washingtontimes--2020-10-22--COVID-19 outbreak centered on Maine church grows again

BROOKS , Maine ( AP ) - A coronavirus outbreak centered around a Maine church in the small town of @ @ @ @ @ , public health officials said .
The focal point of the outbreak is Brooks Pentecostal @ @ @ @ @ 42 cases to 46 on Wednesday , the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ cases associated with the outbreak at four Waldo County public schools , the agency said @ @ @ @ @ has also identified a case that might be associated with Bayview Manor , a residential @ @ @ @ @ That facility has completed a round of testing and has not found any additional cases @ @ @ @ @ The outbreak appears to stem from a fellowship event earlier this month in which masks @ @ @ @ @ used , Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah has said .
Some of the 46 @ @ @ @ @ school associated with the church , he has said .

BROOKS, Maine (AP) - A coronavirus outbreak centered around a Maine church in the small town of Brooks is continuing to grow, public health officials said.
The focal point of the outbreak is Brooks Pentecostal Church, and it grew from 46 cases to 49 on Thursday, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three people have been hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, the agency said.
There have been cases associated with the outbreak at three Waldo County public schools, Maine CDC said.
The agency said it has also identified a case that might be associated with the church outbreak at Bayview Manor, a residential care facility in Searsport. The case involves a staff member. The facility has completed a round of testing and has not found additional cases, the agency said.
The church outbreak appears to stem from a fellowship event earlier this month in which masks were available but not routinely used, Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah has said. Some of the 49 cases are located at a school associated with the church, he has said.
Shah stressed that the three public schools connected to the outbreak are not the site of outbreaks themselves.
In other news related to the pandemic in Maine:
NEW CASES
Another 42 coronavirus cases have been reported in the state, the Maine CDC said Thursday.
That brings the total reported coronavirus cases in Maine to 6,064, while the number of deaths remained at 146, officials said. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Maine was about 37, which was almost nine more than it was a week ago.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
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PANDEMIC STRESS
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday it’s launching an initiative to provide free tools to help residents cope with the stress and uncertainty caused by the pandemic.
The project, called StrengthenME, is funded by almost $5 million in federal money. The effort will allow the health department to collaborate with community organizations and agencies to offer free stress management and other resources, DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew said.
Residents can call 207-221-8198 if they’re looking for support. The line will be staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Arkansas reports more than 1,200 new coronavirus cases

LITTLE ROCK , Ark .
( AP ) - Arkansas on Thursday reported more than 1,200 new probable and confirmed coronavirus cases , one of its biggest one-day spikes since the pandemic began .
The state ’ s total cases rose by 1,202 since Wednesday to 102,798 .
The state ’ s deaths from COVID-19 , the illness caused by the virus , rose by 21 to 1,772 .
Arkansas ranks 11th in the country for new cases per capita , according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers .
The actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
The state ’ s COVID-19 hospitalizations , which have surged to record highs in recent weeks , fell by 24 to 612 .
The increase in cases comes as there ’ s been an outbreak of cases among state legislators .
Five lawmakers this week tested positive for the virus .
Gov .
Asa Hutchinson has limited his meetings and public appearances after being exposed to someone with the virus , though he said he has tested negative four @ @ @ @ @

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas on Thursday reported more than 1,200 new probable and confirmed coronavirus cases, one of its biggest one-day spikes since the pandemic began.
The state’s total cases rose by 1,202 since Wednesday to 102,798. The state’s deaths from COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, rose by 21 to 1,772.
Arkansas ranks 11th in the country for new cases per capita, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University researchers.
The actual number of cases in Arkansas is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
The state’s COVID-19 hospitalizations, which have surged to record highs in recent weeks, fell by 24 to 612.
The increase in cases comes as there’s been an outbreak of cases among state legislators. Five lawmakers this week tested positive for the virus.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson has limited his meetings and public appearances after being exposed to someone with the virus, though he said he has tested negative four times since the exposure.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Another body found in search for Tulsa race massacre victims

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - The search for remains of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims on Thursday revealed another body in an unmarked mass grave at a Tulsa cemetery before coming to an end , Oklahoma ’ s state archaeologist said .
“ We are now able to confirm that we have at least 11 individual burials ” in the area where at least 10 sets of remains were found in Oaklawn Cemetery on Wednesday , Kary Stackelbeck said .
“ That ’ s in addition to the original individual , ” who was located near the area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So now we have at least a minimum number of individuals of 12.
” The remains have not been identified or confirmed as massacre victims .
But they ’ re in an area adjacent to two gravestones of victims and located where old funeral home records show both identified and unidentified victims were buried .
Stackelbeck said more bodies could be in the area , even buried below those that have been found , because investigators stopped digging when encountering the coffins .
The excavation began Monday after one in July ended with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to protect the remains that are still below ground from weather that includes expected cold temperatures and rain , according to Stackelbeck .
The remains will be reburied under a fabric , sand and plywood for protection and the search is to resume next year .
Exhumation is a legal process , according to University of Florida forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield , who is assisting in the search and a descendant of a massacre survivor , who described the remains as fragile .
“ You can recognize the bones for the most part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including large cranial fragments ” that would fracture if touched , Stubblefield noted .
“ I am very hopeful based on the cranial fragments , and teeth … that we will enough to determine things like ancestry , definitely sex and maybe , maybe cause of death , ” said Stubblefield .
Tulsa Mayor G.T .
Bynum , who in 2018 proposed looking for the victims of the violence and later budgeted $ 100,000 to fund it after previous searches failed to find victims , said the search reversed nearly a century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have found a mass grave and now the question is ‘ who ’ s in it ’ and ‘ how did they get there , ’ ” Bynum said .
Bynum has said efforts will be made to contact and notify descendants of the victims .
The massacre - which happened two years after what is known as the “ Red Summer , ” when hundreds of African Americans died at the hands of white mobs in violence around the U.S. - has been depicted in recent HBO shows “ Watchmen ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received renewed attention after President Donald Trump selected Tulsa as the location for a June rally amid a national reckoning over police brutality and racial violence .
Trump moved the date to avoid coinciding with a Juneteenth celebration in the Greenwood District commemorating the end of slavery .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The search for remains of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims on Thursday revealed another body in an unmarked mass grave at a Tulsa cemetery before coming to an end, Oklahoma’s state archaeologist said.
“We are now able to confirm that we have at least 11 individual burials” in the area where at least 10 sets of remains were found in Oaklawn Cemetery on Wednesday, Kary Stackelbeck said.
“That’s in addition to the original individual,” who was located near the area on Tuesday, Stackelbeck added. “So now we have at least a minimum number of individuals of 12.”
The remains have not been identified or confirmed as massacre victims. But they’re in an area adjacent to two gravestones of victims and located where old funeral home records show both identified and unidentified victims were buried.
Stackelbeck said more bodies could be in the area, even buried below those that have been found, because investigators stopped digging when encountering the coffins.
The excavation began Monday after one in July ended with no remains found and is being stopped to protect the remains that are still below ground from weather that includes expected cold temperatures and rain, according to Stackelbeck.
The remains will be reburied under a fabric, sand and plywood for protection and the search is to resume next year.
Exhumation is a legal process, according to University of Florida forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield, who is assisting in the search and a descendant of a massacre survivor, who described the remains as fragile.
“You can recognize the bones for the most part, but no two pieces are touching, including large cranial fragments” that would fracture if touched, Stubblefield noted.
“I am very hopeful based on the cranial fragments, and teeth … that we will enough to determine things like ancestry, definitely sex and maybe, maybe cause of death,” said Stubblefield.
Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who in 2018 proposed looking for the victims of the violence and later budgeted $100,000 to fund it after previous searches failed to find victims, said the search reversed nearly a century of ignoring the massacre.
“We now have found a mass grave and now the question is ‘who’s in it’ and ‘how did they get there,’” Bynum said.
Bynum has said efforts will be made to contact and notify descendants of the victims.
The massacre - which happened two years after what is known as the “Red Summer,” when hundreds of African Americans died at the hands of white mobs in violence around the U.S. - has been depicted in recent HBO shows “Watchmen” and “Lovecraft County.”
It also received renewed attention after President Donald Trump selected Tulsa as the location for a June rally amid a national reckoning over police brutality and racial violence. Trump moved the date to avoid coinciding with a Juneteenth celebration in the Greenwood District commemorating the end of slavery.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Walmart sues US in pre-emptive strike in opioid abuse battle

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Walmart is suing the U.S. government in a pre-emptive strike in the battle over its responsibility in the opioid abuse crisis .
The government is expected to take civil action against the world ’ s largest retailer , seeking big financial penalties , for the role its pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions .
But on Thursday , Walmart filed a lawsuit saying that the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are blaming the company for the government ’ s own lack of regulatory and enforcement policies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is seeking a declaration from a federal judge that the government has no lawful basis for seeking civil damages from the company .
It is also seeking to clarify its legal rights and duties under the Controlled Substance Act .
Walmart operates more than 5,000 pharmacies in its stores around the country .
“ Walmart and its pharmacists find themselves in an untenable position , ” the company based in Bentonville , Arkansas , says in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas .
“ Under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its pharmacists may be held liable - perhaps even criminally - for failing to second-guess DEA-registered doctors and refuse their prescriptions .
But if pharmacists do so , they may face the wrath of state medical boards , the medical community at large , individual doctors , and patients.
” Walmart says in the suit that the Justice Department identified hundreds of doctors who have written problematic prescriptions that Walmart ’ s pharmacists allegedly should not have filled .
But nearly 70 % continue to have active registrations with the DEA , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , defendants want to blame Walmart for continuing to fill purportedly bad prescriptions written by doctors that DEA and state regulators enabled to write those prescriptions in the first place and continue to stand by today , ” the suit says .
The lawsuit names the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr as defendants .
It also names the DEA and its acting administrator , Timothy Shea .
In the suit , Walmart describes a government probe of the company that began in December 2016 and calls it a “ misguided criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office for the Eastern District of Texas .
Walmart says it fully cooperated with the probe .
In the spring of 2018 , the office advised that it intended to indict the company .
In August 2018 , Walmart said that officials at the Department of Justice recognized that there was no plausible basis for a criminal indictment , and the department formally declined to prosecute Walmart .
But the civil investigation continued .
The initial investigation was a subject of a story in ProPublica published in March .
ProPublica reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Eastern District of Texas office , spent years pursuing a criminal case against Walmart for its opioid prescription practices , only to have it stymied after the retail giant ’ s lawyers appealed to senior officials in the Justice Department .
Two months later , Brown resigned .
He didn ’ t give a reason for his departure except to say he would be “ pursuing opportunities in the private and public sectors ” and “ some of those will become apparent in the coming days .
Brown went into private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Texas that handled the investigation referred questions to the Justice Department in Washington .
The Justice Department declined to comment .

NEW YORK (AP) - Walmart is suing the U.S. government in a pre-emptive strike in the battle over its responsibility in the opioid abuse crisis.
The government is expected to take civil action against the world’s largest retailer, seeking big financial penalties, for the role its pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions.
But on Thursday, Walmart filed a lawsuit saying that the Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are blaming the company for the government’s own lack of regulatory and enforcement policies to stem the crisis.
Walmart says it is seeking a declaration from a federal judge that the government has no lawful basis for seeking civil damages from the company. It is also seeking to clarify its legal rights and duties under the Controlled Substance Act.
Walmart operates more than 5,000 pharmacies in its stores around the country.
“Walmart and its pharmacists find themselves in an untenable position,” the company based in Bentonville, Arkansas, says in the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. “Under defendants’ sweeping view, Walmart and its pharmacists may be held liable - perhaps even criminally - for failing to second-guess DEA-registered doctors and refuse their prescriptions. But if pharmacists do so, they may face the wrath of state medical boards, the medical community at large, individual doctors, and patients.”
Walmart says in the suit that the Justice Department identified hundreds of doctors who have written problematic prescriptions that Walmart’s pharmacists allegedly should not have filled. But nearly 70% continue to have active registrations with the DEA, the lawsuit says.
“In other words, defendants want to blame Walmart for continuing to fill purportedly bad prescriptions written by doctors that DEA and state regulators enabled to write those prescriptions in the first place and continue to stand by today,” the suit says.
The lawsuit names the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr as defendants. It also names the DEA and its acting administrator, Timothy Shea.
In the suit, Walmart describes a government probe of the company that began in December 2016 and calls it a “misguided criminal investigation” conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Texas. Walmart says it fully cooperated with the probe.
In the spring of 2018, the office advised that it intended to indict the company. In August 2018, Walmart said that officials at the Department of Justice recognized that there was no plausible basis for a criminal indictment, and the department formally declined to prosecute Walmart. But the civil investigation continued.
The initial investigation was a subject of a story in ProPublica published in March. ProPublica reported that Joe Brown, then U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas office, spent years pursuing a criminal case against Walmart for its opioid prescription practices, only to have it stymied after the retail giant’s lawyers appealed to senior officials in the Justice Department.
Two months later, Brown resigned. He didn’t give a reason for his departure except to say he would be “pursuing opportunities in the private and public sectors” and “some of those will become apparent in the coming days. Brown went into private practice in the Dallas area
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Texas that handled the investigation referred questions to the Justice Department in Washington. The Justice Department declined to comment.
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Follow Anne D’Innocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Ansley schools settle lawsuit over student's alleged rape

ANSLEY , Neb .
( AP ) - A central Nebraska school paid $ 650,000 to settle a lawsuit over @ @ @ @ @ 15-year-old disabled student during a basketball game .
Ansley Public Schools was sued by the @ @ @ @ @ who claimed in the federal lawsuit the school did not do enough to protect her @ @ @ @ @ , who had a documented history of threatening to rape students , The Lincoln Journal-Star @ @ @ @ @ who receives special education services for an intellectual and unspecified secondary disability , was raped @ @ @ @ @ basketball game at the school , according to the lawsuit .
The boy went through @ @ @ @ @ was removed from the school , which is about 11 miles east of Broken Bow @ @ @ @ @ boy had constant supervision during the school day but school officials didn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ during school events .
It also alleged school officials did not investigate reports of the @ @ @ @ @ .
The lawsuit was dismissed last week as part of the settlement .

ANSLEY, Neb. (AP) - A central Nebraska school paid $650,000 to settle a lawsuit over the alleged rape of a 15-year-old disabled student during a basketball game.
Ansley Public Schools was sued by the victim’s mother, who claimed in the federal lawsuit the school did not do enough to protect her daughter from the 14-year-old boy, who had a documented history of threatening to rape students, The Lincoln Journal-Star reported.
The girl, who receives special education services for an intellectual and unspecified secondary disability, was raped in 2017 while attending a basketball game at the school, according to the lawsuit.
The boy went through the juvenile court system and was removed from the school, which is about 11 miles east of Broken Bow.
The lawsuit said the boy had constant supervision during the school day but school officials didn’t have a plan to supervise him during school events. It also alleged school officials did not investigate reports of the boy’s violent threats.
The lawsuit was dismissed last week as part of the settlement.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Teen who was sentenced to life gets break 14 years later

PORT HURON , Mich. ( AP ) - A man who was a teen when he helped his older brother kill a woman in St. Clair County will get a chance for parole under a new sentence .
Raymond Carp , now 30 , was 15 when Maryann McNeely was killed in 2006 .
He was convicted and automatically sentenced to life in prison , but a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions is giving so-called juvenile lifers an opportunity for shorter terms .
Judge Michael West sentenced Carp to at least 25 years in prison Thursday , which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after another 11 years .
Carp ’ s attorney , Cecilia Quirindongo Baunsoe , said he had an unhealthy home environment at the time , mental health problems and a severe learning disability , the Port Huron Times Herald reported .
“ I ’ m truly sorry .
… I ’ ve been working on myself a lot the past 15 years , and I am trying to do the best that I can to be a better man , ” Carp told McNeely ’ s family “ Anything that she hoped for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t understand why he gets a second chance , ” Woodward said .

PORT HURON, Mich. (AP) - A man who was a teen when he helped his older brother kill a woman in St. Clair County will get a chance for parole under a new sentence.
Raymond Carp, now 30, was 15 when Maryann McNeely was killed in 2006. He was convicted and automatically sentenced to life in prison, but a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions is giving so-called juvenile lifers an opportunity for shorter terms.
Judge Michael West sentenced Carp to at least 25 years in prison Thursday, which means he’ll be eligible for parole after another 11 years.
Carp’s attorney, Cecilia Quirindongo Baunsoe, said he had an unhealthy home environment at the time, mental health problems and a severe learning disability, the Port Huron Times Herald reported.
“I’m truly sorry. … I’ve been working on myself a lot the past 15 years, and I am trying to do the best that I can to be a better man,” Carp told McNeely’s family
McNeely’s daughter, Erica Woodward, wasn’t swayed.
“Anything that she hoped for or dreamed for is gone, and I don’t understand why he gets a second chance,” Woodward said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Montana sues businesses not complying with mask mandate

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - Montana Gov .
Steve Bullock said Thursday that the state health department is pursuing legal action against several businesses in northwestern Montana after they failed to follow restrictions meant to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus .
The announcement came as the state reported 932 new cases of COVID-19 , smashing the previous daily case record of 734 .
The new cases include 173 in Yellowstone county and 112 in Flathead County .
Bullock said the state is pursuing temporary restraining orders against five businesses in Flathead County , after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ action to limit the spread of the virus , despite a sharp rise in cases this month .
He declined to identify the businesses until the cases are filed in court .
The state also launched a website to allow people to submit complaints against businesses and events that are not complying with health directives .
The complaints will be reviewed by the state health department and then sent to local authorities for investigation .
The governor announced last week that he would provide coronavirus relief funds to counties in order to hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health mandates and pursue legal actions against businesses that fail to comply .
Yellowstone County health officer John Felton said Thursday that Montana ’ s most populous county - which has also seen the state ’ s largest COVID-19 outbreak - has accepted the offer for additional funding from the governor .
It will use the money to hire four new staff members to track complaints against businesses that fail to comply with health orders , Felton said .
Separately , the Hill county health board approved a new plan to curb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , KOJM-AM radio reported .
According to the plan , if Hill County reports more than 58 cases during the week ending Nov. 1 , social gatherings will be limited to no more than 25 people and restaurants and bars will be limited to 50 % capacity .
Schools , school activities and sports will be exempt from the order .
The new restrictions would last for a month .
Hill County currently has 341 active cases , 23 of them reported on Thursday .
Hill county sanitarian Clay Vincent said during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints of individuals “ absolutely refusing to wear a mask , ” KOJM reported .
“ They are basically saying it ’ s their right , they don ’ t have to .
To this point , we have tried education , we have tried begging them , we have talked to them , we have done everything in the world .
But there is no response , ” Vincent said .
The enforcement measures were announced as Montana ’ s infection rate ranked as one of the highest per capita in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington indicate that if the state doesn ’ t implement new restrictions , deaths caused by the coronavirus could reach 800 by February .
The state has so far reported 25,640 cases of COVID-19 , but the number of total cases is believed to be far higher because not everyone has been tested , and people can have coronavirus without showing symptoms .
The state has counted 278 deaths related to the virus , and 353 people are hospitalized .
For most people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said Thursday that the state health department is pursuing legal action against several businesses in northwestern Montana after they failed to follow restrictions meant to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The announcement came as the state reported 932 new cases of COVID-19, smashing the previous daily case record of 734. The new cases include 173 in Yellowstone county and 112 in Flathead County.
Bullock said the state is pursuing temporary restraining orders against five businesses in Flathead County, after the local health department decided not to take action to limit the spread of the virus, despite a sharp rise in cases this month.
He declined to identify the businesses until the cases are filed in court.
The state also launched a website to allow people to submit complaints against businesses and events that are not complying with health directives. The complaints will be reviewed by the state health department and then sent to local authorities for investigation.
The governor announced last week that he would provide coronavirus relief funds to counties in order to hire additional staff needed to track violations of the health mandates and pursue legal actions against businesses that fail to comply.
Yellowstone County health officer John Felton said Thursday that Montana’s most populous county - which has also seen the state’s largest COVID-19 outbreak - has accepted the offer for additional funding from the governor. It will use the money to hire four new staff members to track complaints against businesses that fail to comply with health orders, Felton said.
Separately, the Hill county health board approved a new plan to curb the spread of the virus on Wednesday, KOJM-AM radio reported.
According to the plan, if Hill County reports more than 58 cases during the week ending Nov. 1, social gatherings will be limited to no more than 25 people and restaurants and bars will be limited to 50% capacity. Schools, school activities and sports will be exempt from the order. The new restrictions would last for a month.
Hill County currently has 341 active cases, 23 of them reported on Thursday.
Hill county sanitarian Clay Vincent said during the board meeting that the department has received complaints of individuals “absolutely refusing to wear a mask,” KOJM reported.
“They are basically saying it’s their right, they don’t have to. To this point, we have tried education, we have tried begging them, we have talked to them, we have done everything in the world. But there is no response,” Vincent said.
The enforcement measures were announced as Montana’s infection rate ranked as one of the highest per capita in the nation. New figures from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington indicate that if the state doesn’t implement new restrictions, deaths caused by the coronavirus could reach 800 by February.
The state has so far reported 25,640 cases of COVID-19, but the number of total cases is believed to be far higher because not everyone has been tested, and people can have coronavirus without showing symptoms. The state has counted 278 deaths related to the virus, and 353 people are hospitalized.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--White teen sentenced; planned to kill Black churchgoers

GAINESVILLE , Ga. ( AP ) — A white 17-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday to four years in juvenile detention for planning to stab north Georgia churchgoers to death because they were Black .
The girl pleaded guilty to attempted murder as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced in Gainesville , Georgia , news outlets reported .
The girl , who was 16 at the time of her arrest in 2019 , sobbed while reading an apology , The Times of Gainesville reported .
The Associated Press is not reporting her name because she was sentenced as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 10 years and must stay at least 150 feet ( about 45 meters ) from any African Methodist Episcopal church during that time , the newspaper reported after Thursday ’ s hearing in Hall County Superior Court .
She also must undergo counseling , the newspaper said .
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said in November 2019 that Gainesville High School students , school administrators and law officers had worked together to thwart a “ potentially horrific incident.
” Students told administrators the 16-year-old had a notebook with detailed plans to kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Parrish said .
The church has a predominantly black congregation , Parrish said , adding investigators determined the church was targeted by the juvenile based on its racial demographic .
“ She had written down how she wanted to do it , the best way to do it , ” he said during a news conference in November 2019 .
“ She had procured some butcher knives , kitchen knives , to do the attack with and had actually scouted out the location.
” Gainesville is about 50 miles ( 80 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a city of just over 40,000 people , about 17 % of whom are African-American .
The South has a long history of Black churches being bombed , burned and shot up , and hate crimes continue .
White supremacist Dylann Roof , who was convicted of fatally shooting nine Black people in 2015 at an AME church in South Carolina , told FBI agents he was hoping to start a race war .
He is on federal death row .

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A white 17-year-old girl was sentenced Thursday to four years in juvenile detention for planning to stab north Georgia churchgoers to death because they were Black.
The girl pleaded guilty to attempted murder as part of a plea agreement and was sentenced in Gainesville, Georgia, news outlets reported.
The girl, who was 16 at the time of her arrest in 2019, sobbed while reading an apology, The Times of Gainesville reported. The Associated Press is not reporting her name because she was sentenced as a juvenile.
She will be on probation for 10 years and must stay at least 150 feet (about 45 meters) from any African Methodist Episcopal church during that time, the newspaper reported after Thursday’s hearing in Hall County Superior Court. She also must undergo counseling, the newspaper said.
Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said in November 2019 that Gainesville High School students, school administrators and law officers had worked together to thwart a “potentially horrific incident.”
Students told administrators the 16-year-old had a notebook with detailed plans to kill worshipers at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Parrish said.
The church has a predominantly black congregation, Parrish said, adding investigators determined the church was targeted by the juvenile based on its racial demographic.
“She had written down how she wanted to do it, the best way to do it,” he said during a news conference in November 2019. “She had procured some butcher knives, kitchen knives, to do the attack with and had actually scouted out the location.”
Gainesville is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. It’s a city of just over 40,000 people, about 17% of whom are African-American.
The South has a long history of Black churches being bombed, burned and shot up, and hate crimes continue.
White supremacist Dylann Roof, who was convicted of fatally shooting nine Black people in 2015 at an AME church in South Carolina, told FBI agents he was hoping to start a race war. He is on federal death row.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Trump getting 'hammered' by outside spending in election

Outside groups have now spent more than $ 2 billion on the U.S. election , with nearly two weeks still to go before it ’ s all over , the Center for Responsive Politics said this week .
That spending shatters the previous record set four years ago , which at this point was only a little more than $ 1 billion .
Most of the money — $ 1.7 billion — comes from either hybrid or super political action committees , which can raise and spend money without dollar limits , so long as they do so independent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hammered ” by the spending , while getting relatively little support from outside groups , CRP said .
Some $ 275 million has been spent in anti-Trump ads , compared to $ 228 million in anti-Biden ads .
But the bigger difference is on the other side of the coin , where $ 251 million has been spent in pro-Biden ads , compared to just $ 43 million on pro-Trump ads .
“ Biden has an army of outside groups backing his White House bid , ” wrote Karl Evers-Hillstrom in the CRP @ @

Outside groups have now spent more than $2 billion on the U.S. election, with nearly two weeks still to go before it’s all over, the Center for Responsive Politics said this week.
That spending shatters the previous record set four years ago, which at this point was only a little more than $1 billion.
Most of the money — $1.7 billion — comes from either hybrid or super political action committees, which can raise and spend money without dollar limits, so long as they do so independent of campaigns.
President Trump is being “hammered” by the spending, while getting relatively little support from outside groups, CRP said.
Some $275 million has been spent in anti-Trump ads, compared to $228 million in anti-Biden ads. But the bigger difference is on the other side of the coin, where $251 million has been spent in pro-Biden ads, compared to just $43 million on pro-Trump ads.
“Biden has an army of outside groups backing his White House bid,” wrote Karl Evers-Hillstrom in the CRP analysis.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Lawsuit of Michael Jackson sexual abuse accuser dismissed

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A judge has dismissed the lawsuit of one of two men who alleged that Michael Jackson abused them as boys in the HBO documentary “ Leaving Neverland.
” Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark A .
Young on Tuesday found that James Safechuck , 42 , could not sue the two corporations Jackson owned that are named as defendants in the lawsuit , MJJ Productions Inc. , and MJJ Ventures Inc. Young said Safechuck ’ s lawsuit had not demonstrated that he had a relationship with the corporations that would have required them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are pleased that the court dismissed Mr. Safechuck ’ s case by ruling that he had no grounds to pursue such a lawsuit , ” Jackson estate attorneys Howard Weitzman and Jonathan Steinsapir said in a statement .
An email seeking comment from Safechuck ’ s attorney was not immediately returned .
It ’ s the second time Safechuck ’ s case , filed in 2013 , has been thrown out .
A judge dismissed it in 2017 , but an appeals court revived it early this year after California Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who allege childhood sexual abuse longer to file lawsuits .
The similar lawsuit of Safechuck ’ s fellow accuser and “ Leaving Neverland ” subject Wade Robson , which was also revived by the appeals court , remains alive .
The Jackson estate has adamantly and repeatedly denied that he abused either of the boys , and it is suing HBO over “ Leaving Neverland.
” The Associated Press does not typically name victims of sexual abuse .
But Robson and Safechuck have repeatedly come forward and approved of the use of @ @ @ @ @

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge has dismissed the lawsuit of one of two men who alleged that Michael Jackson abused them as boys in the HBO documentary “Leaving Neverland.”
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark A. Young on Tuesday found that James Safechuck, 42, could not sue the two corporations Jackson owned that are named as defendants in the lawsuit, MJJ Productions Inc., and MJJ Ventures Inc.
Young said Safechuck’s lawsuit had not demonstrated that he had a relationship with the corporations that would have required them to protect him from Jackson.
“We are pleased that the court dismissed Mr. Safechuck’s case by ruling that he had no grounds to pursue such a lawsuit,” Jackson estate attorneys Howard Weitzman and Jonathan Steinsapir said in a statement.
An email seeking comment from Safechuck’s attorney was not immediately returned.
It’s the second time Safechuck’s case, filed in 2013, has been thrown out. A judge dismissed it in 2017, but an appeals court revived it early this year after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law giving those who allege childhood sexual abuse longer to file lawsuits.
The similar lawsuit of Safechuck’s fellow accuser and “Leaving Neverland” subject Wade Robson, which was also revived by the appeals court, remains alive.
The Jackson estate has adamantly and repeatedly denied that he abused either of the boys, and it is suing HBO over “Leaving Neverland.”
The Associated Press does not typically name victims of sexual abuse. But Robson and Safechuck have repeatedly come forward and approved of the use of their names and faces.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Prayuth Chan-ocha failure to end Thai protests threatens regime

The former army chief , who seized power six years ago in a military coup , had just won a fresh term in office under a constitution he wrote himself .
He had forged a personal relationship with President Trump , had a strong working majority in the national legislature and had no obvious rivals to challenge his power .
But Mr. Prayuth these days seems bewildered and vulnerable , backpedaling furiously but unable to stop two months of street protests against the government that have even brought into question the status of the previously untouchable monarchy .
Thailand ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and most reliable U.S. allies in a troubled but dynamic region looks secure , but speculation that Mr. Prayuth may not survive in office portends a period of deep instability and uncertainty to Bangkok .
Many Thais are speculating about whether the prime minister can stay at the top , who might replace him and whether bullets will be used against tens of thousands of peaceful , idealistic youths demanding revolutionary changes .
As street protests in Bangkok continued Thursday for the ninth straight day , the once-forceful Mr. Prayuth sounded almost plaintive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system to address their grievances .
Bowing to a key demand of the student-led protests , he agreed to lift a state of emergency that allowed the government to curb critical speech and break up all but the smallest of public gatherings .
“ I will make the first move to de-escalate this situation , ” he said in a national address Wednesday night .
“ I am currently preparing to lift the state of severe emergency in Bangkok and will do so promptly if there are no violent incidents.
” But even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly marched near Government House and insisted that he step down and that those arrested in previous protests be released immediately .
Many Thais predict the protesters will not be able to curtail the vast influence and wealth of King Maha Vajiralongkorn , 68 , one of the world ’ s richest monarchs and the embodied symbol of Thai identity — although even that is not a sure bet these days .
“ Now it is understood that the country needs people who love the country and love the monarchy , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
University students and schoolchildren nationwide have been blocking afternoon traffic in scattered cities , voicing often vulgar speeches against Mr. Prayuth and the monarchy , and disappearing at 8 p.m. Much of what protesters shout at rallies , spray-paint as graffiti on Bangkok ’ s grimy walls and post on the internet about the monarchy is illegal under the constitution and a harsh lese-majeste law .
In the latest sign that things are not under control , Mr. Prayuth ’ s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a measure to call parliament back into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
The government arrested some protest leaders and declared a state of emergency making rallies illegal .
But fresh protests in at least five locations around the capital have erupted this week , The Associated Press reported , although the numbers for the midweek protest were smaller than they had been over the weekend .
When he was army chief of staff , Mr. Prayuth seized power in a 2014 coup by inviting the elected civilian government ’ s ministers for talks in a Bangkok army base , locking the door once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring himself Thailand ’ s new leader .
He cultivated relations with Washington and was given an Oval Office meeting in October 2017 with President Trump , who wants tighter links with America ’ s non-NATO treaty ally in Southeast Asia .
But now there is speculation that Mr. Prayuth will face the same fate as those he ousted in 2014 .
Some analysts say his successor could be new army chief Gen. Narongphan Jitkaewthae , analysts said .
Asked whether a coup was possible , Gen. Narongphan , 57 , told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been asked this question , and he invariably says the chance is zero — on condition that no one causes a conflict that leads to violence and unrest.
” Gen. Narongphan is “ considered extremely loyal to the current monarch , ” said Paul Chambers , an international affairs special adviser at Thailand ’ s Naresuan University .
“ The army may not continue supporting Prayuth , given that a growing number of soldiers see him as slow to crack down on protesters , which the army perceives as inimical to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chambers wrote .
The Bangkok Post , in an editorial this month headlined “ No More Coups , Please , ” said Gen. Narongphan , as “ historically the most likely person to stage a coup , ” must “ take the lead and make a clear , unequivocal stance that the army will never engage in non-democratic affairs from now on.
” Another possible successor is hard-line former army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong , who trained in the U.S. and has made some menacing comments about the protests .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hatred of the nation , ” Mr. Apirat , who now is a top official in the royal household , declared after protesters added limits on the monarchy to their political demands .
He has previously accused anti-government forces of “ working with some foreign-educated and far-left academics to plant wrong ideas into the minds of students.
” Mr. Apirat ’ s father , the late Gen. Sunthorn Kongsompong , led a junta after staging a coup in 1991 .
Political observers in Thailand say Mr. Prayuth may be seeking a compromise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and changes to the constitution , to head off a more radical “ reform ” of the monarchy .
A surprise military or civilian candidate might then be appointed temporary prime minister until parliament chooses a new leader .
Once seen as a wily political operator who easily outmaneuvered his civilian rivals , Mr. Prayuth appears outwitted by the tactics of Free Youth and other protest groups that have studied the tactics of Hong Kong ’ s pro-democracy movement in its challenge to China ’ s communist central government .
The Thai demonstrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online sites to suddenly announce rally locations and other information .
The advisories tell protesters to “ be like water , ” to move frequently and to use tactics to hide from authorities .
Government officials repeatedly shut Bangkok ’ s public metro rail services , but protesters arrived at rally sites by taxis , motorcycles and private vehicles .
Police recently arrested two activists after other nearby protesters heckled a motorcade transporting Queen Suthida and her stepson Prince Dipangkorn , who is heir apparent , while displaying their revolution ’ s three-finger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Games ” movie franchise .
The next day , Mr. Prayuth clamped Bangkok under a “ serious state of emergency , ” extending an existing state of emergency declared in March to fight the spread of COVID-19 .
The latest edict bans gatherings in public of more than five people , distributing or publishing data that the government perceives as instigating fear or distorting information , and using public transportation or buildings for dissent .
Security forces , with immunity under the edict , can detain people for 30 days in military camps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the endgame is not clear and that Mr. Prayuth ’ s determination to cling to power should not be underestimated .
“ Underneath the big demands for transparency and accountability of finance and the role in democratic society — and separation of monarchy from politics and the armed forces towards a kind of democratically bounded throne — the situation down below on the ground is nuanced and complex , ” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak , who directs Chulalongkorn University ’ s Institute of Security and International Studies .
“ It is unlikely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the ‘ genuine constitutional monarchy ’ as demanded by the student-led reform movement , ” Mr. Thitinan added .
⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports .

Richard S. Ehrlich - Special to The Washington Times

BANGKOK — Thailand’s U.S.-backed authoritarian leader, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha appeared to be riding high a year ago.
The former army chief, who seized power six years ago in a military coup, had just won a fresh term in office under a constitution he wrote himself. He had forged a personal relationship with President Trump, had a strong working majority in the national legislature and had no obvious rivals to challenge his power.
But Mr. Prayuth these days seems bewildered and vulnerable, backpedaling furiously but unable to stop two months of street protests against the government that have even brought into question the status of the previously untouchable monarchy.
Thailand’s status as one of the longest and most reliable U.S. allies in a troubled but dynamic region looks secure, but speculation that Mr. Prayuth may not survive in office portends a period of deep instability and uncertainty to Bangkok.
Many Thais are speculating about whether the prime minister can stay at the top, who might replace him and whether bullets will be used against tens of thousands of peaceful, idealistic youths demanding revolutionary changes.
As street protests in Bangkok continued Thursday for the ninth straight day, the once-forceful Mr. Prayuth sounded almost plaintive in asking demonstrators to work through the system to address their grievances. Bowing to a key demand of the student-led protests, he agreed to lift a state of emergency that allowed the government to curb critical speech and break up all but the smallest of public gatherings.
“I will make the first move to de-escalate this situation,” he said in a national address Wednesday night. “I am currently preparing to lift the state of severe emergency in Bangkok and will do so promptly if there are no violent incidents.”
But even as Mr. Prayuth was speaking, crowds reportedly marched near Government House and insisted that he step down and that those arrested in previous protests be released immediately.
Many Thais predict the protesters will not be able to curtail the vast influence and wealth of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, 68, one of the world’s richest monarchs and the embodied symbol of Thai identity — although even that is not a sure bet these days.
“Now it is understood that the country needs people who love the country and love the monarchy,” the constitutional king said in a speech Friday.
University students and schoolchildren nationwide have been blocking afternoon traffic in scattered cities, voicing often vulgar speeches against Mr. Prayuth and the monarchy, and disappearing at 8 p.m. Much of what protesters shout at rallies, spray-paint as graffiti on Bangkok’s grimy walls and post on the internet about the monarchy is illegal under the constitution and a harsh lese-majeste law.
In the latest sign that things are not under control, Mr. Prayuth’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a measure to call parliament back into session to consider measures to end the crisis. The government arrested some protest leaders and declared a state of emergency making rallies illegal.
But fresh protests in at least five locations around the capital have erupted this week, The Associated Press reported, although the numbers for the midweek protest were smaller than they had been over the weekend.
When he was army chief of staff, Mr. Prayuth seized power in a 2014 coup by inviting the elected civilian government’s ministers for talks in a Bangkok army base, locking the door once they were inside a room, and declaring himself Thailand’s new leader. He cultivated relations with Washington and was given an Oval Office meeting in October 2017 with President Trump, who wants tighter links with America’s non-NATO treaty ally in Southeast Asia.
But now there is speculation that Mr. Prayuth will face the same fate as those he ousted in 2014. Some analysts say his successor could be new army chief Gen. Narongphan Jitkaewthae, analysts said.
Asked whether a coup was possible, Gen. Narongphan, 57, told reporters this month, “Every army chief has been asked this question, and he invariably says the chance is zero — on condition that no one causes a conflict that leads to violence and unrest.”
Gen. Narongphan is “considered extremely loyal to the current monarch,” said Paul Chambers, an international affairs special adviser at Thailand’s Naresuan University.
“The army may not continue supporting Prayuth, given that a growing number of soldiers see him as slow to crack down on protesters, which the army perceives as inimical to the palace and armed forces,” Mr. Chambers wrote.
‘No more coups, please’
The Bangkok Post, in an editorial this month headlined “No More Coups, Please,” said Gen. Narongphan, as “historically the most likely person to stage a coup,” must “take the lead and make a clear, unequivocal stance that the army will never engage in non-democratic affairs from now on.”
Another possible successor is hard-line former army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong, who trained in the U.S. and has made some menacing comments about the protests.
“The disease that cannot be cured is the hatred of the nation,” Mr. Apirat, who now is a top official in the royal household, declared after protesters added limits on the monarchy to their political demands. He has previously accused anti-government forces of “working with some foreign-educated and far-left academics to plant wrong ideas into the minds of students.”
Thailand’s tiny, jungle-based Communist Party surrendered in 1988 and received amnesty.
Mr. Apirat’s father, the late Gen. Sunthorn Kongsompong, led a junta after staging a coup in 1991.
Political observers in Thailand say Mr. Prayuth may be seeking a compromise on political reform, including fresh elections and changes to the constitution, to head off a more radical “reform” of the monarchy. A surprise military or civilian candidate might then be appointed temporary prime minister until parliament chooses a new leader.
Once seen as a wily political operator who easily outmaneuvered his civilian rivals, Mr. Prayuth appears outwitted by the tactics of Free Youth and other protest groups that have studied the tactics of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement in its challenge to China’s communist central government.
The Thai demonstrators use Telegram’s encrypted app and online sites to suddenly announce rally locations and other information. The advisories tell protesters to “be like water,” to move frequently and to use tactics to hide from authorities.
Government officials repeatedly shut Bangkok’s public metro rail services, but protesters arrived at rally sites by taxis, motorcycles and private vehicles.
Police recently arrested two activists after other nearby protesters heckled a motorcade transporting Queen Suthida and her stepson Prince Dipangkorn, who is heir apparent, while displaying their revolution’s three-finger salute, inspired by the “Hunger Games” movie franchise.
The next day, Mr. Prayuth clamped Bangkok under a “serious state of emergency,” extending an existing state of emergency declared in March to fight the spread of COVID-19. The latest edict bans gatherings in public of more than five people, distributing or publishing data that the government perceives as instigating fear or distorting information, and using public transportation or buildings for dissent.
Security forces, with immunity under the edict, can detain people for 30 days in military camps without access to attorneys.
But analysts say the endgame is not clear and that Mr. Prayuth’s determination to cling to power should not be underestimated.
“Underneath the big demands for transparency and accountability of finance and the role in democratic society — and separation of monarchy from politics and the armed forces towards a kind of democratically bounded throne — the situation down below on the ground is nuanced and complex,” said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, who directs Chulalongkorn University’s Institute of Security and International Studies.
“It is unlikely to change quickly and sufficiently to end up with the ‘genuine constitutional monarchy’ as demanded by the student-led reform movement,” Mr. Thitinan added.
⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Phoenix police: Death of woman in mobile home is suspicious

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Police are investigating what they are calling a suspicious death after a 78-year-old woman was @ @ @ @ @ mobile home .
Officers responded to a call of a person found in a mobile @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said the woman was identified as Marilyn Grace Staudt and she appeared to @ @ @ @ @ days .
The mobile home had been ransacked and a man was seen leaving the @ @ @ @ @ time Staudt was last seen alive , according to police .
A composite sketch of @ @ @ @ @ by police as their investigation continues .

PHOENIX (AP) - Police are investigating what they are calling a suspicious death after a 78-year-old woman was found dead in a Phoenix mobile home.
Officers responded to a call of a person found in a mobile home around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said the woman was identified as Marilyn Grace Staudt and she appeared to have been dead for several days.
The mobile home had been ransacked and a man was seen leaving the house at around the same time Staudt was last seen alive, according to police.
A composite sketch of the man has been released by police as their investigation continues.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Man sentenced to 6 years for secretly recording video chats

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - A Waverly man was sentenced Thursday to six years in federal prison @ @ @ @ @ chats with minors and then distributing the images .
Rooslun Logvinenko , 24 , also @ @ @ @ @ years on supervised release when he is out of prison and must pay $ 5,000 @ @ @ @ @ fund for victims of child pornography , The Lincoln Journal-Star reported .
Logvinenko was ordered @ @ @ @ @ the prison in 90 days .
Investigators searching Logvinenko ’ s parent ’ s house @ @ @ @ @ found 150 videos and 500 images of child pornography , including four videos of an @ @ @ @ @ had secretly recorded over a social media chat .
Defense attorney Carlos Monzón said at @ @ @ @ @ has completed treatment and taken steps to ensure he doesn ’ t engage in the @ @ @

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A Waverly man was sentenced Thursday to six years in federal prison for secretly recording explicit video chats with minors and then distributing the images.
Rooslun Logvinenko, 24, also will have to spend 10 years on supervised release when he is out of prison and must pay $5,000 that will go to a fund for victims of child pornography, The Lincoln Journal-Star reported.
Logvinenko was ordered to turn himself in at the prison in 90 days.
Investigators searching Logvinenko’s parent’s house in Waverly in April 2019 found 150 videos and 500 images of child pornography, including four videos of an 11-year-old Pennsylvania girl whom Logvinenko had secretly recorded over a social media chat.
Logvinenko later pleaded guilty to trafficking child pornography.
Defense attorney Carlos Monzón said at the sentencing Thursday that Logvinenko has completed treatment and taken steps to ensure he doesn’t engage in the behavior again.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Louisiana lawmakers skirmish in special session's final days

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - As they reached the final days of their special session , Louisiana lawmakers Thursday haggled over elections issues and a controversial police financing measure , skirmishes that kept them bickering rather than wrapping up the session early .
Gov .
John Bel Edwards , who didn ’ t support the special session , said he hopes lawmakers won ’ t keep going until their Tuesday deadline .
“ The truth is that they don ’ t seem to be getting a whole lot done right now , ” the Democratic governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ session that costs an estimated $ 40,000 to $ 50,000 per day until the final allowed minutes “ wouldn ’ t be a wise investment of their time or the public ’ s money.
” Lawmakers hoped to end the session Friday , though it remained unclear if they would do so .
Republican lawmakers called the monthlong special session , their second of this year , to try to curb Edwards ’ coronavirus restrictions on businesses and activities and give lawmakers more authority over emergency decision-making .
After days of behind-the-scenes haggling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a proposal that would give lawmakers the ability to scrap individual coronavirus rules enacted by the governor .
Edwards hasn ’ t said whether he ’ ll veto the bill , though he ’ s resisted any efforts to lessen his authority .
With that emergency powers measure passed , lawmakers found other issues over which to argue Thursday .
The House voted 59-27 for a proposal to give lawmakers more authority over emergency elections plans .
Senate Republican leader Sharon Hewitt initially sought to remove the governor ’ s authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisiana ’ s secretary of state .
That concept ran into constitutional concerns in the House .
A rewrite spearheaded by Baton Rouge Republican Rep. Barry Ivey would keep the governor ’ s ability to jettison the emergency elections plan , but give lawmakers the ability to override a veto with a two-thirds vote by mailed ballot .
The Senate needed to decide whether it would support the rewrite .
Democrats oppose the bill .
The measure stems from a dispute between Edwards and Republicans over the emergency plan for the Nov. 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal judge determining the procedures to govern the balloting process .
The Senate , meanwhile , rewrote a House-backed proposal from Republican Rep. Lance Harris , who is running for a congressional seat on the November ballot , that would allow lawmakers to strip some state construction funding and sales tax allocations for municipalities that deeply cut their police departments .
Sen. Heather Cloud , a Turkey Creek Republican , said lawmakers want to make sure local government remains committed to public safety .
“ If they have justifiable reasons to cut their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cloud said .
Senators expanded the bill to also allow the penalties for steep reductions to fire and parks departments .
The rewritten bill narrowly escaped the Senate in a 20-14 vote .
Harris refused to accept the changes , so a final deal must be struck by the House and Senate before the bill can reach the governor .
Harris has acknowledged no municipality is proposing to “ defund ” its police department or make deep cuts .
Critics suggest he ’ s using the proposal to drum up attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns here are about constitutionality .
Our concerns here are about overreach , ” said Sen .
Troy Carter , a New Orleans Democrat .
“ This is not a tool to be used for someone else ’ s political advancement.
” The House and Senate unanimously agreed to a proposal that calls for Louisiana ’ s Department of Health to create rules requiring hospitals and nursing homes to allow pastors , priests and other clergy members to visit patients during the coronavirus pandemic and future public health emergencies , if the patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chambers also unanimously agreed to steer $ 20 million in surplus cash to help jumpstart repairs on and rebuilding of state-owned buildings that were damaged by Hurricanes Laura and Delta .
Last week , lawmakers added $ 20 million-plus in pet projects to this year ’ s budget , a list crafted privately with no public review process .
Edwards said Thursday he was still going through the 113 individual projects and hadn ’ t made a final decision on which ones he might strike with his line-item veto .
“ Right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of those will survive the veto pen … But I suspect most of them will , ” the governor said .
“ That ’ s just part of the give and take of the different branches of government.
” The bills are filed as House Bills 24 and 38 and Senate Bills 12 and 20 .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - As they reached the final days of their special session, Louisiana lawmakers Thursday haggled over elections issues and a controversial police financing measure, skirmishes that kept them bickering rather than wrapping up the session early.
Gov. John Bel Edwards, who didn’t support the special session, said he hopes lawmakers won’t keep going until their Tuesday deadline.
“The truth is that they don’t seem to be getting a whole lot done right now,” the Democratic governor said. He added that continuing a session that costs an estimated $40,000 to $50,000 per day until the final allowed minutes “wouldn’t be a wise investment of their time or the public’s money.”
Lawmakers hoped to end the session Friday, though it remained unclear if they would do so.
Republican lawmakers called the monthlong special session, their second of this year, to try to curb Edwards’ coronavirus restrictions on businesses and activities and give lawmakers more authority over emergency decision-making.
After days of behind-the-scenes haggling, the House and Senate agreed Tuesday to a proposal that would give lawmakers the ability to scrap individual coronavirus rules enacted by the governor. Edwards hasn’t said whether he’ll veto the bill, though he’s resisted any efforts to lessen his authority.
With that emergency powers measure passed, lawmakers found other issues over which to argue Thursday.
The House voted 59-27 for a proposal to give lawmakers more authority over emergency elections plans.
Senate Republican leader Sharon Hewitt initially sought to remove the governor’s authority to veto any emergency elections plan submitted by Louisiana’s secretary of state. That concept ran into constitutional concerns in the House.
A rewrite spearheaded by Baton Rouge Republican Rep. Barry Ivey would keep the governor’s ability to jettison the emergency elections plan, but give lawmakers the ability to override a veto with a two-thirds vote by mailed ballot. The Senate needed to decide whether it would support the rewrite. Democrats oppose the bill.
The measure stems from a dispute between Edwards and Republicans over the emergency plan for the Nov. 3 and Dec. 5 elections that had a federal judge determining the procedures to govern the balloting process.
The Senate, meanwhile, rewrote a House-backed proposal from Republican Rep. Lance Harris, who is running for a congressional seat on the November ballot, that would allow lawmakers to strip some state construction funding and sales tax allocations for municipalities that deeply cut their police departments.
Sen. Heather Cloud, a Turkey Creek Republican, said lawmakers want to make sure local government remains committed to public safety.
“If they have justifiable reasons to cut their police department, just come to us,” Cloud said.
Senators expanded the bill to also allow the penalties for steep reductions to fire and parks departments. The rewritten bill narrowly escaped the Senate in a 20-14 vote. Harris refused to accept the changes, so a final deal must be struck by the House and Senate before the bill can reach the governor.
Harris has acknowledged no municipality is proposing to “defund” its police department or make deep cuts. Critics suggest he’s using the proposal to drum up attention for his congressional campaign.
“Our concerns here are about constitutionality. Our concerns here are about overreach,” said Sen. Troy Carter, a New Orleans Democrat. “This is not a tool to be used for someone else’s political advancement.”
The House and Senate unanimously agreed to a proposal that calls for Louisiana’s Department of Health to create rules requiring hospitals and nursing homes to allow pastors, priests and other clergy members to visit patients during the coronavirus pandemic and future public health emergencies, if the patient seeks the visit.
Lawmakers in both chambers also unanimously agreed to steer $20 million in surplus cash to help jumpstart repairs on and rebuilding of state-owned buildings that were damaged by Hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Last week, lawmakers added $20 million-plus in pet projects to this year’s budget, a list crafted privately with no public review process. Edwards said Thursday he was still going through the 113 individual projects and hadn’t made a final decision on which ones he might strike with his line-item veto.
“Right now it’s safe to say not all of those will survive the veto pen … But I suspect most of them will,” the governor said. “That’s just part of the give and take of the different branches of government.”
___
The bills are filed as House Bills 24 and 38 and Senate Bills 12 and 20.
___
Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Devils sign defenseman Dmitry Kulikov

Devils sign defenseman Dmitry Kulikov

The New Jersey Devils added experience to their defense , signing Russian Dmitry Kulikov to a one-year , $ 1.15 @ @ @ @ @ is an experienced , physical left shot defenseman who skates well , ” Fitzgerald said @ @ @ @ @ play both the right and left side brings value to our defense corps.
” Earlier @ @ @ @ @ acquired defenseman Ryan Murray from Columbus for a draft pick .
New Jersey also has @ @ @ @ @ Subban , Damon Severson and Connor Carrick returning from last year ’ s team , @ @ @ @ @ Bahl , Ty Smith and Reilly Walsh .
The 29-year-old Kulikov had two goals and @ @ @ @ @ with Winnipeg last season .
He averaged more than 20 minutes a game .
He @ @ @ @ @ playoff games .
Drafted 14th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by Florida , Kulikov @ @ @ @ @ , Buffalo Sabres and Jets in his career .
In 677 NHL games , the @ @ @ @ @ and 135 assists .

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -
The New Jersey Devils added experience to their defense, signing Russian Dmitry Kulikov to a one-year, $1.15 million contract.
Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald announced the deal Thursday.
“Kulikov is an experienced, physical left shot defenseman who skates well,” Fitzgerald said. “His ability to play both the right and left side brings value to our defense corps.”
Earlier this month, the Devils acquired defenseman Ryan Murray from Columbus for a draft pick. New Jersey also has Will Butcher, P.K. Subban, Damon Severson and Connor Carrick returning from last year’s team, and top prospects in Kevin Bahl, Ty Smith and Reilly Walsh.
The 29-year-old Kulikov had two goals and eight assists in 51 games with Winnipeg last season. He averaged more than 20 minutes a game. He added two assists in four playoff games.
Drafted 14th overall in the 2009 NHL Draft by Florida, Kulikov has played with the Panthers, Buffalo Sabres and Jets in his career. In 677 NHL games, the left-handed defenseman has 35 goals and 135 assists.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Tesla 'full self-driving' vehicles can't drive themselves

DETROIT ( AP ) - Earlier this week , Tesla sent out its “ full self-driving ” software to a small group of owners who will test it on public roads .
But buried on its website is a disclaimer that the $ 8,000 system doesn ’ t make the vehicles autonomous and drivers still have to supervise it .
The conflicting messages have experts in the field accusing Tesla of deceptive , irresponsible marketing that could make the roads more dangerous as the system is rolled out to as many as 1 million electric vehicle drivers by the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actively misleading people about the capabilities of the system , based on the information I ’ ve seen about it , ” said Steven Shladover , a research engineer at the University of California , Berkeley , who has studied autonomous driving for 40 years .
“ It is a very limited functionality that still requires constant driver supervision.
” On a conference call Wednesday , Musk told industry analysts that the company is starting full self-driving slowly and cautiously “ because the world is a complex and messy place.
” It plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have a wider release by the end of the year .
He referred to having a million vehicles “ providing feedback ” on situations that can ’ t be anticipated .
The company hasn ’ t identified the drivers or said where they are located .
Messages were left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla .
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , which regulates automakers , says it will monitor the Teslas closely “ and will not hesitate to take action to protect the public against unreasonable risks to safety.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been briefed on Tesla ’ s system , which it considers to be an expansion of driver assistance software , which requires human supervision .
“ No vehicle available for purchase today is capable of driving itself , ” the statement said .
On its website , Tesla touts in large font its full self-driving capability .
In smaller font , it warns : “ The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous .
The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience , as well as regulatory approval , which may take longer in some jurisdictions.
” Even before using the term “ full self-driving , ” Tesla named its driver-assist system “ Autopilot.
” Many drivers relied on it too much and checked out , resulting in at least three U.S. deaths .
The National Transportation Safety Board faulted Tesla in those fatal crashes for letting drivers avoid paying attention and failing to limit where Autopilot can be used .
Board members , who have no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrated that safety recommendations have been ignored by Tesla and NHTSA .
Bryant Walker Smith , a University of South Carolina law professor who studies autonomous vehicles , said it was bad enough that Tesla was using the term “ Autopilot ” to describe its system but elevating it to “ full self-driving ” is even worse .
“ That leaves the domain of the misleading and irresponsible to something that could be called fraudulent , ” Walker Smith said .
The Society of Automotive Engineers , or SAE , has developed five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicles .
In levels zero through two , humans are driving the cars and supervising partially automated functions .
In levels three through five , the vehicles are driving , with level five describing a vehicle being driven under all traffic and weather conditions .
The term “ full self-driving ” means there is no driver other than the vehicle itself , indicating that it would be appropriate to put no one in the vehicle , Walker Smith said .
Musk also said on Wednesday that Tesla would focus on setting up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fleet of 10 self-driving cars in a ride hailing system .
“ It wouldn ’ t be very difficult , but we ’ re going to just be focused on just having an autonomous network that has sort of elements of Uber , Lyft , Airbnb , ” he said .
Tesla is among 60 companies with permits to operate autonomous vehicles with human backup drivers in California , the No .
1 state for Tesla sales .
The companies are required to file reports with regulators documenting when the robotic system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take control - a mandate that could entangle the owners of Tesla vehicles in red tape .
Before Tesla is able to put fully self-driving vehicles on California roads , it will have to get another permit from state regulators .
Only five companies , including Google spin-off Waymo and General Motors ’ Cruise subsidiary , have obtained those permits .
The California Department of Motor Vehicles didn ’ t immediately respond to questions about Tesla ’ s latest plans for robotic cars .
NHTSA , which has shied away from imposing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , says that every state holds drivers accountable for the safe operation of their vehicles .
Walker Smith argues that the agency is placing too much of the responsibility on Tesla drivers when it should be asking what automakers are going to do to make sure the vehicles are safe .
At the same time , he says that testing the system with vehicle drivers could be beneficial and speed adoption of autonomous vehicles .
Thursday afternoon , Musk was clearly trying to sell the full self-driving software .
He wrote on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” will rise by $ 2,000 on Monday .

DETROIT (AP) - Earlier this week, Tesla sent out its “full self-driving” software to a small group of owners who will test it on public roads. But buried on its website is a disclaimer that the $8,000 system doesn’t make the vehicles autonomous and drivers still have to supervise it.
The conflicting messages have experts in the field accusing Tesla of deceptive, irresponsible marketing that could make the roads more dangerous as the system is rolled out to as many as 1 million electric vehicle drivers by the end of the year.
“This is actively misleading people about the capabilities of the system, based on the information I’ve seen about it,” said Steven Shladover, a research engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied autonomous driving for 40 years. “It is a very limited functionality that still requires constant driver supervision.”
On a conference call Wednesday, Musk told industry analysts that the company is starting full self-driving slowly and cautiously “because the world is a complex and messy place.” It plans to add drivers this weekend and hopes to have a wider release by the end of the year. He referred to having a million vehicles “providing feedback” on situations that can’t be anticipated.
The company hasn’t identified the drivers or said where they are located. Messages were left Thursday seeking comment from Tesla.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automakers, says it will monitor the Teslas closely “and will not hesitate to take action to protect the public against unreasonable risks to safety.”
The agency says in a statement that it has been briefed on Tesla’s system, which it considers to be an expansion of driver assistance software, which requires human supervision.
“No vehicle available for purchase today is capable of driving itself,” the statement said.
On its website, Tesla touts in large font its full self-driving capability. In smaller font, it warns: “The currently enabled features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous. The activation and use of these features are dependent on achieving reliability far in excess of human drivers as demonstrated by billions of miles of experience, as well as regulatory approval, which may take longer in some jurisdictions.”
Even before using the term “full self-driving,” Tesla named its driver-assist system “Autopilot.” Many drivers relied on it too much and checked out, resulting in at least three U.S. deaths. The National Transportation Safety Board faulted Tesla in those fatal crashes for letting drivers avoid paying attention and failing to limit where Autopilot can be used.
Board members, who have no regulatory powers, have said they are frustrated that safety recommendations have been ignored by Tesla and NHTSA.
Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor who studies autonomous vehicles, said it was bad enough that Tesla was using the term “Autopilot” to describe its system but elevating it to “full self-driving” is even worse.
“That leaves the domain of the misleading and irresponsible to something that could be called fraudulent,” Walker Smith said.
The Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, has developed five levels to describe the functions of autonomous vehicles. In levels zero through two, humans are driving the cars and supervising partially automated functions. In levels three through five, the vehicles are driving, with level five describing a vehicle being driven under all traffic and weather conditions.
The term “full self-driving” means there is no driver other than the vehicle itself, indicating that it would be appropriate to put no one in the vehicle, Walker Smith said.
Musk also said on Wednesday that Tesla would focus on setting up a robotaxi system where one person could manage a fleet of 10 self-driving cars in a ride hailing system.
“It wouldn’t be very difficult, but we’re going to just be focused on just having an autonomous network that has sort of elements of Uber, Lyft, Airbnb,” he said.
Tesla is among 60 companies with permits to operate autonomous vehicles with human backup drivers in California, the No. 1 state for Tesla sales. The companies are required to file reports with regulators documenting when the robotic system experiences a problem that requires the driver to take control - a mandate that could entangle the owners of Tesla vehicles in red tape.
Before Tesla is able to put fully self-driving vehicles on California roads, it will have to get another permit from state regulators. Only five companies, including Google spin-off Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise subsidiary, have obtained those permits.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles didn’t immediately respond to questions about Tesla’s latest plans for robotic cars.
NHTSA, which has shied away from imposing regulations for fear of stifling safety innovation, says that every state holds drivers accountable for the safe operation of their vehicles.
Walker Smith argues that the agency is placing too much of the responsibility on Tesla drivers when it should be asking what automakers are going to do to make sure the vehicles are safe. At the same time, he says that testing the system with vehicle drivers could be beneficial and speed adoption of autonomous vehicles.
Thursday afternoon, Musk was clearly trying to sell the full self-driving software. He wrote on Twitter that the price of “FSD beta” will rise by $2,000 on Monday.
____
AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke contributed from San Ramon, California.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Idaho unemployment claims continue to slowly decline

BOISE , Idaho ( AP ) - Idaho Department of Labor officials say the state ’ s unemployment claims have @ @ @ @ @ week in a row .
Labor officials said Thursday that the number of people filing @ @ @ @ @ by 2 percent to just over 8,200 people for the week ending Oct. 17 .
@ @ @ @ @ by just 1 percent for the week , with nearly 3,200 new claims .
So @ @ @ @ @ 895 million in benefits has been paid out to Idaho residents laid off because of @ @ @ @ @ Labor Department paid out $ 5,8 million of that total during the week ending Oct. @ @ @ @ @ $ 6.3 million during the previous week .

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho Department of Labor officials say the state’s unemployment claims have dropped slightly for the 24th week in a row.
Labor officials said Thursday that the number of people filing for continued unemployment benefits fell by 2 percent to just over 8,200 people for the week ending Oct. 17.
New unemployment claims also dropped by just 1 percent for the week, with nearly 3,200 new claims.
So far more more than $895 million in benefits has been paid out to Idaho residents laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Labor Department paid out $5,8 million of that total during the week ending Oct. 17, compared to about $6.3 million during the previous week.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Colorado woman sentenced in 1996 death of newborn girl

FORT COLLINS , Colo. ( AP ) - A judge has sentenced a Colorado woman to 90 days in prison , three years in a community corrections program and eight years of probation in the death of an unidentified newborn girl whose body was found in a garbage bag in a reservoir in 1996 .
Jennifer Katalinich , 43 , also known as Jennifer Tjornehoj , was sentenced Thursday after she pleaded guilty to felony charges of criminally negligent homicide resulting in negligent death of an at-risk juvenile and tampering with physical evidence , the Coloradoan reported .
She was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
Katalinich , the mother of the baby , was arrested in November 2019 after the newborn was found dead in the Horsetooth Reservoir west of Fort Collins on Aug. 24 , 1996 .
The unidentified girl , later named “ Baby Faith , ” was found wrapped in a towel in the bag with her umbilical cord still attached , authorities said .
The Laramie County coroner ’ s office determined the baby died of suffocation .
Lead investigator Rita Servin said Katalinich , who was an 18-year-old incoming sophomore at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the baby alone on a towel in her room about an hour after her water broke .
Servin said Katalinich then smothered the baby , drove to the reservoir and weighed the baby down in a bag with rocks .
The investigation was suspended in June 1998 after authorities failed to find any leads .
It was reopened in 2006 on the 10th anniversary of the discovery of the infant ’ s body .
Investigators resubmitted DNA evidence in 2016 to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for updated analysis .
That analysis eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to graduate with a degree in wildlife biology , the university confirmed last year .
Her attorney Andy Gavaldon said she then married her husband , Michael , and had two more children , a seven-year-old boy and four-year-old girl .
“ It ’ s tragic and it ’ s heartbreaking , ” Michael Katalinich told the court , adding that his wife has told him how sorry she is for killing the girl .
“ It wasn ’ t until I read the ( pre‐sentence investigation report ) that I realized everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - A judge has sentenced a Colorado woman to 90 days in prison, three years in a community corrections program and eight years of probation in the death of an unidentified newborn girl whose body was found in a garbage bag in a reservoir in 1996.
Jennifer Katalinich, 43, also known as Jennifer Tjornehoj, was sentenced Thursday after she pleaded guilty to felony charges of criminally negligent homicide resulting in negligent death of an at-risk juvenile and tampering with physical evidence, the Coloradoan reported. She was also sentenced to 500 hours of community service.
Katalinich, the mother of the baby, was arrested in November 2019 after the newborn was found dead in the Horsetooth Reservoir west of Fort Collins on Aug. 24, 1996.
The unidentified girl, later named “Baby Faith,” was found wrapped in a towel in the bag with her umbilical cord still attached, authorities said. The Laramie County coroner’s office determined the baby died of suffocation.
Lead investigator Rita Servin said Katalinich, who was an 18-year-old incoming sophomore at Colorado State University, gave birth to the baby alone on a towel in her room about an hour after her water broke. Servin said Katalinich then smothered the baby, drove to the reservoir and weighed the baby down in a bag with rocks.
The investigation was suspended in June 1998 after authorities failed to find any leads. It was reopened in 2006 on the 10th anniversary of the discovery of the infant’s body.
Investigators resubmitted DNA evidence in 2016 to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for updated analysis. That analysis eventually led to Katalinich.
Katalinich went on to graduate with a degree in wildlife biology, the university confirmed last year. Her attorney Andy Gavaldon said she then married her husband, Michael, and had two more children, a seven-year-old boy and four-year-old girl.
“It’s tragic and it’s heartbreaking,” Michael Katalinich told the court, adding that his wife has told him how sorry she is for killing the girl. “It wasn’t until I read the (pre‐sentence investigation report) that I realized everyone involved in this case is a victim.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Judge investigated for possible falsification of evidence

CONCORD , N.H. ( AP ) - New Hampshire authorities are investigating whether a judge falsified evidence or committed other @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said Thursday it received information alleging that Circuit Court Judge Julie Introcaso @ @ @ @ @ court orders .
The office has begun a criminal investigation focused on whether that amounted @ @ @ @ @ tampering with public records or other criminal conduct .
A phone number could not be @ @ @ @ @ .

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire authorities are investigating whether a judge falsified evidence or committed other crimes.
The attorney general’s office said Thursday it received information alleging that Circuit Court Judge Julie Introcaso “whited out” two court orders. The office has begun a criminal investigation focused on whether that amounted to falsifying physical evidence, tampering with public records or other criminal conduct.
A phone number could not be found for Introcaso Thursday evening.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Sunflower farmers expect biggest crop in 5 years

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - Sunflower farmers in the U.S. are expected to produce their biggest crop in five years , and North Dakota farmers are expecting their best yield in history .
The first sunflower production forecast for 2020 is 2.81 billion pounds , up 44 % from 2019 , according to the National Sunflower Association .
The Bismarck Tribune reports that both planted and harvested acres are expected to be up more than 25 % from last year .
The October yield forecast , at 1,730 pounds per acre , is 11 % higher than last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than the record high average yield for the nation .
North Dakota leads the country in sunflower production .
The state forecast is 1.23 billion pounds , up 64 % from last year .
The expected average yield of 1,761 pounds per acre would be a record , according to the association .
Higher yields are expected in five of the eight states in which sunflower production is tracked , according to the sunflower association .
Increases are forecast for Colorado , Kansas , Nebraska and the Dakotas .
Decreases are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Sunflower farmers in the U.S. are expected to produce their biggest crop in five years, and North Dakota farmers are expecting their best yield in history.
The first sunflower production forecast for 2020 is 2.81 billion pounds, up 44% from 2019, according to the National Sunflower Association.
The Bismarck Tribune reports that both planted and harvested acres are expected to be up more than 25% from last year. The October yield forecast, at 1,730 pounds per acre, is 11% higher than last year and would be just a pound less than the record high average yield for the nation.
North Dakota leads the country in sunflower production. The state forecast is 1.23 billion pounds, up 64% from last year. The expected average yield of 1,761 pounds per acre would be a record, according to the association.
Higher yields are expected in five of the eight states in which sunflower production is tracked, according to the sunflower association. Increases are forecast for Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Decreases are expected in California, Minnesota and Texas.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Protest at Kansas school after student told to remove hijab

JUNCTION CITY , Kan. ( AP ) - Officials at a Kansas high school are investigating after a student was told to remove her Islamic head scarf , known as a hijab , prompting other students to stage a demonstration .
A spokeswoman for the Geary County School District said officials are still determining details of the incident , but a student reported an employee at Junction City High School told her to remove the hijab on Tuesday .
That prompted students to demonstrate outside the school Wednesday before classes started to protest religious discrimination .
The demonstration ended without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ class .
The high school principal met with the students to discuss their concerns and school officials have called a emergency meeting for Friday , which will be closed to the public because they intend to discuss personnel matters , spokeswoman Sacha Dent said .
“ We are proud that our students choose to stand up for what they believe is an injustice within their community , ” Dent said in a statement .
“ These young people are our future , and ( Wednesday ) they showed that they were able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed in.
” Dent said the Geary County School District does not tolerate bias or discrimination against students and requires “ robust diversity training , active community engagement , and more education of different cultures and beliefs.
” The Kansas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement Thursday that it welcomed the investigation by the school district .
“ We will closely monitor the investigation , but strongly believe and demand that the Junction City High School and its school district must examine policies to determine if changes must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future , ” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chairman Moussa Elbayoumy .
“ All district personnel , especially school administrators , should be offered diversity training on the right to religious accommodations for students and staff and the proper way to enforce the district ’ s policies.
” Junction City is about 65 miles ( 104.61 kilometers ) west of Topeka .

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) - Officials at a Kansas high school are investigating after a student was told to remove her Islamic head scarf, known as a hijab, prompting other students to stage a demonstration.
A spokeswoman for the Geary County School District said officials are still determining details of the incident, but a student reported an employee at Junction City High School told her to remove the hijab on Tuesday.
That prompted students to demonstrate outside the school Wednesday before classes started to protest religious discrimination. The demonstration ended without incident, and the students returned to class.
The high school principal met with the students to discuss their concerns and school officials have called a emergency meeting for Friday, which will be closed to the public because they intend to discuss personnel matters, spokeswoman Sacha Dent said.
“We are proud that our students choose to stand up for what they believe is an injustice within their community,” Dent said in a statement. “These young people are our future, and (Wednesday) they showed that they were able to demonstrate peacefully for a cause that they believed in.”
Dent said the Geary County School District does not tolerate bias or discrimination against students and requires “robust diversity training, active community engagement, and more education of different cultures and beliefs.”
The Kansas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement Thursday that it welcomed the investigation by the school district.
“We will closely monitor the investigation, but strongly believe and demand that the Junction City High School and its school district must examine policies to determine if changes must be made to prevent such incidents in the future,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chairman Moussa Elbayoumy. “All district personnel, especially school administrators, should be offered diversity training on the right to religious accommodations for students and staff and the proper way to enforce the district’s policies.”
Junction City is about 65 miles (104.61 kilometers) west of Topeka.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--3.2-magnitude quake rattles area on Kansas-Oklahoma line

PONCA CITY , Okla. ( AP ) - A magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook an area on the Kansas-Oklahoma line Thursday @ @ @ @ @ Survey reported .
The tremor struck at 8:17 p.m. and was centered in a remote @ @ @ @ @ kilometers ) northwest of Ponca City , Oklahoma , at a depth of almost 5 @ @ @ @ @ .
A Kay County , Oklahoma , sheriff ’ s dispatcher said there were no @ @ @ @ @ of earthquakes have been recorded in Oklahoma in recent years , with many linked to @ @ @ @ @ from oil and gas production .
Regulators have directed producers to close some injection wells @

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) - A magnitude 3.2 earthquake shook an area on the Kansas-Oklahoma line Thursday night, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The tremor struck at 8:17 p.m. and was centered in a remote area 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Ponca City, Oklahoma, at a depth of almost 5 miles (8 kilometers).
A Kay County, Oklahoma, sheriff’s dispatcher said there were no reports of damage.
Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in Oklahoma in recent years, with many linked to the underground injection of wastewater from oil and gas production. Regulators have directed producers to close some injection wells.


washingtontimes--2020-10-22--Joe Biden says Trump thinks he's running against somebody else

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that President Trump is “ very confused ” and thinks he ’ s running against @ @ @ @ @ s more liberal 2020 Democratic rivals .
“ He ’ s a very confused guy @ @ @ @ @ s running against somebody else , ” Mr. Biden said at the second presidential debate @ @ @ @ @ former vice president wants “ socialized medicine.
” Mr. Trump ’ s team frequently portrays @ @ @ @ @ a mealy-mouthed , fumbling candidate who ’ s lost his fastball .
“ What I @ @ @ @ @ is pass Obamacare with a public option , ” Mr. Biden said , nicknaming it @ @ @ @ @ fact that there ’ s a public option , that people can choose - that @ @ @ @ @ ?
”

Joseph R. Biden said Thursday that President Trump is “very confused” and thinks he’s running against one of Mr. Biden’s more liberal 2020 Democratic rivals.
“He’s a very confused guy — he thinks he’s running against somebody else,” Mr. Biden said at the second presidential debate after Mr. Trump said the former vice president wants “socialized medicine” and made several references to socialist Sen. Bernard Sanders.
Mr. Trump’s team frequently portrays the 77-year-old Mr. Biden as a mealy-mouthed, fumbling candidate who’s lost his fastball.
“What I’m going to do is pass Obamacare with a public option,” Mr. Biden said, nicknaming it “Bidencare.”
“The fact that there’s a public option, that people can choose — that makes it a socialist plan?” he said scoffingly.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.