washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Wall Street rallies on hopes for rapid economic recovery

A June rally roared on Wall Street on Wednesday as private employers reported that job losses stabilized in May , raising hopes among investors and in Washington that the recovery from the coronavirus shutdown could be faster and stronger than predicted .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 527 points , or 2 % , to close at 26,269 .
That was more than 8,000 points above the index ’ s low point in March , when the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing businesses to close and throwing more than 40 million Americans out of work .
The Nasdaq Composite Index @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % below its record high on Feb. 19 .
The index has climbed more than 42 % since its low point on March 23 .
Investors were buoyed by optimism about states reopening from the shutdown and by a report from the payroll firm ADP estimating that U.S. private-sector jobs fell by about 2.8 million from April to May .
That was significantly better than projections of about 9 million and well below the previous month ’ s record number of nearly 20 million .
President Trump pointed to the “ booming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the economy will bounce back significantly before Election Day in November .
“ I built this great economy , and I ’ m building it again , ” Mr. Trump told Fox News radio host Brian Kilmeade .
“ By the time of the election , I believe the economy will be doing phenomenal numbers .
Big job increases , big GDP increases , and that ’ ll be before the election.
” The transportation sector , which stands to benefit more than most others from the economy ’ s reopening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Delta and United airlines all gained at least 5.9 % .
White House senior adviser Kevin Hassett said the jobs report could mean the economy is recovering faster than expected after the coronavirus-related lockdowns .
“ This ADP report is a real positive sign , and it ’ s such a positive sign that I really have to grab my pencil and go back to my desk and see what ’ s going on .
… It ’ s way lower than I expected , in a good way , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re getting close to the bottom , for sure .
The number is so good — it ’ s such good news — that I really have to dig deep into it and see if there ’ s not something funny going on.
” More than 40 million unemployment claims have been filed since the pandemic took hold in March .
Mr. Hassett said some projections have the gross domestic product contracting by 50 % in the second quarter .
“ If you look at the states that have been opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are really getting back to normal quickly , ” he said .
“ I do think that we ’ re going to see bottom .
I was expecting June , but this ADP number does suggest that you ’ re very , very close to a turning point.
” The Labor Department is due to release its unemployment figures for May on Friday morning .
Joel Naroff , president of Naroff Economic Advisers in Holland , Pennsylvania , cautioned that the May unemployment rate is likely to be about 20 % and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ losses this month .
“ I am not sure that will be the peak [ of unemployment ] , ” Mr. Naroff said in his report Wednesday .
“ We can open up the economy all we want , but if there is double-digit unemployment for an extended period , consumer spending levels will not be able to come close to where they had been .
Will investors recognize that ?
Got me.
” Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity .
A report Wednesday from the Institute for Supply Management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the shutdown in May .
Its non-manufacturing index rose 3.6 points , the most in more than two years , to 45.4 , but the reading below 50 showed that most service-related industries were still contracting .
ADP said the job losses in May hit small , medium and large businesses alike .
“ The impact of the COVID-19 crisis continues to weigh on businesses of all sizes , ” Ahu Yildirmaz , co-head of the ADP Research Institute , said in a statement .
“ While the labor market is still reeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job loss likely peaked in April , as many states have begun a phased reopening of businesses.
” Conservative economist Stephen Moore , who advised the Trump campaign in 2016 , said the stock market is engaging in “ premature exuberance.
” He said he is still predicting a “ really bad summer ” of business failures and a difficult job market .
“ I ’ m just not as bullish about the economy as the investment markets are , ” he said , adding that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Senate Republicans to “ anything that helps the economy.
” The House has approved a $ 3 trillion economic relief package , including expanded unemployment benefits and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid for states and cities .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Kentucky Republican , said last week that the Senate will consider another bill in about a month and it would be “ narrowly crafted ” compared with the House proposal .
Mr. Moore said any compromise on the House bill “ is bad for the economy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March , with a $ 600 weekly federal payment on top of state benefits , is giving people too much incentive to stay home .
“ We ’ d be much better off just doing nothing , ” Mr. Moore said .
“ The thing that needs to happen now is just go back to the old employment benefit program … and then the payroll tax cut .
You do those two things , and you get some real juice in the economy .
People really underestimate how much damage we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country , and I think it could take a long time to recover .
I can ’ t see this [ stock ] market staying at this level.
” White House advisers note that unemployment rates were at historic lows for all groups before the pandemic hit the U.S. , with a national jobless rate of 3.5 % in February .
White House Domestic Policy Adviser Brooke Rollins said the U.S. was experiencing “ unprecedented prosperity , ” including the lowest jobless rates in a half century for blacks and Hispanics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really a priority , ” she said this week in a forum hosted by Politico .
She said the payroll tax cut is needed but the president isn ’ t necessarily opposed to another round of significant relief spending .
“ He is not in the typical Republican ‘ box , ’ ” she said .
“ He will do what he believes is right for the country .
The long-term health of the country is at the top of the president ’ s mind.
” Mr. Moore expects the unemployment rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , but he said the president could benefit “ if the direction is good.
” He also sees two “ silver linings ” to the rioting that has roiled the nation for the past week that could help the president and hurt presumptive Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden .
“ The lockdown lockdown is over now , ” Mr. Moore said .
“ And No .
2 is , it ’ s increased Trump ’ s odds of getting reelected because the left has exposed how radical they are .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obviously want Trump over Biden .
”

A June rally roared on Wall Street on Wednesday as private employers reported that job losses stabilized in May, raising hopes among investors and in Washington that the recovery from the coronavirus shutdown could be faster and stronger than predicted.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 527 points, or 2%, to close at 26,269. That was more than 8,000 points above the index’s low point in March, when the COVID-19 pandemic was forcing businesses to close and throwing more than 40 million Americans out of work.
The Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.7%, closing less than 1% below its record high on Feb. 19. The index has climbed more than 42% since its low point on March 23.
Investors were buoyed by optimism about states reopening from the shutdown and by a report from the payroll firm ADP estimating that U.S. private-sector jobs fell by about 2.8 million from April to May. That was significantly better than projections of about 9 million and well below the previous month’s record number of nearly 20 million.
President Trump pointed to the “booming” stock market rally as more proof that the economy will bounce back significantly before Election Day in November.
“I built this great economy, and I’m building it again,” Mr. Trump told Fox News radio host Brian Kilmeade. “By the time of the election, I believe the economy will be doing phenomenal numbers. Big job increases, big GDP increases, and that’ll be before the election.”
The transportation sector, which stands to benefit more than most others from the economy’s reopening, led the rally. Shares of American, Delta and United airlines all gained at least 5.9%.
White House senior adviser Kevin Hassett said the jobs report could mean the economy is recovering faster than expected after the coronavirus-related lockdowns.
“This ADP report is a real positive sign, and it’s such a positive sign that I really have to grab my pencil and go back to my desk and see what’s going on. … It’s way lower than I expected, in a good way,” Mr. Hassett said on Fox Business. “We’re getting close to the bottom, for sure. The number is so good — it’s such good news — that I really have to dig deep into it and see if there’s not something funny going on.”
More than 40 million unemployment claims have been filed since the pandemic took hold in March. Mr. Hassett said some projections have the gross domestic product contracting by 50% in the second quarter.
“If you look at the states that have been opening up, then you can see that they are really getting back to normal quickly,” he said. “I do think that we’re going to see bottom. I was expecting June, but this ADP number does suggest that you’re very, very close to a turning point.”
The Labor Department is due to release its unemployment figures for May on Friday morning.
Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisers in Holland, Pennsylvania, cautioned that the May unemployment rate is likely to be about 20% and that some indicators point to more job losses this month.
“I am not sure that will be the peak [of unemployment],” Mr. Naroff said in his report Wednesday. “We can open up the economy all we want, but if there is double-digit unemployment for an extended period, consumer spending levels will not be able to come close to where they had been. Will investors recognize that? Got me.”
Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity.
A report Wednesday from the Institute for Supply Management showed service providers began to emerge from the shutdown in May. Its non-manufacturing index rose 3.6 points, the most in more than two years, to 45.4, but the reading below 50 showed that most service-related industries were still contracting.
ADP said the job losses in May hit small, medium and large businesses alike.
“The impact of the COVID-19 crisis continues to weigh on businesses of all sizes,” Ahu Yildirmaz, co-head of the ADP Research Institute, said in a statement. “While the labor market is still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, job loss likely peaked in April, as many states have begun a phased reopening of businesses.”
Conservative economist Stephen Moore, who advised the Trump campaign in 2016, said the stock market is engaging in “premature exuberance.” He said he is still predicting a “really bad summer” of business failures and a difficult job market.
“I’m just not as bullish about the economy as the investment markets are,” he said, adding that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, isn’t likely to agree with Senate Republicans to “anything that helps the economy.”
The House has approved a $3 trillion economic relief package, including expanded unemployment benefits and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid for states and cities. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, said last week that the Senate will consider another bill in about a month and it would be “narrowly crafted” compared with the House proposal.
Mr. Moore said any compromise on the House bill “is bad for the economy.” He said the employment benefit program approved in March, with a $600 weekly federal payment on top of state benefits, is giving people too much incentive to stay home.
“We’d be much better off just doing nothing,” Mr. Moore said. “The thing that needs to happen now is just go back to the old employment benefit program … and then the payroll tax cut. You do those two things, and you get some real juice in the economy. People really underestimate how much damage we’ve done to the economic infrastructure of the country, and I think it could take a long time to recover. I can’t see this [stock] market staying at this level.”
White House advisers note that unemployment rates were at historic lows for all groups before the pandemic hit the U.S., with a national jobless rate of 3.5% in February.
White House Domestic Policy Adviser Brooke Rollins said the U.S. was experiencing “unprecedented prosperity,” including the lowest jobless rates in a half century for blacks and Hispanics.
“To get all of that back is really a priority,” she said this week in a forum hosted by Politico.
She said the payroll tax cut is needed but the president isn’t necessarily opposed to another round of significant relief spending.
“He is not in the typical Republican ‘box,’” she said. “He will do what he believes is right for the country. The long-term health of the country is at the top of the president’s mind.”
Mr. Moore expects the unemployment rate to be around 10% by Election Day, but he said the president could benefit “if the direction is good.” He also sees two “silver linings” to the rioting that has roiled the nation for the past week that could help the president and hurt presumptive Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden.
“The lockdown lockdown is over now,” Mr. Moore said. “And No. 2 is, it’s increased Trump’s odds of getting reelected because the left has exposed how radical they are. That’s good for markets because the markets obviously want Trump over Biden.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Florida officer on leave after pressing knee into man's neck

SARASOTA , Fla. ( AP ) - A bystander video showing a Sarasota police officer pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed black man a week before the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted an investigation and promises of transparency .
Two Sarasota officers are seen on video holding down Patrick Carroll , 27 , during a domestic violence call on May 18th .
A third officer was standing nearby .
“ Utilizing your knee on someone ’ s neck is not something that we train , ” Sarasota Police Deputy Chief Patrick Robinson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we authorize and it ’ s not something that we stand behind.
” The department told news outlets it wasn ’ t aware the officer placed a knee on Carroll ’ s neck until it was tagged in the video on social media on Monday .
In a police report released by the department , an officer stated , “ minor force was used to escort subject to the ground and secure him long enough for him to calm down.
” The department said on Facebook that “ the individual didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complain of injuries during the incident.
” Carroll ’ s family disputes this , telling the Herald-Tribune that a request for medical attention was denied in jail and they are seeking legal counsel .
Aerial video posted by the department Tuesday shows more of the encounter .
The officers are seen speaking with Carroll for several minutes before placing him in handcuffs .
He then resists being put in the patrol car , and officers force him to the ground .
Carroll said he was trying to ask officers why he was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scoliosis in his back , and was having trouble breathing .
“ I could have been dead on that ground and not standing here talking to y ’ all right now , ” Carroll told reporters this week , amid global protests over the death of Floyd , who said he couldn ’ t breathe as a Minneapolis officer pressed a knee into his neck on Memorial Day .
The officer who placed his knee on Carroll ’ s neck has been placed on administrative leave , the department said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two other officers are on “ desk duty ” while the arrest is being investigated , news outlets reported .
Carroll , meanwhile , faces charges of domestic battery , possession of ammunition by a convicted felon , and resisting arrest .

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) - A Florida police officer pressed his knee into the neck of a handcuffed black man a week before the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a bystander’s video released this week shows - a release that has prompted a departmental investigation and the officer being placed on leave.
Two Sarasota officers are seen on video holding down Patrick Carroll, 27, as they arrested him May 18 on domestic violence charges for allegedly attacking a woman by pulling her hair, striking her and throwing her to the ground.
One officer put his knee on Carroll’s neck as he lied face down on the street as another appears to be tightening the handcuffs holding his arms behind his back. A third officer stood nearby. A bystander yelled at the officer not to put his knee on Carroll’s neck.
The department told news outlets it wasn’t aware the officer placed a knee on Carroll’s neck until it was tagged in the video on social media on Monday. In a police report released by the department, an officer stated, “minor force was used to escort subject to the ground and secure him long enough for him to calm down.”
“Utilizing your knee on someone’s neck is not something that we train,” Sarasota Police Deputy Chief Patrick Robinson said. “It’s not something that we authorize and it’s not something that we stand behind.” He has pledged transparency in the investigation.
Policing experts have told The Associated Press that no U.S. department is known to teach officers to put a knee into a suspect’s neck because it can cut off the suspect’s breathing and blood flow to the brain. Academies teach recruits a variety of use-of-force techniques, all with the idea that any force employed may equal but not exceed the physical resistance offered by a suspect.
One technique is to restrain someone on the ground face-down, but officers are taught to press a part of the lower leg, such as the shin or top of the ankle, across the shoulders or the back. In some cases officers will “hog-tie” suspects’ legs to prevent flight or violent resistance.
The New York Police Department, for example, says in its policies manual in bold capitals that officers “SHALL NOT” use chokeholds and should “avoid actions which may result in chest compression, such as sitting, kneeling, or standing on a subject’s chest or back, thereby reducing the subject’s ability to breathe.”
Such tactics gained worldwide attention after bystander video of Floyd’s May 29 death showed a Minneapolis officer putting his knee on his neck for over eight minutes while three other officers failed to stop him. Floyd complained he couldn’t breath and then lost consciousness. Officer Derek Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder while the other three officers are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Sarasota police said on Facebook that Carroll “didn’t require medical attention nor did the individual complain of injuries during the incident.” Carroll’s family disputes this, telling the Herald-Tribune that a request for medical attention was denied in jail and they are seeking legal counsel.
Aerial video posted by the department Tuesday shows more of the encounter. The officers are seen speaking with Carroll for several minutes before placing him in handcuffs. He then resists being put in the patrol car, and officers force him to the ground.
Carroll said he was trying to ask officers why he was being detained. He said he has asthma and scoliosis in his back, and was having trouble breathing.
“I could have been dead on that ground and not standing here talking to y’all right now,” Carroll told reporters this week, amid global protests over the death of Floyd, who said he couldn’t breathe as a Minneapolis officer pressed a knee into his neck on Memorial Day.
The officer who placed his knee on Carroll’s neck has been placed on administrative leave, the department said. The two other officers are on “desk duty” while the arrest is being investigated, news outlets reported. Officials have not identified the officers.
Carroll, meanwhile, faces charges of domestic battery, resisting arrest and possessing ammunition by a felon as he allegedly had bullets but no gun in his backpack. The police report says the woman he allegedly attacked had bruising to her arms, face and chest. He is free on bail. State records show he served 1.5 years in prison on a felony battery conviction and was released in 2015.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Police: Protester arrested after throwing object at chief

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) - An armed demonstrator is accused of throwing an object at St. Petersburg ’ s police chief on Wednesday night after the crowd was asked use the sidewalk rather than blocking a street , officials said .
The man then threw an object at Chief Tony Holloway and a major , the agency posted on Twitter .
Police arrested the man and found he was carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in his waistband .
Officers had asked the group protesting police killings of African Americans to use the sidewalk so they could open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agency said .
Police didn ’ t release any other details about the arrest , including the man ’ s name or the kind of object that was thrown at the chief .
No one was injured .
Marches in St. Petersburg have been mostly peaceful .
However several times police declared an unlawful assembly late Tuesday night when a crowd gathered outside the police department .
Officers tossed smoke grenades on the front landing to disperse the crowd .
Someone in the crowd threw fireworks or mortars back at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - An armed demonstrator is accused of throwing an object at St. Petersburg’s police chief on Wednesday night after the crowd was asked use the sidewalk rather than blocking a street, officials said.
The man then threw an object at Chief Tony Holloway and a major, the agency posted on Twitter. Police arrested the man and found he was carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol in his waistband.
Officers had asked the group protesting police killings of African Americans to use the sidewalk so they could open the street they were on to traffic, the agency said.
Police didn’t release any other details about the arrest, including the man’s name or the kind of object that was thrown at the chief. No one was injured.
Marches in St. Petersburg have been mostly peaceful. However several times police declared an unlawful assembly late Tuesday night when a crowd gathered outside the police department. Officers tossed smoke grenades on the front landing to disperse the crowd. Someone in the crowd threw fireworks or mortars back at the building and police arrested 23 people.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Police: Boy was fatally shot by gun found in father's truck

CLEVELAND ( AP ) - A 12-year-old Cleveland boy was killed this week when a gun he and his brother @ @ @ @ @ s truck was accidentally fired , authorities said .
Donell King Sr. , 37 , @ @ @ @ @ , child endangerment and a weapons offense in the death of his son , Donell @ @ @ @ @ ’ t known Thursday if he has retained an attorney .
Cleveland.com reports that the @ @ @ @ @ the gun around 1:30 p.m. Monday and the brother picked it up .
Donell Jr. @ @ @ @ @ away , authorities said , but the weapon somehow fired and Donell Jr. was struck @ @ @ @ @ brother , who wasn ’ t injured , ran to a nearby police station to @ @ @ @ @ went to the home and found the wounded child , who was taken to a @ @ @ @ @ short time later .
Police found the gun in some overgrown grass outside a nearby @ @ @ @ @ , but it ’ snot clear how the weapon ended up there .

CLEVELAND (AP) - A 12-year-old Cleveland boy was killed this week when a gun he and his brother found in their father’s truck was accidentally fired, authorities said.
Donell King Sr., 37, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and a weapons offense in the death of his son, Donell King Jr. It wasn’t known Thursday if he has retained an attorney.
Cleveland.com reports that the boy and his brother found the gun around 1:30 p.m. Monday and the brother picked it up. Donell Jr. tried to take the gun away, authorities said, but the weapon somehow fired and Donell Jr. was struck in the chest.
His brother, who wasn’t injured, ran to a nearby police station to report the shooting. Police went to the home and found the wounded child, who was taken to a hospital but died there a short time later.
Police found the gun in some overgrown grass outside a nearby apartment building, authorities said, but it’s not clear how the weapon ended up there.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Europe rights body urges action for migrants stuck off Malta

VALLETTA , Malta ( AP ) - Europe ’ s leading human rights organization is calling for immediate action to bring to shore some 400 migrants that the Malta government transferred to chartered pleasure boats at sea .
The Council of Europe , based in Strasbourg , France , said in a statement Thursday that the situation ‘ ’ is unsustainable and requires immediate action.
’ ’ The migrants have been living aboard the boats just out of Malta ’ s territorial waters , many for weeks , after having been rescued from human traffickers ’ unseaworthy boats in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruise vessels after closing its ports due to the coronavirus emergency and says it is waiting for other European Union member nations to step up and take in the migrants .
So far , only France has agreed .
The Council of Europe ’ s human rights commissioner , Dunja Mijatovic , has stressed in recent months that migrants should be brought to shore safely and promptly despite the coronavirus pandemic .
The commissioner also has underlined that human lives should not be put at risks due to disagreements between EU member states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , additional ships have been rented and that the number of people kept on them , without a clear prospect of prompt disembarkation , has substantially increased , ’ ’ she said Thursday .
SOS Mediterranee , a humanitarian group that has operated rescue boats in the Mediterranean Sea , earlier this week lamented that the migrants being held on the chartered tourist boats were being used as political pawns .
An Associated Press photographer captured images of the migrants walking on the decks of the boats , their laundry hung from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrayed in boats nearby , keeping watch on the four vessels usually used for pleasure excursions to ferry tourists to the tiny Mediterranean island nation ’ s attractions .
France hasn ’ t said how many migrants it will take in , but has insisted it is up to the EU ’ s executive commission to organize with other countries .
The European Commission has confirmed it is facilitating talks among EU nations to identify potential destinations for the passengers stuck on the boats off Malta .
‘ ’ There is an urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states to find solutions for those on board the Captain Morgan boats , ’ ’ European Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said Thursday .
‘ ’ They need to be disembarked as soon as possible .
’ ’

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) - Europe’s leading human rights organization is calling for immediate action to bring to shore some 400 migrants that the Malta government transferred to chartered pleasure boats at sea.
The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, France, said in a statement Thursday that the situation ‘’is unsustainable and requires immediate action.’’
The migrants have been living aboard the boats just out of Malta’s territorial waters, many for weeks, after having been rescued from human traffickers’ unseaworthy boats in the Mediterranean Sea.
Malta chartered the pleasure cruise vessels after closing its ports due to the coronavirus emergency and says it is waiting for other European Union member nations to step up and take in the migrants. So far, only France has agreed.
The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, Dunja Mijatovic, has stressed in recent months that migrants should be brought to shore safely and promptly despite the coronavirus pandemic. The commissioner also has underlined that human lives should not be put at risks due to disagreements between EU member states.
“I am concerned that since then, additional ships have been rented and that the number of people kept on them, without a clear prospect of prompt disembarkation, has substantially increased,’’ she said Thursday.
SOS Mediterranee, a humanitarian group that has operated rescue boats in the Mediterranean Sea, earlier this week lamented that the migrants being held on the chartered tourist boats were being used as political pawns.
An Associated Press photographer captured images of the migrants walking on the decks of the boats, their laundry hung from improvised clotheslines. Maltese armed forces were arrayed in boats nearby, keeping watch on the four vessels usually used for pleasure excursions to ferry tourists to the tiny Mediterranean island nation’s attractions.
France hasn’t said how many migrants it will take in, but has insisted it is up to the EU’s executive commission to organize with other countries.
The European Commission has confirmed it is facilitating talks among EU nations to identify potential destinations for the passengers stuck on the boats off Malta.
‘’There is an urgent need for cooperation and solidarity between member states to find solutions for those on board the Captain Morgan boats,’’ European Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said Thursday. ‘’They need to be disembarked as soon as possible.’’


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--NYC protests throught the years, in photos

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Long before George Floyd , there was Robert Bandy .
Bandy was a black Army soldier shot and wounded in New York City by a white police officer in 1943 .
Amid rumors that Bandy had been killed , Harlem erupted .
There were violent protests , pilfering and a curfew imposed - much like what ’ s happening in the city , and across the country , today following the May 25 death of Flood , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racially charged tension between police and protesters isn ’ t new to the city .
Helmeted officers roughing up protesters in 1968 after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and during riots in 1991 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn when a young black child was hit and killed by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew .
More discord came in 2014 after another black man , Eric Garner , was heard on video saying his last words - “ I can ’ t breathe ” - while in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can ’ t breathe ” before his death , a scene that put protesters on another collision course with police on the streets of New York .

NEW YORK (AP) - Long before George Floyd, there was Robert Bandy.
Bandy was a black Army soldier shot and wounded in New York City by a white police officer in 1943. Amid rumors that Bandy had been killed, Harlem erupted.
There were violent protests, pilfering and a curfew imposed - much like what’s happening in the city, and across the country, today following the May 25 death of Flood, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes.
The racially charged tension between police and protesters isn’t new to the city. Helmeted officers roughed up protesters in 1968 after the death of Martin Luther King Jr. and during riots in 1991 in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn when a young black child was hit and killed by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew.
More discord came in 2014 after another black man, Eric Garner, was heard on video saying his last words -“I can’t breathe” - while in a police chokehold.
Floyd too said, “I can’t breathe” before his death, a scene that put protesters on another collision course with police on the streets of New York.
Demonstrators have also clashed with police over a range of issues, including 1972 anti-war protests in Manhattan and anti-Communist protests against a visit from then-Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1979.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Inmate dies after being pepper sprayed in cell

An inmate at a jail in New York City died after being pepper sprayed by officers in his cell , @ @ @ @ @ said .
Jamel Floyd , 35 , barricaded himself inside his cell at the Metropolitan @ @ @ @ @ 10 a.m. Wednesday and used a metal object to break the cell-door window , the @ @ @ @ @ .
Floyd “ became increasingly disruptive and potentially harmful to himself and others , ” @ @ @ @ @ pepper spray to subdue him , the bureau said .
Floyd was unresponsive after being @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
The cause of death is @ @ @ @ @ it does not appear be related to COVID-19 .
Floyd had been at the facility @ @ @ @ @ , the bureau said .

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal jail inmate in New York City died Wednesday after correctional officers sprayed him with pepper spray, the Bureau of Prisons said.
Officers sprayed Jamel Floyd, a 35-year-old black man, after he barricaded himself in his cell at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center and broke a cell door window with a metal object, the agency said.
“He became increasingly disruptive and potentially harmful to himself and others,” the agency said in a statement. “Pepper spray was deployed and Floyd was removed from his cell.”
Floyd’s mother said her son suffered from asthma and diabetes and that jail officials were aware of his health conditions.
“They maced my son,” Donna Mays told the Daily News. “They murdered my son.”
Members of the jail’s medical staff checking on Floyd later found him unresponsive, the agency said. They started life-saving measures and called an ambulance. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Bureau of Prisons said there is no indication Floyd’s death is related to coronavirus.
The agency’s director, Michael Carvajal, said Thursday that the Justice Department’s inspector general is investigating. He declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. The city medical examiner’s office said it will perform an autopsy on Floyd. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service have also been notified.
Confirming his involvement, Inspector General Michael Horowitz said in a statement that his office would issue a public report on its investigation into Floyd’s death but won’t provide any information until it’s completed.
The head of the union representing correctional officers at the jail declined comment, saying management had yet to provide any information on what happened.
Floyd had been at the Metropolitan Detention Center since Oct. 30, transferred from the state-run Sing Sing Correctional Facility, where he was serving a 12- to 15-year sentence for his part in a violent Long Island home invasion in 2007. He was eligible for parole in October, according to state prison records.
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said Floyd was sent to the federal jail regarding an ongoing case. The agency said it was notified Thursday of his death.
Court records did not show any federal cases with a person by Floyd’s name as the defendant.
Floyd died amid a lockdown at federal jails nationwide spurred by protests and violence over the May 25 death of George Floyd and special procedures because the coronavirus pandemic, such as requiring inmates to wear masks.
The Metropolitan Detention Center has had a share of problems in recent years, including a week-long power failure in January 2019 that sparked unrest among shivering inmates.
In March, the jail had the federal prison system’s first inmate to test positive for coronavirus.
The Bureau of Prisons started arming correctional officers with pepper spray more widely after an officer at a penitentiary in Pennsylvania was ambushed and killed by an inmate in 2013.
Before that, most officers just had keys, handcuffs and a hand-held radio to protect them.
Prisoner rights advocates have long argued that the effects of pepper spray are more harmful to inmates with respiratory problems. They’ve also raised concerns it has lowered the bar on use of force.
The Bureau of Prisons has said its officers are trained to use pepper spray only when staff or inmates are in immediate danger and only after they have tried to defuse the situation with verbal commands.
___
Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Larry Neumeister and Karen Matthews in New York contributed this report.
___
On Twitter: Follow Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Keith Ellison, Minn. AG: 'We will charge anything that the facts and the law allow'

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Thursday left open the possibility that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin could ultimately be charged with first-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota last week .
“ We will charge anything that the facts and the law allow , ” Mr. Ellison said on ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” “ We are not showing fear or favor to any person.
” “ If the facts show premeditation and deliberation and we can present that in front of a jury in good faith , we absolutely will charge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We ’ ve charged the highest ethical charge that we feel we can at this point.
” On Wednesday , Mr. Ellison had announced that a third-degree murder charge for Mr. Chauvin , who knelt on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly nine minutes before he died , was being changed to a second-degree murder charge .
The other former officers on the scene — Thomas Lane , J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — were also charged on Wednesday with aiding and abetting murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd family , has been pushing for Mr. Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder .
Floyd ’ s death has sparked a wave of protests across the country and a renewed debate about race and policing practices in the U.S .

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Thursday left open the possibility that former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin could ultimately be charged with first-degree murder in the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota last week.
“We will charge anything that the facts and the law allow,” Mr. Ellison said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “We are not showing fear or favor to any person.”
“If the facts show premeditation and deliberation and we can present that in front of a jury in good faith, we absolutely will charge that particular count,” he said. “We’ve charged the highest ethical charge that we feel we can at this point.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Ellison had announced that a third-degree murder charge for Mr. Chauvin, who knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes before he died, was being changed to a second-degree murder charge.
The other former officers on the scene — Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao — were also charged on Wednesday with aiding and abetting murder and aiding and abetting manslaughter.
Benjamin Crump, an attorney for the Floyd family, has been pushing for Mr. Chauvin to be charged with first-degree murder.
Floyd’s death has sparked a wave of protests across the country and a renewed debate about race and policing practices in the U.S.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Protests over George Floyd's death largely calm

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - Demonstrators and a caravan of vehicles streamed through streets on Milwaukee ’ s north side overnight Wednesday and headed to a police precinct station where National Guard members stood watch .
Officers used smoke or gas to disperse the protesters .
But , it was a quieter demonstration than previous nights when peaceful protests later devolved into violence .
The crowd of several hundred that marched across Milwaukee largely dispersed by 12:30 a.m. Thursday .
And in Madison , hundreds of protesters against police violence peacefully gathered in downtown Madison on Wednesday night .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demanding justice for the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other victims of police violence .
A somber vigil gave way to a more lively gathering with music and dancing .
The demonstrations follow the death of Floyd , a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck , ignoring Floyd ’ s cries that he couldn ’ t breathe .
Prosecutors Wednesday upgraded charges against the officer , Derek Chauvin , to second-degree murder and charged three other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case that has rocked the nation with protests over race and police brutality .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Demonstrators and a caravan of vehicles streamed through streets on Milwaukee’s north side overnight Wednesday and headed to a police precinct station where National Guard members stood watch.
Officers used smoke or gas to disperse the protesters. But, it was a quieter demonstration than previous nights when peaceful protests later devolved into violence.
The crowd of several hundred that marched across Milwaukee largely dispersed by 12:30 a.m. Thursday.
And in Madison, hundreds of protesters against police violence peacefully gathered in downtown Madison on Wednesday night.
A crowd of people marched around Capitol Square demanding justice for the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other victims of police violence. A somber vigil gave way to a more lively gathering with music and dancing.
The demonstrations follow the death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
Prosecutors Wednesday upgraded charges against the officer, Derek Chauvin, to second-degree murder and charged three other officers with aiding and abetting in the case that has rocked the nation with protests over race and police brutality.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--European Central Bank nearly doubles pandemic support scheme

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) - The European Central Bank has boosted its pandemic emergency support program by 600 billion euros to 1.35 trillion euros ( $ 1.5 trillion ) in an effort to keep affordable credit flowing to the economy during the steep downturn caused by the virus outbreak .
The central bank for the 19 countries that use the euro also extended the monetary stimulus program to at least the end of June next year , from the end of 2020 currently .
ECB President Christine Lagarde will give her assessment of the economy at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic was held by teleconference among the 25 members of the bank ’ s governing council .
Under the pandemic support program , the ECB buys corporate and government bonds and other financial assets from banks , paying with newly created money .
That helps lower longer-term interest rates , keeping the pandemic from drying up needed funding for borrowers .
The large size of the intended purchases also sends a signal to financial markets that the ECB is determined to ensure interest rates remain low throughout the eurozone and prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Italy .
While the ECB says its purchases are not targeted at supporting Italy , the program so far bought a larger share of Italian bonds than for other countries and is credited with keeping market pressure off a nation that has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic .
Italy ’ s lockdown will cost it lost tax revenues and additional spending to support the economy .
That means added borrowing that will boost its already large debt pile of 135 % of annual economic output .
Any investor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay could lead to a spiral of higher borrowing costs and trigger a financial crisis similar to the one that led to Greece and four other member governments needing international bailouts in 2010-2015 .
The support from the ECB comes on top of up to 540 billion euros agreed on by the eurozone member governments that includes credit lines from the euro bailout fund , and a longer-term recovery fund of 750 billion euro recovery fund backed by common borrowing by EU governments that is still being worked out .
Germany , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an additional 130 billion euros of stimulus including tax breaks and subsidies for buying electric cars .
The different support packages aim to cushion what the European Union ’ s executive commission says will be a steep fall of 7.75 % in economic output this year and to support a recovery in coming years .
The central bank left its key interest rate benchmarks unchanged at record lows on Thursday .
The rate at which the ECB lends to banks is zero .
Its rate on deposits left overnight by commercial banks is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at pushing banks to lend the excess cash .
The bank has also set up long-term offers of credit to banks at even lower rates if they show they are lending to companies .
Banks are key to the entire eurozone economy because most companies get their operating funds from them rather than borrowing on financial markets as is more the case in the U.S .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The European Central Bank has boosted its pandemic emergency support program by an unexpectedly large 600 billion euros to 1.35 trillion euros ($1.5 trillion), adding to efforts in Europe and around the world to help the economy weather the steep downturn caused by the virus outbreak.
The ECB measures announced Thursday aim to keep affordable credit flowing to the economy amid uncertainty about the speed of any recovery following the easing of lockdowns across Europe.
The new stimulus comes on top of added spending by governments and similar efforts by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and others around the globe as the world tries to cope with a sharp, simultaneous blow to both developing and rich economies.
The central bank for the 19 countries that use the euro expects the bloc’s economy to shrink by a painful 8.7% this year and to recover by a more modest 5.2% in 2021. President Christine Lagarde warned that “the speed and scale of the rebound are highly uncertain.”
Lagarde removed a face mask as she walked into an empty press room at the bank’s skyscraper headquarters in Frankfurt for the online news conference after the policy meeting of the bank’s 25-member governing council, which was conducted by teleconference.
She cautioned that even though lockdown measures are being eased, a significant rebound was not yet in sight.
“While survey data and real-time indicators for economic activity have shown some signs of a bottoming-out alongside the gradual easing of the containment measures, the improvement has so far been tepid compared with the speed at which the indicators plummeted in the preceding two months,” she said.
The ECB’s moves reflect similar concerns to those motivating other central banks, including the Fed, which has slashed short-term interest rates to near zero and started buying $2 trillion in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds to keep credit markets functioning.
Central banks have once again come to the rescue of financial markets with monetary “bazookas” of aid through the pandemic, learning from their experience during the financial crisis.
Immense, unprecedented programs by the Federal Reserve helped halt the U.S. stock market’s plunge in March, which had quickly reached a loss of nearly 34% from its record set a month earlier. U.S. stocks rallied nearly 40% in the wake of the Fed stimulus decisions.
European stocks and other markets initially rallied but the gains faded after a data release on U.S. jobless applications and after Lagarde’s downbeat outlook. The French CAC 40 slipped 0.2%, and the German DAX lost 0.5%.
Under the pandemic support program, the ECB buys corporate and government bonds and other financial assets from banks, paying with newly created money. That helps lower longer-term interest rates, keeping the pandemic from drying up needed funding for borrowers.
On Thursday it said it was extending its duration to at least the end of June next year, from the end of 2020 currently.
The large size of the intended purchases also sends a signal to financial markets that the ECB is determined to ensure interest rates remain low throughout the eurozone and prevent borrowing costs from rising for indebted governments such as Italy.
While the ECB says its purchases are not targeted at supporting Italy, the program so far bought a larger share of Italian bonds than for other countries and is credited with keeping market pressure off a nation that has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
Any investor doubts about Italy’s ability to pay could lead to a spiral of higher borrowing costs and trigger a financial crisis similar to the one that led to Greece and four other eurozone countries needing international bailouts in 2010-2015.
The support from the ECB comes on top of up to 540 billion euros in financial aid from eurozone governments that includes credit lines from the euro bailout fund, as well as a longer-term EU recovery fund of 750 billion euros that is still being worked out. Germany, the largest member economy, on Wednesday agreed on an additional 130 billion euros of stimulus including tax breaks and subsidies for buying electric cars.
The European Central Bank left its key interest rate benchmarks unchanged at record lows. The rate at which it lends to commercial banks is zero. Its rate on deposits left overnight by commercial banks is now minus 0.5%, a penalty aimed at pushing banks to lend the excess cash.
The ECB has also set up long-term offers of credit to banks at even lower rates if they show they are lending to companies. Banks are key to the entire eurozone economy because most companies get their operating funds from them rather than borrowing on financial markets as is more the case in the U.S.
The ECB said it would also continue an earlier bond-purchase program started before the pandemic. Those purchases will continue to run at 20 billion euros per month, providing still more monetary stimulus.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Belarus president names new prime minister ahead of election

MINSK , Belarus ( AP ) - Belarus ‘ authoritarian president named his new prime minister Thursday , a move that comes two months before a scheduled presidential election .
President Alexander Lukashenko , 65 , is seeking a sixth term in the Aug. 9 election .
He has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than a quarter-century and appears certain to secure an easy victory despite opposition protests .
A day after firing Prime Minister Sergei Rumas , a moderate technocrat , Lukashenko replaced him Thursday with 46-year-old Roman Golovchenko , who previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described his appointee as a “ reliable man who can be trusted , ” noting that “ it ’ s very important that patriots and professionals come to office now.
” Observers see Golovchenko ’ s appointment as a sign of Lukashenko ’ s intention to further tighten his grip ahead of the vote .
“ Lukashenko is trying to secure full control over the plummeting economy and block protests , and he needs a prime minister who is predictable and ready to fulfill any order , ” said Minsk-based political analyst Valery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to clench our teeth ” and to show more discipline in order to repair the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic and “ save what we have built.
” “ We need to mobilize to cope with multiple new challenges over a short period of time , ” Lukashenko said .
Belarus has been one of the few countries that hasn ’ t shut its borders and hadn ’ t imposed any restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus .
It was the only country in Europe to keep playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spectators in the stands .
Lukashenko has rejected strict lockdown measures as “ psychosis.
” Despite numerous warnings from the World Health Organization , Belarus last month held a massive military parade last month marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II .
The nation has reported over 45,000 infections , including 248 deaths as of Wednesday .

MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Belarus’ authoritarian president named his new prime minister Thursday, a move that comes two months before a scheduled presidential election.
President Alexander Lukashenko, 65, is seeking a sixth term in the Aug. 9 election. He has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than a quarter-century and appears certain to secure an easy victory despite opposition protests.
A day after firing Prime Minister Sergei Rumas, a moderate technocrat, Lukashenko replaced him Thursday with 46-year-old Roman Golovchenko, who previously oversaw military industries.
The Belarusian leader described his appointee as a “reliable man who can be trusted,” noting that “it’s very important that patriots and professionals come to office now.”
Observers see Golovchenko’s appointment as a sign of Lukashenko’s intention to further tighten his grip ahead of the vote.
“Lukashenko is trying to secure full control over the plummeting economy and block protests, and he needs a prime minister who is predictable and ready to fulfill any order,” said Minsk-based political analyst Valery Karbalevich.
Lukashenko said that “we need to clench our teeth” and to show more discipline in order to repair the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic and “save what we have built.”
“We need to mobilize to cope with multiple new challenges over a short period of time,” Lukashenko said.
Belarus has been one of the few countries that hasn’t shut its borders and hadn’t imposed any restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
It was the only country in Europe to keep playing professional men’s soccer games with spectators in the stands. Lukashenko has rejected strict lockdown measures as “psychosis.”
Despite numerous warnings from the World Health Organization, Belarus last month held a massive military parade last month marking the 75th anniversary of the Nazi defeat in World War II.
The nation has reported over 45,000 infections, including 248 deaths as of Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Farm-to-table dining takes on new meaning amid pandemic

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - Eric Pray is used to shipping seafood all over the country .
But since the coronavirus took hold , he has shifted his focus closer to home - selling lobsters from a homemade tank in his garage .
Pray , of Portland , Maine , is one of hundreds of fishermen , farmers and food producers who have shifted to a direct-to-consumer model amid the virus outbreak .
The pandemic has stressed and sometimes disrupted supply chains , shuttered restaurants and changed the way consumers buy food , leaving some producers scrambling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The farm-to-table movement in the United States has grown in recent years , as consumers have increasingly demanded locally sourced food .
But in the past several weeks , the movement has grown out of necessity because some producers can ’ t rely on the complex web of processors , distributors and middlemen to get food to customers .
For some , the challenges have turned into opportunities - and new customers .
“ When restaurants reopen , we ’ ll probably keep doing home delivery , because we ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pray said .
But it ’ s not good news for many of America ’ s food producers .
In late April and early May , U.S. beef and pork processing capacity was down 40 % from last year , according to Jayson Lusk , head of the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University .
Plants are now mainly back online but at reduced capacity with beef and pork plants running about 10 % to 15 % below last year , he said .
Some sectors have also suffered reductions in value @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normally rely on are closed .
Live , 1.25-pound lobsters were worth $ 6.74 per pound in the Northeast in April , which was 13 % less than a year ago and 37 % less than two years ago .
“ The two biggest problems are facilitating distribution throughout the supply chain while protecting worker health , and revamping food demand in a way that avoids further disruptions , ” said LaPorchia Collins , a professor in the Department of Economics at Tulane University .
Before the pandemic hit , Gunthorp Farms in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of its pasture-raised pork and poultry to upscale restaurants , including ones started by famed chef Rick Bayless , as well as to charcuterie shops .
Then , practically overnight , restaurants and shops shut down , drying up the farm ’ s business .
The farm has been able to switch to retail packaging and selling the pork and poultry elsewhere but it ’ s been far from easy , coming after endless hours of work by the family and employees , said Greg Gunthorp .
That involved changing the labeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and packaging portions rather than selling in bulk .
“ It ’ s been way , way too much work , way more changes .
We made more changes in the first two weeks than we had planned to make in two years , ” he said .
Templeton Farm , a small grass-fed beef farm in East Montpelier , Vermont , lost its biggest business - two restaurant accounts - when they had to shut down .
But around the same time , the phone starting ringing with people seeking locally raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Since then , our beef sales have been off the charts , ” he said .
PrairiErth Farm in Atlanta , Illinois , this season doubled its consumer supported agriculture , where customers pay up front for produce throughout the season to 322 members , said Katie Bishop , one of the farmers .
And it has about 75 on its waiting list , she said .
However , it ’ s unclear whether this new model will be sustainable once the coronavirus crisis passes .
Food products that are heavily dependent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eventually need those customers back , said John Sackton , an industry analyst and publisher of SeafoodNews.com .
But for now , selling direct to customers is a way to get a better price for those products than they would typically see , he said .
Pray , a Maine fishermen for three decades , said he ’ s managing to make ends meet so far , but it ’ ll be more of a challenge the longer restaurants and processors remain inaccessible .
One of his customers , South Portland anesthesiologist Stephen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much about helping neighbors as buying great food .
“ My wife and I sort of felt it was our duty to support locally as much as possible , ” he said .
“ And of course , the food is much better quality .
”

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Eric Pray is used to shipping seafood all over the country. But since the coronavirus took hold, he has shifted his focus closer to home - selling lobsters from a homemade tank in his garage.
Pray, of Portland, Maine, is one of hundreds of fishermen, farmers and food producers who have shifted to a direct-to-consumer model amid the virus outbreak. The pandemic has stressed and sometimes disrupted supply chains, shuttered restaurants and changed the way consumers buy food, leaving some producers scrambling for a new way to reach their customers.
The farm-to-table movement in the United States has grown in recent years, as consumers have increasingly demanded locally sourced food. But in the past several weeks, the movement has grown out of necessity because some producers can’t rely on the complex web of processors, distributors and middlemen to get food to customers.
For some, the challenges have turned into opportunities - and new customers.
“When restaurants reopen, we’ll probably keep doing home delivery, because we’ve got a good base of customers,” Pray said.
But it’s not good news for many of America’s food producers. In late April and early May, U.S. beef and pork processing capacity was down 40% from last year, according to Jayson Lusk, head of the department of agricultural economics at Purdue University. Plants are now mainly back online but at reduced capacity with beef and pork plants running about 10% to 15% below last year, he said.
Some sectors have also suffered reductions in value, in part because the restaurants they normally rely on are closed. Live, 1.25-pound lobsters were worth $6.74 per pound in the Northeast in April, which was 13% less than a year ago and 37% less than two years ago.
“The two biggest problems are facilitating distribution throughout the supply chain while protecting worker health, and revamping food demand in a way that avoids further disruptions,” said LaPorchia Collins, a professor in the Department of Economics at Tulane University.
Before the pandemic hit, Gunthorp Farms in LaGrange, Indiana, had been selling most of its pasture-raised pork and poultry to upscale restaurants, including ones started by famed chef Rick Bayless, as well as to charcuterie shops. Then, practically overnight, restaurants and shops shut down, drying up the farm’s business.
The farm has been able to switch to retail packaging and selling the pork and poultry elsewhere but it’s been far from easy, coming after endless hours of work by the family and employees, said Greg Gunthorp. That involved changing the labeling, adding bar codes, and cutting and packaging portions rather than selling in bulk.
“It’s been way, way too much work, way more changes. We made more changes in the first two weeks than we had planned to make in two years,” he said.
Templeton Farm, a small grass-fed beef farm in East Montpelier, Vermont, lost its biggest business - two restaurant accounts - when they had to shut down. But around the same time, the phone starting ringing with people seeking locally raised beef, said farmer Bruce Chapell.
“Since then, our beef sales have been off the charts,” he said.
PrairiErth Farm in Atlanta, Illinois, this season doubled its consumer supported agriculture, where customers pay up front for produce throughout the season to 322 members, said Katie Bishop, one of the farmers. And it has about 75 on its waiting list, she said.
However, it’s unclear whether this new model will be sustainable once the coronavirus crisis passes.
Food products that are heavily dependent on restaurants, such as seafood, eventually need those customers back, said John Sackton, an industry analyst and publisher of SeafoodNews.com. But for now, selling direct to customers is a way to get a better price for those products than they would typically see, he said.
Pray, a Maine fishermen for three decades, said he’s managing to make ends meet so far, but it’ll be more of a challenge the longer restaurants and processors remain inaccessible. One of his customers, South Portland anesthesiologist Stephen Harden, said the appeal is as much about helping neighbors as buying great food.
“My wife and I sort of felt it was our duty to support locally as much as possible,” he said. “And of course, the food is much better quality.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Donald Trump: Roger Stone 'can sleep well at night!'

President Trump said on Thursday that longtime confidant Roger Stone , who has been ordered to report to prison by the end of the month , can “ sleep well at night ” as he shared a post calling for Stone ’ s full pardon .
“ No .
Roger was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt , one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history .
He can sleep well at night !
” the president said on Twitter .
Mr. Trump made the post as he responded to a tweet from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kirk said Stone “ will serve more time in prison than 99 % of these rioters destroying America ” and urged people to “ RT for a full pardon of Roger Stone !
” Stone was convicted on seven criminal counts last year , including lying to Congress , witness tampering , and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia ahead of the 2016 election .
He was sentenced to more than three years in prison and a $ 20,000 fine .
Paul Manafort , Mr. Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cohen , the president ’ s former lawyer and fixer , were recently released to home confinement to serve out sentences for their various crimes amid coronavirus concerns .
Stone had said in April that a federal judge ’ s denying him a new trial was essentially a death sentence given his age and underlying health conditions amid the pandemic .

President Trump said on Thursday that longtime confidant Roger Stone, who has been ordered to report to prison by the end of the month, can “sleep well at night” as he shared a post calling for Stone’s full pardon.
“No. Roger was a victim of a corrupt and illegal Witch Hunt, one which will go down as the greatest political crime in history. He can sleep well at night!” the president said on Twitter.
Mr. Trump made the post as he responded to a tweet from conservative activist Charlie Kirk in which Mr. Kirk said Stone “will serve more time in prison than 99% of these rioters destroying America” and urged people to “RT for a full pardon of Roger Stone!”
Stone was convicted on seven criminal counts last year, including lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing a congressional investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia ahead of the 2016 election.
He was sentenced to more than three years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Paul Manafort, Mr. Trump’s former campaign chairman, and Michael Cohen, the president’s former lawyer and fixer, were recently released to home confinement to serve out sentences for their various crimes amid coronavirus concerns.
Stone had said in April that a federal judge’s denying him a new trial was essentially a death sentence given his age and underlying health conditions amid the pandemic.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Man now faces murder charge in fatal shooting of girlfriend

EWING , N.J. ( AP ) - A New Jersey man has been charged with murder in the shooting death @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania woman was found dead in his home this week , authorities said .
Aaron @ @ @ @ @ Ewing , initially was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon in @ @ @ @ @ , 32 , of Levittown .
The murder charge was added Wednesday , according to @ @ @ @ @ s Office , but a motive for the shooting remains under investigation .
Davis had @ @ @ @ @ her body when she was found around 6:30 p.m. Monday , authorities said .
Police @ @ @ @ @ scene , along with two long BB guns and a short BB gun .
An @ @ @ @ @ by a metal air gun pellet that struck internal organs and caused massive internal bleeding @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t known Thursday if Adams has retained an attorney .

EWING, N.J. (AP) - A New Jersey man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend after the Pennsylvania woman was found dead in his home this week, authorities said.
Aaron Adams, 38, of Ewing, initially was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon in the death of Ashley Davis, 32, of Levittown. The murder charge was added Wednesday, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, but a motive for the shooting remains under investigation.
Davis had “visible wounds” on her body when she was found around 6:30 p.m. Monday, authorities said. Police also found drugs at the scene, along with two long BB guns and a short BB gun.
An autopsy determined Davis was killed by a metal air gun pellet that struck internal organs and caused massive internal bleeding, authorities said.
It wasn’t known Thursday if Adams has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Joe Biden leads Donald Trump in Wisconsin, Arizona and Ohio: Fox polls

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden leads President Trump in the key battleground states of Wisconsin , Arizona and Ohio , according to Fox News polls released on Wednesday .
Mr. Biden held a 9-point , 49 % to 40 % lead over Mr. Trump in Wisconsin , which was a crucial flip for Republicans in 2016 .
In January , Mr. Biden had held a 5-point edge , 46 % to 41 % .
Mr. Biden held a 4-point , 46 % to 42 % lead over Mr. Trump in Arizona , though the advantage was within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus or minus 3 percentage points .
Democrat Mark Kelly held a substantial 13-point , 50 % to 37 % lead over GOP Sen. Martha McSally in the state ’ s U.S. Senate race .
In Ohio , Mr. Biden held a narrow 2-point , 45 % to 43 % edge — also within the survey ’ s margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points — in a state Mr. Trump carried by nearly 9 points in 2016 .
The surveys of 801 Wisconsin voters , 1,002 Arizona voters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 to June 2 .
The Wisconsin poll also had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points .

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden leads President Trump in the key battleground states of Wisconsin, Arizona and Ohio, according to Fox News polls released on Wednesday.
Mr. Biden held a 9-point, 49% to 40% lead over Mr. Trump in Wisconsin, which was a crucial flip for Republicans in 2016. In January, Mr. Biden had held a 5-point edge, 46% to 41%.
Mr. Biden held a 4-point, 46% to 42% lead over Mr. Trump in Arizona, though the advantage was within the survey’s margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Democrat Mark Kelly held a substantial 13-point, 50% to 37% lead over GOP Sen. Martha McSally in the state’s U.S. Senate race.
In Ohio, Mr. Biden held a narrow 2-point, 45% to 43% edge — also within the survey’s margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points — in a state Mr. Trump carried by nearly 9 points in 2016.
The surveys of 801 Wisconsin voters, 1,002 Arizona voters and 803 Ohio voters were conducted from May 30 to June 2.
The Wisconsin poll also had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Orlando church donates $500,000 to nonprofits hit by COVID

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - Orlando ’ s First Presbyterian Church has made a donation of over $ 500,000 to Central Florida ’ s nonprofits to help ease some of the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus .
The church pooled money from from virtual collection plates , and used leftover funds from a capital campaign , bequests and an annual missions drive , Senior Pastor David Swanson said .
“ We have what we call our Good Samaritan Fund to help people pay the light bill , pay the rent , make a car payment , pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Orlando Sentinel .
“ Normally we get three , maybe four requests a month .
But since COVID started , we ’ ve had 170 .
People are desperate.
” In addition , church officials decided to support the region ’ s nonprofit agencies that feed , shelter and serve the tens of thousands of Central Florida workers who have been furloughed or laid off .
Checks ranging from $ 5,000 to $ 50,000 will go to 14 charitable agencies in the area .
“ This is great news , ” said Dave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and CEO .
“ Since mid-March , we ’ ve been providing enough food for about 300,000 meals a day - and it takes a lot of finances to do that.
” First Presbyterian has annual revenues of about $ 7 million and typically donates at least 10 percent of worshipers ’ offerings over the course of a year .
This is the first time the church has given out so much as once , Swanson said .
“ What actually started it was a study I read that said 50 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 , ″ Swanson said , citing an expected drop in philanthropic donations and grants .
“ That was very sobering .
So I started calling around to see how people were doing .
”

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Orlando’s First Presbyterian Church has made a donation of over $500,000 to Central Florida’s nonprofits to help ease some of the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus.
The church pooled money from from virtual collection plates, and used leftover funds from a capital campaign, bequests and an annual missions drive, Senior Pastor David Swanson said.
“We have what we call our Good Samaritan Fund to help people pay the light bill, pay the rent, make a car payment, pay the mortgage,” Swanson told the Orlando Sentinel. “Normally we get three, maybe four requests a month. But since COVID started, we’ve had 170. People are desperate.”
In addition, church officials decided to support the region’s nonprofit agencies that feed, shelter and serve the tens of thousands of Central Florida workers who have been furloughed or laid off.
Checks ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 will go to 14 charitable agencies in the area.
“This is great news,” said Dave Krepcho, the food bank’s president and CEO. “Since mid-March, we’ve been providing enough food for about 300,000 meals a day - and it takes a lot of finances to do that.”
First Presbyterian has annual revenues of about $7 million and typically donates at least 10 percent of worshipers’ offerings over the course of a year.
This is the first time the church has given out so much as once, Swanson said.
“What actually started it was a study I read that said 50 percent of nonprofits could fail as a result of COVID-19,″ Swanson said, citing an expected drop in philanthropic donations and grants. “That was very sobering. So I started calling around to see how people were doing.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Spain: New prison terms for men in notorious sex abuse case

MADRID ( AP ) - Four Spanish men in prison for raping a woman in a notorious case from 2016 have received new prison terms for a separate incident of sexual abuse the same year .
The men had a WhatsApp group named “ La Manada , ” or “ The Animal Pack , ” and are currently serving 15-year sentences handed down by the Supreme Court for raping an 18-year-old woman during Pamplona ’ s San Fermin festival in 2016 .
The case triggered widespread women ’ s rights protests and soul-searching over the way sex crimes against women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courts initially convicted the men of lesser crimes .
On Thursday , a court in the southern Cordoba province ruled that the men sexually abused a 21-year-old woman two months before the Pamplona case .
The assault took place after they had driven her home from a night club , and while she was unconscious .
A video of the assault recorded by the men was key evidence in the trial .
Three of them received 2 years and 10 months of imprisonment for sexual abuse and crimes against the victim ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and distributed the recording was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison .
The sentences can be appealed .
A grouping of women against violence has called for an evening protest in Cordoba because they deem the sentence “ shameful ” and “ insufficient.
” Their slogan is “ Without justice there is no equality .
”

MADRID (AP) - Four Spanish men in prison for raping a woman in a notorious case from 2016 have received new prison terms for a separate incident of sexual abuse the same year.
The men had a WhatsApp group named “La Manada,” or “The Animal Pack,” and are currently serving 15-year sentences handed down by the Supreme Court for raping an 18-year-old woman during Pamplona’s San Fermin festival in 2016.
The case triggered widespread women’s rights protests and soul-searching over the way sex crimes against women are handled by Spanish courts. Lower courts initially convicted the men of lesser crimes.
On Thursday, a court in the southern Cordoba province ruled that the men sexually abused a 21-year-old woman two months before the Pamplona case. The assault took place after they had driven her home from a night club, and while she was unconscious.
A video of the assault recorded by the men was key evidence in the trial.
Three of them received 2 years and 10 months of imprisonment for sexual abuse and crimes against the victim’s privacy, while the man who filmed and distributed the recording was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. The sentences can be appealed.
A grouping of women against violence has called for an evening protest in Cordoba because they deem the sentence “shameful” and “insufficient.” Their slogan is “Without justice there is no equality.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Many more likely sought US jobless aid even as layoffs slow

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The U.S. government is set to issue its latest report Thursday on the layoffs that @ @ @ @ @ have steadily slowed as many businesses have begun to reopen and to rehire some laid-off @ @ @ @ @ job cuts has been declining over the past two months after the coronavirus had struck @ @ @ @ @ widespread business closures and sent the economy into a deep recession .
The dwindling pace @ @ @ @ @ the devastation in the job market may have bottomed out .
Still , by historical @ @ @ @ @ applications remains high .
On Friday , the government is expected to report that the @ @ @ @ @ in May , on top of 20 million lost in April .
Unemployment could near @ @ @ @ @ cuts reflect an economy that was seized by the worst downturn since the Great Depression @ @ @ @ @ remaining in double digits through the November elections and into 2021 .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 1.9 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, evidence that many employers are still cutting jobs even as the gradual reopening of businesses has slowed the pace of layoffs.
The total number of people who are receiving jobless aid rose slightly to 21.5 million, down from a peak of nearly 25 million two weeks ago but still at a historically high level. It shows that scattered rehiring is offsetting only some of the ongoing layoffs with the economy mired in a recession. Thursday’s latest weekly number from the Labor Department is still more than double the record high that prevailed before the viral outbreak.
Still, the number of people who applied for benefits last week marked the ninth straight decline since applications spiked in mid-March. The job market meltdown that was triggered by the coronavirus may have bottomed out as more companies call at least some of their former employees back to work.
Fewer people sought jobless aid last week in 47 states and in Washington, D.C., while the number rose in just California, Florida and Mississippi. The total number of people receiving aid fell in 37 states and in D.C. and increased in 13 states.
Applications for jobless benefits are falling in states that had reopened their businesses early, such as Georgia and Texas, and are also declining in those that are still early in the reopening process, such as New York and Massachusetts.
With all states in the process of gradually reopening for business, more consumers are starting to return to restaurants, stores and hair salons. That trend has boosted consumer spending from exceedingly low levels and has likely encouraged some companies to hire again.
In addition to the laid-off employees who applied for benefits last week, 623,000 others sought jobless aid under a new program for self-employed and gig workers, who now qualify for unemployment benefits for the first time. These figures aren’t adjusted for seasonal variations, so the government doesn’t include them in the overall data.
The figures come one day before the government’s jobs report for May is expected to show that employers slashed 8 million jobs last month and that the unemployment rate jumped from 14.7% to 19.8%. If those forecasts prove accurate, it would mean that nearly 30 million people have lost jobs since the viral outbreak intensified in March and that joblessness has reached its highest point since the Great Depression.
Since mid-March, 42.7 million people have applied for unemployment benefits. Not all of them are still unemployed, though. Some have since been rehired. And some laid-off people, it turns out, filed duplicate applications for benefits as they struggled with unresponsive state unemployment systems.
Thursday’s report wasn’t affected by the protests over the killing of George Floyd, which in recent days forced some major retailers and small businesses to close, because it covers claims filed only through May 30. But some economists warn that applications for unemployment aid could rise in next week’s report, reflecting business closures amid the protests and scattered vandalism.
“That’s going to kick up the claims again,” said Jane Oates, a former Labor Department official.
The depth of the job cuts since the virus forced the widespread shutdown of businesses reflects an economy gripped by the worst downturn since the Great Depression. The economy is thought to be shrinking in the April-June quarter at an annual rate approaching 40%. That would be, by far, the worst quarterly contraction on record.
Still, real-time private data on consumer behavior is showing signs that the economy is gradually reviving. Credit and debit card spending tracked by Chase Bank shows that consumer spending, though roughly flat last week, rebounded from its low point in mid-April, when it was 40% below year-ago levels. Now, it is down 20% from a year ago.
Economists caution that most Americans will need to feel more confident about returning to their former habits of shopping, traveling and eating out before the economy can sustain any meaningful recovery. That will likely require the availability of a vaccine or a significant increase in testing.
“What’s really going to move the needle economically is when consumers and businesses feel comfortable re-engaging with the economy the way they did before COVID-19,” said Adam Kamins, a senior regional economist at Moody’s Analytics.
Some businesses that have reopened have seen only a limited number of customers so far.
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nneka Ijeoma lost her job as a bartender at a whiskey bar when it closed in March. Though the bar has reopened, it has rehired only two of its 17 employees. In the meantime, Ijeoma is receiving $275 in state unemployment benefits each week, plus $600 a week in federal benefits
“We were honestly so blessed by that,” she said of the federal aid, which will expire at the end of July. “I wouldn’t have been able to get by on $275.”
Still, she is eager to return to work and to go back to school in the fall to finish her college degree. Yet she always regarded bartending as a long-term opportunity.
“I always thought I could work in hospitality forever,” she said. “I thought it was recession-proof.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Property damage in Minneapolis is $55 million and rising

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - The city of Minneapolis says the looting and property damage that following the death of George Floyd in police custody has caused least $ 55 million in destruction so far .
Vandals damaged or set fire to at least 220 buildings , but that number is expected to go up , city officials said .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will ask for state and federal aid to help rebuild after the civil unrest .
Until that happens , community members are pitching in to support Minneapolis neighborhoods .
More than $ 1 million has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , WCCO-TV reported .
The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition says it will announce how they plan to use the money in the coming weeks .
The violence follows the death of Floyd , a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck , ignoring Floyd ’ s cries that he couldn ’ t breathe .
Prosecutors Wednesday upgraded charges against the officer , Derek Chauvin , to second-degree murder and charged three other officers with aiding and abetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation with protests over race and police brutality .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The city of Minneapolis says the looting and property damage that following the death of George Floyd in police custody has caused least $55 million in destruction so far.
Vandals damaged or set fire to at least 220 buildings, but that number is expected to go up, city officials said.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey will ask for state and federal aid to help rebuild after the civil unrest. Until that happens, community members are pitching in to support Minneapolis neighborhoods.
More than $1 million has been raised to help businesses in north Minneapolis, WCCO-TV reported. The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition says it will announce how they plan to use the money in the coming weeks.
The violence follows the death of Floyd, a handcuffed black man who died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck, ignoring Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
Prosecutors Wednesday upgraded charges against the officer, Derek Chauvin, to second-degree murder and charged three other officers with aiding and abetting in the case that has rocked the nation with protests over race and police brutality.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--McCann family seeks closure as Germany presumes girl is dead

LONDON ( AP ) - Madeleine McCann ’ s family is hoping for closure in the case after a key suspect was identified in Germany and as authorities there say they believe the missing British girl is dead .
McCann was 3 at the time of her disappearance while she was on vacation with her family in Portugal in 2007 .
U.K. and German authorities haven ’ t named the suspect but said he is 43 and was in and around the Praia da Luz resort area on the Algarve coast at the time Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to light in the case previously , family spokesman Clarence Mitchell said that it seems as if there is something different this time .
“ In more than 13 years of working with the family I can ’ t recall the police being so specific about an individual , ’ ’ Mitchell told Sky News .
“ He is not being named and the police are quite adamant they are not going to do that , certainly not yet , but they want very specific details around his movement in 2007 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the night before Madeleine went missing and the fact he changed the registration of his car the day after.
’ ’ Hans Christian Wolters , a prosecutor in Braunschweig , Germany , told reporters investigators are operating on the assumption that McCann is dead .
“ In connection with the disappearance of the then 3-year-old British girl Madeleine Beth McCann on the May 3 , 2007 from an apartment complex in Praia da Luz in Portugal , Braunschweig prosecutors are investigating a 43-year-old German citizen on suspicion of murder , ” he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we assume the girl is dead.
” The long-running case of McCann , who vanished shortly before her fourth birthday , has mesmerized Britain for years .
Her parents say Madeleine disappeared after they had left her and her twin siblings asleep in their holiday complex while they had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant .
More than 600 people had been identified as being potentially significant , but officers were tipped off about the German suspect following a 2017 appeal , 10 years after the girl went missing .
Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with short , blond hair and a slim build , was linked to a camper van seen in the Algarve in 2007 and was believed to be in the resort area in the days before and after May 3 that year .
Christian Hoppe of Germany ’ s Federal Criminal Police Office told German public broadcaster ZDF that the suspect , a German citizen , is currently imprisoned in Germany for a sexual crime .
He spent numerous years in Portugal and has two previous convictions for “ sexual contact with girls.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling out a sexual motive .
They said whoever abducted the girl may have broken into the holiday apartment and then spontaneously committed the kidnapping .
The suspect is being investigated on suspicion of murder by prosecutors in the German city of Braunschweig , where he was last registered before moving abroad .
Wolters would not give any other details of the suspect ’ s identity so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation .
Police from Britain , Germany and Portugal launched a new joint appeal for information in the case Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward if they had seen two vehicles linked to the suspect - a Volkswagen camper van and a Jaguar .
They also sought information on two Portuguese phone numbers , including one believed to have been used by the suspect on the day of Madeleine ’ s disappearance .
The family , as ever , as searching for answers .
“ They do remain hopeful that she could still be found alive , ” Mitchell said .
“ They ’ ve never given up on that hope , nor will they , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the contrary .
But they say that despite all that , whatever the outcome of this particular line of enquiry might be , they need to know as they need to find peace .
”

PRAIA DA LUZ, Portugal (AP) - German police said Thursday they presume a British girl who went missing in southern Portugal 13 years ago is dead, but Madeleine McCann’s parents still nurture hope their daughter will be found alive.
McCann was 3 at the time of her disappearance from an apartment while her family vacationed in the seaside town of Praia da Luz, in Portugal’s Algarve region, in 2007.
Police in Germany reported Wednesday they had identified a suspect, a 43-year-old German citizen currently imprisoned in his home country for a sexual crime. They did not name him.
The suspect spent numerous years in Portugal, including in Praia da Luz around the time of McCann’s disappearance, and has two previous convictions for “sexual contact with girls.”
Police in Portugal and the United Kingdom confirmed the new lead in the long-running case. They did not explain why, after so many years, suspicion had now fallen on the German man, who was registered in the German city of Braunschweig before he moved abroad..
Hans Christian Wolters, a prosecutor in Braunschweig, Germany, told reporters the man is being investigated on suspicion of murder.
“You can infer from that we assume the girl is dead,” Wolters said.
The development, though grim, raised hopes that the mystery surrounding the case might finally be resolved. Authorities have never before given so much detailed information about any suspect during the years of investigating the child’s disappearance, which received worldwide attention.
Her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann, said on their website www.findmadeleine.com that their hope of seeing their daughter again had not faded.
“All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice,” the couple, who live in the U.K., wrote. “We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive but whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace.”
Wolters, the prosecutor, wouldn’t give any other details of the suspect’s identity so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.
German police said the suspect, described as white with short, blond hair and a slim build, was linked to a camper van seen in Portugal’s Algarve region in 2007.
Portuguese, British and German police appealed for the public’s help in building their case against the suspect, asking people if they remembered seeing him in or around Praia da Luz 13 years ago.
Her parents say Madeleine disappeared after they left her and her twin siblings asleep in their holiday complex while they had dinner with friends at a nearby restaurant.
Christian Hoppe of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office told German public broadcaster ZDF that police aren’t ruling out a sexual motive. He said whoever abducted the girl may have broken into the holiday apartment and then spontaneously committed the kidnapping.
Hoppe said the suspect in the McCann case lived between Lagos and nearby Praia da Luz, and was regularly in the Algarve region from 1995 to 2007.
The suspect’s description fits that of a 43-year-old man who was convicted in December of the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in her apartment in Portugal, local German newspaper Braunschweiger Zeitung reported.
The newspaper said the physical description provided by German authorities and other details match the defendant in the 2005 rape attack, who recently was linked to the case by DNA.
The suspect denied the charges during his trial and has appealed his conviction.
According to a copy of the rape verdict sent by the court in response to an AP question about the suspect’s December trial, his other convictions were for the sexual abuse of a child in 1994 and a case in 2016 when he was convicted of possessing child pornography. Other convictions include drug trafficking, burglary and weapons violations.
Police from Britain, Germany and Portugal asked for anyone to come forward if they had seen two vehicles linked to the suspect — a Volkswagen camper van and a Jaguar. They also sought information on two Portuguese phone numbers, including one believed to have been used by the suspect on the day of Madeleine’s disappearance.
Portuguese police declined to comment because the country’s judicial secrecy law forbids revealing details of open investigations.
In Praia da Luz on Thursday, local people wondered whether the riddle of what happened to Madeleine might finally be solved.
“It’s been so long to actually find someone that might be responsible for what happened so long ago,” said 20-year-old Daniel Westcottoy, who was at a nearby school when Madeleine disappeared. “It’s pretty shocking actually, but I think everybody wants to know what happened.”
____
Rising reported from Berlin and Kirka from London. Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-06-04--Ducey vows to protect peaceful protests, crack down on riots

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Arizona Gov .
Doug Ducey said he would protect the rights of peaceful protesters but not give a free pass to “ rioters and looters ” as a second week of demonstrations against police brutality got underway Thursday .
Hundreds of people gathered in front of Phoenix City Hall to march several blocks amid sweltering heat .
According to a flyer circulating on social media , the protest will end shortly before the start of a statewide curfew at 8 p.m. For the last three days , the nightly protests in the downtown area have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a contrast to weekend events .
“ In Arizona , we ’ re listening and we ’ re looking at this as an American moment where change can happen for the better in our nation , ” Ducey told reporters .
“ We will project peace and order to protect George Floyd ’ s memory.
” Unlike previous statements , the governor focused his remarks more on protesters and their freedom of expression .
It ’ s also the first time he mentioned Floyd by name .
Floyd ’ s May 25 death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee on his neck has spawned daily demonstrations nationwide .
The governor issued a week-long statewide 8 p.m-5 a.m. curfew on Sunday , after protests led to arrests and property damage in Phoenix and Tucson and thefts at a mall in Scottsdale on Saturday .
He also called out the National Guard to bolster police departments .
Before Thursday , his public statements had mainly been focused on criticizing the violent outbreaks , but he cast a different tone Thursday .
“ The suffering and death of George Floyd is tragic and important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It should be condemned by leaders at every level , ” the Republican said .
“ In Arizona , we will listen to those that want to have a civil discourse to ensure that it never happens again in the United States of America and that we make the proper reforms and improvement ” at the state , national and federal levels , he said .
Ducey said that “ thousands upon thousands ” of Arizona ’ s 7.3 million residents have come out day after day to exercise their First Amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice , and “ a much smaller group that wanted to riot and loot have come out as well.
” Those people will now be allowed to overtake the message of those who want reform and justice , he said .
“ Arizona will not confuse peaceful protesters and demonstrators with looters and rioters , ” he said .
Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire , who heads the state Guard , said more than 1,400 soldiers are deployed around the state .
But he said the Guard would protect protesters ’ rights to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re sworn to protect and defend the constitution of the great state of Arizona and the United States of America , ” McGuire said .
“ And we take wearing the cloth of the nation very seriously .
And all the rights conferred in that constitution to every citizen , regardless of race , gender or ethnicity , is something we protect .
”

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he would protect the rights of peaceful protesters but not give a free pass to “rioters and looters” as a second week of demonstrations against police brutality got underway Thursday.
Hundreds of people gathered in front of Phoenix City Hall to march several blocks amid sweltering heat. According to a flyer circulating on social media, the protest will end shortly before the start of a statewide curfew at 8 p.m. For the last three days, the nightly protests in the downtown area have been mostly calm with no arrests, a contrast to weekend events.
“In Arizona, we’re listening and we’re looking at this as an American moment where change can happen for the better in our nation,” Ducey told reporters. “We will project peace and order to protect George Floyd’s memory.”
Unlike previous statements, the governor focused his remarks more on protesters and their freedom of expression. It’s also the first time he mentioned Floyd by name. Floyd’s May 25 death after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on his neck has spawned daily demonstrations nationwide.
The governor issued a week-long statewide 8 p.m-5 a.m. curfew on Sunday, after protests led to arrests and property damage in Phoenix and Tucson and thefts at a mall in Scottsdale on Saturday. He also called out the National Guard to bolster police departments.
Before Thursday, his public statements had mainly been focused on criticizing the violent outbreaks, but he cast a different tone Thursday.
“The suffering and death of George Floyd is tragic and important. It’s an American tragedy. It should be condemned by leaders at every level,” the Republican said.
“In Arizona, we will listen to those that want to have a civil discourse to ensure that it never happens again in the United States of America and that we make the proper reforms and improvement” at the state, national and federal levels, he said.
Ducey said that “thousands upon thousands” of Arizona’s 7.3 million residents have come out day after day to exercise their First Amendment rights to be heard and ask for justice, and “a much smaller group that wanted to riot and loot have come out as well.”
Those people will now be allowed to overtake the message of those who want reform and justice, he said.
“Arizona will not confuse peaceful protesters and demonstrators with looters and rioters,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire, who heads the state Guard, said more than 1,400 soldiers are deployed around the state. But he said the Guard would protect protesters’ rights to have their voices heard.
“We’re sworn to protect and defend the constitution of the great state of Arizona and the United States of America,” McGuire said. “And we take wearing the cloth of the nation very seriously. And all the rights conferred in that constitution to every citizen, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, is something we protect.”