washingtontimes--2020-06-09--London mayor says statues of imperialists could be removed

LONDON ( AP ) - More statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britain ’ s streets , following the unauthorized felling of a monument to slave trader Edward Colston in the city of Bristol , the mayor of London said Tuesday .
Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was setting up a commission to ensure the city ’ s monuments reflected its diversity .
The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm will review statues , murals , street art , street names and other memorials and consider which legacies should be celebrated , the mayor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truth that our nation and city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade and while this is reflected in our public realm , the contribution of many of our communities to life in our capital has been willfully ignored , ” Khan said .
Debate over who should be publicly commemorated has been reignited in Britain by the felling of a monument to Colston , a 17th-century slave trader and philanthropist .
His bronze statue was pulled from its perch in Bristol , southwest England , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday and dumped in the city ’ s harbor .
Many Bristolians welcomed the statue ’ s removal , but the British government called it an act of vandalism and urged police to prosecute the perpetrators .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged that it was “ a cold reality ” that people of color in Britain experienced discrimination , and promised his government was committed to “ eradicating prejudice and creating opportunity.
” But he said those who attacked police or desecrated public monuments should face “ the full force of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reinvigorated Oxford University campaigners calling for the removal of a statue of Cecil Rhodes , a Victorian imperialist in southern Africa who made a fortune from mines and endowed the university ’ s Rhodes scholarships .
As the Rhodes Must Fall group planned to protest Tuesday at the statue , a banner erected in Oxford declared : “ Rhodes , you ’ re next.
” In Edinburgh , Scotland , there are calls to remove a statue of Henry Dundas , an 18th-century politician who delayed Britain ’ s abolition of slavery by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Council , Adam McVey , said he would “ have absolutely no sense of loss if the Dundas statue was removed and replaced with something else or left as a plinth.
” Some historical figures have more complex legacies .
At weekend protests in London , demonstrators scrawled “ was a racist ” on a statue of Winston Churchill .
Britain ’ s wartime prime minister is revered as the man who led the country to victory against Nazi Germany .
But he was also a staunch defender of the British Empire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s perfect , whether it ’ s Churchill , whether it ’ s Gandhi , whether it ’ s Malcolm X , ” he told the BBC , adding that schools should teach children about historical figures “ warts and all.
” “ But there are some statues that are quite clear cut , ” Khan said .
“ Slavers are quite clear cut in my view , plantation owners are quite clear cut.
” Follow all developments and AP stories on global protests against racial injustice and police brutality at https @ @

LONDON (AP) — London’s mayor announced Tuesday that more statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britain’s streets after protesters knocked down the monument to a slave trader, as the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis continued to spark protests - and drive change - around the world.
On the day Floyd was buried in his hometown of Houston, Texas, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was setting up a commission to ensure the British capital’s monuments reflected its diversity. It will review statues, murals, street art, street names and other memorials and consider which legacies should be celebrated, the mayor’s office said.
“It is an uncomfortable truth that our nation and city owes a large part of its wealth to its role in the slave trade and while this is reflected in our public realm, the contribution of many of our communities to life in our capital has been willfully ignored,” Khan said.
Even before the new commission got underway, officials in east London removed a statue of 18th-century merchant and slave owner Robert Milligan from its place in the city’s docklands.
Joe Biggs, mayor of London’s Tower Hamlets borough, said that following the toppling of a statue of slave trader Edward Colston by demonstrators in the city of Bristol on Sunday, “we’ve acted quickly to both ensure public safety and respond to the concerns of our residents, which I share.”
It was the latest sign that international protests of racial injustice and police violence that Floyd’s May 25 death spurred are already creating change. A white police officer who pressed a knee on Floyd’s neck for more than eight minutes has been charged with murder.
Statues, as long-lasting symbols of a society’s values, have become a focus of protest around the world.
On Sunday, protesters in Bristol hauled down a statue of Colston, a 17th-century slave trader and philanthropist, and dumped in the city’s harbor.
That act revived calls for Oxford University to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a Victorian imperialist in southern Africa who made a fortune from mines and endowed Oxford University’s Rhodes scholarships.
Several hundred supporters of the Rhodes Must Fall group gathered near the statue at the university’s College on Tuesday, chanting “Take it down” before holding a silent sit-down vigil in the street to memorialize Floyd.
Oxford city officials urged the college to apply for permission to remove the statue so that it could be placed in a museum.
Another large statue of Rhodes that had stood since 1934 was removed from South Africa’s University of Cape Town in April 2015, after a student-led campaign that also urged the university to increase its numbers of black lecturers and to make the curriculum less Eurocentric.
In 2003, the Rhodes Scholarships started a new program in South Africa, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The Rhodes Scholarships continue to operate in South Africa and around the world.
In Antwerp, authorities used a crane on Tuesday to remove a statue of Belgium’s former King Leopold II that had been splattered with red paint by protesters, taking it away for repairs. It was unclear whether it would be re-erected.
Leopold took control of Congo in 1885 and enslaved much of its people to collect rubber, reigning over a brutal regime under which some 10 million Congolese died.
In Edinburgh, Scotland, there are calls to tear down a statue of Henry Dundas, an 18th-century politician who delayed Britain’s abolition of slavery by 15 years.
The leader of Edinburgh City Council, Adam McVey, said he would “have absolutely no sense of loss if the Dundas statue was removed and replaced with something else or left as a plinth.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that it was “a cold reality” that people of color in Britain experienced discrimination, but said those who attacked police or desecrated public monuments should face “the full force of the law.”
Some historical figures have complex legacies. At weekend protests in London, demonstrators scrawled “was a racist” on a statue of Winston Churchill. Britain’s wartime prime minister is revered as the man who led the country to victory against Nazi Germany. But he was also a staunch defender of the British Empire and expressed racist views.
Khan suggested Churchill’s statue should stay up.
“Nobody’s perfect, whether it’s Churchill, whether it’s Gandhi, whether it’s Malcolm X,” he told the BBC, adding that schools should teach children about historical figures “warts and all.”
“But there are some statues that are quite clear-cut,” Khan said. “Slavers are quite clear-cut in my view, plantation owners are quite clear-cut.”
Protests continued Tuesday in cities around the world. In Britain, where more than 200 demonstrations have been held so far, people gathered in London’s Parliament Square for a vigil timed to coincide with Floyd’s funeral.France has seen nationwide protests calling for greater law enforcement accountability, and more demonstrations were being held Tuesday evening.
Floyd’s death has resonated especially strongly in France’s banlieues, or suburbs, where poverty and minority populations are concentrated. Protesters marching in solidarity with U.S. demonstrations over Floyd’s death have also called for justice for Adama Traore, a young man of Malian origin whose death in French police custody in 2016 is still under investigation.
Thousands of people gathered in Paris once again Tuesday evening to denounce police violence in the United States and in France. Participants knelt and observed silence in George Floyd’s memory.
“It’s unacceptable that young people, when they’re in contact with the police, see their life expectancy melt like snow in the sun,” a 42-year-old artist who goes by the professional name Fhemann said.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has met police and citizens’ groups. He said Tuesday that the code of police ethics would be reviewed. The French government has also announced that the chokehold would no longer be taught in police training.
___
This story was first published on June 9, 2020. It was updated on June 10, 2020 to correct that the Rhodes scholarships continue to operate in South Africa.
___
Arno Pedram and Thomas Adamson in Paris, Raf Casert in Brussels and Andrew Meldrum in Johannesburg contributed to this story.
___
Follow all developments and AP stories on global protests against racial injustice and police brutality at https://apnews.com/GeorgeFloyd


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Calls for new probe of 2012 shooting of black man by deputy

MACON , Ga. ( AP ) - Activists have called for a new investigation into the death of an unarmed black man fatally shot by a deputy in a grocery store parking lot nearly 8 years ago .
A news conference held in Macon , Georgia , on Monday called for the reopening of the shooting that killed Sammy “ Junebug ” Davis in December 2012 , WMAZ-TV reported .
It comes several years after a district attorney who oversaw the case ruled that a deputy who shot Davis had acted properly following a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sutton , claimed Davis attacked him and was later fired from the sheriff ’ s office for his actions in a different case .
He had previous complaints filed against him for excessive force and a history of suspensions , WMAZ-TV reported at the time .
Former Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis also said the case should be reopened during the news conference .
“ Should there be any new credible evidence that calls into question the forensic evidence that corroborated eyewitness testimony , I would personally be more than happy to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooke , who made the decision not to press charges against Sutton following the GBI investigation , said in a statement .
Cooke said independent reviews of the police shooting showed “ there was no evidence to pursue charges against Officer Sutton .
”

MACON, Ga. (AP) - Activists have called for a new investigation into the death of an unarmed black man fatally shot by a deputy in a grocery store parking lot nearly 8 years ago.
A news conference held in Macon, Georgia, on Monday called for the reopening of the shooting that killed Sammy “Junebug” Davis in December 2012, WMAZ-TV reported. It comes several years after a district attorney who oversaw the case ruled that a deputy who shot Davis had acted properly following a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into the shooting.
The deputy, Clayton Sutton, claimed Davis attacked him and was later fired from the sheriff’s office for his actions in a different case. He had previous complaints filed against him for excessive force and a history of suspensions, WMAZ-TV reported at the time.
Former Macon Mayor C. Jack Ellis also said the case should be reopened during the news conference.
“Should there be any new credible evidence that calls into question the forensic evidence that corroborated eyewitness testimony, I would personally be more than happy to reopen the case,” District Attorney David Cooke, who made the decision not to press charges against Sutton following the GBI investigation, said in a statement.
Cooke said independent reviews of the police shooting showed “there was no evidence to pursue charges against Officer Sutton.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Hong Kong Timeline: A Year of Protests

Hong Kong Timeline: A Year of Protests

HONG KONG ( AP ) - One year ago , a sea of humanity - a million people by some estimates - streamed through central Hong Kong on a steamy afternoon .
It was the start of what would grow into the longest-lasting and most violent anti-government movement the city has seen since its return to China in 1997 .
A year later , as new protests simmer , China is poised to enact a national security law to crack down on further disturbance .
After 12 months of exhilaration for some , exasperation for others and exhaustion for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hangs in the balance .
JUNE 9 , 2019 : Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate against proposed amendments to Hong Kong laws that would allow suspects to be extradited to China to face trial .
Many feel the legislation would undermine the “ one country , two systems ” principle under which Hong Kong was returned to China by exposing residents to a murky legal system with fewer protections .
An even larger march against the proposal took place the following week .
JUNE 12 : Protesters take over the streets around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Legco , and prevent lawmakers from entering to debate the extradition bill .
Some throw rocks and metal barricades at police .
Officers use tear gas to disperse the crowds in what will become a common practice in the months ahead .
JULY 1 : Protesters smash their way into the legislature building on a public holiday , spray-paint slogans on the walls , tear down the portraits of legislative leaders and deface the Hong Kong city emblem in the main chamber .
The legislature remains closed for repairs for a few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contingent of Chinese militarized police with armored vehicles mass to hold drills in Shenzhen , the mainland city bordering Hong Kong .
The presence of the People ’ s Armed Police , whose functions include crowd and riot control , sparks speculation that they would intervene in Hong Kong ’ s protests .
AUG. 25 : Hong Kong police deploy a water cannon for the first time as clashes with protesters escalate .
The water is often laced with pepper spray to cause a stinging sensation and dyed with coloring to mark the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SEPT. 4 : With no end in sight for the protests , Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says the government will formally withdraw the extradition legislation .
By then , though , the movement ’ s demands have expanded to include an independent investigation into alleged police brutality against protesters , the unconditional release of those detained and greater democracy in city elections .
NOV. 2019 : Protesters occupy and barricade several university campuses for several days and battle police outside in some of the most violent clashes in the months of protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wins a sweeping victory in district council elections across the city of 7.5 million people .
The results buoy the protesters , but pro-Beijing parties remain in control of the legislature , where only half the members are elected by popular vote .
SPRING 2020 : The protests ease somewhat in the weeks following the election and are further slowed by the coronavirus outbreak .
The arrest of 15 prominent pro-democracy activists in mid-April sparks small protests in shopping malls that are broken up by police , who cite virus-related limits on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : China ’ s National People ’ s Congress ratifies a decision to develop national security laws for Hong Kong .
Chinese and Hong Kong leaders say the protests created an urgent need for such laws .
Pro-democracy activists and many legal experts fear a further erosion of “ one-country , two systems.
” The laws are expected to be enacted by the end of the summer .

HONG KONG (AP) - One year ago, a sea of humanity - a million people by some estimates - streamed through central Hong Kong on a steamy afternoon. It was the start of what would grow into the longest-lasting and most violent anti-government movement the city has seen since its return to China in 1997. A year later, as new protests simmer, China is poised to enact a national security law to crack down on further disturbance. After 12 months of exhilaration for some, exasperation for others and exhaustion for all, Hong Kong’s future still hangs in the balance.
JUNE 9, 2019: Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate against proposed amendments to Hong Kong laws that would allow suspects to be extradited to China to face trial. Many feel the legislation would undermine the “one country, two systems” principle under which Hong Kong was returned to China by exposing residents to a murky legal system with fewer protections. An even larger march against the proposal took place the following week.
JUNE 12: Protesters take over the streets around Hong Kong’s legislature, known as Legco, and prevent lawmakers from entering to debate the extradition bill. Some throw rocks and metal barricades at police. Officers use tear gas to disperse the crowds in what will become a common practice in the months ahead.
JULY 1: Protesters smash their way into the legislature building on a public holiday, spray-paint slogans on the walls, tear down the portraits of legislative leaders and deface the Hong Kong city emblem in the main chamber. The legislature remains closed for repairs for a few months.
AUG. 17: A large contingent of Chinese militarized police with armored vehicles mass to hold drills in Shenzhen, the mainland city bordering Hong Kong. The presence of the People’s Armed Police, whose functions include crowd and riot control, sparks speculation that they would intervene in Hong Kong’s protests.
AUG. 25: Hong Kong police deploy a water cannon for the first time as clashes with protesters escalate. The water is often laced with pepper spray to cause a stinging sensation and dyed with coloring to mark the clothing of those who join protests.
SEPT. 4: With no end in sight for the protests, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says the government will formally withdraw the extradition legislation. By then, though, the movement’s demands have expanded to include an independent investigation into alleged police brutality against protesters, the unconditional release of those detained and greater democracy in city elections.
NOV. 2019: Protesters occupy and barricade several university campuses for several days and battle police outside in some of the most violent clashes in the months of protests.
NOV. 24: The pro-democracy opposition wins a sweeping victory in district council elections across the city of 7.5 million people. The results buoy the protesters, but pro-Beijing parties remain in control of the legislature, where only half the members are elected by popular vote.
SPRING 2020: The protests ease somewhat in the weeks following the election and are further slowed by the coronavirus outbreak. The arrest of 15 prominent pro-democracy activists in mid-April sparks small protests in shopping malls that are broken up by police, who cite virus-related limits on the size of public gatherings.
MAY 28: China’s National People’s Congress ratifies a decision to develop national security laws for Hong Kong. Chinese and Hong Kong leaders say the protests created an urgent need for such laws. Pro-democracy activists and many legal experts fear a further erosion of “one-country, two systems.” The laws are expected to be enacted by the end of the summer.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--'Cops,' on air for 33 seasons, dropped by Paramount Network

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - After 33 seasons on the air , “ Cops ” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world .
“ Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don ’ t have any current or future plans for it to return , ” a spokesperson for the cable channel said in a statement Tuesday .
The show had been pulled temporarily from the air in late May , when protests aimed at police over the death of George Floyd began to gain momentum .
That move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not clear whether the company that makes the show , Langley Productions , would try to find a new home for it .
A voicemail at a company phone number was not accepting messages .
The reality show , with its widely known reggae theme song “ Bad Boys , ” allowed viewers to ride along with police officers on patrol in various cities .
It ran on the Fox network for 25 years until 2013 , when Viacom-owned Spike TV picked it up .
The show remained on the air after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After 33 seasons on the air, “Cops” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world.
“Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” a spokesperson for the cable channel said in a statement Tuesday.
The show had been pulled temporarily from the air in late May, when protests aimed at police over the death of George Floyd began to gain momentum. That move was made permanent Tuesday.
It’s not clear whether the company that makes the show, Langley Productions, would try to find a new home for it. A voicemail at a company phone number was not accepting messages.
The reality show, with its widely known reggae theme song “Bad Boys,” allowed viewers to ride along with police officers on patrol in various cities.
It ran on the Fox network for 25 years until 2013, when Viacom-owned Spike TV picked it up. The show remained on the air after Spike was re-branded as the Paramount Network in 2018.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Video shows prison guard mocking George Floyd killing

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP , N.J. ( AP ) - A corrections officer who participated in a counterprotest to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in New Jersey in which people reenacted the death of George Floyd was suspended after the video was widely shared on social media .
In the video , protesters march along a street Monday in Franklin Township , Gloucester County , chanting “ George Floyd !
” and “ Black Lives Matter !
” The video shows they are being escorted by local police .
They pass a private property filled with firewood for sale .
Video filmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the neck of another man shouting unintelligibly back at protesters .
Protesters shout back .
Two more men are standing nearby and one of them is filming on a cellphone .
The group is standing on the roadside in front of a pickup truck outfitted with an American flag and a Trump banner .
Several others are nearby .
An “ All Lives Matter ” sign is also hanging .
Another truck shows the “ thin blue line ” flag , meant to show support for law enforcement workers .
The video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shares on social media .
Floyd , a black man , was pinned to the pavement May 25 by a white Minneapolis police office who put his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes , even after Floyd stopped responding .
Protests have been held in cities and towns around the world calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism .
The New Jersey Department of Corrections put out a statement Tuesday afternoon that said they were made aware that one of its officers participated in the filming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mocked the killing of George Floyd.
” “ The individual has been suspended from their post and banned from NJDOC facilities pending a thorough and expedited investigation , ” the statement said .
It ’ s unknown which of the people in the video works for the Department .
Another person in the video is a FedEx employee , who has since been fired , a company spokesman told The Courier Post .
A statement from Police Chief Brian Zimmer and Mayor John Bruno said they were “ appalled and saddened by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC10 reported they called multiple phone numbers listed for the property where the counterprotesters were , but has not received a response .

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - A corrections officer who participated in a counterprotest to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in New Jersey in which people reenacted the death of George Floyd was suspended after the video was widely shared on social media.
In the video, protesters march along a street Monday in Franklin Township, Gloucester County, chanting “George Floyd!” and “Black Lives Matter!” The video shows they are being escorted by local police.
They pass a private property filled with firewood for sale. Video filmed by someone marching shows a man kneeling on the neck of another man shouting unintelligibly back at protesters. Protesters shout back.
Two more men are standing nearby and one of them is filming on a cellphone. The group is standing on the roadside in front of a pickup truck outfitted with an American flag and a Trump banner. Several others are nearby. An “All Lives Matter” sign is also hanging.
Another truck shows the “thin blue line” flag, meant to show support for law enforcement workers.
The video has garnered tens of thousands of views and shares on social media.
Floyd, a black man, was pinned to the pavement May 25 by a white Minneapolis police office who put his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes, even after Floyd stopped responding. Protests have been held in cities and towns around the world calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism.
The New Jersey Department of Corrections put out a statement Tuesday afternoon that said they were made aware that one of its officers participated in the filming of a “hateful and disappointing video that mocked the killing of George Floyd.”
“The individual has been suspended from their post and banned from NJDOC facilities pending a thorough and expedited investigation,” the statement said.
It’s unknown which of the people in the video works for the Department.
Another person in the video is a FedEx employee, who has since been suspended, a company spokesman told The Courier Post.
A statement from Police Chief Brian Zimmer and Mayor John Bruno said they were “appalled and saddened by the revolting actions of certain individuals.”
Gov. Phil Murphy condemned the stunt Tuesday night on Twitter, saying the state won’t “let the actions of a few distract from our progress toward dismantling systemic racism.”
“Mocking George Floyd’s murder in effort to belittle the calls for justice from our Black and Brown communities is repugnant,” Murphy tweeted.
NBC10 reported they called multiple phone numbers listed for the property where the counterprotesters were, but has not received a response.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Missouri woman prompts Merriam-Webster to redefine 'racism'

Merriam-Webster is revising its definition of racism after a Missouri woman ’ s emails claimed it fell short of including the systemic oppression of certain groups of people .
Kennedy Mitchum , who lives in the St. Louis suburb Florissant , said people would argue with her about the definition of racism and she realized the problem was in the Merriam-Webster ’ s dictionary , KMOV-TV reported .
“ It ’ s not just disliking someone because of their race , ” Mitchum wrote in a Facebook post .
“ This current fight we are in is evidence of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the systems of oppression that go hand-in-hand with racism.
” The revision comes against the backdrop of protests around the country against police brutality after the death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck to the ground .
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary first defines racism as “ a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
” Mitchum , who recently graduated with a degree in law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definition was too simple .
“ So , a couple weeks ago , I said this is the last argument I ’ m going to have about this .
I know what racism is , I ’ ve experienced it time and time and time again in a lot of different ways , so enough is enough .
So , I emailed them about how I felt about it .
Saying this needs to change , ” she said .
Peter Sokolowski , editor at large at Merriam-Webster , said in an emailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dictionary ’ s second definition is “ divided to express , first , explicit institutional bias against people because of their race , and , second , a broader implicit bias that can also result in an asymmetrical power structure.
” “ This second definition covers the sense that Ms. Mitchum was seeking , and we will make its wording even more clear in our next release , ” he said .
“ This is the kind of continuous revision that is part of the work of keeping the dictionary up to date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we employ in order to describe the language as it is actually used .
”

Merriam-Webster is revising its definition of racism after a Missouri woman’s emails claimed it fell short of including the systemic oppression of certain groups of people.
Kennedy Mitchum, who lives in the St. Louis suburb Florissant, said people would argue with her about the definition of racism and she realized the problem was in the Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, KMOV-TV reported.
“It’s not just disliking someone because of their race,” Mitchum wrote in a Facebook post. “This current fight we are in is evidence of that, lives are at stake because of the systems of oppression that go hand-in-hand with racism.”
The revision comes against the backdrop of protests around the country against police brutality after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pinned his neck to the ground.
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary first defines racism as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”
Mitchum, who recently graduated with a degree in law, politics and society, said that definition was too simple.
“So, a couple weeks ago, I said this is the last argument I’m going to have about this. I know what racism is, I’ve experienced it time and time and time again in a lot of different ways, so enough is enough. So, I emailed them about how I felt about it. Saying this needs to change,” she said.
Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that the dictionary’s second definition is “divided to express, first, explicit institutional bias against people because of their race, and, second, a broader implicit bias that can also result in an asymmetrical power structure.”
“This second definition covers the sense that Ms. Mitchum was seeking, and we will make its wording even more clear in our next release,” he said. “This is the kind of continuous revision that is part of the work of keeping the dictionary up to date, based on rigorous criteria and research we employ in order to describe the language as it is actually used.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Long lines of three hours or more at Las Vegas-area polling places may delay release of primary elec

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - Long lines of three hours or more at Las Vegas-area polling places may delay @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Long lines of three hours or more at Las Vegas-area polling places may delay release of primary election results Tuesday.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Change of plea hearing scheduled for impaired ex-pathologist

FAYETTEVILLE , Ark .
( AP ) - A former Arkansas pathologist charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three patients after being accused of working while impaired is scheduled for a change of plea hearing this week , according to court records .
Robert Morris Levy , 53 , pleaded not guilty to charges that he missed the diagnoses with fatal results in three cases due to working impaired .
The Fayetteville man was indicted Aug. 16 .
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks will be presiding over the hearing Thursday that ’ s taking place by video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In March 2018 , Levy was arrested for driving while inebriated , prompting substance abuse allegations .
It led to a yearlong examination of his cases since he started working at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in 2005 .
Though the DWI charge was later dropped after police tests found no alcohol , the VA still suspended him .
The system fired him the following month after an investigation discovered drug purchases that ultimately led to the indictment .
Outside pathologists discovered 30 missed diagnoses posing severe health dangers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health care system in May 2019 .
The fatal missed diagnoses are noted in the indictment .
Pathologists reviewed nearly 34,000 cases handled by Levy and found more than 3,000 errors or missed diagnoses , according to the review .
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and Levy ’ s defense lawyer couldn ’ t be reached for comment as of Monday .
The Ozarks System deferred all comment to the U.S. Attorney ’ s office .
Levy worked while impaired despite being monitored by blood and urine tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal indictment .
Additionally , he was indicted on 12 different counts of wire fraud and mail fraud and four counts of giving false statements to hide his substance abuse .
The monitoring stemmed from administrators at Ozarks System receiving a March 2016 report that he was intoxicated while assisting with an ultrasound-guided taking of a sample from a patient ’ s liver .
He wasn ’ t arrested at that time .
Levy has acknowledged that he once showed up to work intoxicated at the Ozarks System in 2016 , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ influence .

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A former Arkansas pathologist charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of three patients after being accused of working while impaired is scheduled for a change of plea hearing this week, according to court records.
Robert Morris Levy, 53, pleaded not guilty to charges that he missed the diagnoses with fatal results in three cases due to working impaired. The Fayetteville man was indicted Aug. 16.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks will be presiding over the hearing Thursday that’s taking place by video conference, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.
In March 2018, Levy was arrested for driving while inebriated, prompting substance abuse allegations. It led to a yearlong examination of his cases since he started working at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks in 2005.
Though the DWI charge was later dropped after police tests found no alcohol, the VA still suspended him. The system fired him the following month after an investigation discovered drug purchases that ultimately led to the indictment.
Outside pathologists discovered 30 missed diagnoses posing severe health dangers to patients, according to results released by the health care system in May 2019. The fatal missed diagnoses are noted in the indictment. Pathologists reviewed nearly 34,000 cases handled by Levy and found more than 3,000 errors or missed diagnoses, according to the review.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and Levy’s defense lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment as of Monday. The Ozarks System deferred all comment to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Levy worked while impaired despite being monitored by blood and urine tests for alcohol abuse, according to a federal indictment. Additionally, he was indicted on 12 different counts of wire fraud and mail fraud and four counts of giving false statements to hide his substance abuse.
The monitoring stemmed from administrators at Ozarks System receiving a March 2016 report that he was intoxicated while assisting with an ultrasound-guided taking of a sample from a patient’s liver. He wasn’t arrested at that time.
Levy has acknowledged that he once showed up to work intoxicated at the Ozarks System in 2016, but he refuted claims of working while under the influence.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Hawaii resident arrested in traveler quarantine violation

HONOLULU ( AP ) - A Hawaii woman has been arrested and accused of violating the state ’ s mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving to the islands .
Patricia L. Pian , 48 , is the first returning Hawaii resident to be arrested over the quarantine by state attorney general investigators , the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center announced Tuesday .
Witnesses reported seeing her swimming in the ocean a few hours after she returned to Honolulu from San Diego on May 31 , the state said .
“ She was also seen sunbathing with her husband and walking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s news release said .
Pian was arrested Tuesday in the hallway of her Waikiki condominium building and charged with violating quarantine .
Her bail was set at $ 2,000 .
She couldn ’ t immediately be reached for comment .
Gov .
David Ige ordered the quarantine starting March 26 in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in Hawaii .
On Tuesday , Hawaii reported six new cases of the virus , bringing the statewide total to 682 cases .
There have been 17 deaths .
For most people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
The vast majority of people recover .
Ige has said he plans to extend the quarantine beyond June 30 .
Travelers arriving to the state aren ’ t allowed to leave their quarantine location , such as residences or hotels , for anything except medical emergencies .
A quarantine for those traveling between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Some tourists have been arrested for violating the quarantine .
On Monday , 1,732 people arrived in Hawaii , according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority .
During this same time last year , nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily .

HONOLULU (AP) - A Hawaii woman has been arrested and accused of violating the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving to the islands.
Patricia L. Pian, 48, is the first returning Hawaii resident to be arrested over the quarantine by state attorney general investigators, the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center announced Tuesday.
Witnesses reported seeing her swimming in the ocean a few hours after she returned to Honolulu from San Diego on May 31, the state said.
“She was also seen sunbathing with her husband and walking their dog,” the state’s news release said.
Pian was arrested Tuesday in the hallway of her Waikiki condominium building and charged with violating quarantine. Her bail was set at $2,000.
She couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Gov. David Ige ordered the quarantine starting March 26 in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in Hawaii. On Tuesday, Hawaii reported six new cases of the virus, bringing the statewide total to 682 cases. There have been 17 deaths.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The vast majority of people recover.
Ige has said he plans to extend the quarantine beyond June 30. Travelers arriving to the state aren’t allowed to leave their quarantine location, such as residences or hotels, for anything except medical emergencies.
A quarantine for those traveling between the Hawaiian Islands will be lifted next week.
Some tourists have been arrested for violating the quarantine. On Monday, 1,732 people arrived in Hawaii, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. During this same time last year, nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in Hawaii daily.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Florida gov approves $2M to compensate wrongly convicted man

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) - Republican Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday to compensate a former death row inmate $ 2 million who was released after 43 years in prison for a murder authorities now say he didn ’ t commit .
Clifford Williams was released from prison in 2019 in a case that is now called an injustice .
Both chambers of the Legislature passed the bill unanimously .
Williams smiled broadly when the bill was sent to DeSantis in March .
Williams and his nephew , Nathan Myers , were convicted of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attempted murder of Nina Marshall in Jacksonville .
Williams was at first sentenced to death and spent four years on death row before being resentenced to life in prison .
Clifford Williams and Jeanette Williams weren ’ t related .
No physical evidence linked the men to the crime .
Marshall , who has since died , was the only witness and her testimony contradicted evidence gathered by investigators that has since called her credibility into question .
Several witnesses told investigators that the men were at a party down the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorneys called no witnesses and neither the alibi nor the contradictory forensic evidence were presented to the jury .
Both men were released from prison in March 2019 .
Myers was eligible for $ 2 million in compensation under state law , but Williams wasn ’ t because he was previously convicted of two unrelated felonies .
That ’ s why lawmakers needed to authorize the payment from the state ’ s general revenue .
At a news conference after the bill passed , lobbyist Larry Sellers , who volunteered his time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , expressed amazement at Williams ’ positive attitude .
“ You don ’ t have a bitter bone in your body .
I don ’ t know how you did it , ” Sellers said .
“ He did it .
It wasn ’ t me .
I thank him , ” Williams .
Another bill signed Tuesday will require the state Department of Transportation to create staging areas along the state turnpike system for hurricane and emergency response supplies .
The bill will also require the state to develop a plan to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along the state highway system .
In other bill actions , DeSantis signed a bill that would pay veterans and members of the military $ 5,000 in benefits if they adopt a child in the state ’ s child welfare system .
That benefit would double if a special needs child is adopted .
The law will take effect July 1 .
Another bill will allow state attorneys to create review teams to investigate the deaths of elderly residents when abuse or neglect is suspected .
It will take effect July 1 .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday to compensate a former death row inmate $2 million who was released after 43 years in prison for a murder authorities now say he didn’t commit.
Clifford Williams was released from prison in 2019 in a case that is now called an injustice. Both chambers of the Legislature passed the bill unanimously. Williams smiled broadly when the bill was sent to DeSantis in March.
Williams and his nephew, Nathan Myers, were convicted of the 1976 fatal shooting of Jeanette Williams and the attempted murder of Nina Marshall in Jacksonville. Williams was at first sentenced to death and spent four years on death row before being resentenced to life in prison. Clifford Williams and Jeanette Williams weren’t related.
No physical evidence linked the men to the crime. Marshall, who has since died, was the only witness and her testimony contradicted evidence gathered by investigators that has since called her credibility into question.
Several witnesses told investigators that the men were at a party down the street when the shooting happened, but defense attorneys called no witnesses and neither the alibi nor the contradictory forensic evidence were presented to the jury.
Both men were released from prison in March 2019. Myers was eligible for $2 million in compensation under state law, but Williams wasn’t because he was previously convicted of two unrelated felonies. That’s why lawmakers needed to authorize the payment from the state’s general revenue.
At a news conference after the bill passed, lobbyist Larry Sellers, who volunteered his time to help get the bill through the Legislature, expressed amazement at Williams’ positive attitude.
“You don’t have a bitter bone in your body. I don’t know how you did it,” Sellers said.
Williams smiled and pointed both fingers upward.
“He did it. It wasn’t me. I thank him,” Williams.
Another bill signed Tuesday will require the state Department of Transportation to create staging areas along the state turnpike system for hurricane and emergency response supplies. The bill will also require the state to develop a plan to create infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations along the state highway system.
In other bill actions, DeSantis signed a bill that would pay veterans and members of the military $5,000 in benefits if they adopt a child in the state’s child welfare system. That benefit would double if a special needs child is adopted. The law will take effect July 1.
Another bill will allow state attorneys to create review teams to investigate the deaths of elderly residents when abuse or neglect is suspected. It will take effect July 1.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--2 retired Navy officials plead guilty in vast bribery case

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - Two retired Navy officials pleaded guilty Tuesday in a bribery case that has caused the downfall of high-ranking officials in one of the worst corruption scandals in the history of the maritime service .
Retired Capt .
David Williams Haas and retired Chief Petty Officer Brooks Alonzo Parks entered pleas in San Diego to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery , the San Diego Union-Tribune reported .
They are were among 33 people charged in a sweeping bribery case involving a Malaysian defense contractor , Leonard Glenn Francis , nicknamed “ Fat Leonard.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ long string of Navy officials , including a rear admiral , to win lucrative contracts to provide support services to U.S. Navy ships docked in Asian ports .
Nineteen current or former Navy officials have pleaded guilty .
Haas was a captain on the Blue Ridge , a 7th Fleet command ship , and acknowledged receiving $ 91,000 worth of bribes that included a days-long party in Indonesia that included the services of prostitutes , the Union-Tribune reported .
Parks was a 7th Fleet logistics officer who acknowledged leaking information to help Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about competitors and pricing .
Parks acknowledged receiving about $ 25,000 worth of bribes , including a $ 3,000-a-night room at a Hilton in Singapore , according to his plea agreement .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Two retired Navy officials pleaded guilty Tuesday in a bribery case that has caused the downfall of high-ranking officials in one of the worst corruption scandals in the history of the maritime service.
Retired Capt. David Williams Haas and retired Chief Petty Officer Brooks Alonzo Parks entered pleas in San Diego to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
They are were among 33 people charged in a sweeping bribery case involving a Malaysian defense contractor, Leonard Glenn Francis, nicknamed “Fat Leonard.” Prosecutors contend that he bribed a long string of Navy officials, including a rear admiral, to win lucrative contracts to provide support services to U.S. Navy ships docked in Asian ports.
Nineteen current or former Navy officials have pleaded guilty.
Haas was a captain on the Blue Ridge, a 7th Fleet command ship, and acknowledged receiving $91,000 worth of bribes that included a days-long party in Indonesia that included the services of prostitutes, the Union-Tribune reported.
Parks was a 7th Fleet logistics officer who acknowledged leaking information to help Francis is bids for contracts, including tips about competitors and pricing.
Parks acknowledged receiving about $25,000 worth of bribes, including a $3,000-a-night room at a Hilton in Singapore, according to his plea agreement.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Movie theaters, shuttered for months, plan July reopening

NEW YORK ( AP ) - After three months of near total blackout of cinemas nationwide , movie theaters are preparing to reopen - even if it means only a few titles on the marquee and showings limited to as little as 25 % capacity .
AMC Theaters , the world ’ s largest theater operator , said Tuesday that it expects to have 97-98 % of its theaters worldwide reopened by mid-July .
The National Association of Theater Owners , the trade group that represents exhibitors , expects some 90-95 % of cinemas around the world will be opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ fluid , ” as AMC Entertainment ’ s chief executive , Adam Aron , said in a call Tuesday with investors .
But provided flare ups of the coronavirus don ’ t unmake plans , the industry is gearing up for a dramatic resumption of widespread business just in time for Christopher Nolan ’ s “ Tenet.
” The Warner Bros. thriller , the latest from arguably Hollywood ’ s most passionate defender of the big-screen experience , is slated for release July 17 .
Warner Bros. didn ’ t comment late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ Tenet ” was notably vague on its release date .
But theater owners are cautiously optimistic that “ Tenet ” will hold where it is .
Aron said that AMC ’ s conversations as recent as Monday with Warner Bros. and Disney , which has “ Mulan ” slated for July 24 , have been reassuring .
The larger question might be whether moviegoers feel safe returning to theaters .
Health officials have warned that large indoor gatherings are risky .
Broadway theaters will remain dark through at least early September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theater operators to convince moviegoers that it ’ s safe to once again sit in the dark among strangers .
Only recently have state guidelines allowed the reopening of theaters in California ( including in the country ’ s top market , Los Angeles , where local officials have yet to agree ) .
In New York City , open cinemas come in phase four of its reopening schedule ; it began phase one only on Monday .
Aron granted New York theaters , which constitute the second largest market , may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Theaters have slowly been reopening in other areas of the country , while a renaissance of drive-ins has flourished .
Cinemark , which operates about 6,000 U.S. screens has said it will begin reopening in late June and fully reopen by July 10 .
Cineworld , which owns Regal Cinemas , the world ’ s second-largest chain , is also tracking for a July reopening .
But AMC ’ s announcement Tuesday signaled the most ambitious and widespread plan for a resumption of business .
“ After a period of time where billions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social interaction , we believe that there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back out in the world , ” said Aron .
“ Having said that , we ’ re under no illusions .
The waters will be choppy .
There may be unforeseen tosses and turns to be navigated through .
And full recovery may take quite a while.
” AMC , like other chains , expects to limit audience sizes to facilitate social distancing , including keeping cinemas 25-50 % full and blocking out seats .
Cinemas will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be possible from an app .
As a kind of test case , AMC has already opened 10 theaters in Europe .
Three theaters in Norway sold 83 % of available tickets , said Aron .
Although 25 % capacity may sound like an untenable business model , Aron said movie theaters are usually part-empty , calling them - unlike typically sold-out Broadway theaters - “ a church built for Easter Sunday.
” He was optimistic box-office returns wouldn ’ t be badly jeopardized , especially since 12-20 screen multiplexes will likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With so many working from home due to the pandemic , moviegoing may also not be as focused on Friday and Saturday .
Before “ Tenet ” arrives , theaters will play - just as those that are currently open are showing - recent and classic catalog offerings .
The Russell Crowe thriller “ Unhinged , ” from Solstice Studios , is also set for July 1 .
Shortly after AMC ’ s announcement , Sony Pictures said it will roll out the romantic comedy “ The Broken Hearts Gallery ” on July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have faith in a theatrical rebound , and we look forward to being there right out of the gate with our exhibition partners ’ anticipated reemergence , as - and when - state-by-state safety guidelines are met , ” said Josh Greenstein , president of Sony ’ s Motion Picture Group .
The prolonged closure has had a crushing effect on theater chains , forcing the furloughing and firing of tens of thousands of workers .
Rumors of bankruptcy have swirled around AMC .
On Tuesday , it said it lost $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ticket sales have overall been on a slow decline .
Aron acknowledged some cinemas will stay shut .
Though a handful of movies have been steered to streaming or on-demand platforms during the pandemic , most studio films have been postponed until theaters reopen .
Universal Pictures has moved more aggressively to put digitally distribute some of its films , drawing the fury of theater owners .
AMC , which previously said it would cease playing Universal releases , said Tuesday that it remains in “ active negotiations ” with the studio but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on our docket .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - After three months of near total blackout of cinemas nationwide, movie theaters are preparing to reopen - even if it means only a few titles on the marquee and showings limited to as little as 25% capacity.
AMC Theaters, the world’s largest theater operator, said Tuesday that it expects to have 97-98% of its theaters worldwide reopened by mid-July. The National Association of Theater Owners, the trade group that represents exhibitors, expects some 90-95% of cinemas around the world will be opened by mid-July.
A lot is still “fluid,” as AMC Entertainment’s chief executive, Adam Aron, said in a call Tuesday with investors. But provided flare ups of the coronavirus don’t unmake plans, the industry is gearing up for a dramatic resumption of widespread business just in time for Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet.” The Warner Bros. thriller, the latest from arguably Hollywood’s most passionate defender of the big-screen experience, is slated for release July 17.
Warner Bros. didn’t comment late Tuesday, and the most recent trailer for “Tenet” was notably vague on its release date. But theater owners are cautiously optimistic that “Tenet” will hold where it is. Aron said that AMC’s conversations as recent as Monday with Warner Bros. and Disney, which has “Mulan” slated for July 24, have been reassuring.
The larger question might be whether moviegoers feel safe returning to theaters. Health officials have warned that large indoor gatherings are risky. Broadway theaters will remain dark through at least early September. It will be up to movie theater operators to convince moviegoers that it’s safe to once again sit in the dark among strangers.
Only recently have state guidelines allowed the reopening of theaters in California (including in the country’s top market, Los Angeles, where local officials have yet to agree). In New York City, open cinemas come in phase four of its reopening schedule; it began phase one only on Monday. Aron granted New York theaters, which constitute the second largest market, may not open in time for “Tenet.”
Theaters have slowly been reopening in other areas of the country, while a renaissance of drive-ins has flourished. Cinemark, which operates about 6,000 U.S. screens has said it will begin reopening in late June and fully reopen by July 10. Cineworld, which owns Regal Cinemas, the world’s second-largest chain, is also tracking for a July reopening.
But AMC’s announcement Tuesday signaled the most ambitious and widespread plan for a resumption of business.
“After a period of time where billions of people have endured confinement and limited social interaction, we believe that there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back out in the world,” said Aron. “Having said that, we’re under no illusions. The waters will be choppy. There may be unforeseen tosses and turns to be navigated through. And full recovery may take quite a while.”
AMC, like other chains, expects to limit audience sizes to facilitate social distancing, including keeping cinemas 25-50% full and blocking out seats. Cinemas will be regularly cleaned. Ordering concessions will be possible from an app. As a kind of test case, AMC has already opened 10 theaters in Europe. Three theaters in Norway sold 83% of available tickets, said Aron.
Although 25% capacity may sound like an untenable business model, Aron said movie theaters are usually part-empty, calling them - unlike typically sold-out Broadway theaters - “a church built for Easter Sunday.” He was optimistic box-office returns wouldn’t be badly jeopardized, especially since 12-20 screen multiplexes will likely be showing only a handful of films. With so many working from home due to the pandemic, moviegoing may also not be as focused on Friday and Saturday.
Before “Tenet” arrives, theaters will play - just as those that are currently open are showing - recent and classic catalog offerings. The Russell Crowe thriller “Unhinged,” from Solstice Studios, is also set for July 1. Shortly after AMC’s announcement, Sony Pictures said it will roll out the romantic comedy “The Broken Hearts Gallery” on July 10, only in theaters.
“We have faith in a theatrical rebound, and we look forward to being there right out of the gate with our exhibition partners’ anticipated reemergence, as - and when - state-by-state safety guidelines are met,” said Josh Greenstein, president of Sony’s Motion Picture Group.
The prolonged closure has had a crushing effect on theater chains, forcing the furloughing and firing of tens of thousands of workers. Rumors of bankruptcy have swirled around AMC. On Tuesday, it said it lost $2.18 billion in the second quarter. Ticket sales have overall been on a slow decline. Aron acknowledged some cinemas will stay shut.
Though a handful of movies have been steered to streaming or on-demand platforms during the pandemic, most studio films have been postponed until theaters reopen. Universal Pictures has moved more aggressively to put digitally distribute some of its films, drawing the fury of theater owners. AMC, which previously said it would cease playing Universal releases, said Tuesday that it remains in “active negotiations” with the studio but that no Universal movies “are currently on our docket.”
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--North Korea lashes out, says it will cut ties with South Korea

North Korea lashed out despite South Korea ’ s calls for new talks Tuesday , saying it was freezing all communication channels and vowing to treat Seoul as an “ enemy ” in what analysts say may be the opening of a belligerent wave of provocations from Pyongyang .
The assertiveness , a blow to the detente policy pursued by South Korean President Moon Jae-in , may be tied to the rise of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ’ s younger sister , Kim Yo Jong , who has been increasingly visible in Pyongyang since Mr. Kim ’ s roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid a suspected health scare .
The North ’ s official Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA ) said Tuesday ’ s decision to sever all communications with Seoul was made by Kim Yo Jong in coordination with former North Korean spy chief Kim Yong Chol , 72 , a notoriously anti-Seoul hardliner in the Pyongyang hierarchy .
Kim Yo Jong in recent days has threatened to permanently shut a liaison office established with Seoul and to shutter a joint factory park in the border town of Kaesong , symbols of reconciliation between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say the North refused to answer a daily call on the countries ’ joint military hotline this week for the first time in two years .
Some experts say Kim Yo Jong , 32 , is being given more power should her overweight , heart disease-prone older brother fall seriously ill or die suddenly .
“ It seems like Kim Jong-un is placing some of the key levers of power in Kim Yo Jong ’ s hands , ” David Maxwell , a retired U.S. Special Forces colonel and North Korea expert with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in comments circulated to reporters this week .
“ Maybe she is being groomed for eventual leadership.
” The regime has clearly lost patience in recent weeks , claiming Seoul has failed — after nearly two years of U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks — to revive lucrative inter-Korean economic projects and to persuade the Trump administration to ease crippling sanctions on Pyongyang .
Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim have not met in person since a brief visit by the U.S. leader to the Korean demilitarized zone nearly a year ago , and few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. elections in November .
The United Nations ’ special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea warned Tuesday that “ widespread food shortages and malnutrition ” in North Korea has been exacerbated by economic sanctions .
However , Tuesday ’ s KCNA statement said the decision to freeze all cross-border communications was a response to what it said was the Moon government ’ s failure to halt South Korean activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North .
“ The South Korean authorities connived at the hostile acts against [ North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dodge heavy responsibility with nasty excuses , ” said the statement , which specifically quoted Kim Yo Jong as referring to the leaflet activists as “ human scum ” and “ mongrel dogs.
” The comments came despite recent overtures by South Korean officials , who have said recently that they hoped a peaceful inter-Korean diplomatic summit could be held with the North soon , even amid ongoing regional concerns over the coronavirus pandemic .
Tuesday ’ s KCNA statement ignored Seoul ’ s overtures , focusing instead on conservative South Korean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the South — who have for years floated balloons into the North with leaflets criticizing the Kim regime ’ s nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses .
The leaflet issue has been seized upon by the regime in the past as a pretext for expressing anger and discontentment over other matters .
“ The North Koreans have been trying to find something they can use to express their dissatisfaction and distrust against South Korea , ” Kim Dong-yub , an analyst from Seoul ’ s Institute for Far Eastern Studies , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve now got the leaftleting issue , so I don ’ t think we can simply resolve [ tensions ] even if we address issues related to the leafleting.
” He added that Tuesday ’ s KCNA statement appeared also aimed at strengthening internal unity in Pyongyang and signaling the North ’ s resolve not to make concessions in any possible future nuclear talks .
• Lauren Meier contributed to this story , which is based in part on wire service reports .

North Korea lashed out despite South Korea’s calls for new talks Tuesday, saying it was freezing all communication channels and vowing to treat Seoul as an “enemy” in what analysts say may be the opening of a belligerent wave of provocations from Pyongyang.
The assertiveness, a blow to the detente policy pursued by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, may be tied to the rise of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, who has been increasingly visible in Pyongyang since Mr. Kim’s roughly month-long disappearance from public view in April amid a suspected health scare.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tuesday’s decision to sever all communications with Seoul was made by Kim Yo Jong in coordination with former North Korean spy chief Kim Yong Chol, 72, a notoriously anti-Seoul hardliner in the Pyongyang hierarchy.
Kim Yo Jong in recent days has threatened to permanently shut a liaison office established with Seoul and to shutter a joint factory park in the border town of Kaesong, symbols of reconciliation between the two countries. South Korean officials say the North refused to answer a daily call on the countries’ joint military hotline this week for the first time in two years.
Some experts say Kim Yo Jong, 32, is being given more power should her overweight, heart disease-prone older brother fall seriously ill or die suddenly.
“It seems like Kim Jong-un is placing some of the key levers of power in Kim Yo Jong’s hands,” David Maxwell, a retired U.S. Special Forces colonel and North Korea expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said in comments circulated to reporters this week. “Maybe she is being groomed for eventual leadership.”
The regime has clearly lost patience in recent weeks, claiming Seoul has failed — after nearly two years of U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks — to revive lucrative inter-Korean economic projects and to persuade the Trump administration to ease crippling sanctions on Pyongyang.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim have not met in person since a brief visit by the U.S. leader to the Korean demilitarized zone nearly a year ago, and few expect a major diplomatic breakthrough before the U.S. elections in November.
The United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea warned Tuesday that “widespread food shortages and malnutrition” in North Korea has been exacerbated by economic sanctions.
However, Tuesday’s KCNA statement said the decision to freeze all cross-border communications was a response to what it said was the Moon government’s failure to halt South Korean activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North.
“The South Korean authorities connived at the hostile acts against [North Korea] by the riff-raff, while trying to dodge heavy responsibility with nasty excuses,” said the statement, which specifically quoted Kim Yo Jong as referring to the leaflet activists as “human scum” and “mongrel dogs.”
The comments came despite recent overtures by South Korean officials, who have said recently that they hoped a peaceful inter-Korean diplomatic summit could be held with the North soon, even amid ongoing regional concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.
Tuesday’s KCNA statement ignored Seoul’s overtures, focusing instead on conservative South Korean activists — including many North Korean defectors in the South — who have for years floated balloons into the North with leaflets criticizing the Kim regime’s nuclear ambitions and human rights abuses.
The leaflet issue has been seized upon by the regime in the past as a pretext for expressing anger and discontentment over other matters.
“The North Koreans have been trying to find something they can use to express their dissatisfaction and distrust against South Korea,” Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, told The Associated Press. “They’ve now got the leaftleting issue, so I don’t think we can simply resolve [tensions] even if we address issues related to the leafleting.”
He added that Tuesday’s KCNA statement appeared also aimed at strengthening internal unity in Pyongyang and signaling the North’s resolve not to make concessions in any possible future nuclear talks.
• Lauren Meier contributed to this story, which is based in part on wire service reports.
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Judge: Man held in Vegas protests bomb case a safety threat

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - A Las Vegas judge called an accused leader of a plot to spark violence during recent Las Vegas protests by firebombing an electric power substation a threat to public safety and refused to reduce his $ 1 million bail .
Evidence against Stephen Parshall is “ overwhelming , ” Justice of the Peace Diana Sullivan said Tuesday , and a prosecutor called the 35-year-old Las Vegas man an extreme danger to the community , the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported .
Parshall ’ s co-defendants Andrew Lynam , 23 , and William Loomis , 43 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 million bail .
Each is due in federal court June 15 and local court June 17 .
They were arrested May 30 while allegedly filling gasoline-and-glass-bottle firebombs on the way to a protest of the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes .
Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas tie the three men to the right-wing extremist “ boogaloo ” movement , a loosely organized internet-rooted network of gun enthusiasts expressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parshall ’ s attorney , Robert Draskovich , said his client intends to plead not guilty and questioned accounts of a confidential police informant in the case .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - A Las Vegas judge called an accused leader of a plot to spark violence during recent Las Vegas protests by firebombing an electric power substation a threat to public safety and refused to reduce his $1 million bail.
Evidence against Stephen Parshall is “overwhelming,” Justice of the Peace Diana Sullivan said Tuesday, and a prosecutor called the 35-year-old Las Vegas man an extreme danger to the community, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported .
Parshall’s co-defendants Andrew Lynam, 23, and William Loomis, 43, also are being held on $1 million bail. Each is due in federal court June 15 and local court June 17.
They were arrested May 30 while allegedly filling gasoline-and-glass-bottle firebombs on the way to a protest of the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes.
Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas tie the three men to the right-wing extremist “boogaloo” movement, a loosely organized internet-rooted network of gun enthusiasts expressing support for overthrowing the U.S. government.
Parshall’s attorney, Robert Draskovich, said his client intends to plead not guilty and questioned accounts of a confidential police informant in the case.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Mexico sees cases numbers swell, reports 596 new deaths

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - Mexico accumulated 4,199 more confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday and 596 new deaths , suggesting the planned reopening of broader economic activities may still be far away .
Confirmed deaths had reached a peak of almost 1,100 per day last week , but the daily total had declined for a few days before Tuesday ’ s rebound .
Mexico now has 124,301 confirmed cases and 14,649 deaths , but officials acknowledge that given Mexico ’ s low rate of testing , the real numbers are probably many times higher .
About one-fifth of Mexico ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care professionals , who have suffered 385 deaths .
Mexico has defended its policy of having performed only about 350,000 tests so far in a nation of 125 million .
But an expert from the Pan American Health Organization said testing would have to increase once the initial peak passes and the lock down and social distancing measures are eased .
“ When we enter the phase of descent … the diagnostic capacity has to be increased so that every case that is suspected according to the guidelines can get a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any re-emergence , so that spark won ’ t ignite a fire , ” said Jean-Marc Gabastou , an adviser for the Pan American Health Organization .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico accumulated 4,199 more confirmed coronavirus cases Tuesday and 596 new deaths, suggesting the planned reopening of broader economic activities may still be far away.
Confirmed deaths had reached a peak of almost 1,100 per day last week, but the daily total had declined for a few days before Tuesday’s rebound. Mexico now has 124,301 confirmed cases and 14,649 deaths, but officials acknowledge that given Mexico’s low rate of testing, the real numbers are probably many times higher.
About one-fifth of Mexico’s cases - 26,666 - are among health care professionals, who have suffered 385 deaths.
Mexico has defended its policy of having performed only about 350,000 tests so far in a nation of 125 million. But an expert from the Pan American Health Organization said testing would have to increase once the initial peak passes and the lock down and social distancing measures are eased.
“When we enter the phase of descent … the diagnostic capacity has to be increased so that every case that is suspected according to the guidelines can get a test, because we have to immediately detect any re-emergence, so that spark won’t ignite a fire,” said Jean-Marc Gabastou, an adviser for the Pan American Health Organization.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Brandon Scott wins Democratic nomination for Baltimore mayor

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - City Council President Brandon Scott , who ran a campaign focused on youthful energy , progressive ideas and experience , has won the Democratic nomination for Baltimore mayor .
He has pledged to tackle longstanding challenges in the city such as gun violence and substance abuse .
The victory puts Scott in a strong position to be the next mayor of the struggling city .
Democrats outnumber Republicans 10-1 in Baltimore , and the general election in November is mostly seen as a formality .
On the Republican side , nonprofit executive Shannon Wright emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ councilman since 2011 and became council president last year .
He emerged victorious from a field that included more than 20 Democrats , including incumbent Mayor Bernard C. “ Jack ” Young and former Mayor Sheila Dixon .
If he is elected in November , he will have to address substandard public schools , crumbling low-income neighborhoods , declining population , and a homicide rate that is on pace to match last year ’ s 348 killings despite stay-at-home directives prompted by the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Our city stands at a crossroads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a city united , not divided , ” Scott said in a statement Tuesday .
“ It will take all of us to build a city that is safe , equitable , and accountable .
As a son of Baltimore , I could not be more honored to lead our great city in this critical moment and carry the work forward with you .
” Scott will also have to work to restore people ’ s trust in local government .
This was the first election since Catherine Pugh resigned as mayor last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her self-published children ’ s books .
Pugh pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to three years in prison in February .
Counting the votes has been a slower than usual process since the primary , in large part because so many people voted by mail to avoid the risks of in-person voting amid the coronavirus .
On Tuesday , a week after the June 2 election , Baltimore elections officials announced that nearly every vote had been counted .
The election has had a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the addition of two voting centers to the previously allotted four over concerns that ballots were not arriving in the mail as planned .
On Election Day , dozens of voters remained in line two hours after polls were scheduled to close because social-distancing measures prompted by the pandemic slowed the flow of people at voting centers .
Early Wednesday , voting results from the city were taken down from the state ’ s election board ’ s website due to an issue with ballots in one district .
Scott , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new approach to reducing violence by treating it as a public health crisis , believing that agencies citywide must collaborate with the police department in the effort .
He promised to bring down the annual number of homicides to under 300 during his first year in office .
That has not happened since 2014 .
“ Crime has to be addressed in a comprehensive way , ” he told The Associated Press ahead of the election .
Positioning himself as a progressive leader , Scott proposed organizational changes to city government , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all city contracts .
Most recently , Young signed into law a measure introduced by Scott that provides housing protections to tenants during the pandemic .
At 36 , Scott was the youngest of the mayoral Democratic front-runners .
He was once mentored by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and was tabbed for lieutenant governor by an unsuccessful candidate in 2018 .

BALTIMORE (AP) — City Council President Brandon Scott, who ran a campaign focused on youthful energy, progressive ideas and experience, has won the Democratic nomination for Baltimore mayor. He has pledged to tackle longstanding challenges in the city such as gun violence and substance abuse.
The victory puts Scott in a strong position to be the next mayor of the struggling city. Democrats outnumber Republicans 10-1 in Baltimore, and the general election in November is mostly seen as a formality. On the Republican side, nonprofit executive Shannon Wright emerged victorious.
Scott has been a city councilman since 2011 and became council president last year. He emerged victorious from a field that included more than 20 Democrats, including incumbent Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young and former Mayor Sheila Dixon.
If he is elected in November, he will have to address substandard public schools, crumbling low-income neighborhoods, declining population, and a homicide rate that is on pace to match last year’s 348 killings despite stay-at-home directives prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our city stands at a crossroads. Baltimore will only move forward as a city united, not divided,” Scott said in a statement Tuesday. “It will take all of us to build a city that is safe, equitable, and accountable. As a son of Baltimore, I could not be more honored to lead our great city in this critical moment and carry the work forward with you.”
Scott will also have to work to restore people’s trust in local government. This was the first election since Catherine Pugh resigned as mayor last year amid investigations into the lucrative sales of her self-published children’s books. Pugh pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and tax evasion charges and was sentenced to three years in prison in February.
“It’s an exciting time to see what Brandon and this new generation of leadership can do,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the political science program at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. “With the protests and demonstrations that are sweeping the country with this moment, Brandon was a leader back in 2015 when the focal point was Baltimore City, and I think that voice is going to be important now because those issues are certainly not solved in the city.”
Kromer said crime was the top issue for Baltimore voters, and Scott will be judged on how he addresses it.
Counting the votes has been a slower than usual process since the primary, in large part because so many people voted by mail to avoid the risks of in-person voting amid the coronavirus. On Tuesday, a week after the June 2 election, Baltimore elections officials announced that nearly every vote had been counted.
The election has had a series of issues. Officials ended up authorizing the addition of two voting centers to the previously allotted four over concerns that ballots were not arriving in the mail as planned. On Election Day, dozens of voters remained in line two hours after polls were scheduled to close because social-distancing measures prompted by the pandemic slowed the flow of people at voting centers. Early Wednesday, voting results from the city were taken down from the state’s election board’s website due to an issue with ballots in one district.
Scott, who was endorsed by several unions, proposed a new approach to reducing violence by treating it as a public health crisis, believing that agencies citywide must collaborate with the police department in the effort. He promised to bring down the annual number of homicides to under 300 during his first year in office. That has not happened since 2014.
“Crime has to be addressed in a comprehensive way,” he told The Associated Press ahead of the election.
Positioning himself as a progressive leader, Scott proposed organizational changes to city government, including an overhaul of the board that awards all city contracts. Most recently, Young signed into law a measure introduced by Scott that provides housing protections to tenants during the pandemic.
At 36, Scott was the youngest of the mayoral Democratic front-runners. He was once mentored by the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and was tabbed for lieutenant governor by an unsuccessful candidate in 2018.


washingtontimes--2020-06-09--Inside the Beltway: Media deploys negative polls against Trump

News organizations appear to be coordinating their efforts against President Trump on a weekly basis , using similar narratives and headlines .
In recent days , the press collectively criticized his policy towards the coronavirus pandemic .
Then Mr. Trump ’ s response to the death of George Floyd was in question .
This week , the effort is directed towards lousy poll numbers .
“ Wave of new polling suggests an erosion of Trump ’ s support ” ( New York Times ) ; “ Investors brace for market swings as Trump slips in election polls ” ( Reuters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the polls has worsened ” ( FiveThirtyEight ) ; “ Trump gets the old band together as he tumbles in the polls ” ( Politico ) ; “ 2020 election : Joe Biden has a big lead , according to CNN poll ” ( Vox ) ; “ Biden builds largest lead this year ” ( CNN ) .
The CNN poll in question , by the way , found Mr. Biden besting Mr. Trump 55 % to 43 % .
It is of note , however , that among the respondents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 25 % described themselves as Republicans , and 44 % described themselves as independents or members of another party .
Meanwhile , Gallup currently places Mr. Trump ’ s overall approval rating at 49 % , while a detailed Zogby poll has him at 48 % — with a 51 % approval rating among Hispanic voters , 54 % among Generation X voters , and 57 % among rural voters .
Just to name a few .
“ The big question is whether polls could be vastly underestimating the final turnout from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 .
Media stories continue to be published about how Joe Biden appears to be winning all over the map , far ahead in key battleground states and winning the national numbers sometimes by double-digits .
The same stories , at almost the same time period four years ago , were being written about the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump , ” writes Nate Ashworth , founder of the news site Election Central .
“ All sides were stunned at Donald Trump ’ s victory in 2016 when none of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result .
Will 2020 be similar , or will pollsters adjust models to try and ensure they are reflecting realistic numbers ?
” asks Mr. Ashworth .
Would the media prefer that the coronavirus lockdown continue as long as possible for political reasons ?
Six-out-of 10 likely U.S. voters now agree that journalists would like to see the shutdown “ drag on so that it hurts President Trump ’ s chances of reelection in November ” according to a new poll by the Media Research Center and McLaughlin and Associates .
It found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of conservatives agree with the idea , along with 39 % of Democrats and 41 % of liberals .
Among those who support Mr. Trump , 88 % agreed , along with 39 % of those who don ’ t support the president .
Among Hispanic voters , 48 % said the press would prefer the lockdown continue , along with 42 % of black voters , 61 % of men and 59 % of women .
“ This is just more evidence of how at odds the American liberal media are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been replaced with leftist advocacy .
Even in these divisive times , both conservatives and liberals can agree on one thing : the media have it out for President Trump , ” said Brent Bozell , founder of the Media Research Center .
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted May 21-26 and released Tuesday .
Must-have items of the moment are going commercial .
Personal protective equipment vending machines have arrived in McCarran Airport in Las Vegas , peddling face masks and hand sanitizer in sleek units near placed near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of three masks goes for $ 7.59 and hand sanitizer is $ 4.25 according to Prepango , a California-based vending machine manufacturer which specializes in providing items for “ niche ” markets .
Meanwhile , a single Rapid Mask2Go vending machine has been installed on New York City ’ s lower East Side , dispensing KN95 face masks for $ 4 each .
The start-up company plans to expand to Philadelphia .
Vendamask has arrived in Britain , featuring fashionable masks .
Then there are “ Safety Stations ” by Selecta , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new PPE units offering “ essential gear ” at train stations and airports in Belgium , Austria , Germany , France and Switzerland .
It also offers personal hygiene and cleaning kits for the office — and a version for those who are still working at home .
Coronavirus concern has reached the wide open spaces .
This phrase is the latest public notice from the National Park Service , now re-opening much of the nation ’ s incredible parks system , The two words appear on rustic-style signs , which also advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ please comply with state and local guidance , ” social distancing and all .
For the 20th consecutive week , Fox News Channel has remained the most watched network in the entire cable TV kingdom , according to Nielsen Media Research .
During the first week of June , Fox News enjoyed a prime-time audience of 4 million , followed by CNN in second place with 2.5 million , MSNBC ( 2.3 million ) , HGTV ( 1.3 million ) and TLC ( a million ) .
As usual , primetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ratings kingpins , each with 4.8 million nightly viewers .
The networks primetime line-up , which also includes Laura Ingraham , Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum , comprised 7 of the top 12 programs in cable news .
• 22 % of U.S. adults say there “ definitely will ” be a second wave of coronavirus if authorities ease up on public restrictions ; 12 % of Republicans , 18 % of independents and 37 % of Democrats agree .
• 39 % think there “ probably will ” be a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39 % of independents and 44 % of Democrats agree .
• 16 % say there “ probably will not ” be a second wave ; 29 % of Republicans , 16 % of independents and 5 % of Democrats agree .
• 5 % say there “ definitely will not ” be a second wave ; 8 % of Republicans , 5 % of independents and 1 % of Democrats agree .
• 18 % are not sure ; 18 % of Republicans , 23 % of independents and 14 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted May 31-June 2 .

NEWS AND OPINION:
News organizations appear to be coordinating their efforts against President Trump on a weekly basis, using similar narratives and headlines. In recent days, the press collectively criticized his policy towards the coronavirus pandemic. Then Mr. Trump’s response to the death of George Floyd was in question. This week, the effort is directed towards lousy poll numbers.
Headlines from the past 24 hours suggest a pattern:
“Wave of new polling suggests an erosion of Trump’s support” (New York Times); “Investors brace for market swings as Trump slips in election polls” (Reuters); “Trump’s standing in the polls has worsened” (FiveThirtyEight); “Trump gets the old band together as he tumbles in the polls” (Politico); “2020 election: Joe Biden has a big lead, according to CNN poll” (Vox); “Biden builds largest lead this year” (CNN).
The CNN poll in question, by the way, found Mr. Biden besting Mr. Trump 55% to 43%. It is of note, however, that among the respondents, 32% described themselves as Democrats, 25% described themselves as Republicans, and 44% described themselves as independents or members of another party.
Meanwhile, Gallup currently places Mr. Trump’s overall approval rating at 49%, while a detailed Zogby poll has him at 48% — with a 51% approval rating among Hispanic voters, 54% among Generation X voters, and 57% among rural voters. Just to name a few.
“The big question is whether polls could be vastly underestimating the final turnout from Trump the same way they did in 2016. Media stories continue to be published about how Joe Biden appears to be winning all over the map, far ahead in key battleground states and winning the national numbers sometimes by double-digits. The same stories, at almost the same time period four years ago, were being written about the race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump,” writes Nate Ashworth, founder of the news site Election Central.
“All sides were stunned at Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 when none of the conventional indicators seemed to forecast such a result. Will 2020 be similar, or will pollsters adjust models to try and ensure they are reflecting realistic numbers?” asks Mr. Ashworth.
LOCKDOWN, PART 2
Would the media prefer that the coronavirus lockdown continue as long as possible for political reasons? Six-out-of 10 likely U.S. voters now agree that journalists would like to see the shutdown “drag on so that it hurts President Trump‘s chances of reelection in November” according to a new poll by the Media Research Center and McLaughlin and Associates.
It found that 87% of Republicans and 85% of conservatives agree with the idea, along with 39% of Democrats and 41% of liberals. Among those who support Mr. Trump, 88% agreed, along with 39% of those who don’t support the president. Among Hispanic voters, 48% said the press would prefer the lockdown continue, along with 42% of black voters, 61% of men and 59% of women.
“This is just more evidence of how at odds the American liberal media are with the American public. Honest journalism has been replaced with leftist advocacy. Even in these divisive times, both conservatives and liberals can agree on one thing: the media have it out for President Trump,” said Brent Bozell, founder of the Media Research Center.
The survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted May 21-26 and released Tuesday.
SIGN OF THE TIMES
Must-have items of the moment are going commercial. Personal protective equipment vending machines have arrived in McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, peddling face masks and hand sanitizer in sleek units near placed near ticket counters and checkpoints.
A pack of three masks goes for $7.59 and hand sanitizer is $4.25 according to Prepango, a California-based vending machine manufacturer which specializes in providing items for “niche” markets.
Meanwhile, a single Rapid Mask2Go vending machine has been installed on New York City’s lower East Side, dispensing KN95 face masks for $4 each. The start-up company plans to expand to Philadelphia.
Vendamask has arrived in Britain, featuring fashionable masks. Then there are “Safety Stations” by Selecta, a nimble manufacturer which has already provided 1,000 new PPE units offering “essential gear” at train stations and airports in Belgium, Austria, Germany, France and Switzerland. It also offers personal hygiene and cleaning kits for the office — and a version for those who are still working at home.
FOR THE LEXICON
“Recreate responsibly.”
Coronavirus concern has reached the wide open spaces. This phrase is the latest public notice from the National Park Service, now re-opening much of the nation’s incredible parks system,
The two words appear on rustic-style signs, which also advise the nation’s 300 million parkgoers to “please comply with state and local guidance,” social distancing and all.
FOXIFIED
For the 20th consecutive week, Fox News Channel has remained the most watched network in the entire cable TV kingdom, according to Nielsen Media Research. During the first week of June, Fox News enjoyed a prime-time audience of 4 million, followed by CNN in second place with 2.5 million, MSNBC (2.3 million), HGTV (1.3 million) and TLC (a million).
As usual, primetime hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson remain the ratings kingpins, each with 4.8 million nightly viewers. The networks primetime line-up, which also includes Laura Ingraham, Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, comprised 7 of the top 12 programs in cable news.
POLL DU JOUR
• 22% of U.S. adults say there “definitely will” be a second wave of coronavirus if authorities ease up on public restrictions; 12% of Republicans, 18% of independents and 37% of Democrats agree.
• 39% think there “probably will” be a second wave; 33% of Republicans, 39% of independents and 44% of Democrats agree.
• 16% say there “probably will not” be a second wave; 29% of Republicans, 16% of independents and 5% of Democrats agree.
• 5% say there “definitely will not” be a second wave; 8% of Republicans, 5% of independents and 1% of Democrats agree.
• 18% are not sure; 18% of Republicans, 23% of independents and 14% of Democrats agree.
Source: An Economist/YouGov poll of 1,500 U.S. adults conducted May 31-June 2.
• Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.