changes , ” Stone Mountain Memorial Association board chairman Ray Stallings Smith said .
“ But our changes are probably gon na @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re proposing .
Because again , we are constrained by state law.
” The association was created in 1958 by an act of the Georgia Legislature and is charged with “ the proper development , management , preservation , and protection of Stone Mountain as a Confederate Memorial and public recreation area , ” according to its website .
The sculpture of Gen. Robert E. Lee , Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Thomas J .
“ Stonewall ” Jackson that is carved into the mountain ’ s northern face is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special protection enshrined in Georgia law .
The park , a gathering spot in the past for white supremacists , today markets itself as a family theme park rather than a shrine to the “ Lost Cause ” mythology that romanticizes the Confederacy as chivalrous defenders of states ’ rights .
It ’ s a popular recreation spot for many families on the east side of Atlanta , with hiking trails , a golf course , boat rentals and other attractions .
But its Confederate imagery has faced renewed scrutiny amid recent protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down numerous Confederate statues and monuments to American slave owners in the South .

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (AP) - An activist group has presented its plans for changes to Confederate imagery at Georgia’s popular Stone Mountain Park, including a suggestion that it stop maintaining a colossal sculpture of Confederate leaders.
Members of the Stone Mountain Action Coalition spoke Monday at a meeting with board members of the association responsible for the park, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
“We don’t believe that taking a piecemeal, token kind of approach to adding little trinkets here and there is going to be good enough to really resolve the history of the mountain and the way that people see it,” said Ryan Gravel, a coalition co-chair.
The group is also proposing that officials remove the Confederate flags at the base of the mountain, change the names of streets and other park features with Confederate affiliations and refocus the park on themes such as racial reconciliation and justice, the newspaper reported.
It faces an uphill battle.
“We’re open to some changes,” Stone Mountain Memorial Association board chairman Ray Stallings Smith said. “But our changes are probably gonna be a little different than what they’re proposing. Because again, we are constrained by state law.”
The association was created in 1958 by an act of the Georgia Legislature and is charged with “the proper development, management, preservation, and protection of Stone Mountain as a Confederate Memorial and public recreation area,” according to its website.
The sculpture of Gen. Robert E. Lee, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Gen. Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson that is carved into the mountain’s northern face is the largest Confederate monument ever crafted and has special protection enshrined in Georgia law.
The park, a gathering spot in the past for white supremacists, today markets itself as a family theme park rather than a shrine to the “Lost Cause” mythology that romanticizes the Confederacy as chivalrous defenders of states’ rights. It’s a popular recreation spot for many families on the east side of Atlanta, with hiking trails, a golf course, boat rentals and other attractions.
But its Confederate imagery has faced renewed scrutiny amid recent protests against racial injustice that have helped bring down numerous Confederate statues and monuments to American slave owners in the South.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Black Lives Matter mural on Kansas City street vandalized

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - One of six Black Lives Matter street murals in Kansas City has been vandalized , and the artists behind the mural are hoping the vandalism can be incorporated into it as part of the art .
The vandalism to the mural at the intersection of Northwest Briarcliff Parkway and North Mulberry Drive was discovered Monday .
The words “ Black Lives Matter ” painted in large , colorful block letters on the road are now marred by black tire marks and white paint streaked over the words .
The mural is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ streets by local artists and community members .
The mural ’ s lead artist , Harold Smith , told the Kansas City Star he hopes the vandalism can be turned into part of the art to make a statement , “ the same way Black musicians have channeled their pain to create the blues.
” He also suggested the community could respond to the damage with a block party including food , music and dancing as artists add their own interpretations to the vandalism .
Police aren ’ t investigating the incident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but could if a police report is filed and value of property damage is determined .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - One of six Black Lives Matter street murals in Kansas City has been vandalized, and the artists behind the mural are hoping the vandalism can be incorporated into it as part of the art.
The vandalism to the mural at the intersection of Northwest Briarcliff Parkway and North Mulberry Drive was discovered Monday. The words “Black Lives Matter” painted in large, colorful block letters on the road are now marred by black tire marks and white paint streaked over the words.
The mural is one of six painted across Kansas City streets by local artists and community members. The mural’s lead artist, Harold Smith, told the Kansas City Star he hopes the vandalism can be turned into part of the art to make a statement, “the same way Black musicians have channeled their pain to create the blues.” He also suggested the community could respond to the damage with a block party including food, music and dancing as artists add their own interpretations to the vandalism.
Police aren’t investigating the incident, department spokesman Sgt. Jake Becchina said, but could if a police report is filed and value of property damage is determined.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu announces mayoral run

BOSTON ( AP ) - Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu officially announced on Tuesday that she is mounting a campaign @ @ @ @ @ the long-rumored announcement in a two-minute campaign video .
“ Business as usual has been @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic , and COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities across our city , @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ In this moment of crisis , it ’ s not only possible @ @ @ @ @ leadership with the vision and conviction to act.
” Current Mayor Marty Walsh , first @ @ @ @ @ not yet said whether he will run for a third term .
Wu , who @ @ @ @ @ s Roslindale neighborhood , is a Chicago native and a graduate of Harvard Law School @ @ @ @ @ the City Council at-large in 2013 .
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants became the first @ @ @ @ @ as the city council ’ s president in 2016 .
The mayoral election is next @ @

BOSTON (AP) - Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu officially announced on Tuesday that she is mounting a campaign for mayor.
Wu made the long-rumored announcement in a two-minute campaign video.
“Business as usual has been failing Bostonians since well before the pandemic, and COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated deep inequities across our city,” Wu, 35, said. “In this moment of crisis, it’s not only possible but necessary to reimagine community-based leadership with the vision and conviction to act.”
Current Mayor Marty Walsh, first elected in 2013, has not yet said whether he will run for a third term.
Wu, who lives in the city’s Roslindale neighborhood, is a Chicago native and a graduate of Harvard Law School who was first elected to the City Council at-large in 2013. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants became the first woman of color to serve as the city council’s president in 2016.
The mayoral election is next year.


washingtontimes--2020-09-15--Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by 4 points in Minnesota: Poll

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden holds a 4-point lead over President Trump in Minnesota , according to polling released @ @ @ @ @ had a 48 % to 44 % lead over Mr. Trump among likely voters , @ @ @ @ @ poll , which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ 3-point , 48 % to 45 % lead for Mr. Biden in June amid the @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd , a Black man , while in Minneapolis police custody .
Hillary Clinton @ @ @ @ @ and Mr. Trump ’ s team sees it as a prime pick-up opportunity .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ about 9 points in the latest Real Clear Politics average .
Both Mr. Trump and @ @ @ @ @ campaign in the state on Friday , when early voting starts in Minnesota .
The @ @ @ @ @ was conducted from Sept. 4-13 .

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden holds a 4-point lead over President Trump in Minnesota, according to polling released on Tuesday.
Mr. Biden had a 48% to 44% lead over Mr. Trump among likely voters, according to the Morning Consult poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The margin mirrors a 3-point, 48% to 45% lead for Mr. Biden in June amid the fallout from the death of George Floyd, a Black man, while in Minneapolis police custody.
Hillary Clinton barely carried Minnesota in 2016 and Mr. Trump’s team sees it as a prime pick-up opportunity.
Mr. Biden leads Mr. Trump by about 9 points in the latest Real Clear Politics average.
Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden are slated to campaign in the state on Friday, when early voting starts in Minnesota.
The survey of 643 likely voters was conducted from Sept. 4-13.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Joe Biden: No rationale to eliminate fracking right now

Joseph R. Biden on Thursday said he does not support an immediate ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an important business in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio .
“ Fracking @ @ @ @ @ need a transition , ” Mr. Biden said at a CNN town hall .
“ @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate , right now , fracking.
” Mr. Biden has laid out an energy @ @ @ @ @ by 2050 .
Mr. Biden , under pressure during the Democratic primary to disavow the @ @ @ @ @ March debate , “ No more — no new fracking.
” His campaign said afterward @ @ @ @ @ his position remained consistent : no new fracking permits on federal land .
He said @ @ @ @ @ t think the far-reaching “ Green New Deal ” is “ too much.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ — I ’ ve laid it out in great detail , ” he said .

Joseph R. Biden on Thursday said he does not support an immediate ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or fracking, saying it’s an important business in battleground states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“Fracking has to continue because we need a transition,” Mr. Biden said at a CNN town hall. “There’s no rationale to eliminate, right now, fracking.”
Mr. Biden has laid out an energy proposal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Mr. Biden, under pressure during the Democratic primary to disavow the practice, said at a March debate, “No more — no new fracking.”
His campaign said afterward that he misspoke and that his position remained consistent: no new fracking permits on federal land.
He said Thursday that he doesn’t think the far-reaching “Green New Deal” is “too much.”
“I have my own deal — I’ve laid it out in great detail,” he said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Dwight D. Eisenhower memorial dedicated in Washington

A marine band played , fighter jets flew overhead rumbling Capitol Hill , and senators and congressmen gathered as America ’ s last general-turned-President , Dwight D. Eisenhower received a long-awaited national memorial dedication on a rainy night in the nation ’ s capital Thursday .
“ If you think this weather is rough , just think what it was like on the English Channel , ” remarked Greta Van Susteren , television news anchor , who opened remarks at the Frank Gehry-designed memorial , sandwiched between the U.S. Department of Education and Independence Avenue , and only the 7th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which persevered 20 years of planning , redesigns and delays after then-President Bill Clinton signed the enacting legislation to honor the commander who led the Allies in thwarting Nazi Germany during World War II and later led a nation during the early days of the Civil Rights struggle — shined in sparkling stone on Thursday under the long tapestry of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy , site of the D-Day Invasion as signatures lined up to pay tribute to Ike .
Sen. Pat Roberts , a Republican from Eisenhower ’ s home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s provocative sculpture of the boyhood president — before his days at West Point — as symbolizing the “ coming of age of Eisenhower and America.
” “ Through all of the darkness there is light , ” said Mr. Roberts , who chaired the commission creating the memorial .
“ And this memorial comes exactly at the right time to provide some light in our troubling times.
” The achievement-studded career of the 34th president , from commanding the military during the 20th Century ’ s tipping point against fascism to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and even to the effort to racially desegregate schools drew a diverse list of speakers , from former Republican Leader of the U.S. Senate Bob Dole , a fellow Kansan , to Fox News Host Bret Baier ( who called the president a “ scrappy kid from Kansas ” ) , Democratic Rep. Mike Simpson , from California , to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice , who recalled the president dispatching federal troops to protect Black children attending desegregated schools in Little Rock in the aftermath of the Brown v. Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He was a hero to those like my parents and their friends ” who sought to be “ treated as first-class citizens in America , ” said Ms. Rice , who recalled her father casting his first vote for a Republican by supporting Mr. Eisenhower .
The $ 150 million monument became embroiled in conceptual disagreements between the Eisenhower family and the architect , Mr. Gehry , known for such visually striking projects as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao , Spain , and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Eisenhower as a boy surrounded by giant metal tapestries emblazoned with images of Kansas .
After year of back-and-forth , a compromise was reached , featuring more of Mr. Eisenhower ’ s military heralds , including the large tapestry of Normandy .
The tumult of 2020 — from social unrest , rioting , and destruction of historical statues in the streets following the death of Black man George Floyd in police custody to the novel coronavirus — weren ’ t far from Thursday night ’ s proceedings .
Secretary of the Interior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action ” against statues on federal property and observed “ rather than removing and revising the memorials of great leaders , the Trump administration believes that we must tell more stories of exceptional action by exceptional people.
” Grandchild Susan Eisenhower noted a “ great sadness ” many in her family remained home due to public health concerns related to the novel coronavirus .
Like many public events , the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the unveiling of the memorial from V-E Day to Constitution Day .
Social distancing was also enforced , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms. Eisenhower noted she hoped someday people would “ bring a sandwich ” and sit under the memorial before visiting the nearby Smithsonian museums .
Other video messages came from an astronaut aboard the U.S. International Space Station — a nod to Mr. Eisenhower ’ s role in establishing NASA — and the memorial ’ s architect , Mr. Gehry , who said “ at first glance , the site wasn ’ t or didn ’ t seem great , ” noting the traffic and bland bureaucratic offices .
“ But , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it done , ” in echoes of Mr. Eisenhower who said , tersely , “ Okay , let ’ s go , ” prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy .
The event retained some of the pomp and circumstance — even in the rain — as a 1940s-era swing band tune played as members of the commission cut the ribbon unveiling the memorial .
Scholars praise Eisenhower for his nonpartisan roots , echoing the nation ’ s first president .
That tie was recognized by Ms. Rice , who said , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seek political life , it sought him.
” David Eisenhower , another grandson , noted “ Memorials indeed preserve history , and they also do and must reflect our values.
” He added he hoped a “ time will never come when America will not cherish the values depicted here .
”

A marine band played, fighter jets flew overhead rumbling Capitol Hill, and senators and congressmen gathered as America’s last general-turned-President, Dwight D. Eisenhower received a long-awaited national memorial dedication on a rainy night in the nation’s capital Thursday.
“If you think this weather is rough, just think what it was like on the English Channel,” remarked Greta Van Susteren, television news anchor, who opened remarks at the Frank Gehry-designed memorial, sandwiched between the U.S. Department of Education and Independence Avenue, and only the 7th presidential memorial in Washington.
The design — which persevered 20 years of planning, redesigns and delays after then-President Bill Clinton signed the enacting legislation to honor the commander who led the Allies in thwarting Nazi Germany during World War II and later led a nation during the early days of the Civil Rights struggle — shined in sparkling stone on Thursday under the long tapestry of Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, site of the D-Day Invasion as signatures lined up to pay tribute to Ike.
Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Eisenhower’s home state of Kansas, called Mr. Gehry’s provocative sculpture of the boyhood president — before his days at West Point — as symbolizing the “coming of age of Eisenhower and America.”
“Through all of the darkness there is light,” said Mr. Roberts, who chaired the commission creating the memorial. “And this memorial comes exactly at the right time to provide some light in our troubling times.”
The achievement-studded career of the 34th president, from commanding the military during the 20th Century’s tipping point against fascism to the early days of the Cold War and even to the effort to racially desegregate schools drew a diverse list of speakers, from former Republican Leader of the U.S. Senate Bob Dole, a fellow Kansan, to Fox News Host Bret Baier (who called the president a “scrappy kid from Kansas”), Democratic Rep. Mike Simpson, from California, to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who recalled the president dispatching federal troops to protect Black children attending desegregated schools in Little Rock in the aftermath of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“He was a hero to those like my parents and their friends” who sought to be “treated as first-class citizens in America,” said Ms. Rice, who recalled her father casting his first vote for a Republican by supporting Mr. Eisenhower.
The $150 million monument became embroiled in conceptual disagreements between the Eisenhower family and the architect, Mr. Gehry, known for such visually striking projects as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Mr. Gehry initially envisioned a sculpture of Eisenhower as a boy surrounded by giant metal tapestries emblazoned with images of Kansas. After year of back-and-forth, a compromise was reached, featuring more of Mr. Eisenhower’s military heralds, including the large tapestry of Normandy.
The tumult of 2020 — from social unrest, rioting, and destruction of historical statues in the streets following the death of Black man George Floyd in police custody to the novel coronavirus — weren’t far from Thursday night’s proceedings.
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt also referenced the “criminal action” against statues on federal property and observed “rather than removing and revising the memorials of great leaders, the Trump administration believes that we must tell more stories of exceptional action by exceptional people.”
Grandchild Susan Eisenhower noted a “great sadness” many in her family remained home due to public health concerns related to the novel coronavirus.
Like many public events, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the unveiling of the memorial from V-E Day to Constitution Day. Social distancing was also enforced, as many attendees wore masks and remained apart.
Ms. Eisenhower noted she hoped someday people would “bring a sandwich” and sit under the memorial before visiting the nearby Smithsonian museums.
Other video messages came from an astronaut aboard the U.S. International Space Station — a nod to Mr. Eisenhower’s role in establishing NASA — and the memorial’s architect, Mr. Gehry, who said “at first glance, the site wasn’t or didn’t seem great,” noting the traffic and bland bureaucratic offices.
“But,” he said, “We got it done,” in echoes of Mr. Eisenhower who said, tersely, “Okay, let’s go,” prior to the Allied invasion of Normandy.
The event retained some of the pomp and circumstance — even in the rain — as a 1940s-era swing band tune played as members of the commission cut the ribbon unveiling the memorial.
Scholars praise Eisenhower for his nonpartisan roots, echoing the nation’s first president. That tie was recognized by Ms. Rice, who said, like Mr. Washington, Mr. Eisenhower “didn’t seek political life, it sought him.”
David Eisenhower, another grandson, noted “Memorials indeed preserve history, and they also do and must reflect our values.” He added he hoped a “time will never come when America will not cherish the values depicted here.”
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Inside the Beltway: Law and order, riots sway voters

President Trump has described himself as a “ law and order ” leader , and this quality appears to be a growing plus among many voters .
Social unrest has emerged as the latest factor that could influence voters following months of violent public demonstrations , and less than six weeks before the nation goes to the polls .
A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 likely voters finds that 42 % have experienced recent “ anti-police protests in their community , ” and half said these events turned violent .
The survey was conducted Sept. 9-10 .
“ Three-out-of-four voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their community rate those protests important to their vote in the presidential election .
Among these voters , a sizable majority like the job President Trump is doing , ” the poll analysis noted .
“ Among those who have had violent protests in their community , 76 % rate them important to their vote , including 54 % who say they are very important .
Sixty-three percent of these voters strongly approve of the job Trump is doing versus 35 % who strongly disapprove , ” the analysis said .
Others also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their electoral decision .
Among all voters , 41 % said the protests were a “ very important ” influence on their vote ; 55 % of Republicans , 33 % of independents and 35 % of Democrats agreed .
The pollster , meanwhile , revealed related sentiments in a separate poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday .
That survey of 1,000 likely voters found that 59 % believe there is “ a war on police going on , ” up from 43 % in a similar poll conducted in 2018 .
Another 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undecided .
The poll also found that 68 % of voters are concerned that deadly attacks on the police will lead to a shortage of police officers and reduce public safety where they live .
Reserve a little time this weekend when insightful Fox News host Mark Levin has a candid conversation with President Trump , who will parse out his plan for law and order in the U.S. , his strategies for the coronavirus pandemic , the recent Middle East peace accord , and of course the election .
Tune in at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House reporter asked Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday whether she had a response to Bob Woodward — author of the new book “ Rage ” — who told MSNBC that President Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic was “ a monumental , catastrophic leadership failure , ” and a “ tragedy ” for the country .
“ That is absolutely preposterous and absurd .
Look at the facts , look at the data .
Look at the fact that Europe , for instance , has experienced a 28 % higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Look at the fact that we have one of the lowest case fatalities in the world .
Look at the fact that , from scratch , we developed the largest and most advanced testing system in the entire world , testing more than every country in Europe put together and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere combined .
Look at the fact that we have three vaccines in phase three clinical trial , ” Ms. McEnany replied .
“ That is a historic response — mobilizing the private sector , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector to the greatest degree since World War II .
This president has broken through barriers .
He ’ s a businessman .
He ’ s the Commander-in- Chief .
He ’ s the leader of the country , and he has done a ‘ phenomenal ’ job , to quote none other than Governor Andrew Cuomo , ” she advised .
It is bright red and white , and autographed by Colin Kaepernick in 2011 with silver ink .
It also could fetch $ 100,000 in the near future , says a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ 7 ’ jersey signed by the former NFL quarterback , who became the face of this generation ’ s new civil rights movement and an American cultural figure , is estimated to sell at $ 80,000- $ 100,000 , ” said Julien ’ s Auctions in an advance notice for the event , scheduled for December .
“ Kaepernick wore this jersey in his NFL debut as a San Francisco 49er on October 2 , 2011 , when he entered the game in the first quarter for a handoff to Frank Gore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eagles .
“ In 2020 , his positions and actions on and off the field has catapulted him to become a central figure whose kneel became a powerful symbol of protest against racial injustice in America , ” the Beverly Hills-based auctioneer said .
“ In 2016 , Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem to bring attention and awareness to racial inequality in the United States , ” the auction house said .
“ At the end of the 2016 NFL season , Kaepernick was released by the 49ers , which led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his legacy as one of the most prominent figures in sports history worldwide , ” The item is no doubt authentic .
Mr. Kaepernick included the phrase “ official game worn rookie jersey ” in his autograph , also written in silver ink .
The jersey is “ an exceptional piece of sports history , ” said Darren Julien , CEO of the auction house .
For sale : Mediterranean-style mansion built in 1953 on LaGorce Island near Miami , once owned by iconic singer Cher .
Six bedrooms , seven baths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gourmet kitchen , bar , gym , game room , much more ; 11,460 square feet .
Mulitple exterior courtyards , fountains , brick walkways , pool , cabana , spa , dock .
Bay and city views .
Priced at $ 22 million through EVRealestate.com ; find the home here .
• 72 % of U.S. adults say the federal government is doing a “ good job ” protecting the nation from terrorism ; 87 % of Republicans and 61 % of Democrats agree .
• 62 % overall say it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine ; 78 % of Republicans and 50 % of Democrats agree .
• 54 % overall say it is doing a good job strengthening the economy ; 80 % of Republicans and 36 % of Democrats agree .
• 42 % overall say it does a good job handling public health threats ; 70 % of Republicans and 17 % of Democrats agree .
• 34 % overall say it does a good job managing the U.S. immigration system ; 58 % of Republicans and 14 % of Democrats agree .
Source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11,011 U.S. adults conducted from July 13 TO AUG. 2 and released MONDAY .

NEWS AND OPINION:
President Trump has described himself as a “law and order” leader, and this quality appears to be a growing plus among many voters. Social unrest has emerged as the latest factor that could influence voters following months of violent public demonstrations, and less than six weeks before the nation goes to the polls.
A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 likely voters finds that 42% have experienced recent “anti-police protests in their community,” and half said these events turned violent. The survey was conducted Sept. 9-10.
“Three-out-of-four voters who have had violent anti-police protests in their community rate those protests important to their vote in the presidential election. Among these voters, a sizable majority like the job President Trump is doing,” the poll analysis noted.
“Among those who have had violent protests in their community, 76% rate them important to their vote, including 54% who say they are very important. Sixty-three percent of these voters strongly approve of the job Trump is doing versus 35% who strongly disapprove,” the analysis said.
Others also cited the role of social unrest on their electoral decision. Among all voters, 41% said the protests were a “very important” influence on their vote; 55% of Republicans, 33% of independents and 35% of Democrats agreed.
The pollster, meanwhile, revealed related sentiments in a separate poll conducted Tuesday and Wednesday.
That survey of 1,000 likely voters found that 59% believe there is “a war on police going on,” up from 43% in a similar poll conducted in 2018. Another 29% disagree, while 12% are undecided. The poll also found that 68% of voters are concerned that deadly attacks on the police will lead to a shortage of police officers and reduce public safety where they live.
MUST-SEE TV
Reserve a little time this weekend when insightful Fox News host Mark Levin has a candid conversation with President Trump, who will parse out his plan for law and order in the U.S., his strategies for the coronavirus pandemic, the recent Middle East peace accord, and of course the election. Tune in at 8 p.m. Sunday.
KAYLEIGH STRAIGHTENS THEM OUT
An unnamed White House reporter asked Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Thursday whether she had a response to Bob Woodward — author of the new book “Rage” — who told MSNBC that President Trump‘s response to the coronavirus pandemic was “a monumental, catastrophic leadership failure,” and a “tragedy” for the country.
“That is absolutely preposterous and absurd. Look at the facts, look at the data. Look at the fact that Europe, for instance, has experienced a 28% higher excess mortality rate than the United States. Look at the fact that we have one of the lowest case fatalities in the world. Look at the fact that, from scratch, we developed the largest and most advanced testing system in the entire world, testing more than every country in Europe put together and more than every nation in the Western Hemisphere combined. Look at the fact that we have three vaccines in phase three clinical trial,” Ms. McEnany replied.
“That is a historic response — mobilizing the private sector, the fastest — or mobilizing the private sector to the greatest degree since World War II. This president has broken through barriers. He’s a businessman. He’s the Commander-in- Chief. He’s the leader of the country, and he has done a ‘phenomenal’ job, to quote none other than Governor Andrew Cuomo,” she advised.
SPORTS HISTORY
It is bright red and white, and autographed by Colin Kaepernick in 2011 with silver ink. It also could fetch $100,000 in the near future, says a California-based auctioneer.
“The white Reebok ‘7’ jersey signed by the former NFL quarterback, who became the face of this generation’s new civil rights movement and an American cultural figure, is estimated to sell at $80,000-$100,000,” said Julien’s Auctions in an advance notice for the event, scheduled for December.
“Kaepernick wore this jersey in his NFL debut as a San Francisco 49er on October 2, 2011, when he entered the game in the first quarter for a handoff to Frank Gore for a five-yard run against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“In 2020, his positions and actions on and off the field has catapulted him to become a central figure whose kneel became a powerful symbol of protest against racial injustice in America,” the Beverly Hills-based auctioneer said.
“In 2016, Kaepernick knelt during the National Anthem to bring attention and awareness to racial inequality in the United States,” the auction house said. “At the end of the 2016 NFL season, Kaepernick was released by the 49ers, which led to his present-day banishment from the NFL and his legacy as one of the most prominent figures in sports history worldwide,”
The item is no doubt authentic. Mr. Kaepernick included the phrase “official game worn rookie jersey” in his autograph, also written in silver ink.
The jersey is “an exceptional piece of sports history,” said Darren Julien, CEO of the auction house.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: Mediterranean-style mansion built in 1953 on LaGorce Island near Miami, once owned by iconic singer Cher. Six bedrooms, seven baths, two-story living room, 300-square-foot closet, gourmet kitchen, bar, gym, game room, much more; 11,460 square feet. Mulitple exterior courtyards, fountains, brick walkways, pool, cabana, spa, dock. Bay and city views. Priced at $22 million through EVRealestate.com; find the home here.
POLL DU JOUR
• 72% of U.S. adults say the federal government is doing a “good job” protecting the nation from terrorism; 87% of Republicans and 61% of Democrats agree.
• 62% overall say it does a good job ensuring safe food and medicine; 78% of Republicans and 50% of Democrats agree.
• 54% overall say it is doing a good job strengthening the economy; 80% of Republicans and 36% of Democrats agree.
• 42% overall say it does a good job handling public health threats; 70% of Republicans and 17% of Democrats agree.
• 34% overall say it does a good job managing the U.S. immigration system; 58% of Republicans and 14% of Democrats agree.
Source: A PEW RESEARCH CENTER POLL of 11,011 U.S. adults conducted from July 13 TO AUG. 2 and released MONDAY.
• Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Trump jabs at Christopher Wray, says China bigger threat than Russia to election

President Trump told FBI Director Christopher Wray Thursday night that China is a much greater threat to interfere in the presidential election than Russia , after Mr. Wray testified to Congress that Moscow is “ very active ” in trying to influence the race .
“ But Chris , you don ’ t see any activity from China , even though it is a FAR greater threat than Russia , Russia , Russia , ” Mr. Trump tweeted .
“ They will both , plus others , be able to interfere in our 2020 Election with our totally vulnerable Unsolicited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Check it out !
” Mr. Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday , “ We certainly have seen very active , very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020…to both sow divisiveness and discord and…to denigrate Vice President [ Joseph ] Biden.
” “ I think the intelligence committee ’ s consensus is Russia continues to try to influence our elections , primarily through what we would call malign foreign influence , as opposed to what we saw in 2016 , where there was also an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , cyber targeting .
We have not seen that second part yet this year or this cycle , ” Mr. Wray said .
He said , “ But we certainly have seen very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020 through what I would call more the malign foreign influence side of things — social media , use of proxies , state media , online journals , etc .
— in an effort to both sow divisiveness and discord , and I think the intelligence community has assessed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Biden and what the Russians see as kind of an anti-Russian establishment .
That ’ s essentially what we ’ re seeing in 2020.
” The president also took issue with Mr. Wray ’ s assessment that investigations into violent extremists who “ self-identify with the antifa movement ” are “ just one part ” of probes into domestic terror .
He said those investigations include “ racially motivated violent extremists , the militia-types and others.
” The president responded , “ And I look at them as a bunch of well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the Comey/Mueller inspired FBI is simply unable , or unwilling , to find their funding source , and allows them to get away with “ murder ” .
LAW & ORDER !
”

President Trump told FBI Director Christopher Wray Thursday night that China is a much greater threat to interfere in the presidential election than Russia, after Mr. Wray testified to Congress that Moscow is “very active” in trying to influence the race.
“But Chris, you don’t see any activity from China, even though it is a FAR greater threat than Russia, Russia, Russia,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “They will both, plus others, be able to interfere in our 2020 Election with our totally vulnerable Unsolicited (Counterfeit?) Ballot Scam. Check it out!”
Mr. Wray told the House Homeland Security Committee on Thursday, “We certainly have seen very active, very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020…to both sow divisiveness and discord and…to denigrate Vice President [Joseph] Biden.”
“I think the intelligence committee’s consensus is Russia continues to try to influence our elections, primarily through what we would call malign foreign influence, as opposed to what we saw in 2016, where there was also an effort to target election infrastructure — you know, cyber targeting. We have not seen that second part yet this year or this cycle,” Mr. Wray said.
He said, “But we certainly have seen very active efforts by the Russians to influence our election in 2020 through what I would call more the malign foreign influence side of things — social media, use of proxies, state media, online journals, etc. — in an effort to both sow divisiveness and discord, and I think the intelligence community has assessed this publicly, primarily to denigrate Vice President Biden and what the Russians see as kind of an anti-Russian establishment. That’s essentially what we’re seeing in 2020.”
The president also took issue with Mr. Wray’s assessment that investigations into violent extremists who “self-identify with the antifa movement” are “just one part” of probes into domestic terror. He said those investigations include “racially motivated violent extremists, the militia-types and others.”
The president responded, “And I look at them as a bunch of well funded ANARCHISTS & THUGS who are protected because the Comey/Mueller inspired FBI is simply unable, or unwilling, to find their funding source, and allows them to get away with “murder”. LAW & ORDER!”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Police: Man picked up gun before Los Angeles deputies fired

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Two deputies told investigators they fatally shot a Black man in South Los Angeles after he picked up a handgun he ’ d dropped during a struggle with one of them , authorities said Thursday .
Dijon Kizzee , 29 , was killed Aug. 31 after the Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies tried to stop him for riding a bicycle in the wrong direction .
They said they were unaware he had a weapon wrapped in a piece of clothing he was carrying at the time .
Kizzee abandoned his bike and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood helped the deputies locate him , said Capt .
Kent Wegener , the head of the department ’ s Homicide Bureau , and video obtained by authorities shows one of the deputies run up to Kizzee as he walked on a sidewalk .
A brief struggle ensued and Kizzee dropped the clothing and the gun fell out .
Authorities say he picked up the gun ; the video shows him stooping down but a wall blocks a full view and no weapon can be seen .
The two deputies fired 19 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the chest and arms and once in the back , Wegener said .
The full autopsy hasn ’ t been completed yet .
The sheriff ’ s department said it released the additional information after investigators were able to interview the deputies - a trainee and his field supervisor .
Their identities have not been publicly released .
The shooting has prompted a series of mostly peaceful demonstrations .
Kizzee ’ s family has retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump , who also represents the families of George Floyd and Jacob Blake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer knelt on his neck and Blake was left paralyzed by a police shooting in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Crump did not immediately respond to a request for comment but previously called Kizzee ’ s shooting a “ despicable and tragic killing.
” “ When officers shoot first and ask questions later , precious lives are lost and police lose credibility and trust from those they are sworn to protect , ” Crump said .
Wegener and Sheriff Alex Villanueva sought to cast the deputies ’ actions as proactive policing in an area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a war zone .
He said since January there have been 12 homicides and 163 assaults with a firearm within a mile of where Kizzee was killed .
Villanueva said the deputies ’ decision to stop Kizzee for making a U-turn in the middle of a road and just in front of the deputies ’ vehicle was appropriate and ultimately revealed he was carrying a semiautomatic handgun with 15 rounds .
The handgun had been stolen in Las Vegas in 2017 , police said , and they showed a video of Kizzee taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrying the gun and displayed its serial number .
Wegener said Kizzee had a restraining order that prohibited him from having a gun .
He also had convictions for narcotics and firearms violations , Wegener said , and had a pending case in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles that involved an alleged assault on deputies and bringing drugs into a jail .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two deputies told investigators they fatally shot a Black man in South Los Angeles after he picked up a handgun he’d dropped during a struggle with one of them, authorities said Thursday.
Dijon Kizzee, 29, was killed Aug. 31 after the Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies tried to stop him for riding a bicycle in the wrong direction. They said they were unaware he had a weapon wrapped in a piece of clothing he was carrying at the time.
Kizzee abandoned his bike and ran away. Residents of the Westmont neighborhood helped the deputies locate him, said Capt. Kent Wegener, the head of the department’s Homicide Bureau, and video obtained by authorities shows one of the deputies run up to Kizzee as he walked on a sidewalk.
A brief struggle ensued and Kizzee dropped the clothing and the gun fell out. Authorities say he picked up the gun; the video shows him stooping down but a wall blocks a full view and no weapon can be seen.
The two deputies fired 19 times within seconds, striking Kizzee multiple times in the chest and arms and once in the back, Wegener said. The full autopsy hasn’t been completed yet.
The sheriff’s department said it released the additional information after investigators were able to interview the deputies - a trainee and his field supervisor. Their identities have not been publicly released.
The shooting has prompted a series of mostly peaceful demonstrations. Kizzee’s family has retained civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who also represents the families of George Floyd and Jacob Blake. Floyd was killed when a Minneapolis officer knelt on his neck and Blake was left paralyzed by a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Crump did not immediately respond to a request for comment but previously called Kizzee’s shooting a “despicable and tragic killing.”
“When officers shoot first and ask questions later, precious lives are lost and police lose credibility and trust from those they are sworn to protect,” Crump said.
Wegener and Sheriff Alex Villanueva sought to cast the deputies’ actions as proactive policing in an area of South LA the sheriff likened to a war zone. He said since January there have been 12 homicides and 163 assaults with a firearm within a mile of where Kizzee was killed.
Villanueva said the deputies’ decision to stop Kizzee for making a U-turn in the middle of a road and just in front of the deputies’ vehicle was appropriate and ultimately revealed he was carrying a semiautomatic handgun with 15 rounds.
The handgun had been stolen in Las Vegas in 2017, police said, and they showed a video of Kizzee taken days before the shooting that shows him carrying the gun and displayed its serial number.
Wegener said Kizzee had a restraining order that prohibited him from having a gun. He also had convictions for narcotics and firearms violations, Wegener said, and had a pending case in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles that involved an alleged assault on deputies and bringing drugs into a jail.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Joe Biden at CNN Town Hall: William Barr sick for slavery comparison

Joseph R. Biden says it is “ sick ” for Attorney General Bill Barr to liken the calls for a nationwide coronavirus lockdown and stay-at-home orders to slavery .
Speaking at a CNN town hall Thursday , Mr. Biden , the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , said Mr. Barr ’ s recent comments speak to a Trump administration gone wild .
“ Quite frankly , they are sick , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ Did you ever , ever , think , anyone of you , you ’ d hear an attorney general say that following the recommendations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people ’ s lives is the equivalent to slavery ?
People being put in chains ?
” Mr. Biden said a big reason that people are unable to carry on with their normal lives is because the Trump administration blew the response to the coronavirus .
“ I have been doing this for a long time .
I never , ever , ever , thought I would see such a thoroughly , totally , irresponsible administration , ” he said .
During a recent appearance at Hillsdale College , Mr. Barr panned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the spread of the coronavirus .
“ Putting a national lockdown , stay at home orders is like house arrest , ” Mr. Barr said .
“ Other than slavery , which was a different kind of restraint , it ’ s the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history .
”

Joseph R. Biden says it is “sick” for Attorney General Bill Barr to liken the calls for a nationwide coronavirus lockdown and stay-at-home orders to slavery.
Speaking at a CNN town hall Thursday, Mr. Biden, the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, said Mr. Barr’s recent comments speak to a Trump administration gone wild.
“Quite frankly, they are sick,” Mr. Biden said. “Did you ever, ever, think, anyone of you, you’d hear an attorney general say that following the recommendations of the scientific community to save your and other people’s lives is the equivalent to slavery? People being put in chains?”
Mr. Biden said a big reason that people are unable to carry on with their normal lives is because the Trump administration blew the response to the coronavirus.
“I have been doing this for a long time. I never, ever, ever, thought I would see such a thoroughly, totally, irresponsible administration,” he said.
During a recent appearance at Hillsdale College, Mr. Barr panned the stay-at-home orders that governors issued to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“Putting a national lockdown, stay at home orders is like house arrest,” Mr. Barr said. “Other than slavery, which was a different kind of restraint, it’s the greatest intrusion on civil liberties in American history.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Expensive handbags stolen from Chicago-area Neiman Marcus

NORTHBROOK , Ill. ( AP ) - Handbags valued at more than $ 43,000 were stolen from a Neiman Marcus @ @ @ @ @ shopping center .
At least 10 people wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks walked into the @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday evening , knocked over glass display cases , grabbed 13 handbags and ran out @ @ @ @ @ handbags were taken , according to the Chicago Tribune .
Another 11 handbags valued at @ @ @ @ @ damaged .
A store loss prevention officer was punched .
The thieves drove away in @ @ @ @

NORTHBROOK, Ill. (AP) - Handbags valued at more than $43,000 were stolen from a Neiman Marcus store in a suburban Chicago shopping center.
At least 10 people wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks walked into the Northbrook store around closing time Wednesday evening, knocked over glass display cases, grabbed 13 handbags and ran out, police said.
Celine handbags were taken, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Another 11 handbags valued at more than $31,000 were damaged.
A store loss prevention officer was punched. The thieves drove away in two dark-colored SUVs.
Northbrook is north of Chicago.


washingtontimes--2020-09-17--Joe Biden: I will accept the election results

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said Thursday he will accept the outcome of November ’ s election .
“ Sure , the full results .
Count every vote , ” Mr. Biden said at a CNN town hall .
Mr. Biden said President Trump is casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election with his warnings on mail-in voting .
Mr. Trump said on Twitter earlier in the day that the result of the election may “ never be accurately determined , ” using all capital letters .
“ If the president had even remote confidence he was likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be doing this , ” Mr. Biden said .
Mr. Trump has protested new state policies to automatically send voters mail ballots , but says absentee voting where people actively provide a valid reason why they can ’ t physically go to the polls is OK. Hillary Clinton , the Democrats ’ 2016 presidential nominee , said recently that Mr. Biden shouldn ’ t be too quick to concede the race if the election is close .
Democrats have been more eager to vote by mail than Republicans amid the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in on or after election day could favor Mr. Biden .

Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden said Thursday he will accept the outcome of November’s election.
“Sure, the full results. Count every vote,” Mr. Biden said at a CNN town hall.
Mr. Biden said President Trump is casting doubt on the legitimacy of the election with his warnings on mail-in voting.
Mr. Trump said on Twitter earlier in the day that the result of the election may “never be accurately determined,” using all capital letters.
“If the president had even remote confidence he was likely to win the election, he wouldn’t be doing this,” Mr. Biden said.
Mr. Trump has protested new state policies to automatically send voters mail ballots, but says absentee voting where people actively provide a valid reason why they can’t physically go to the polls is OK.
Hillary Clinton, the Democrats’ 2016 presidential nominee, said recently that Mr. Biden shouldn’t be too quick to concede the race if the election is close.
Democrats have been more eager to vote by mail than Republicans amid the coronavirus pandemic, which means that ballots trickling in on or after election day could favor Mr. Biden.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.