washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Gov. expands statewide eviction moratorium, halts rent hikes

OLYMPIA , Wash. ( AP ) - Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee on Thursday extended and expanded his moratorium on evictions and imposed a new freeze on increases of residential rents in an effort to help residents better handle the economic shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The order comes a month after Inslee announced a 30-day moratorium on evictions for residential tenants , the Seattle Times reported .
The statewide ban on evictions will be extended another seven weeks and will include new measures meant to protect more tenants .
Part of the new eviction moratorium includes a ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency .
Commercial rent increases also will be barred if the commercial tenant has been impacted by the coronavirus .
The state Attorney General ’ s Office said earlier this week that it had received complaints of landlords sending out rent increases during the pandemic , which could , under certain circumstances , violate state law .
Attorney General Bob Ferguson said his office would be looking closing at those complaints .
The extended eviction moratorium will now also cover people in housing such as motels and Airbnbs , on public camping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots .
Additionally , the order prohibits landlords from threatening to add late fees or charges for non-payment , as well as charge rent for housing where a tenant ’ s access to the unit was prevented by COVID-19 .
The provision includes seasonal and college housing in which tenants weren ’ t able to stay in the unit as a result of the crisis .
“ People are going to feel better about staying home and I think this will ultimately help us fight the virus , ” Xochitl Maykovich , political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said .
“ I hope the legislature is thinking about how we can put these policies into law permanently .
It shouldn ’ t just be for COVID-19 , because there are plenty of situations where people have emergencies and can ’ t pay rent.
” Over 585,000 people in Washington sought unemployment benefits last week , with 143,000 people filing claims for the first time as businesses remain shuttered or with limited operations because of the governor ’ s stay-at-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the virus .

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday extended and expanded his moratorium on evictions and imposed a new freeze on increases of residential rents in an effort to help residents better handle the economic shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The order comes a month after Inslee announced a 30-day moratorium on evictions for residential tenants, the Seattle Times reported. The statewide ban on evictions will be extended another seven weeks and will include new measures meant to protect more tenants.
Part of the new eviction moratorium includes a ban on residential rent increases during the public health emergency. Commercial rent increases also will be barred if the commercial tenant has been impacted by the coronavirus.
The state Attorney General’s Office said earlier this week that it had received complaints of landlords sending out rent increases during the pandemic, which could, under certain circumstances, violate state law. Attorney General Bob Ferguson said his office would be looking closing at those complaints.
The extended eviction moratorium will now also cover people in housing such as motels and Airbnbs, on public camping grounds and mobile home owners on leased lots.
Additionally, the order prohibits landlords from threatening to add late fees or charges for non-payment, as well as charge rent for housing where a tenant’s access to the unit was prevented by COVID-19. The provision includes seasonal and college housing in which tenants weren’t able to stay in the unit as a result of the crisis.
“People are going to feel better about staying home and I think this will ultimately help us fight the virus,” Xochitl Maykovich, political director for the Washington Community Action Network, said. “I hope the legislature is thinking about how we can put these policies into law permanently. It shouldn’t just be for COVID-19, because there are plenty of situations where people have emergencies and can’t pay rent.”
Over 585,000 people in Washington sought unemployment benefits last week, with 143,000 people filing claims for the first time as businesses remain shuttered or with limited operations because of the governor’s stay-at-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the virus.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Kansas governor sued over order limiting religious services

TOPEKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Two Kansas churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Gov .
Laura Kelly over an order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus , arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights .
The lawsuit comes a eight days after top Republican legislative leaders attempted to revoke Kelly ’ s order themselves , only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court .
The state ’ s highest court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions .
The lawsuit also comes with Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature pressuring Kelly to outline a plan for lifting a separate stay-at-home order for all 2.9 million Kansas residents to help the economy recover .
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Kansas also alleges that Kelly ’ s order violates the churches and pastors ’ right to assembly , guaranteed along with religious and free-speech rights by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law meant to protect religious freedom .
The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris .
The lawsuit said both churches held indoor services Sunday with 20 or more members of the congregation present , celebrating Easter , often the busiest day of the year for Christian churches .
“ The State does not have a compelling reason for prohibiting church services where congregants can otherwise practice adequate social distancing protocol , ” the lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sit 6 feet apart , in line with public health recommendations on social distancing and took numerous other steps , such as not using collection plates , the lawsuit said .
Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said the governor ’ s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added , “ This is not about restricting religion , it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans ’ lives.
” The number of coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths are still rising in Kansas .
The state reported 1,588 cases as of Thursday , with 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks but for some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness or death .
Kelly ’ s statewide stay-at-home order took effect March 30 and is set to remain in effect until May 3 .
It exempts “ essential ” activities such as buying groceries and obtaining medical care .
The lawsuit argues that Kelly ’ s order limiting church gatherings to 10 or fewer members of a congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward churches when many secular businesses still can operate .

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Two Kansas churches and their pastors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against Gov. Laura Kelly over an order banning religious gatherings with more than 10 people to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, arguing that the directive violates their religious and free-speech rights.
The lawsuit comes eight days after top Republican legislative leaders attempted to revoke Kelly’s order themselves, only to see the Democratic governor thwart their efforts by contesting their action before the Kansas Supreme Court. The state’s highest court let her order stand on technical grounds, without deciding whether it violated freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. or Kansas constitutions.
The lawsuit also comes with Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature pressuring Kelly to outline a plan for lifting a separate stay-at-home order for all 2.9 million Kansas residents to help the economy recover.
The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Kansas also alleges that Kelly’s order violates the churches and pastors’ right to assembly, guaranteed along with religious and free-speech rights by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It also contends that it violates a state law meant to protect religious freedom.
The lawsuit was filed by First Baptist Church in Dodge City and Pastor Stephen Ormond and Calvary Baptist Church in Junction City and Pastor Aaron Harris. The lawsuit said both churches held indoor services Sunday with 20 or more members of the congregation present, celebrating Easter, often the busiest day of the year for Christian churches.
“The State does not have a compelling reason for prohibiting church services where congregants can otherwise practice adequate social distancing protocol,” the lawsuit said.
Both churches had congregation members sit 6 feet apart, in line with public health recommendations on social distancing and took numerous other steps, such as not using collection plates, the lawsuit said.
Kelly spokeswoman Dena Sattler said the governor’s office is reviewing the lawsuit but added, “This is not about restricting religion, it is about keeping people safe and saving Kansans’ lives.”
The number of coronavirus cases and COVID-19-related deaths are still rising in Kansas. The state reported 1,588 cases as of Thursday, with 80 deaths.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.
Kelly’s statewide stay-at-home order took effect March 30 and is set to remain in effect until May 3. It exempts “essential” activities such as buying groceries and obtaining medical care.
The lawsuit argues that Kelly’s order limiting church gatherings to 10 or fewer members of a congregation discriminates against and “shows hostility” toward churches when many secular businesses still can operate.
___
Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Pro-Trump protesters push back on stay-at-home orders

While many Americans are filled with fear , Melissa Ackison says the coronavirus pandemic has filled her with anger .
The stay-at home orders are government overreach , the conservative Ohio state Senate candidate says , and the labeling of some workers as “ essential ” arbitrary .
“ It enrages something inside of you , ” said Ackison , who was among those who protested Republican Gov .
Mike DeWine ’ s orders at the statehouse in Columbus with her 10-year-old son .
She has “ no fear whatsoever ” of contracting the virus , she said Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest was among a growing number staged outside governors ’ mansions and state Capitols across the country .
In places like Oklahoma , Texas and Virginia , small-government groups , supporters of President Donald Trump , anti-vaccine advocates , gun rights backers and supporters of right-wing causes have united behind a deep suspicion of efforts to shut down daily life to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
As their frustration with life under lockdown grows , they ’ ve started to openly defy the social distancing rules in an effort to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of the protests have been small events , promoted via Facebook groups that have popped up in recent days and whose organizers are sometimes difficult to identify .
Others are backed by groups funded by prominent Republicans donors , some with ties to Trump .
The largest so far , a rally of thousands that jammed the streets of Lansing , Michigan , on Wednesday , looked much like one of the president ’ s rallies - complete with MAGA hats or Trump flags - or one of the tea party rallies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of frustration come as Trump has pushed for easing stay-at-home orders and tried to look ahead to restarting the economy .
He unveiled a framework for governors to follow on Thursday , but acknowledged the governors will have the final say on when their state is ready .
Health experts have warned that lifting restrictions too quickly could result in a surge of new cases of the virus .
But the president and some of his supporters are impatient .
Thousands of people in their cars packed the streets of Lansing to protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay-at-home order and other restrictions .
Outside the Capitol , some chanted “ Lock her up , ” a throwback to Trump ’ s calls during the 2016 election about his rival Hillary Clinton .
One woman held a sign reading “ Heil Whitmer.
” Asked about the protesters , Trump on Thursday expressed sympathy with their frustration - “ They ’ re suffering … they want to get back ” - and dismissed concerns about the health risks of ignoring state orders and potentially exposing themselves to the virus .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think they listen to me , ” he said .
“ They seem to be protesters that like me and respect this opinion , and my opinion ’ s the same as just about all of the governors .
Nobody wants to stay shut.
” Polls show the protesters ’ views are not widely held .
An AP-NORC survey earlier this month found large majorities of Americans support a long list of government restrictions , including closing schools , limiting gatherings and shuttering bars and restaurants .
Three-quarters of Americans backed requiring people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majorities of both Democrats and Republicans gave high marks for the state and city governments .
But the protests expose resilient partisan divisions , particularly in battleground Michigan .
The protest there was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition , a group founded by a pro-Trump state representative and his wife , Meshawn Maddock , who is on the advisory board for an official Trump campaign group called “ Women for Trump ” and is also the co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans .
Their daughter is a field organizer for the Michigan Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event , the Michigan Freedom Fund , is run by Greg McNeilly , a longtime political adviser to the DeVos family , who are prolific Republican donors and have funded conservative causes across the state for decades .
McNeilly was campaign manager for Dick DeVos , the husband of current U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos , during his failed bid for governor in 2006 .
The group , which does not have to disclose its donors , raised over $ 4 million in 2018 , according to its most recent tax statements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern about the gatherings , saying it put people at risk and could have prolonged the shutdown .
Michigan had recorded over 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 as of Thursday , and close to 30,000 confirmed cases of people infected with the virus .
Roughly one-quarter of the state ’ s workforce has filed for unemployment .
But it ’ s not just Democratic governors feeling the heat .
A procession of cars swarmed around the Republican-dominated statehouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday , with messages written on windows or signs that said “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need our church ” and “ time 2 work.
” The event was promoted by the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee , though the group ’ s president , Bob Linn , said prominent conservative activist Carol Hefner was a major organizer of the event .
Hefner , whose husband is part of the Hefner Energy empire and currently operates a company that makes Argentinian meat sauce , previously served as an Oklahoma co-chair of Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
In a Facebook post , Hefner boasted of thousands of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt “ to open this state up for business.
” She did not respond to a request for comment .
Other gatherings have links to fringe groups .
A protest Thursday in the Texas capital of Austin , where protesters chanted “ Free Texas ” and “ Make America Free Again , ” was broadcast live by InfoWars TV , part of a company owned by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones .
The Ohio event earlier this week brought together a collection of anti-vaccine advocates , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other anti-government activists .
A Columbus Dispatch photo of Ackison and other protesters yelling through glass doors of the statehouse rocketed around the internet .
Ackison said that while she views DeWine ’ s efforts as constitutional overreach , she would be fine if Trump were to act with similar authority to force governors to bring the states back on line .
“ As patriots , we put President Trump in office for a reason , ” she said .
“ If he ’ s not able to give a convincing enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open up , then he needs to do something to take action.
” The protests were advertised on Facebook by groups such as Reopen Virginia and End the Lockdown PA. A protest in Richmond , Virginia , on Thursday grew out of a conversation in the Facebook group Virginians for Medical Freedom , organizer Gary Golden said .
The group often turns out at the Capitol in Richmond to oppose vaccine-related measures .
Kelly Mullin , who stood near a “ don ’ t tread on me ” flag spread on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said she brought her sons to the event to teach them a lesson about liberty .
Mullin said that she thought the risk posed by the coronavirus depends on an individual ’ s health and that people can take basic steps to protect themselves , including getting enough sleep , eating organic produce and getting outside .
“ I mean , that ’ s where our tax dollars should be going .
Eat broccoli , ” she said .
Infectious-disease specialists say there is no evidence that eating specific foods can prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the coronavirus experience mild or moderate symptoms , and people with health issues such as asthma and older people are at greater risk of death from COVID-19 .
Associated Press writers Sarah Rankin in Richmond , Va. , Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City , Okla. , David Eggert in Lansing , Mich. , and Scott Bauer in Madison , Wis. , contributed to this report .

While many Americans are filled with fear, Melissa Ackison says the coronavirus pandemic has filled her with anger. The stay-at-home orders are government overreach, the conservative Ohio state Senate candidate says, and the labeling of some workers as “essential” arbitrary.
“It enrages something inside of you,” said Ackison, who was among those who protested Republican Gov. Mike DeWine’s orders at the statehouse in Columbus with her 10-year-old son. She has “no fear whatsoever” of contracting the virus, she said Thursday, dismissing it as hype.
The Ohio protest was among a growing number staged outside governors’ mansions and state Capitols across the country. In places like Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia, small-government groups, supporters of President Donald Trump, anti-vaccine advocates, gun rights backers and supporters of right-wing causes have united behind a deep suspicion of efforts to shut down daily life to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As their frustration with life under lockdown grows, they’ve defied social distancing rules in an effort to put pressure on governors to ease them.
Some protests have been small, promoted via Facebook groups that popped up in recent days and whose organizers are sometimes difficult to identify. Others are backed by groups funded by Republican donors, some with ties to Trump. The largest so far, a rally of thousands that jammed streets in Lansing, Michigan, on Wednesday, looked much like one of the president’s rallies - complete with MAGA hats and Trump flags - or one of the tea party rallies from a decade ago.
The signs of frustration come as Trump has pushed for easing stay-at-home orders and tried to look ahead to restarting the economy. He unveiled a framework for governors to follow on Thursday, but acknowledged the governors will have final say on when their state is ready. Health experts warn that lifting restrictions too quickly could result in a surge of new cases of the virus.
But the president and some supporters are impatient. Thousands of people in their cars packed the streets of Lansing to protest Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home restrictions. Outside the Capitol, some chanted “Lock her up,” a throwback to Trump’s calls during the 2016 election about his rival Hillary Clinton. One woman held a sign reading “Heil Witmer.”
Asked about the protesters, Trump expressed sympathy with their frustration - “They’re suffering … they want to get back” - and dismissed concerns about health risks of ignoring state orders and potentially exposing themselves to the virus.
“I think they’re listening. I think they listen to me,” he said. “Nobody wants to stay shut.”
On Friday, he egged the protesters on, tweeting for supporters to “LIBERATE” three states with Democratic governors: Michigan, Virginia and Minnesota.
Polls show the protesters’ views are not widely held. An AP-NORC survey this month found large majorities support government restrictions, including closing schools, limiting gatherings and shuttering bars and restaurants. Three-quarters of Americans backed requiring people to stay home. And majorities of Democrats and Republicans gave high marks to state and city governments.
But the protests expose resilient partisan divisions, particularly in battleground Michigan. The protest there was organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, a group founded by a GOP state representative and his wife, Meshawn Maddock, who is on the advisory board for an official Trump campaign group called “Women for Trump” and is also the co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans.
Another group promoting the event, the Michigan Freedom Fund, is run by Greg McNeilly, a longtime political adviser to the DeVos family, who are prolific Republican donors and have funded conservative causes for decades. McNeilly was campaign manager for Dick DeVos, the husband of current U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, during his failed 2006 bid for governor.
Whitmer was among the governors who expressed concern about the gatherings, saying it put people at risk and could prolong the shutdown. Michigan recorded over 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 as of Thursday, and close to 30,000 confirmed infections. Roughly one-quarter of the state’s workforce has filed for unemployment.
But it’s not just Democratic governors feeling the heat. A procession of cars swarmed the Republican-dominated statehouse in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, with signs that said “stop killing our economy” and “time 2 work.”
Carol Hefner, an Oklahoma co-chair of Trump’s 2016 campaign, helped organize the event. She characterized it as a “rally” - not a protest.
“We’re not New York. Their problems are not our problems,” Hefner said. “We are rallying around our governor and our state to encourage the opening up of our businesses.”
Other gatherings are linked to fringe groups. Protesters outside the Texas capitol in Austin on Thursday chanted “Free Texas” and “Make America Free Again” during and event broadcast live by InfoWars TV, part of a company owned by conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones.
The Ohio event earlier this week brought together a collection of anti-vaccine advocates, Second Amendment supporters, tea party activists. A Columbus Dispatch photo of Ackison and others yelling through glass doors of the statehouse rocketed around the internet.
Ackison said that while she views DeWine’s efforts as constitutional overreach, she would be fine if Trump were to act with similar authority to force governors to bring states back online.
“We put President Trump in office for a reason,” she said. “If he’s not able to give a convincing enough argument to these governors that they need to open up, then he needs to do something to take action.”
The protests were advertised on Facebook by groups like Reopen Virginia and End the Lockdown PA. A protest in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday grew out of a conversation in the Facebook group Virginians for Medical Freedom, which often turns out at the capitol to oppose vaccine-related measures.
Kelly Mullin brought her sons to teach them a lesson about liberty. Mullin said she believes the risk posed by coronavirus depends on your health and that people can take basic steps to protect themselves, including getting enough sleep, eating organic produce and getting outside.
“I mean, that’s where our tax dollars should be going. Eat broccoli,” she said.
Infectious-disease specialists say there is no evidence that eating specific foods can prevent or kill the virus. Most people with coronavirus experience mild or moderate symptoms, and people with health issues such as asthma and older people are at greater risk of death from COVID-19.
___
Associated Press writers Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Va., Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Okla., David Eggert in Lansing, Mich., and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Sheriff: Lawmaker drove intoxicated after Kentucky session

LONDON , Ky. ( AP ) - A Kentucky state representative was arrested early Thursday on accusations of driving while intoxicated only hours after the state House had adjourned , authorities said .
State Rep. Derek J. Lewis of London was charged with drunken driving , The Lexington Herald-Leader reported .
Laurel County Sheriff ’ s officer Gary Mehler said he responded to a call and came upon a pickup truck in a ditch resting against a fence .
Lewis got out and was “ extremely unsteady , ” had slurred speech , glossy eyes and smelled of alcohol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis refused to take a field sobriety test and became belligerent , Mehler added .
Lewis was arrested shortly after 1:30 a.m. in London , about 100 miles ( 165 kilometres ) from Frankfort , where the House adjourned late Wednesday night about two hours earlier .
The lawmaker was subsequently hospitalized and continued to refuse sobriety tests , according to authorities .
Lewis ‘ attorneys at Croley Foley & Cessna said Lewis ‘ vehicle struck a ditch after he had been working all day in Frankfort .
The first-term lawmaker will plead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys said .
A spokeswoman for the Kentucky House of Representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment .

LONDON, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky state representative was arrested early Thursday on accusations of driving while intoxicated only hours after the state House had adjourned, authorities said.
State Rep. Derek J. Lewis of London was charged with drunken driving, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Laurel County Sheriff’s officer Gary Mehler said he responded to a call and came upon a pickup truck in a ditch resting against a fence. Lewis got out and was “extremely unsteady,” had slurred speech, glossy eyes and smelled of alcohol, Mehler said in an arrest citation.
Lewis refused to take a field sobriety test and became belligerent, Mehler added.
Lewis was arrested shortly after 1:30 a.m. in London, about 100 miles (165 kilometres) from Frankfort, where the House adjourned late Wednesday night about two hours earlier. The lawmaker was subsequently hospitalized and continued to refuse sobriety tests, according to authorities.
Lewis’ attorneys at Croley Foley & Cessna said Lewis’ vehicle struck a ditch after he had been working all day in Frankfort. The first-term lawmaker will plead not guilty to the charge, his attorneys said.
A spokeswoman for the Kentucky House of Representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--California to review protections for mountain lions

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - California wildlife regulators voted Thursday to move forward on a proposal to give state Endangered Species Act protections to certain mountain lion populations that have become vulnerable because of development and other human activities .
The state Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously in favor of a petition to start a one-year review to determine whether six lion populations in Southern California and on the Central Coast should be formally protected .
The act ’ s protections apply during the study period .
Currently , California ’ s mountain lions are not considered threatened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ specially protected species ” under a voter-approved 1990 ballot measure that makes it illegal to hunt the big cats , according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife .
The killing of mountain lions is only allowed when a depredation permit is issued to target a specific cougar that has been killing livestock or pets , to preserve public safety or to keep protected bighorn sheep safe .
The proposal to include the six puma populations in the Endangered Species Act was made last year in a petition by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yap , a biologist at the center and primary author of the petition , called the vote “ a historic moment for California ’ s big cats.
” The center points to research showing the populations are threatened because of genetic isolation caused by roads and sprawling development that impedes movement as well as low survival rates due to being struck by vehicles , poisonings and sanctioned depredations .
According to the center , researchers believe mountain lion populations in the Santa Ana and Santa Monica mountains could become extinct within 50 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns for pumas in the Santa Cruz , San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains .
Dozens of mountain lions in and around the Santa Monica Mountains have been studied by the National Park Service since 2002 .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - California wildlife regulators voted Thursday to move forward on a proposal to give state Endangered Species Act protections to certain mountain lion populations that have become vulnerable because of development and other human activities.
The state Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously in favor of a petition to start a one-year review to determine whether six lion populations in Southern California and on the Central Coast should be formally protected. The act’s protections apply during the study period.
Currently, California’s mountain lions are not considered threatened or endangered. They are legally classified as a “specially protected species” under a voter-approved 1990 ballot measure that makes it illegal to hunt the big cats, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The killing of mountain lions is only allowed when a depredation permit is issued to target a specific cougar that has been killing livestock or pets, to preserve public safety or to keep protected bighorn sheep safe.
The proposal to include the six puma populations in the Endangered Species Act was made last year in a petition by the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity.
Tiffany Yap, a biologist at the center and primary author of the petition, called the vote “a historic moment for California’s big cats.”
The center points to research showing the populations are threatened because of genetic isolation caused by roads and sprawling development that impedes movement as well as low survival rates due to being struck by vehicles, poisonings and sanctioned depredations.
According to the center, researchers believe mountain lion populations in the Santa Ana and Santa Monica mountains could become extinct within 50 years without protection, and there are similar concerns for pumas in the Santa Cruz, San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.
Dozens of mountain lions in and around the Santa Monica Mountains have been studied by the National Park Service since 2002.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Sacred Venezuelan stone back home after hiatus in Berlin

CARACAS , Venezuela ( AP ) - A massive stone considered sacred by an indigenous community in Venezuela returned home Thursday resolving simmering international tension after a German artist shipped it to Berlin over two decades ago as part of a public exhibition symbolizing peace .
Artist Wolfgang Kraker von Schwarzenfeld took the stone in 1998 , saying he had permission from Venezuela ’ s government at the time and only later learned that members of the nation ’ s Pemon community were upset .
It had been displayed among five large stones in Tiergarten Park in Berlin near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called Kueka stone from Venezuela represented love , according to the artist ’ s webpage .
Other hulking stones collected from around the world in the Global Stones Project symbolized awakening , hope , forgiveness and peace .
The Pemons believe it represents the story of star-cross lovers , each turned to stone by a deity as punishment for marrying a member of another tribe .
Images on Venezuelan state TV Thursday showed a large crate containing the 30-ton stone being lifted by crane from an ocean freighter at a Venezuelan port .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the Gran Sabana , also famous for dramatic flat-top mountains and the world ’ s tallest waterfall .
The stone ’ s removal stirred strain between Germany and Venezuela , including protests by tribal members outside the German embassy in Caracas .
President Nicolás Maduro in a nightly TV broadcast welcomed it home , calling it a “ spiritual and cultural treasure ” at a time when Venezuela and the world battle the coronavirus pandemic .
He said the stone will next be trucked to the remote corner of southern Venezuela where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begins its its journey back to the place it had always been for thousands of years , ” Maduro said .
Venezuelan officials said Germany returned it in a “ friendly agreement , ” as a sign of “ goodwill and willingness to respect the peoples ’ cultural rights.
” Von Schwarzenfeld ’ s website recounts embarking on a journey to circumnavigate the globe , setting sail from Europe to across the Atlantic Ocean .
He eventually landed in Venezuela .
“ I spoke with ministers , indigenous people , managers and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Venezuelans ’ ambitions and problems , ” he wrote .
“ I filed an application and started the project .
South of the Orinoco River I found a red granite boulder to be the first stone for my project.
” The AP did not receive an immediate response to a request for comment emailed to the website .
It says he respects those who believe the stone “ would have been better if the stone had stayed in Venezuela.
” But he added that “ There will always be a special place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
” Leaving Venezuela , von Schwarzenfeld said he continued his journey , sailing more than 10,000 miles to find the other stones .
Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda contributed to this story .

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A massive stone considered sacred by an indigenous community in Venezuela returned home Thursday resolving simmering international tension after a German artist shipped it to Berlin over two decades ago as part of a public exhibition symbolizing peace.
Artist Wolfgang Kraker von Schwarzenfeld took the stone in 1998, saying he had permission from Venezuela’s government at the time and only later learned that members of the nation’s Pemon community were upset.
It had been displayed among five large stones in Tiergarten Park in Berlin near the Brandenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial.
The so-called Kueka stone from Venezuela represented love, according to the artist’s webpage. Other hulking stones collected from around the world in the Global Stones Project symbolized awakening, hope, forgiveness and peace.
The Pemons believe it represents the story of star-cross lovers, each turned to stone by a deity as punishment for marrying a member of another tribe.
Images on Venezuelan state TV Thursday showed a large crate containing the 30-ton stone being lifted by crane from an ocean freighter at a Venezuelan port. It originated from the grasslands region known as the Gran Sabana, also famous for dramatic flat-top mountains and the world’s tallest waterfall.
The stone’s removal stirred strain between Germany and Venezuela, including protests by tribal members outside the German embassy in Caracas.
President Nicolás Maduro in a nightly TV broadcast welcomed it home, calling it a “spiritual and cultural treasure” at a time when Venezuela and the world battle the coronavirus pandemic. He said the stone will next be trucked to the remote corner of southern Venezuela where it originated.
“The Kueka stone begins its its journey back to the place it had always been for thousands of years,” Maduro said.
Venezuelan officials said Germany returned it in a “friendly agreement,” as a sign of “goodwill and willingness to respect the peoples’ cultural rights.”
Von Schwarzenfeld’s website recounts embarking on a journey to circumnavigate the globe, setting sail from Europe to across the Atlantic Ocean. He eventually landed in Venezuela.
“I spoke with ministers, indigenous people, managers and the man on the street, and learned about Venezuelans’ ambitions and problems,” he wrote. “I filed an application and started the project. South of the Orinoco River I found a red granite boulder to be the first stone for my project.”
The AP did not receive an immediate response to a request for comment emailed to the website. It says he respects those who believe the stone “would have been better if the stone had stayed in Venezuela.”
But he added that “There will always be a special place in my heart for all of them!” Leaving Venezuela, von Schwarzenfeld said he continued his journey, sailing more than 10,000 miles to find the other stones.
___
Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda contributed to this story.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Some sex assault victims collect own evidence amid pandemic

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Fears of getting infected with the coronavirus have prompted authorities in Northern California to allow some sexual assault victims to collect evidence with a nurse directing them in the hourslong process through a video call .
The temporary measure put in place in Marin County after shelter-in-place orders were issued last month to stop the spread of the virus raises issues of evidence contamination and other problems that would be challenged in court , defense attorneys said .
Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Lana Nassoura said Thursday the temporary measure doesn ’ t apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children or who have been injured and is allowed when the victim is comfortable and able to conduct the forensic examination on themselves .
“ The last thing we want is a victim not reporting the assault to law enforcement because they ’ re worried about getting sick , so we wanted to give them an option to be able to do that without those concerns , ” Nassoura said .
She said the measure also aims to protect the nurses who normally conduct the prolonged examinations in small rooms and who lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposure to the virus .
So far two sexual assault victims have collected the evidence in their cases , one on April 5 and the other one Monday , Nassoura said .
In one of the cases , the victim was exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms .
The victim hadn ’ t yet received results from their coronavirus test , and officials offered the victim the virtual self-examination to protect personnel .
The examination was done through a Zoom video call “ because of concerns that the victim might be infected and to not postpone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to collect evidence as close in time to the assault as possible , ” Nossoura said .
Nossoura said the “ temporary protocol ” starts when a police officer drops off a rape test kit outside the victim ’ s residence and then waits in his patrol car .
Once the victim retrieves the kit and goes inside , they both join a Zoom video call along with a forensic nurse and a victim advocate .
As it ’ s done during a normal examination , the nurse interviews the victim and after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement , the officer and the advocate leave the call .
The nurse then directs the victim on how and what evidence to collect .
After the victim places the kit outside their door , the officer collects it and takes it to a forensic lab for analysis .
The nurse then offers the victim to do a video call with just the victim advocate , who can offer counseling .
The way the evidence is collected could lead to cross-contamination and would raise reasonable doubt , criminal defense attorney Mark Reichel said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger because when you have a dispassionate law enforcement officer collecting evidence and replace that with the victim who then manufactures the most critical evidence , that ’ s going to cause reasonable doubt , ” Reichel said .
“ If you want to frame someone , it ’ s easy to get their DNA onto a swab where you do a sex assault kit , and say , ‘ Oh , look , here ’ s their DNA , ’ ” he added .
Nossoura disagreed and said the chain-of-custody protocols are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collection of evidence is observed by a nurse in real time .
“ This isn ’ t a situation where someone goes to a pharmacy and picks up a kit , goes home and does it themselves and then drops it off at the police station , ” she added .

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Fears of getting infected with the coronavirus have prompted authorities in Northern California to allow some sexual assault victims to collect evidence with a nurse directing them in the hourslong process through a video call.
The temporary measure put in place in Monterey County after shelter-in-place orders were issued last month to stop the spread of the virus raises issues of evidence contamination and other problems that would be challenged in court, defense attorneys said.
Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Lana Nassoura said Thursday the temporary measure doesn’t apply to victims of sexual assault who are children or who have been injured and is allowed when the victim is comfortable and able to conduct the forensic examination on themselves.
“The last thing we want is a victim not reporting the assault to law enforcement because they’re worried about getting sick, so we wanted to give them an option to be able to do that without those concerns,” Nassoura said.
She said the measure also aims to protect the nurses who normally conduct the prolonged examinations in small rooms and who lack the proper equipment to protect them from exposure to the virus.
So far two sexual assault victims have collected the evidence in their cases, one on April 5 and the other one Monday, Nassoura said.
In one of the cases, the victim was exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. The victim hadn’t yet received results from their coronavirus test, and officials offered the victim the virtual self-examination to protect personnel.
The examination was done through a Zoom video call “because of concerns that the victim might be infected and to not postpone the examination because it’s best to collect evidence as close in time to the assault as possible,” Nossoura said.
Nossoura said the “temporary protocol” starts when a police officer drops off a rape test kit outside the victim’s residence and then waits in his patrol car. Once the victim retrieves the kit and goes inside, they both join a Zoom video call along with a forensic nurse and a victim advocate.
As it’s done during a normal examination, the nurse interviews the victim and after the officer takes the victim’s statement, the officer and the advocate leave the call. The nurse then directs the victim on how and what evidence to collect.
After the victim places the kit outside their door, the officer collects it and takes it to a forensic lab for analysis. The nurse then offers the victim to do a video call with just the victim advocate, who can offer counseling.
The way the evidence is collected could lead to cross-contamination and would raise reasonable doubt, criminal defense attorney Mark Reichel said.
“It is absolutely fraught with danger because when you have a dispassionate law enforcement officer collecting evidence and replace that with the victim who then manufactures the most critical evidence, that’s going to cause reasonable doubt,” Reichel said.
“If you want to frame someone, it’s easy to get their DNA onto a swab where you do a sex assault kit, and say, ‘Oh, look, here’s their DNA,’ ” he added.
Nossoura disagreed and said the chain-of-custody protocols are in place throughout the process and the collection of evidence is observed by a nurse in real time.
“This isn’t a situation where someone goes to a pharmacy and picks up a kit, goes home and does it themselves and then drops it off at the police station,” she added.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Federal government to buy supply from farmers, distribute surplus to food banks

The federal government will start buying meat , vegetables and milk from the nation ’ s farmers and distribute the surplus to the nation ’ s food banks , Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Thursday , a plan welcomed by the agricultural sector .
While the details and the amount of money that will be spent on the program were not clear , Mr. Perdue said President Trump has approved the plan to help the nation ’ s farmers during the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Yes — that ’ s directly we ’ ll take dairy products , ” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take meat , protein products , both beef and pork off the their produce as well .
Many of this food that ’ s being that does not have a home in a market for it , USDA will have a program that will procure this food and distribute it to food banks and other nonprofit charities.
” Mr. Perdue hinted at such a program in an April 9 tweet , but in an appearance Thursday on Fox Business Network ’ s “ Mornings with Maria , ” the secretary told host Maria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but with the supply chain .
“ We ’ re doing our best to relocate that adequate supply into the demand channels that can process it for consumer needs , but as you can imagine it ’ s like flowing down an interstate and things are going well at 60 , 65 miles an hour and you have a crash and it all backs up , and there ’ s dual lanes , and we ’ re trying to relocate a dislocated supply-demand system from one to the other , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced .
“ We hope to release that very soon , ” he said .
“ We spoke to the president yesterday about that , and we hope to have it out , announced very quickly .
There will be direct payments both to our specialty crops , both to our dairy , to our livestock , cattle , cow , calf , hogs , and others , and commodities as well that have suffered from this.
” During the Great Depression , the federal government moved aggressively to prop up farmers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , New Deal legislation that created a bureau that would buy food and livestock surpluses to get money to farmers and to stabilize markets .
A program along those lines is needed immediately , argued Obama administration agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack .
“ Now is the time to see the tools and resources we have creatively used to bring those folks who are not working today back on the job at their production facilities , to create additional market opportunities for our producers and stabilize prices for them , ” he said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Rural America .
Mr. Perdue said the administration plans an initial relief package for the agricultural sector that probably will cost $ 16- $ 18 billion , an amount that is short of the $ 25 billion deal the Trump administration reached this week with the airline industry .
However , he said he anticipates another round of support for agriculture in the near future .
The agriculture sector was already reeling from the trade war with China that had severly crimped exports when the coronavirus broke out and quickly spread around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation .
“ The law gives the secretary the power to ‘ restore producers ’ purchasing power , ’ and that has always been interpreted as giving him some discretionary power over what are known as Section 32 programs , ” Mr. Moore said .
Smithfield Foods , one of the nation ’ s top pork producers , has been bedeviled by coronavirus outbreaks among workers at some of its processing plants in the Midwest and is coping with reduced demand as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ In this country , they are under heavy duress , and they have — they have gone through a period here of about two years where whether it was the trade disruptions and now this COVID-19 where every restaurant in the country just about has been closed , ” Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan told Ms. Bartiromo .
“ They ’ re under heavy duress and they need government support.
” Mr. Moore said he had not discussed plans with the administration , but that the Farm Bureau has been working with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food banks , on the details of how a federal purchasing program would work .
The nation ’ s food bank system lacks the storage capacity necessary to absorb a huge amount of perishable goods , but the Farm Bureau says the supply networks that the restaurant business uses should be easily converted for Mr. Perdue ’ s plans .
“ Obviously there are a lot of demands , ” Mr. Vilsack said .
“ But when you shut down the schools , when you shut down the universities , when you shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast food industry down , you are essentially disrupting perhaps as much as 50 % of the domestic market that normally exists , ” he said , largely in reference to dairy farmers .
“ We do have an adequate supply — we just have to make sure the supply gets connected with the demand .
”

The federal government will start buying meat, vegetables and milk from the nation’s farmers and distribute the surplus to the nation’s food banks, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Thursday, a plan welcomed by the agricultural sector.
While the details and the amount of money that will be spent on the program were not clear, Mr. Perdue said President Trump has approved the plan to help the nation’s farmers during the coronavirus outbreak.
“Yes — that’s directly we’ll take dairy products,” Mr. Perdue said. “We’ll take meat, protein products, both beef and pork off the their produce as well. Many of this food that’s being that does not have a home in a market for it, USDA will have a program that will procure this food and distribute it to food banks and other nonprofit charities.”
Mr. Perdue hinted at such a program in an April 9 tweet, but in an appearance Thursday on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria,” the secretary told host Maria Bartiromo the problem lies not with supply but with the supply chain.
“We’re doing our best to relocate that adequate supply into the demand channels that can process it for consumer needs, but as you can imagine it’s like flowing down an interstate and things are going well at 60, 65 miles an hour and you have a crash and it all backs up, and there’s dual lanes, and we’re trying to relocate a dislocated supply-demand system from one to the other,” he said.
No timetable for the program was announced.
“We hope to release that very soon,” he said. “We spoke to the president yesterday about that, and we hope to have it out, announced very quickly. There will be direct payments both to our specialty crops, both to our dairy, to our livestock, cattle, cow, calf, hogs, and others, and commodities as well that have suffered from this.”
During the Great Depression, the federal government moved aggressively to prop up farmers in late 1933 with the Agricultural Adjustment Act, New Deal legislation that created a bureau that would buy food and livestock surpluses to get money to farmers and to stabilize markets.
A program along those lines is needed immediately, argued Obama administration agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack.
“Now is the time to see the tools and resources we have creatively used to bring those folks who are not working today back on the job at their production facilities, to create additional market opportunities for our producers and stabilize prices for them,” he said in a Zoom conference organized Thursday by Focus on Rural America.
Mr. Perdue said the administration plans an initial relief package for the agricultural sector that probably will cost $16-$18 billion, an amount that is short of the $25 billion deal the Trump administration reached this week with the airline industry. However, he said he anticipates another round of support for agriculture in the near future.
The agriculture sector was already reeling from the trade war with China that had severly crimped exports when the coronavirus broke out and quickly spread around the world, said Dale Moore, the executive vice president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“The law gives the secretary the power to ‘restore producers’ purchasing power,’ and that has always been interpreted as giving him some discretionary power over what are known as Section 32 programs,” Mr. Moore said.
Smithfield Foods, one of the nation’s top pork producers, has been bedeviled by coronavirus outbreaks among workers at some of its processing plants in the Midwest and is coping with reduced demand as a result of restaurant, hotel and catering shutdowns.
“In this country, they are under heavy duress, and they have — they have gone through a period here of about two years where whether it was the trade disruptions and now this COVID-19 where every restaurant in the country just about has been closed,” Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan told Ms. Bartiromo. “They’re under heavy duress and they need government support.”
Mr. Moore said he had not discussed plans with the administration, but that the Farm Bureau has been working with Feeding America, a national network of food banks, on the details of how a federal purchasing program would work.
The nation’s food bank system lacks the storage capacity necessary to absorb a huge amount of perishable goods, but the Farm Bureau says the supply networks that the restaurant business uses should be easily converted for Mr. Perdue’s plans.
“Obviously there are a lot of demands,” Mr. Vilsack said.
“But when you shut down the schools, when you shut down the universities, when you shut the restaurants down, you shut the fast food industry down, you are essentially disrupting perhaps as much as 50% of the domestic market that normally exists,” he said, largely in reference to dairy farmers. “We do have an adequate supply — we just have to make sure the supply gets connected with the demand.”
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--AP PHOTOS: AP Week in Pictures in Asia

AP PHOTOS: AP Week in Pictures in Asia

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and @ @ @ @ @ curated by AP photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo .

APRIL 10-16, 2020
This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in Asia and Pacific.
The gallery was curated by AP photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo.
Follow AP visual journalism:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews
AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Coronavirus hot spot flareups spread economic-shutdown debate

Gov .
Charlie Baker warned Massachusetts for weeks that the “ worst part of the pandemic ” would hit around mid-April .
“ That part of the pandemic is here , ” he said Thursday as hospitals were getting a surge of COVID-19 patients and his state tally rose to third in the nation .
The governor in neighboring Rhode Island said hospitals probably won ’ t see a COVID-19 peak until May 3 , as the White House touts progress across the nation but points to hard-hit Providence as a potential hot spot in the high-density Northeast .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing plant in South Dakota just turned into the biggest COVID-19 hot spot in the nation , with 644 cases among workers and their contacts edging out tallies on the USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam and at the Cook County Jail in Chicago .
President Trump is itching to get the country open and running again .
He said there is a light at the end of the tunnel as places such as New York City begin to emerge from the depths of the crisis and the rates of infection flatten in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some places are peaking before others .
The flare-up in South Dakota revived the type of economic shutdown debate that unfolded weeks ago in hard-hit New York , where Gov .
Andrew Cuomo slowly “ closed the valve ” by shuttering businesses on a rolling basis through March .
Analysts say defining a “ hot spot ” is unclear and is in the eye of the beholder .
But it has become a household term for places with sudden incidences of cases that could tax health care systems or pose risks of wider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be a state or a city , or a narrower slice of those areas , as the Smithfield plant is to Sioux Falls .
“ We have certain hot spots .
So , Louisiana is a hot spot .
New York is a hot spot .
Detroit is a hot spot .
And then you have certain areas in certain hot spots that you have to even go more so , ” Mr. Trump said at a recent White House briefing on the crisis .
New York City is the king of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths accounting for more than a third of the roughly 31,000 fatalities nationwide , according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University .
Mr. Cuomo on Thursday reported declines in total hospitalizations , intensive care unit admissions and intubations in his state .
“ The good news is it means we can control the virus … we can control the spread , ” said Mr. Cuomo , a Democrat .
After projections that the state could need more than 110,000 hospital beds at the apex of the crisis , the number of hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of declines in the past few days .
Mr. Cuomo did report 606 new coronavirus-related deaths , which pushes the total above 12,000 in a state with a population of 20 million people .
“ That is still continuing at a really , really tragic rate , ” the governor said .
Mr. Trump has seized on the positive trends as he tries to coordinate a phased reopening of America with governors and top business leaders .
“ New cases are declining throughout the New York metropolitan area .
Cases in the Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the president said midweek .
He also said cities such as Baltimore showed “ great signs of progress.
” However , the situation remains fluid .
The office of Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan , a Republican , said there are still hot spots in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor , where transmission is “ definitely still going up the curve.
” The channel of hot spots runs south from Baltimore City/Baltimore County to Howard and Anne Arundel counties .
It extends down to Prince George ’ s and Montgomery counties outside of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the District to Charles County in southern Maryland .
Members of Mr. Trump ’ s coronavirus task force acknowledged that some places haven ’ t peaked .
They pointed to Providence , surrounded by hard-hit New York , Connecticut and Massachusetts , as a potential hot spot .
Rhode Island , with a population of 1.1 million , has averaged 2,950 positive tests per day since Saturday , compared with 1,500 during the preceding five-day period , according to data from the COVID-19 Tracking Project .
“ Rhode Island is nestled between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Boston and New York City , of course , are hot spots and they are , as far as we can tell , ahead of us on the curve , ” said Rhode Island Gov .
Gina Raimondo , a Democrat .
“ We are still climbing — our peak is a few weeks away.
” The governor said she couldn ’ t predict when the peak would hit .
Models suggest somewhere between April 27 and May 3 .
“ But I know it ’ s not behind us , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Kristi Noem acknowledged the high number of cases at the Smithfield plant Thursday but pointed to aggressive testing as part of the reason the state has attracted national media attention .
“ We do have a hot spot in Sioux Falls .
I think everybody is well aware of that and people are talking about that , ” Mrs. Noem said Thursday .
“ I want you also to realize , though , we are aggressively testing this population , and we ’ re being very transparent with the public about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees from the Smithfield plant got infected and more than 126 close contacts of the workers also tested positive for COVID-19 , prompting the governor to invite specialists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come to the state .
“ The fact that we ’ re finding those positives cases is not a bad thing ; it ’ s a good thing , ” Mrs. Noem said .
“ It means that we ’ re getting these folks home , we ’ re getting them isolated and we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CDC went through the plant Thursday and will draft a report on the situation .
Federal and state officials want to determine whether there is a safe way to reopen the plant , which employs 3,700 and has been shuttered indefinitely .
Mrs. Noem , a Republican , is one of the few U.S. governors who did not issue a stay-at-home order , though she has noted the plant is essential for the food supply and would have remained open regardless .
It ’ s also not clear whether Mr. Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major influence there because South Dakota technically never shut down its economy .
The governor said her COVID-19 strategy is working — only 36 people have been hospitalized , and the state is bending its overall curve of transmission faster than previously forecast .
“ We have cut our peak , and that ’ s a good thing , and that is encouraging to all of us , ” Mrs. Noem said at her Thursday briefing .
“ Our health care system can handle what ’ s coming at us.
” Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 poses in every state , even as the president lays out guidelines for states seeing a downward slope in transmission .
“ South Dakota has become one of the fastest-growing hot spots in the U.S. , even as other parts of nation see their epidemics start to level off or slow , ” former Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted .
“ South Dakota has a doubling time now of about 4 days .
In the setting of the ongoing national epidemic , every state is vulnerable .
”

Gov. Charlie Baker warned Massachusetts for weeks that the “worst part of the pandemic” would hit around mid-April.
“That part of the pandemic is here,” he said Thursday as hospitals were getting a surge of COVID-19 patients, and his state tally rose to third in the nation.
The governor in neighboring Rhode Island said hospitals probably won’t see a COVID-19 peak until May 3, as the White House touts progress across the nation but points to hard-hit Providence as a potential hot spot in the high-density Northeast.
In the heartland, a Smithfield Foods meat processing plant in South Dakota just turned into the biggest COVID-19 hot spot in the nation, with 644 cases among workers and their contacts edging out tallies on the USS Theodore Roosevelt docked in Guam and at the Cook County Jail in Chicago.
President Trump is itching to get the country open and running again. He said there is a light at the end of the tunnel as places such as New York City begin to emerge from the depths of the crisis and the rates of infection flatten in Detroit, Denver and elsewhere.
Yet some places are peaking before others. The flare-up in South Dakota revived the type of economic shutdown debate that unfolded weeks ago in hard-hit New York, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo slowly “closed the valve” by shuttering businesses on a rolling basis through March.
Analysts say defining a “hot spot” is unclear and is in the eye of the beholder. But it has become a household term for places with sudden incidences of cases that could tax health care systems or pose risks of wider transmission in the surrounding region. It can be a state or a city, or a narrower slice of those areas, as the Smithfield plant is to Sioux Falls.
“We have certain hot spots. So, Louisiana is a hot spot. New York is a hot spot. Detroit is a hot spot. And then you have certain areas in certain hot spots that you have to even go more so,” Mr. Trump said at a recent White House briefing on the crisis.
New York City is the king of all hot spots, with nearly 11,000 deaths accounting for more than a third of the roughly 31,000 fatalities nationwide, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University.
Mr. Cuomo on Thursday reported declines in total hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions and intubations in his state.
“The good news is it means we can control the virus … we can control the spread,” said Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat.
After projections that the state could need more than 110,000 hospital beds at the apex of the crisis, the number of hospitalizations dipped below 18,000, continuing a string of declines in the past few days.
Mr. Cuomo did report 606 new coronavirus-related deaths, which pushes the total above 12,000 in a state with a population of 20 million people.
“That is still continuing at a really, really tragic rate,” the governor said.
Mr. Trump has seized on the positive trends as he tries to coordinate a phased reopening of America with governors and top business leaders.
“New cases are declining throughout the New York metropolitan area. Cases in the Detroit and Denver metro areas are flat,” the president said midweek. He also said cities such as Baltimore showed “great signs of progress.”
However, the situation remains fluid. The office of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said there are still hot spots in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor, where transmission is “definitely still going up the curve.”
The channel of hot spots runs south from Baltimore City/Baltimore County to Howard and Anne Arundel counties. It extends down to Prince George’s and Montgomery counties outside of the nation’s capital and then south of the District to Charles County in southern Maryland.
Members of Mr. Trump’s coronavirus task force acknowledged that some places haven’t peaked. They pointed to Providence, surrounded by hard-hit New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as a potential hot spot.
Rhode Island, with a population of 1.1 million, has averaged 2,950 positive tests per day since Saturday, compared with 1,500 during the preceding five-day period, according to data from the COVID-19 Tracking Project.
“Rhode Island is nestled between Boston and New York City and Connecticut. Boston and New York City, of course, are hot spots and they are, as far as we can tell, ahead of us on the curve,” said Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat. “We are still climbing — our peak is a few weeks away.”
The governor said she couldn’t predict when the peak would hit. Models suggest somewhere between April 27 and May 3.
“But I know it’s not behind us,” she said.
Likewise, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem acknowledged the high number of cases at the Smithfield plant Thursday but pointed to aggressive testing as part of the reason the state has attracted national media attention.
“We do have a hot spot in Sioux Falls. I think everybody is well aware of that and people are talking about that,” Mrs. Noem said Thursday. “I want you also to realize, though, we are aggressively testing this population, and we’re being very transparent with the public about it.”
South Dakota officials said 518 employees from the Smithfield plant got infected and more than 126 close contacts of the workers also tested positive for COVID-19, prompting the governor to invite specialists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to come to the state.
“The fact that we’re finding those positives cases is not a bad thing; it’s a good thing,” Mrs. Noem said. “It means that we’re getting these folks home, we’re getting them isolated and we’re keeping them healthy.”
The governor said the CDC went through the plant Thursday and will draft a report on the situation.
Federal and state officials want to determine whether there is a safe way to reopen the plant, which employs 3,700 and has been shuttered indefinitely.
Mrs. Noem, a Republican, is one of the few U.S. governors who did not issue a stay-at-home order, though she has noted the plant is essential for the food supply and would have remained open regardless. It’s also not clear whether Mr. Trump’s guidelines for reopening business will have a major influence there because South Dakota technically never shut down its economy.
The governor said her COVID-19 strategy is working — only 36 people have been hospitalized, and the state is bending its overall curve of transmission faster than previously forecast.
“We have cut our peak, and that’s a good thing, and that is encouraging to all of us,” Mrs. Noem said at her Thursday briefing. “Our health care system can handle what’s coming at us.”
Others say the flare-up underscores the risk that COVID-19 poses in every state, even as the president lays out guidelines for states seeing a downward slope in transmission.
“South Dakota has become one of the fastest-growing hot spots in the U.S., even as other parts of nation see their epidemics start to level off or slow,” former Food and Drug Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted. “South Dakota has a doubling time now of about 4 days. In the setting of the ongoing national epidemic, every state is vulnerable.”
• David Sherfinski contributed to this report.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Texas mayors want equal access to coronavirus federal aid

FORT WORTH , Texas ( AP ) - More than 100 Texas mayors are urging the state ’ s Congressional delegation to give all cities the same access to federal coronavirus relief funds , regardless of size .
President Donald Trump signed a coronavirus aid bill into law last month that allocates $ 150 billion to states and local governments as part of a $ 2.2 trillion package .
The funds are intended to support families , businesses and health care providers during the public health crisis .
But the package limits how cities with populations fewer than 500,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are eligible to apply for money directly from the federal government , the smaller ones must request money from the governor .
“ This language leaves out hundreds of Texas cities with millions of residents .
We simply do not understand the population cutoff in the CARES Act , ” the mayors said in a letter sent Wednesday .
“ Simply put , there is no magic force that will protect local governments under 500,000 population from revenue losses during this crisis.
” Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright , of Arlington , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview that “ it ’ s pretty ridiculous ” for a city the size of Arlington to be “ left out.
” Arlington is the seventh-largest city in Texas with a population of roughly 398,000 , according to 2018 census estimate data .
The city isn ’ t expected to meet the qualification for direct funding .
“ This is what happens when you move something that large that quickly , ” Wright said of the bill .
“ It ’ s arbitrary , it ’ s unfair , it ’ s unreasonable.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget shortage because the city had to shut down businesses that had generated a lot of revenue , Mayor Jeff Williams said .
Without help from the federal government , Williams warned that his city would be forced to make cuts in the police and fire departments and other city workers .
The letter was signed by 111 Texas mayors , including Williams , Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner , Austin Mayor Steve Adler , San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg , Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price .
Wright noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change because Congress members across the aisle have smaller cities in their districts .
“ There ’ s a number of us in Congress who are very unhappy about it and are trying to get it changed , ” Wright said .
Wright said he and six other Republican congressmen wrote to Gov .
Greg Abbott this month asking him to distribute federal funds to large and small cities alike .
Abbott ’ s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment .

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - More than 100 Texas mayors are urging the state’s Congressional delegation to give all cities the same access to federal coronavirus relief funds, regardless of size.
President Donald Trump signed a coronavirus aid bill into law last month that allocates $150 billion to states and local governments as part of a $2.2 trillion package. The funds are intended to support families, businesses and health care providers during the public health crisis.
But the package limits how cities with populations fewer than 500,000 people receive their funds. While larger cities are eligible to apply for money directly from the federal government, the smaller ones must request money from the governor.
“This language leaves out hundreds of Texas cities with millions of residents. We simply do not understand the population cutoff in the CARES Act,” the mayors said in a letter sent Wednesday. “Simply put, there is no magic force that will protect local governments under 500,000 population from revenue losses during this crisis.”
Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, of Arlington, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in a phone interview that “it’s pretty ridiculous” for a city the size of Arlington to be “left out.”
Arlington is the seventh-largest city in Texas with a population of roughly 398,000, according to 2018 census estimate data. The city isn’t expected to meet the qualification for direct funding.
“This is what happens when you move something that large that quickly,” Wright said of the bill. “It’s arbitrary, it’s unfair, it’s unreasonable.”
Arlington faces a $20 million budget shortage because the city had to shut down businesses that had generated a lot of revenue, Mayor Jeff Williams said.
Without help from the federal government, Williams warned that his city would be forced to make cuts in the police and fire departments and other city workers.
The letter was signed by 111 Texas mayors, including Williams, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price.
Wright noted that there’s support for the change because Congress members across the aisle have smaller cities in their districts.
“There’s a number of us in Congress who are very unhappy about it and are trying to get it changed,” Wright said.
Wright said he and six other Republican congressmen wrote to Gov. Greg Abbott this month asking him to distribute federal funds to large and small cities alike. Abbott’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Fairfax County Public Schools postpones distance learning due to app glitches

The Fairfax County Public Schools system ( FCPS ) postponed its distance learning this week just two days after its launch , citing technical issues with the remote learning app Blackboard .
“ We sincerely appreciate your patience and share your frustration related to our distance learning challenges this week , ” schools Superintendent Scott Braband wrote Wednesday on the system ’ s website .
“ FCPS had worked closely with Blackboard ’ s technical team for several weeks prior to the launch of distance learning and there was no indication that the system would be unable to handle the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ susceptible to the security issues that many of our schools encountered , ” said Mr. Braband , whose school district is one of the region ’ s — and the nation ’ s — largest and richest .
When the school district ’ s 189,000 and their teachers tried to use Blackboard on Tuesday , many could not log in due to increased online traffic .
“ The system could not handle it , ” said FCPS spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell .
“ Our staff had received reassurances that it would work — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancelled distance learning on Thursday and Friday , and remote instruction will resume on Monday .
Meanwhile , some FCPS students apparently interrupted virtual classrooms with curse words , screaming , sex jokes and other inapproriate language .
Tarik Darwiesh , senior class president at Annandale High School , said a group of students got the access code for his English class , joined it without cameras using sexually suggestive screen names .
When the teacher kicked them out of the video call , they simply rejoined , he said .
“ At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question as soon as the teacher started talking .
He said , ‘ I swear to God , I am not doing any of the work , ’ ” Mr. Darwiesh said of one disrupter .
In a statement on the FCPS website Wednesday , Blackboard officials said the new update will require students to authenticate their identity before joining a virtual classroom .
Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam closed all schools beginning March 16 to stop the spread of the coronavirus .
On March 23 , he extended that two-week closure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Loudoun County , schools Superintendent Eric Williams acknowledged that distance learning isn ’ t going perfectly , noting difficult situations with staff , parents and students .
But as the school system starts its new phase of distance learning , he said he is thrilled with the progress and enthusiasm .
Loudoun County Public Schools ( LCPS ) have been distance learning since March 30 , focusing on previous content .
Starting Wednesday , teachers started introducing new content .
“ We know that distance learning is not going to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do we maximize student growth and learning while understanding these unique times and the capacity is different , ” Mr. Williams said .
All 84,739 LCPS students and staff members have Google accounts , which allows teachers to monitor more closely who signs onto the Google virtual classroom ; trolling hasn ’ t been a problem , officials said .
The county already had put a focus on closing the technology gap and distributed 55,000 Chromebooks over the last two years .
LCPS recently purchased an additional 14,000 Chromebooks and 1,500 virtual “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been distributed .
In Maryland , Gov .
Larry Hogan has closed all schools through April 24 .
Brenna Pagley , a senior at Quince Orchard High School in Montgomery County , said her school has experienced anonymous people entering virtual classes because teachers didn ’ t know how to “ lock ” their sessions .
“ I know that they are doing their best but I still feel like it ’ s not even close to the same learning we did when we were in school , ” Miss Pagley said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities of regular school .
Miss Pagley said she is most worried about how technology issues will interfere with her Advanced Placement calculus test ; she did a practice test Thursday and had trouble uploading her handwritten work online , she said .
Meanwhile , Mr. Darwiesh at Annandale High School said it is hard to be motivated to do online learning , especially since he is a second semester senior .
However , he said he believes the unique way his high school set up its online learning is better than that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Annandale High teachers post 30-minute , pre-recorded lessons daily , and every teacher has office hours twice a week for students to ask questions .

The Fairfax County Public Schools system (FCPS) postponed its distance learning this week just two days after its launch, citing technical issues with the remote learning app Blackboard.
“We sincerely appreciate your patience and share your frustration related to our distance learning challenges this week,” schools Superintendent Scott Braband wrote Wednesday on the system’s website.
“FCPS had worked closely with Blackboard’s technical team for several weeks prior to the launch of distance learning and there was no indication that the system would be unable to handle the volume of participating users or would be susceptible to the security issues that many of our schools encountered,” said Mr. Braband, whose school district is one of the region’s — and the nation’s — largest and richest.
When the school district’s 189,000 and their teachers tried to use Blackboard on Tuesday, many could not log in due to increased online traffic.
“The system could not handle it,” said FCPS spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell. “Our staff had received reassurances that it would work — but it didn’t.”
Mr. Braband cancelled distance learning on Thursday and Friday, and remote instruction will resume on Monday.
Meanwhile, some FCPS students apparently interrupted virtual classrooms with curse words, screaming, sex jokes and other inapproriate language.
Tarik Darwiesh, senior class president at Annandale High School, said a group of students got the access code for his English class, joined it without cameras using sexually suggestive screen names. When the teacher kicked them out of the video call, they simply rejoined, he said.
“At one point, he asked a serious question as soon as the teacher started talking. He said, ‘I swear to God, I am not doing any of the work,’” Mr. Darwiesh said of one disrupter.
In a statement on the FCPS website Wednesday, Blackboard officials said the new update will require students to authenticate their identity before joining a virtual classroom.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam closed all schools beginning March 16 to stop the spread of the coronavirus. On March 23, he extended that two-week closure to the rest of the academic year.
In Loudoun County, schools Superintendent Eric Williams acknowledged that distance learning isn’t going perfectly, noting difficult situations with staff, parents and students. But as the school system starts its new phase of distance learning, he said he is thrilled with the progress and enthusiasm.
Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) have been distance learning since March 30, focusing on previous content. Starting Wednesday, teachers started introducing new content.
“We know that distance learning is not going to be a substitute for face-to-face learning, but how do we maximize student growth and learning while understanding these unique times and the capacity is different,” Mr. Williams said.
All 84,739 LCPS students and staff members have Google accounts, which allows teachers to monitor more closely who signs onto the Google virtual classroom; trolling hasn’t been a problem, officials said.
The county already had put a focus on closing the technology gap and distributed 55,000 Chromebooks over the last two years. LCPS recently purchased an additional 14,000 Chromebooks and 1,500 virtual “hotspots,” almost all of which have been distributed.
In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan has closed all schools through April 24.
Brenna Pagley, a senior at Quince Orchard High School in Montgomery County, said her school has experienced anonymous people entering virtual classes because teachers didn’t know how to “lock” their sessions.
“I know that they are doing their best but I still feel like it’s not even close to the same learning we did when we were in school,” Miss Pagley said, adding that she misses the hands-on activities of regular school.
Miss Pagley said she is most worried about how technology issues will interfere with her Advanced Placement calculus test; she did a practice test Thursday and had trouble uploading her handwritten work online, she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Darwiesh at Annandale High School said it is hard to be motivated to do online learning, especially since he is a second semester senior. However, he said he believes the unique way his high school set up its online learning is better than that of the rest of the county.
Annandale High teachers post 30-minute, pre-recorded lessons daily, and every teacher has office hours twice a week for students to ask questions.
• Sophie Kaplan can be reached at skaplan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Inside the Beltway: CNN, MSNBC 'censor' Trump coronavirus task force briefings

It is the sin of omission , media style .
Cable news networks which appear hostile toward President Trump and his administration are curbing their broadcasts of the White House daily coronavirus press briefings — intended to inform , engage and reassure the American public during an alarming era .
Some critics have already called for the news media to cease covering the briefings .
Now comes a new study which has identified “ aggressive censoring ” of the White House events at a pivotal time .
“ CNN and MSNBC on many days repeatedly cut in and out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic , with CNN the most eager to replace remarks from President Trump , Vice President Mike Pence or any number of medical and logistical experts with derisive commentary by its anchors and reporters .
MSNBC carried a little more than CNN , but its anchors also weren ’ t hesitant to chime in with their condemnations of Trump ’ s remarks , ” writes Brent Baker , vice president of research for the Media Research Center , a conservative press watchdog .
A close study of the recent broadcasts found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings conducted March 30- April 14 — or 999 minutes out of a total of 1,435 minutes .
Translated , that means the network cut out seven hours and 16 minutes of the briefing .
MSNBC has aired live 1,088 minutes , or 76 % , censoring five hours and 47 minutes worth of content .
“ Thus , CNN and MSNBC viewers missed more than 13 hours of the briefings , ” notes Mr. Baker , who says anchors made numerous “ condescending ” judgment calls on the briefings in progress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a lot of different directions , not all of them informative or relevant .
If it veers too much off , we will break off , ” MSNBC ’ s Chuck Todd told viewers at one point .
And what about Fox News ?
“ The network cut out a few minutes early on two days , but otherwise has carried all the briefings in full , airing 1,383 minutes , about 96 % of the total duration , ” advises Mr. Baker .
This four-word phrase was coined by Americans Spectator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from journalists who aspire to be authorities .
“ Our courageous truth-tellers are , in fact , nothing more than florid stenographers for the institutional perspective .
They can write in a way that entertains and mimics original thought , but their thoughts are not their own .
They are merely regurgitating the opinions fed to them .
They rewrite press releases in a conversational tone and then cast themselves as the smartest kids in the room , ” Mr. Shapiro writes .
The Small Business Administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entertainment industry , which received over $ 8 billion in funds , according to the Hollywood Reporter .
The film and TV business cover two sectors , one devoted to entertainment , the other to informational products .
“ In the first sector , which includes writers , actors , agents , performing arts and many non-entertainment businesses such as fitness centers , the Small Business Agency reported 25,785 approved loans amounting to almost $ 3.7 billion .
Meanwhile , for the information sector , which encompasses movies , television , cable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , magazines , software and more , the SBA reported 13,693 approvals totaling over $ 4.4 billion , ” the Reporter notes .
As multiple news organizations pointed out , the $ 349 billion paycheck program ran out of money Thursday .
Whom should Democratic presidential hopeful Joseph R. Biden pick for a running mate ?
Americans have their own preferences , though their choices may not mesh with media coverage which currently centers on potential female candidates , Voters say other qualities , beliefs or abilities take preference .
The importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the list , in fact .
A new Politico/Morning Consult poll reveals that voters would prefer Mr. Biden choose a conservative or a “ religious ” person over both a liberal and a woman .
Two-thirds of voters say it ’ s important Mr. Biden pick a running mate who has both executive and legislative experience while 48 % think he needs a running mate who is “ younger than him.
” A third say it ’ s important Mr. Biden pick someone who is “ religious ” while 31 % say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative than him.
” Then along comes the 29 % say it ’ s important he pick a running mate who is a woman .
A quarter believe Mr. Biden should pick someone who is “ more liberal than him , ” while 14 % say it ’ s important that he pick someone who is a man .
The survey of 1,990 registered U.S. voters was conducted April 10-12 .
Fox News Digital — the network ’ s online presence — finished the first quarter of 2020 with 5.7 billion visitors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the highest online ratings numbers ever , according to Comscore , an industry source .
For the 67th consecutive month , Fox News remained the No .
1 most engaged news brand on social media compared to other the news sources , with 53.8 million interactions on Twitter , Instagram and Facebook .
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Four bedrooms , five baths , towering stone hearth plus four fire places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gourmet kitchen , gym , library , pool , guest house , carriage house , gardens and much more .
All furnishings included .
Priced at $ 5.5 million through SierraSouthebysRealty.com ; find this home here .
• 79 % of U.S. adults say they themselves , family members or friends work from home during the coronavirus pandemic ; 79 % of Republicans , 72 % of independents and 89 % of Democrats agree .
• 45 % overall say it is very or somewhat difficult to work from home ; 53 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independents and 49 % of Democrats agree .
• 28 % overall say it is not very difficult to do this ; 28 % of Republicans , 34 % of independents and 23 % of Democrats agree .
• 23 % overall say it is not at all difficult ; 18 % of Republicans , 23 % of independents and 26 % of Democrats agree .
Source : An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted April 12-14 .

NEWS AND OPINION:
It is the sin of omission, media style. Cable news networks which appear hostile toward President Trump and his administration are curbing their broadcasts of the White House daily coronavirus press briefings — intended to inform, engage and reassure the American public during an alarming era. Some critics have already called for the news media to cease covering the briefings. Now comes a new study which has identified “aggressive censoring” of the White House events at a pivotal time.
“CNN and MSNBC on many days repeatedly cut in and out of the daily White House briefings on the coronavirus pandemic, with CNN the most eager to replace remarks from President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence or any number of medical and logistical experts with derisive commentary by its anchors and reporters. MSNBC carried a little more than CNN, but its anchors also weren’t hesitant to chime in with their condemnations of Trump’s remarks,” writes Brent Baker, vice president of research for the Media Research Center, a conservative press watchdog.
A close study of the recent broadcasts found that CNN aired 69% of the total briefings conducted March 30- April 14 — or 999 minutes out of a total of 1,435 minutes. Translated, that means the network cut out seven hours and 16 minutes of the briefing. MSNBC has aired live 1,088 minutes, or 76%, censoring five hours and 47 minutes worth of content.
“Thus, CNN and MSNBC viewers missed more than 13 hours of the briefings,” notes Mr. Baker, who says anchors made numerous “condescending” judgment calls on the briefings in progress.
“Briefings have a tendency to veer in a lot of different directions, not all of them informative or relevant. If it veers too much off, we will break off,” MSNBC’s Chuck Todd told viewers at one point.
And what about Fox News?
“The network cut out a few minutes early on two days, but otherwise has carried all the briefings in full, airing 1,383 minutes, about 96% of the total duration,” advises Mr. Baker.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Stenographers of the elite.”
This four-word phrase was coined by Americans Spectator contributor Matt Shapiro to describe sketchy press coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from journalists who aspire to be authorities.
“Our courageous truth-tellers are, in fact, nothing more than florid stenographers for the institutional perspective. They can write in a way that entertains and mimics original thought, but their thoughts are not their own. They are merely regurgitating the opinions fed to them. They rewrite press releases in a conversational tone and then cast themselves as the smartest kids in the room,” Mr. Shapiro writes.
HOLLYWOOD STIMULUS
The Small Business Administration’s paycheck protection loans did not overlook the entertainment industry, which received over $8 billion in funds, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film and TV business cover two sectors, one devoted to entertainment, the other to informational products.
“In the first sector, which includes writers, actors, agents, performing arts and many non-entertainment businesses such as fitness centers, the Small Business Agency reported 25,785 approved loans amounting to almost $3.7 billion. Meanwhile, for the information sector, which encompasses movies, television, cable and music, as well as books, magazines, software and more, the SBA reported 13,693 approvals totaling over $4.4 billion,” the Reporter notes.
As multiple news organizations pointed out, the $349 billion paycheck program ran out of money Thursday.
LADIES NOT FIRST
Whom should Democratic presidential hopeful Joseph R. Biden pick for a running mate? Americans have their own preferences, though their choices may not mesh with media coverage which currently centers on potential female candidates,
Voters say other qualities, beliefs or abilities take preference. The importance of a female candidate is near the end of the list, in fact. A new Politico/Morning Consult poll reveals that voters would prefer Mr. Biden choose a conservative or a “religious” person over both a liberal and a woman.
Two-thirds of voters say it’s important Mr. Biden pick a running mate who has both executive and legislative experience while 48% think he needs a running mate who is “younger than him.” A third say it’s important Mr. Biden pick someone who is “religious” while 31% say he needs someone who is “more conservative than him.” Then along comes the 29% say it’s important he pick a running mate who is a woman. A quarter believe Mr. Biden should pick someone who is “more liberal than him,” while 14% say it’s important that he pick someone who is a man.
The survey of 1,990 registered U.S. voters was conducted April 10-12.
FOXIFIED
Fox News Digital — the network’s online presence — finished the first quarter of 2020 with 5.7 billion visitors who spent 13.2 billion minutes at the site — the highest online ratings numbers ever, according to Comscore, an industry source.
For the 67th consecutive month, Fox News remained the No. 1 most engaged news brand on social media compared to other the news sources, with 53.8 million interactions on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
WEEKEND REAL ESTATE
For sale: Fleur du Lac Residence No. 20 built on 15 acres in 1983 on shores of Lake Tahoe near Homewood, California. Four bedrooms, five baths, towering stone hearth plus four fire places, vaulted ceilings; 4,200 square feet. Gourmet kitchen, gym, library, pool, guest house, carriage house, gardens and much more. All furnishings included. Priced at $5.5 million through SierraSouthebysRealty.com; find this home here.
POLL DU JOUR
• 79% of U.S. adults say they themselves, family members or friends work from home during the coronavirus pandemic; 79% of Republicans, 72% of independents and 89% of Democrats agree.
• 45% overall say it is very or somewhat difficult to work from home; 53% of Republicans, 34% of independents and 49% of Democrats agree.
• 28% overall say it is not very difficult to do this; 28% of Republicans, 34% of independents and 23% of Democrats agree.
• 23% overall say it is not at all difficult; 18% of Republicans, 23% of independents and 26% of Democrats agree.
Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted April 12-14.
• Kindly follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-04-16--Man in attempted fire at Jewish home released to confinement

BOSTON ( AP ) - A federal judge released a Massachusetts man on Wednesday to home confinement after he was accused of trying to set fire to a Jewish-sponsored assisted living center .
Judge Katherine Robertson released John Michael Rathbun , 36 , shortly after he was charged with attempted arson .
The judge ’ s decision garnered a written objection from U.S. Attorney Steven Breslow , who wrote that Robertson ’ s decision to release Rathbun “ appears to have been greatly influenced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
” Breslow added that while the pandemic has created “ laudable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sound basis for releasing the East Longmeadow resident , who presents both a flight risk and a risk to public safety .
Officers found a full gas canister that had a Christian religious pamphlet burned out in the nozzle at the entrance of Ruth ’ s House in Longmeadow on April 2 .
Authorities then discovered blood stains on the canister and pamphlet and traced the DNA back to Rathbun , according to a police affidavit .
Prosecutors described the alleged crime as an act of anti-Semitic violence .
The Boston Globe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender declined to comment , except to say that he ’ d be filing a written response to prosecutors ’ objection to the release order .
Ruth ’ s House is a Jewish-sponsored assisted living center for seniors of all faiths , according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts .
It ’ s located within 1 square mile of several other Jewish facilities , including three Jewish temples , a Jewish private school and a Jewish Community Center .
The attorney ’ s office said the center was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gas can was found .

BOSTON (AP) - A federal judge released a Massachusetts man on Wednesday to home confinement after he was accused of trying to set fire to a Jewish-sponsored assisted living center.
Judge Katherine Robertson released John Michael Rathbun, 36, shortly after he was charged with attempted arson.
The judge’s decision garnered a written objection from U.S. Attorney Steven Breslow, who wrote that Robertson’s decision to release Rathbun “appears to have been greatly influenced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
Breslow added that while the pandemic has created “laudable” concerns, the reasoning is not a sound basis for releasing the East Longmeadow resident, who presents both a flight risk and a risk to public safety.
Officers found a full gas canister that had a Christian religious pamphlet burned out in the nozzle at the entrance of Ruth’s House in Longmeadow on April 2.
Authorities then discovered blood stains on the canister and pamphlet and traced the DNA back to Rathbun, according to a police affidavit.
Prosecutors described the alleged crime as an act of anti-Semitic violence.
The Boston Globe reported that Rathbun’s federal public defender declined to comment, except to say that he’d be filing a written response to prosecutors’ objection to the release order.
Ruth’s House is a Jewish-sponsored assisted living center for seniors of all faiths, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts. It’s located within 1 square mile of several other Jewish facilities, including three Jewish temples, a Jewish private school and a Jewish Community Center.
The attorney’s office said the center was being discussed on white supremacist online platforms before the gas can was found.