washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Tenor Bocelli, who had COVID, says lockdown humiliated him

ROME ( AP ) - Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli , who had COVID-19 , said the pandemic lockdown made him feel “ humiliated and offended ” by depriving him of his freedom to come and go as he wanted .
Bocelli spoke at a panel Monday in a Senate conference room , where he was introduced by right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini , who has railed against the government ’ s stringent measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak .
The singer ’ s announcement in May that he had recovered from the virus came weeks after his Easter Sunday performance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the time , Bocelli said that when he learned on March 10 that he had tested positive , just as the nation was going into lockdown , “ I jumped into the pool , I felt well ” and had only a slight fever .
He apparently was referring to a private pool at his residence , as public gym pools were closed by then .
Bocelli told the conference at the Senate that he resented not being able to leave his home even though he “ committed no crime ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he violated that lockdown restriction .
At the height of lockdown , Italians could only leave home to go to essential jobs , walk dogs or buy food or medicine .
Dismayed , Health Ministry Undersecretary Pierpaolo Sileri on Tuesday said that perhaps Bocelli “ wanted to express the inconvenience of every Italian who , because of lockdown , stayed home.
” “ I wouldn ’ t have said those words , but I imagine he ’ ll be able to explain it somehow , ” Sileri added .
The conference was held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s appearance in the Senate , set for later Tuesday , where he was expected to lay out his center-left government ’ s case for extending a state of emergency for the pandemic , which expires on July 31 .
The emergency status allowed Conte to bypass Parliament or even his Cabinet in decreeing a string of measures aimed at slowing the spread of the outbreak in the country where it first emerged in Europe , and would go on to claim more than 35,000 lives .
Bocelli told the conference that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be careful about the virus when he first started having doubts about its severity , “ but as time passed , I know lots of people , but I didn ’ t know anyone who went into intensive care.
” At the worst point of the outbreak , as many as 4,000 people were in intensive care in Italy , a country of 60 million , with several hundred virus-linked deaths on some days .

ROME (AP) - Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who recovered from COVID and whose moving Easter performance sought to raise hopes during the pandemic, is striking a different public note, saying Italy’s lockdown made him feel “humiliated and offended” by depriving him of his freedom.
Bocelli spoke at a panel Monday in a Senate conference room, where he was introduced by right-wing opposition leader Matteo Salvini, who has railed against the government’s stringent measures to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
The singer’s announcement in May that he had recovered from the virus came weeks after his Easter Sunday performance in Milan’s empty cathedral. At the time, Bocelli said that when he learned on March 10 that he had tested positive, just as the nation was going into lockdown, “I jumped into the pool, I felt well” and had only a slight fever. He apparently was referring to a private pool at his residence, as public gym pools were closed by then.
Bocelli told the conference at the Senate that he resented not being able to leave his home even though he “committed no crime” and revealed, without providing details, that he violated that lockdown restriction.
At the height of lockdown, Italians could only leave home to go to essential jobs, walk dogs or buy food or medicine.
Dismayed, Health Ministry Undersecretary Pierpaolo Sileri on Tuesday said that perhaps Bocelli “wanted to express the inconvenience of every Italian who, because of lockdown, stayed home.”
“I wouldn’t have said those words, but I imagine he’ll be able to explain it somehow,” Sileri added.
The conference was held on the eve of Premier Giuseppe Conte’s appearance in the Senate, set for later Tuesday, where he laid out his center-left government’s case for extending for three months a state of emergency for the pandemic, which expires on July 31.
Conte said the extension is aimed at preserving measures that allow an efficient response should the virus spike again, not to ‘’spread unjustified fears” among the population. He accused the opposition of using ‘’polemical and even ideological veins” in the debate.
The emergency status allowed Conte to bypass Parliament or even his Cabinet in decreeing a string of measures to slow the spread of the outbreak in the country where it first emerged in Europe, and went on to claim more than 35,000 lives.
Bocelli told the conference that at first his children told him to be careful about the virus when he first started having doubts about its severity, “but as time passed, I know lots of people, but I didn’t know anyone who went into intensive care.”
At the worst point of the outbreak, as many as 4,000 people were in intensive care in Italy, a country of 60 million, with several hundred virus-linked deaths on some days.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Fauci says Marlins’ virus outbreak could endanger MLB season

MIAMI ( AP ) - The Miami Marlins ’ coronavirus outbreak could endanger the Major League Baseball season , Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday , although he doesn ’ t believe games needs to stop now .
More than a dozen Marlins players and staff members tested positive for COVID-19 , stranding the team in Philadelphia and raising anew questions about MLB ’ s attempts to conduct a season .
“ This could put it in danger , ” said Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert .
“ I don ’ t believe they need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis.
” “ Major League Baseball - the players , the owners , the managers - have put a lot of effort into getting together and putting protocols that we feel would work , ” Fauci said .
“ It ’ s very unfortunate what happened with the Miami ( Marlins ) .
” Their outbreak continued to disrupt Major League Baseball ’ s schedule Tuesday , the sixth day of the pandemic-delayed season , with the Marlins ’ home game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between those teams was also called off , as was the Yankees ’ series opener Monday at Philadelphia , where New York would have been in the same clubhouse the Marlins used last weekend .
Nine Marlins players on the 30-man roster , two taxi squad players and two staff members tested positive , a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press , speaking on condition of anonymity because the results hadn ’ t been publicly disclosed .
“ Obviously , we don ’ t want any player to get exposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing , ” Commissioner Rob Manfred said on the MLB Network .
“ But I don ’ t see it as a nightmare .
… We think we can keep people safe and continue to play.
” The Orioles , who made a trip to Miami without playing a game , are scheduled to host the Marlins in a two-game series starting Wednesday .
“ If the testing results are acceptable , the Marlins will resume play in Baltimore on Wednesday against the Orioles , ” Manfred said .
Meanwhile , Chicago White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from his team after experiencing a “ slight cough and nasal congestion , ” general manager Rick Hahn said .
Tests were planned .
The Marlins ’ outbreak was the talk of baseball , and Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez choked on his words as he discussed the situation .
Martinez missed time last season because of a heart condition , and the Nationals are scheduled to play in Miami this weekend .
“ I ’ m going to be honest with you : I ’ m scared , ” Martinez said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from about an eight to a 12 .
I mean this thing really hits home now .
… I got guys in our clubhouse that are really concerned , as well.
” The Marlins placed infielder Garrett Cooper , outfielder Harold Ramírez and right-hander José Ureña on the injured list .
They claimed right-hander Justin Shafer and left-hander Josh Smith off waivers from Cincinnati , and will likely rely heavily on reinforcements from their training camp in Jupiter , Florida .
Manfred said there are factors that would force MLB to alter plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of players that rendered it completely non-competitive would be an issue that we would have to address and have to think about making a change , ” he said .
“ Whether that was shutting down a part of the season , the whole season , that depends on the circumstances .
Same thing with respect to league-wide .
You get to a certain point league-wide where it does become a health threat , and we certainly would shut down at that point.
” MLB and the union held talks Monday after aspects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the season ’ s first four days , such as the prohibitions on high-fives and other physical celebrations .
The NBA and NHL plan to resume their seasons in bubble environments , with basketball at Lake Buena Vista , Florida , and hockey at Edmonton , Alberta , and Toronto .
“ The NBA and the NHL have an advantage : smaller numbers of players , shorter period of time , ” Manfred said .
“ I understand why they did what they did .
I ’ m just not sure it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opted not to create a bubble environment as training camps open for the coming season .
“ It might be that they have to go in a bubble , ” Fauci said , “ but I think they ’ re conscientious enough and want to protect their players and protect the personnel that they will do the right thing.
” Associated Press writers Ronald Blum in New York and Howard Fendrich and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report .

MIAMI (AP) - Major League Baseball suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday, and the Philadelphia Phillies will remain idled by the coronavirus pandemic until Friday, while the rest of baseball forges ahead with trepidation.
“There’s real fear, there’s real anxiety for me, for all my teammates,” Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun said Tuesday. “I think we’ve found it very difficult to focus on baseball at all the last couple of days.”
In the wake of a virus outbreak that infected half the Marlins’ team, Braun said MLB players are constantly assessing whether they should keep playing. Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said the season could be in jeopardy.
But MLB came up with a patchwork schedule for the rest of this week and said that among more than 6,400 tests conducted since Friday, there were no new positives involving on-field personnel from any team other than the Marlins.
In a statement, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and to plan for a resumption of play early next week. MLB also postponed the three remaining games in this week’s Phillies-New York Yankees series.
The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.
The Marlins received positive test results for four additional players, bringing their total to 15, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person declined to be identified because the results had not been publicly released.
Nine players on the 30-man roster, two taxi squad players and two staff members tested positive earlier.
The Marlins had been scheduled to play at Baltimore on Wednesday and Thursday. Instead, the Yankees will play at Baltimore on those days.
Miami’s three home games this weekend against Washington were postponed. Nationals players had voted against making the trip, manager Dave Martinez said.
“We all decided that it was probably unsafe to go there,” Martinez said. “It had nothing to do with the Miami Marlins. It was all about Miami and the state of Florida, this pandemic. They didn’t feel safe.”
The Marlins underwent another round of tests Tuesday, as their outbreak raised anew questions about baseball’s attempts to conduct a season.
“This could put it in danger,” Fauci said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “I don’t believe they need to stop, but we just need to follow this and see what happens with other teams on a day-by-day basis.”
His comments came before word of the Marlins’ latest test results.
“Major League Baseball - the players, the owners, the managers - have put a lot of effort into getting together and putting protocols that we feel would work,” Fauci said. “It’s very unfortunate what happened with the Miami (Marlins).”
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, expressed reservations about sports such as baseball and football being played during the pandemic, especially in the wake of the Marlins’ wave of infections.
“It seems to me that when you have to travel, when you have to be in a hotel room and places that are different than you’ve been the day before, when you are in a position where you’re walking, going into an area where there is a high concentration of spread of COVID, all those things add up to a real problem,” Biden said, “and we’re not going to really overcome that until we follow science and get a vaccine.”
In Cleveland, Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria returned to the team Tuesday after awakening with some COVID-19 symptoms a day earlier and being isolated for 24 hours.
And everyone across baseball seemed to be feeling uneasy.
“It’s important that we are able to provide a source of entertainment and an outlet for people who are dealing with such a challenging time in their lives,” Braun said. “But at the same time, the health and safety should be the top priority for all of us at all times. …
“You think about all the hotel employees, bus drivers, pilots, flight attendants, anybody else all the Marlins guys might have come into contact with, and it’s obviously scary.”
The Marlins planned to remain in Philadelphia until at least Wednesday. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said it was working with the Marlins and Phillies on contact tracing to contain the spread of the virus.
“All of our players, coaches and staff are, understandably, having a difficult time enduring this experience,” Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said.
Additional MLB rescheduling during the week of Aug. 3 will be announced later this week. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo offered up his state to any team needing a place to play.
While baseball deals with its logistical challenges, the NBA and NHL are resuming their seasons in bubble environments, with basketball at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and hockey at Edmonton, Alberta, and Toronto.
The NFL has opted not to create a bubble environment as training camps open this week.
“It might be that they have to go in a bubble,” Fauci said, “but I think they’re conscientious enough and want to protect their players and protect the personnel that they will do the right thing.”
___
AP Sports Writers Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia, Steve Megargee in Milwaukee, Jake Seiner in New York and Tom Withers in Cleveland and Associated Press Writers Darlene Superville in Washington and Will Weissert in Wilmington, Delaware, contributed to this report.
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Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Steve_Wine
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Remington seeks bankruptcy for 2nd time in as many years

Remington Arms , weighed down by lawsuits and retail sales restrictions following the Sandy Hook school massacre , is seeking bankruptcy protection for the second time in as many years .
In a Chapter 11 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court for Northern District of Alabama this week , the nation ’ s oldest gunmaker listed assets and liabilities of between $ 100 million and $ 500 million , and between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors .
In the most recent legal action this year against the Madison , North Carolina , company , families of those killed in the 2012 Sandy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the computer of the shooter .
The families are looking for evidence of the shooter ’ s exposure to advertisements for weapons .
They say Remington violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by marketing its Bushmaster XM15-E2S , an AR-15 style weapon , to civilians .
The weapon was used to kill 20 children and six adult staff at the school .
Remington sought bankruptcy protection in 2018 .
It exited court protection the same year , owned by creditors .
Gun sales have slumped , as they typically do , under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not as compelled to stockpile weapons out of fear that Congress will create tougher gun-control laws .
But the past three years under President Donald Trump have been particularly volatile , fueled in part by a mass shooting in Las Vegas and other high-profile mass killings that have led retail chains to restrict sales , or removed guns completely from stores .
That has begun to change with most polls showing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a sizable lead as the election nears .
According to June figures released by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were conducted last month , the most since the system was created in November 1998 .
Background checks are the most reliable metric used to measure gun sales .

Remington Arms, weighed down by lawsuits and retail sales restrictions following the Sandy Hook school massacre, is seeking bankruptcy protection for the second time in as many years.
In a Chapter 11 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy court for Northern District of Alabama this week, the nation’s oldest gunmaker listed assets and liabilities of between $100 million and $500 million, and between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors.
In the most recent legal action this year against the Madison, North Carolina, company, families of those killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting were granted access to the computer of the shooter.
The families are looking for evidence of the shooter’s exposure to advertisements for weapons. They say Remington violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act by marketing its Bushmaster XM15-E2S, an AR-15 style weapon, to civilians.
The weapon was used to kill 20 children and six adult staff at the school.
Remington sought bankruptcy protection in 2018. It exited court protection the same year, owned by creditors.
Gun sales have slumped, as they typically do, under a Republican administration, because gun owners are not as compelled to stockpile weapons out of fear that Congress will create tougher gun-control laws.
But the past three years under President Donald Trump have been particularly volatile, fueled in part by a mass shooting in Las Vegas and other high-profile mass killings that have led retail chains to restrict sales, or removed guns completely from stores.
That has begun to change with most polls showing presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden with a sizable lead as the election nears.
According to June figures released by the FBI, 3.9 million background checks were conducted last month, the most since the system was created in November 1998. Background checks are the most reliable metric used to measure gun sales.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Drew Brees to donate $5M to support Louisiana health care

NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife have announced a $ 5 million donation to build community health centers throughout Louisiana .
Drew Brees and Brittany Brees appeared in a video posted to the NFL player ’ s Instagram account Monday revealing the partnership between the Brees Dream Foundation and Louisiana health care system Ochsner Health .
Drew Brees said the partnership would have a particular emphasis on underserved communities , adding that the first of the health care centers was set to be built in New Orleans East later this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialty care services , he said .
“ COVID-19 has changed nearly everything … and as we work through one of the greatest challenges of our lifetimes , our health and wellness has never been more important , ” Drew Brees said in the video .
“ We will continue to bridge the gap to bring healthcare , education and economic equity to all of our communities , ” the Brees ‘ added in the post .
In March , the family donated an additional $ 5 million to go toward coronavirus relief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brees drew criticism in June and subsequently apologized for comments he made in an interview regarding his opposition to Colin Kaepernick ’ s kneeling during the national anthem .
The comments came as demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice unfolded around the world .

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife have announced a $5 million donation to build community health centers throughout Louisiana.
Drew Brees and Brittany Brees appeared in a video posted to the NFL player’s Instagram account Monday revealing the partnership between the Brees Dream Foundation and Louisiana health care system Ochsner Health.
Drew Brees said the partnership would have a particular emphasis on underserved communities, adding that the first of the health care centers was set to be built in New Orleans East later this year. The centers will include primary and specialty care services, he said.
“COVID-19 has changed nearly everything … and as we work through one of the greatest challenges of our lifetimes, our health and wellness has never been more important,” Drew Brees said in the video.
“We will continue to bridge the gap to bring healthcare, education and economic equity to all of our communities,” the Brees’ added in the post.
In March, the family donated an additional $5 million to go toward coronavirus relief in Louisiana, news outlets reported.
Brees drew criticism in June and subsequently apologized for comments he made in an interview regarding his opposition to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem. The comments came as demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice unfolded around the world.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Technology infuses ancient hajj rites amid global pandemic

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) - The vast white marble floors surrounding Islam ’ s holiest site , the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca , would normally be packed with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world the day before the hajj .
On Tuesday , however , only a few officials and workers putting last minute preparations in place were seen at the Grand Mosque housing the Kaaba .
In place of the 2.5 million pilgrims who preformed the hajj last year , only a very limited number of faithful - anywhere from 1,000 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in what is largely a symbolic pilgrimage amid the coronavirus outbreak .
The select few approved for this year ’ s hajj have been tested for the virus and are self-isolating in hotel rooms in Mecca , where they will experience an ancient pilgrimage - albeit tailored this year for a modern-day global pandemic .
Amr Al-Maddah , the chief planning officer at the Ministry of Hajj , is helping incorporate the latest technology into the pilgrimage such as thermal scanners and electronic ID cards .
“ Right now , technology is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hajj journey , ” said al-Maddah , an electronics engineer with a Ph.D. in robotics and artificial intelligence .
“ We are taking every step possible to make sure that this hajj will end with zero cases of COVID-19 and also with zero deaths in our total hajj numbers , ” he told The Associated Press .
Before pilgrims could even enter Mecca , they were given wristbands by the Saudi health ministry to monitor their movements and ensure the mandatory quarantine was observed .
Thermal scanners are being used across the holy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each pilgrim is assigned to a group of around 20 others .
A group leader will guide them throughout the hajj to each destination at a specified time , to avoid crowding in places like the Grand Mosque , where Muslims circle the Kaaba and follow a path traveled by the Prophet Abraham ’ s wife , Hagar , who Muslims believe ran between two hills searching for water for her dying son .
While on Mount Arafat , where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon nearly 1,400 years ago and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayer and repentance , the pilgrims will be wearing high-tech ID cards that connect to an application on their phones .
The card and app allows the government to easily monitor the pilgrims , and gives them a way to reach out to their group leader and make special meal requests .
The card stores the pilgrims ’ personal information , health status , residence and other hajj-related details .
In the future , al-Maddah said the cards will be fitted with a location tracker to follow individual pilgrims ’ movements .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room , and can be used as a pay card in place of cash .
Pilgrims have also been given special attire to wear during the hajj laced with silver nano technology that helps kill bacteria and makes clothes water resistant .
Al-Maddah said the measure is a precaution , “ even if it can affect almost nothing ” or has a minimal chance of “ improving health conditions.
” It ’ s all part of the special treatment pilgrims are receiving this year .
Other perks - all meals , hotel accommodation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for by the Saudi government .
Typically , the hajj can cost thousands of dollars for pilgrims who save for a lifetime for the journey .
This year marks the first time in nearly a century of Saudi rule over Mecca that people from outside the kingdom will not take part in the five-day hajj , which is a once in a lifetime requirement of Muslims .
Al-Maddah , who sits on the hajj planning committee , said allowing people to enter Saudi Arabia from abroad would have posed a global health risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreigners already residing in Saudi Arabia from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been represented at the hajj .
The other one-third are Saudi security personnel and medical staff .
All pilgrims had to be between the ages of 20 and 50 with no terminal illnesses and showing no symptoms of the coronavirus .
Each year , the hajj poses a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities .
As recently as 2015 , a stampede and a crush killed more than 2,400 people .
Crowd control measures require the use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to coordinate the movements of the more than 2.5 million people densely packed into narrow streets , walkways and paths of Mecca and Mina .
Facial recognition technology and other high-tech security systems have to be advanced enough to decipher between pilgrims , dressed in nearly identical terry white cloth garments .
“ For us , safety comes first , ” al-Maddah said .
“ We are employing technology to make sure that these services and these precautions are met and delivered in the highest standard .
”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The vast, white-marble floors surrounding Islam’s holiest site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca, would normally be packed with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world the day before the hajj.
On Tuesday, however, only a few officials and workers putting last-minute preparations in place were seen at the Grand Mosque housing the Kaaba.
In place of the 2.5 million pilgrims who performed the hajj last year, only a very limited number of faithful - anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 - are being allowed to take part in what is largely a symbolic pilgrimage amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The select few approved for this year’s hajj have been tested for the virus and are self-isolating in hotel rooms in Mecca, where they will experience an ancient pilgrimage - albeit tailored this year for a modern-day pandemic.
Amr Al-Maddah, the chief planning officer at the Ministry of Hajj, is helping incorporate the latest technology into the pilgrimage such as thermal scanners and electronic ID cards.
“Right now, technology is our black horse to developing the whole hajj journey,” said al-Maddah, an electronics engineer with a Ph.D. in robotics and artificial intelligence.
“We are taking every step possible to make sure that this hajj will end with zero cases of COVID-19 and also with zero deaths in our total hajj numbers,” he told The Associated Press.
Before pilgrims could even enter Mecca, they were given wristbands by the Saudi health ministry to monitor their movements and ensure the mandatory quarantine was observed. Thermal scanners are being used across the holy sites to monitor people’s temperatures.
Each pilgrim is assigned to a group of around 20 others. A group leader will guide them throughout the hajj to each destination at a specified time, to avoid crowding in places like the Grand Mosque, where Muslims circle the Kaaba and follow a path traveled by the Prophet Abraham’s wife, Hagar, who Muslims believe ran between two hills searching for water for her dying son.
While on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon nearly 1,400 years ago and where pilgrims will spend Thursday in deep prayer and repentance, the pilgrims will be wearing high-tech ID cards that connect to an application on their phones.
The card and app allows the government to easily monitor the pilgrims, and gives them a way to reach out to their group leader and make special meal requests.
The card stores the pilgrims’ personal information, health status, residence and other hajj-related details. In the future, al-Maddah said the cards will be fitted with a location tracker to follow individual pilgrims’ movements. The tracker will be managed by a control room, and can be used as a pay card in place of cash.
Pilgrims have also been given special attire to wear during the hajj laced with silver nano technology that helps kill bacteria and makes clothes water resistant. Al-Maddah said the measure is a precaution, “even if it can affect almost nothing” or has a minimal chance of “improving health conditions.”
It’s all part of the special treatment pilgrims are receiving this year. Other perks - all meals, hotel accommodation, transportation and health care is paid for by the Saudi government. Typically, the hajj can cost thousands of dollars for pilgrims who save for a lifetime for the journey.
This year marks the first time in nearly a century of Saudi rule over Mecca that people from outside the kingdom will not take part in the five-day hajj, which is a once in a lifetime requirement of Muslims.
Al-Maddah, who sits on the hajj planning committee, said allowing people to enter Saudi Arabia from abroad would have posed a global health risk.
Two-thirds of pilgrims this year are foreigners already residing in Saudi Arabia from among the 160 different nationalities that would have normally been represented at the hajj. The other one-third are Saudi security personnel and medical staff.
All pilgrims had to be between the ages of 20 and 50 with no terminal illnesses and showing no symptoms of the coronavirus.
Each year, the hajj poses a massive logistical challenge for Saudi authorities. As recently as 2015, a stampede and a crush killed more than 2,400 people.
Crowd control measures require the use of thousands of cameras and security officers to coordinate the movements of the more than 2.5 million people densely packed into narrow streets, walkways and paths of Mecca and Mina.
Facial recognition technology and other high-tech security systems have to be advanced enough to decipher between pilgrims, dressed in nearly identical terry white cloth garments.
“For us, safety comes first,” al-Maddah said. “We are employing technology to make sure that these services and these precautions are met and delivered in the highest standard.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Police: Man, 77, drowns in lake at Vermont state park

PLYMOUTH , Vt. ( AP ) - A 77-year-old man is dead after an apparent drowning at Vermont ’ s @ @ @ @ @ said .
Rescue personnel were called to the park just before 4:30 p.m. Monday after @ @ @ @ @ missing swimmer .
Thomas Marrone had last been seen swimming with family members in Echo @ @ @ @ @ to be located after family members left the water .
Just before 6 p.m. , @ @ @ @ @ approximately 20 feet of water .
Marrone was pronounced deceased at the scene .

PLYMOUTH, Vt. (AP) - A 77-year-old man is dead after an apparent drowning at Vermont’s Plymouth State Park, police said.
Rescue personnel were called to the park just before 4:30 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a missing swimmer.
Thomas Marrone had last been seen swimming with family members in Echo Lake. Marrone was unable to be located after family members left the water.
Just before 6 p.m., Marrone was found unresponsive in approximately 20 feet of water.
Marrone was pronounced deceased at the scene.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--UK travel ban on Spain strikes new blow to tourism industry

LONDON ( AP ) - Britain ’ s effective ban on travel to Spain following an upswing in coronavirus cases in that country ’ s northeast on Tuesday hammered home the lack of a comprehensive , continent-wide approach to suppressing the virus and giving hard-hit , tourism-reliant economies a chance to rebound .
The U.K. government ’ s recommendation against all but essential travel to the whole of Spain means that all travelers arriving in Britain from that country will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine .
The move not only dashed British holidaymakers ’ hopes for a getaway this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within Europe ’ s tourism industry over how to plan ahead amid authorities ’ responses to new COVID-19 outbreaks .
Indicative of this were decisions by holiday companies TUI UK and Jet2 to suspend flights to Spain , which is traditionally the most popular summer destination for British vacationers .
“ The U.K. government must work closely with the travel industry as this level of uncertainty and confusion is damaging for business and disappointing for those looking forward to a well-deserved break , ” TUI UK said in a statement .
British Prime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision , saying it was his government ’ s duty to protect the U.K. from a fresh coronavirus spike .
“ Let ’ s be absolutely clear about what ’ s happening in Europe , amongst some of our European friends .
I ’ m afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic , ” Johnson said .
“ I ’ m afraid if we do see signs of a second wave in other countries , it is really our job , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Johnson that there could be further changes to travel advice down the line affecting all of Europe .
The U.K. has the highest official coronavirus death toll in Europe with more than 45,000 deaths .
One of the reasons cited for that is that many travelers brought the virus back during the February school break after skiing trips in France , Italy and Spain .
Professor Keith Neal , an epidemiologist at the University of Nottingham said it makes sense to advise against travel to Spain amid the summer holiday season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of notice but with cases rising any delay would only increase cases in the U.K , ” Neal said .
But Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the new recommendation “ a mistake , ” saying that the upsurge in new COVID-19 cases is only focused in the regions of Catalonia and Aragon and is much less severe than the number of cases reported in the U.K. itself .
Sanchez spoke as figures were released showing that his country wiped out more than a million jobs in the second quarter of this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ INE said on Tuesday that most of the 1.07 million lost jobs were in the service sector , with the worst-hit areas being Catalonia , Andalusia and Madrid .
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Ayala tried to strike a conciliatory tone , saying that Madrid is trying to get the British government to concentrate on the scientific data since the outbreaks are contained in specific areas within Spain , while coronavirus infection rates on the country ’ s vacation islands are much lower than the U.K. Spain is still in talks with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a solution which meets epidemiological criteria , ” Ayala told a press conference in Athens during an official visit to Greece Tuesday .
Meanwhile , Madrid ’ s regional government on Tuesday made the use of face masks mandatory in all public areas and limited the number of people that can gather in one place as part of a drive to curb new coronavirus outbreaks .
Regional government head Isabel Díaz Ayuso said that no more than 10 people can be present at private gatherings , while nightlife venues must close their doors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards .
Díaz Ayuso said an information campaign will focus on young people , who are largely blamed for spreading the coronavirus through their social life .
She said young people “ have it in their hands to reverse the trend.
” Britain ’ s travel advice comes on the heels of similar decisions by other European governments , including Norway , which ordered a 10-day quarantine for people returning from the entire Iberian peninsula , and France , which urged its citizens not to visit Catalonia .
German authorities didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain but did advise against travel to Catalonia and two other Spanish regions in light of rising coronavirus infections .
A note posted by the foreign ministry on Tuesday advises against “ nonessential tourist travel ” to Catalonia , its western neighbor , Aragón , and Navarra in northern Spain .
It cites a rise in infection figures and “ local closures.
” Meanwhile , Germany ’ s national disease control center appealed to its own citizens to keep to distancing , hygiene and mask-wearing rules and halt an upturn in new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Robert Koch Institute , said developments over the past two weeks are “ really very worrying.
” Wieler pointed to studies indicating that people have become less concerned about COVID-19 and less accepting of virus control rules .
Asked whether Germany is seeing the beginning of a second coronavirus wave , Wieler replied : “ We don ’ t know if this is the beginning of a second wave , but of course it could be .
It would begin with rising figures … if we all keep to these rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can prevent this.
” Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia , Cyprus , and Hatton from Lisbon , Portugal .
Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed .

MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS, PAN PYLAS and BARRY HATTON

LONDON (AP) - Concerns over a “second wave” of coronavirus infections brought on by returning vacationers are wreaking havoc on Europe’s tourism industry, particularly in Spain, following Britain’s effective ban on travel to the country.
In a move indicative of the continent’s piecemeal approach to the virus, London has recommended against all but essential travel to the whole of Spain following an upswing in new infections there.
And all travelers arriving in Britain from Spain will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
“I’m afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday in defending his government’s new travel advice.
“I’m afraid if we do see signs of a second wave in other countries, it is really our job, our duty, to act swiftly and decisively,” he added.
The move not only dashed the hopes of many British holidaymakers for a getaway this summer, but also fanned renewed uncertainty within Europe’s key tourism industry over how to plan ahead amid authorities’ responses to new COVID-19 outbreaks.
Johnson indicated that there could be further changes to the government’s travel advice for other holiday destinations in Europe.
Germany also tightened its travel advice for Spain, advising against travel to the northeastern regions of Catalonia, Aragon, and Navarra. Norway has ordered a 10-day quarantine for people returning from the entire Iberian peninsula, and France urged its citizens not to visit Catalonia.
The head of Germany’s national disease control center also warned of “really, really worrying” developments over the last two weeks amid a resurgence of virus outbreaks.
Robert Koch Institute chief Lothar Wieler pointed to “a lot of small outbreaks in various places at the same time” that are becoming more frequent.
Wieler urged Germans not to let their guard down and to stick to social distancing, hygiene and mask-wearing rules that “must never be questioned,” after new studies showed that people have become more complacent about COVID-19.
“We don’t know if this is the beginning of a second wave, but of course it could be. It would begin with rising figures,” Wieler said. “If we all keep to these rules, I am still optimistic that we can prevent this.”
Britain’s new travel advice prompted holiday companies TUI UK and Jet2 to suspend flights to Spain, traditionally the most popular summer destination for British vacationers.
“The U.K. government must work closely with the travel industry, as this level of uncertainty and confusion is damaging for business and disappointing for those looking forward to a well-deserved break,” TUI UK said.
The U.K. has the highest official coronavirus death toll in Europe, with nearly 46,000 deaths. One of the reasons cited for that is that many travelers brought the virus back during the February school break after skiing trips in France, Italy and Spain.
Professor Keith Neal, an epidemiologist at the University of Nottingham, said it makes sense to advise against travel to Spain during the summer season.
“Some people have criticized the lack of notice, but with cases rising any delay would only increase cases in the U.K,” he added.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the new recommendation “a mistake,” saying that the upsurge in new COVID-19 cases is only focused in the regions of Catalonia and Aragon, and is much less severe than the number of cases reported in the U.K.
Sanchez spoke as figures were released showing that his country lost more than a million jobs in the second quarter of this year. Spain’s official statistics agency INE said that most were lost in the service sector, with the worst-hit areas being Catalonia, Andalusia and Madrid.
Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Ayala tried to strike a conciliatory tone, saying that Madrid is trying to get the British government to concentrate on the scientific data, since the outbreaks are contained in specific areas within Spain, while coronavirus infection rates on the country’s vacation islands are much lower than in the U.K.
Spain is still in talks with London, “trying to find a solution which meets epidemiological criteria,” Ayala said during an official visit to Greece Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s regional government made the use of face masks mandatory in all public areas and limited the number of people that can gather in one place, part of a drive to curb new coronavirus outbreaks.
Regional government head Isabel Díaz Ayuso said no more than 10 people can be present at private gatherings, while nightlife venues must close their doors at 1 a.m. - early by Spanish standards.
Díaz Ayuso said an information campaign will focus on young people, who are largely blamed for spreading the coronavirus through their social life. She said young people “have it in their hands to reverse the trend.”
Effective Tuesday, anyone caught drinking a beer in the street in Barcelona or elsewhere in the Catalonia region could be fined a maximum of 15,000 euros ($17,600). The measure targets street parties mostly frequented by young people.
In another tourism-reliant country, Greece, the government said Tuesday cruise ship travel would be allowed to restart on Aug. 1 from six designated ports. But at the same time, authorities said face masks would be made compulsory for all enclosed retail outlets including hair and beauty salons in a bid to curb a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.
At the eastern end of the Mediterranean, Lebanon ordered a partial lockdown when new coronavirus cases reached the triple digits in recent days, after the country reopened its sole international airport. Consecutive five-day lockdown periods that will shut indoor pools, pubs, malls, banks and nightclubs will start on Thursday separated by a two-day “break” in between.
Lebanon registered 141 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths on Tuesday. That brought the country’s total cases to 4,023, with 54 deaths.
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Hadjicostis reported from Nicosia, Cyprus, and Hatton from Lisbon, Portugal. Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Authorities: Professor died by suicide after backlash

WILMINGTON , N.C. ( AP ) - The death of a North Carolina professor , who recently announced his retirement amid backlash for comments he made on social media that included calling the state ’ s governor “ Massa Cooper , ” has been ruled a suicide .
An investigation showed University of North Carolina-Wilmington professor Mike Adams killed himself with a single gunshot wound to the head , the New Hanover County Sheriff ’ s Office announced Monday .
Deputies found his body last Thursday during a welfare check at his home after he was not seen or heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brewer said .
Adams , a tenured sociology and criminology professor at the university , was due to retire early on Aug. 1 , and had reached more than half-million-dollar settlement with the school for lost salary and lost retirement benefits .
He had been involved in several controversies through the years , including in 2016 when he posted an article about a student activist under the title “ A ‘ Queer Muslim ’ Jihad , ” The News & Observer of Raleigh reported at the time .
The latest controversy surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a tweet about the limit on social gatherings signed by Democratic Gov .
Roy Cooper .
Adams , who is white , tweeted he dined with six men at a six-seat table and “ felt like a free man who was not living in the slave state of North Carolina.
” He then wrote : “ Massa Cooper , let my people go !
” An online petition to get him fired from his job was signed by more than 60,000 people .
Some celebrities also called for his firing on social @ @

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - The death of a North Carolina professor, who recently announced his retirement amid backlash for comments he made on social media that included calling the state’s governor “Massa Cooper,” has been ruled a suicide.
An investigation showed University of North Carolina-Wilmington professor Mike Adams killed himself with a single gunshot wound to the head, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Deputies found his body last Thursday during a welfare check at his home after he was not seen or heard from in several days, Lt. J.J. Brewer said.
Adams, a tenured sociology and criminology professor at the university, was due to retire early on Aug. 1, and had reached more than half-million-dollar settlement with the school for lost salary and lost retirement benefits.
He had been involved in several controversies through the years, including in 2016 when he posted an article about a student activist under the title “A ‘Queer Muslim’ Jihad,” The News & Observer of Raleigh reported at the time.
The latest controversy surrounding him started in late May when Adams posted a tweet about the limit on social gatherings signed by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Adams, who is white, tweeted he dined with six men at a six-seat table and “felt like a free man who was not living in the slave state of North Carolina.” He then wrote: “Massa Cooper, let my people go!”
An online petition to get him fired from his job was signed by more than 60,000 people. Some celebrities also called for his firing on social media.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--The Latest: Real Madrid forward Mariano positive for virus

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Real Madrid says forward Mariano has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The announcement came as the team returned to practice ahead of its Champions League match against Manchester City on Aug. 7 .
Real Madrid lost at home 2-1 in the first leg of the round-of-16 series .
Madrid says Mariano was in “ perfect health condition ” and was following health protocols .
The entire Madrid squad was tested for COVID-19 on Monday .
The players had been on a break of almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ title .
The French government has maintained a maximum capacity of 5,000 fans in stadiums until the end of August amid the coronavirus pandemic .
French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu says the decision was taken because France has seen an increase in coronavirus cases recently .
But Maracineanu adds that local officials will have the authority to increase the capacity at some events from Aug. 15 if they can obtain special dispensation and observe strict health and safety protocol .
Only 2,805 fans attended the French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Etienne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because Saint-Etienne fans did not use their allocation of 900 seats at Stade de France .
PSG faces Lyon in the League Cup final at the same stadium on Friday .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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Colorado State says it will pause football team activities after eight known positive tests for COVID-19.
A full team test will be administered as early as next week, the university said Wednesday. The Rams are anticipating a return within two weeks.
The school said there were eight positive tests out of 140 conducted since football student-athletes returned to campus in June.
“We are taking this step to voluntarily pause football activities to minimize the opportunity for this virus to spread any further,” said Joe Parker, the director of athletics for Colorado State. “We will always put the health and safety of our student-athletes and community first, and while we are disappointed to see this spread occur within our program, we remain encouraged for the continued collaboration we have experienced with our university’s pandemic preparedness team, local, county, and state health officials.”
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The San Diego Loyal of the United Soccer League say their match against the LA Galaxy II in Carson was postponed after some unidentified personnel tested positive for COVID-19 during routine weekly testing.
The Loyal are coached by Landon Donovan, the former U.S. national men’s team and MLS star.
The Loyal said they couldn’t identify who tested positive or which teams they were from, only that they were “covered individuals.” According to the league, a covered individual is anybody from the team’s traveling party such as players, coaches or front office personnel.
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The head of the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games is expressing disappointment but says he understands the Atlantic Coast Conference’s decision to nix three games that had been set for Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the opening weeks of the college football season.
The 75,000-seat stadium near downtown Atlanta had been set to host Florida State against West Virginia on Sept. 5, followed two days later by Virginia vs. Georgia on Labor Day. North Carolina was scheduled to face Auburn the following weekend on Sept. 12.
The ACC announced a reworked, 11-game schedule Wednesday because of the coronavirus pandemic. If local health conditions allow it, teams will play a 10-game conference schedule that includes Notre Dame, along with one non-conference game that must be played in the school’s home state.
“We certainly understand the ACC is doing what they feel is in the best interest of the conference and the health of their teams, staff and student athletes, and as our partners, we support them in that decision,” said Gary Stokan, CEO & President of the Peach Bowl, which operates the Kickoff series. “However, we are disappointed we will lose the opportunity to host Florida State, Virginia and North Carolina and their fans in our scheduled Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games this season.”
Stokan said the Peach Bowl still hopes to host a pair of top 10 teams in its New Year’s Day game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Arizona is resuming on-campus team activities next week and will continue a phased return of programs, starting with freshmen football players on Aug. 3.
The school said it has had no positive COVID-19 tests the past two weeks.
Arizona paused the influx of additional student-athletes on July 17 as coronavirus cases rose in Arizona. The Wildcats had three positive tests in 366 test encounters among 83 football players and 28 staff members already on campus before the pause.
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Texas has no active coronavirus infections on the football team or among the volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball team players on campus, athletic director Chris Del Conte said Tuesday.
The football team will soon increase testing from once to twice a week and women’s soccer will begin arriving on campus this week.
Texas provided its first update on testing in weeks. Del Conte said the number of athletes testing positive or being identified as possible cases through contact tracing has “dropped dramatically.”
The school announced June 18 that 13 players were either positive or presumed positive.
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Arizona has suspended junior offensive lineman Edgar Burrola for violating school coronavirus protocols.
Burrola confirmed the suspension on Twitter and said he stopped receiving his meal plan the day he was suspended. He also said his stipend has been taken away.
Burrola started six games at right tackle in 2019 and had shoulder surgery in January.
“If you’re not going to pay attention to the protocol, wear a mask, all that other stuff, we can’t have you around,” coach Kevin Sumlin told the Arizona Daily Star.
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The Cleveland Browns are doing all they can to give their fans a look at their training camp, which is closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team will launch “Browns Live: Training Camp,” on Aug. 14. The online site will give fans “an up-close and personal look at camp.” The two-hour show will be broadcast on all the team’s social media platforms and show clips from practice and interviews with players, coaches and alumni.
The Browns are coming off a 6-10 season that didn’t go as planned, but there is excitement around an unproven but talented team, which recently signed star defensive end Myles Garrett to a long-term extension.
Cleveland began in-taking veteran players on Tuesday. Quarterback Baker Mayfield has already cleared NFL protocol on the coronavirus and was permitted in the training facility.
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Austin’s public health authority said the city was “caught a little off guard” by the recent announcement by Texas that the school planned to allow 50% stadium capacity at Longhorns football games this fall.
Travis County Interim Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott spoke with county commissioners Tuesday, and said it’s hard to imagine allowing a crowd of any size watch a game.
Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte wrote season ticket holders last week about plans to allow about 50,000 fans at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, even as the state of Texas remains a national hot spot in the coronavirus pandemic.
Escott says having that many people in one place is a bit of a reach right now.
School officials have noted the 50% limit is currently allowed under statewide rules.
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The Atlanta Falcons have placed rookie safety Jaylinn Hawkins on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
The announcement came after coach Dan Quinn earlier said all rookies had negative tests. Hawkins, a fourth-round pick from Cal, could have tested negative and be placed on the list after exposure to the coronavirus. Teams are not allowed to disclose if a player is in quarantine.
Quinn said the coronavirus outbreak with the MLB’s Miami Marlins was a topic of discussion as veteran players arrived for training camp on Tuesday and began their testing. He said no player has discussed opting out.
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Veteran cornerback Maurice Canady and undrafted rookie receiver Stephen Guidry have opted out of playing for the Dallas Cowboys this season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Canady signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys after splitting the 2019 season between the New York Jets and Baltimore. The Ravens drafted Canady in the sixth round in 2016.
Guidry had 827 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in two seasons at Mississippi State after playing two years of junior college. He faced long adds to make the roster at a position that includes Amari Cooper, who signed a $100 million contract in the offseason, third-year man Michael Gallup and first-round pick CeeDee Lamb.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have placed starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor and first-year offensive lineman Ryan Pope on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
Taylor, a second-round pick from Florida last year, started all 16 games as a rookie.
The COVID-19 list is for a player who tests positive for coronavirus or has been quarantined after being in close contact with someone infected. NFL teams are not allowed to disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19.
Jacksonville also removed rookie fullback Connor Slomka from the team’s active/non-football injury list after he passed his physical.
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The NCAA is allowing all major college football teams to begin their seasons as early as Aug. 29.
The association confirmed that the football oversight committee had requested a blanket waiver to permit any school to push up the start of its season to the so-called Week Zero.
The official start of the season had been Labor Day weekend, with a few games scheduled for Aug. 29. That was before the coronavirus pandemic put the season in peril and schedules were remade to deal with potential disruptions of COVID-19.
Some schools and conferences are working on delaying the start of their football seasons while others are trying to get a head start. Kansas and Oklahoma from the Big 12 have both recently moved up their opening games against FCS opponents to Aug. 29.
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The Summit League is pushing back the start of fall sports to Sept. 23 due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The conference’s president’s council agreed to delay championship seasons for men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and cross country. Non-championship segments for golf and tennis, along with non-traditional seasons for softball and baseball also were pushed back.
Soccer and volleyball will have conference-only schedules.
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A women’s professional tennis tournament that was supposed to be played in Tokyo in November has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the latest event scratched from the sport’s calendar.
The Toray Pan Pacific Open already had been postponed from September because of the COVID-19 outbreak that has put the WTA and ATP tours on hold since March.
Two-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka won that title last year.
Tuesday’s announcement follows news last week that 11 men’s and women’s tournaments planned for later this year in China were scrapped.
That included the WTA Finals.
As of now, women’s tennis is scheduled to resume next week in Palermo, Italy.
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The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has moved most fall sports until the spring, including football.
The MIAC joined the majority of its NCAA Division III peers, postponing competition in cross country, football, soccer and volleyball. Tennis teams will be permitted to compete against conference opponents this fall in accordance with campus, state, NCAA and MIAC health directives. That sport is deemed low risk for coronavirus transmission.
Training, practice and other team activities will be permitted in the postponed sports, in compliance with the virus-related guidelines.
The biggest impact of the MIAC’s move will be on the football game between league powers St. John’s and St. Thomas, rivals who first played in 1901 and have faced off 89 times in the sport. This year’s game, which was scheduled for early November at U.S. Bank Stadium, the NFL home of the Vikings, could be the last ever with the impending move by St. Thomas to the FCS level after being booted from the MIAC for competitive reasons.
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The Tennessee Titans have placed their top draft pick on the COVID-19/reserve list.
Coach Mike Vrabel announced that move Tuesday at the end of a 40-minute video conference call with reporters.
The Titans drafted offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson with the No. 29 pick overall out of Georgia, and Wilson remains the one member of their six-man draft class that has yet to agree to a contract. Wilson is expected to compete for the right tackle job that came open when Jack Conklin signed with Cleveland in free agency.
Vrabel also said linebacker Jayon Brown will start training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
The Titans so far have had one player opt out. Undrafted rookie free agent Anthony McKinney is an offensive lineman out of Texas Christian. Vrabel confirmed McKinney informed the coach and general manager Jon Robinson of his decision.
Vrabel says he has not heard nor talked to other Titans who might choose to opt out and is waiting until players make the best decision in the interest of themselves and their families.
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A person familiar with the situation says New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower has decided to opt out of the 2020 season.
Hightower’s decision was made out of concern for the health of his fiancée and child, who was born earlier this month, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Patriots have not announced the decision.
ESPN was the first to report the move.
Two other people told the AP that starting right tackle Marcus Cannon and fullback Danny Vitale have also chosen to sit out the season, citing health concerns.
Cannon is a cancer survivor and Vitale has a young family and doesn’t want to risk exposing them, according to the sources.
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Two people with direct knowledge of the decision have confirmed to The Associated Press that Buffalo Bills starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is voluntarily opting out from playing this season.
The people spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity because the team has not revealed this information as players reported for the start of training camp Tuesday. The NFL Network first reported Lotulelei’s decision earlier in the day.
The 30-year-old Lotulelei has seven years of NFL experience and was entering his third season with the Bills. He has two years remaining on his contract, which will now run through 2022.
— John Wawrow reporting from Buffalo. New York.
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Iowa has paused its men’s basketball workouts for 14 days after two players tested positive for COVID-19, the school announced Tuesday.
Iowa’s protocol requires individuals who test positive to be in isolation and for people who might have been exposed to someone with the virus to be quarantined.
Last week, Michigan State suspended football workouts and players began a 14-day quarantine after a staff member and player tested positive.
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Ohio State will limit home crowds to about 20,000 and prohibit tailgating if the football season is played this fall.
Fans inside Ohio Stadium will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing to help stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Concessions will be limited.
The traditional “Skull Session” pregame pep rallies at St. John’s Arena will not be held.
Athletic director Gene Smith informed season-ticket holders of the new rules in a letter Tuesday, first reported by Cleveland.com.
The guidelines limit capacity of the 105,000-seat stadium to 20%.
-Mitch Stacy reporting from Columbus, Ohio
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The New Jersey Athletic Conference announced the suspension of all fall sports because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The conference of Division III schools will explore the possibility of playing fall sports in the spring. The fall sports include football, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, field hockey, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, and men’s cross country.
The member schools are Kean, Montclair State, New Jersey City, Ramapo, Rowan, Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark, Stockton, The College of New Jersey, and William Paterson.
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Brazilian TV host Rodrigo Rodrigues has died at age 45, two weeks after contracting COVID-19.
A fan favorite for his humorous style leading sports programs, Rodrigues was hospitalized on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro after feeling nausea and disorientation. Doctors found he had a cerebral venous blood clot, one of the possible bodily responses to an infection by the new coronavirus.
Rodrigues had surgery on Sunday and was in an induced coma.
He worked at TV Globo and its cable channel Sportv, which confirmed his death during one of the programs he hosted.
Rodrigues also worked in several other Brazilian networks, including ESPN.
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The Atlanta Falcons have selected their 40-member cheerleaders squad following their first virtual tryouts.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 38 women and two men earned their spots in online tryouts. The results were announced on Monday night on a livestream on the Falcons website.
Chato Hendrix, director of the cheerleaders, said the group was disheartened at first to have to go completely virtual, but like the rest of the world had to adapt.
Hendrix says the virtual tryouts made it possible for out-of-state applicants to compete for spots without having to travel to Atlanta.
This is the first time since 1989 the Falcons have had male cheerleaders.
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Ball State has filled one of three open dates on its football schedule by announcing plans to open the season Sept. 12 at Iowa State of the Big 12.
The game replaces a previously scheduled date for the Cardinals at Michigan and the annual rivalry game at Iowa for the Cyclones. Both games were wiped out when Big Ten officials said they would play a conference-only schedule.
Ball State also had its Sept. 3 season opener against Maine and a Sept. 19 trip to Indiana canceled earlier this month. The Big Ten games reportedly cost the Cardinals about $1.7 million in guaranteed money.
Ball State is still scheduled to host Wyoming on Sept. 26 in its second game of the season before heading into Mid-American Conference play.
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Real Madrid says forward Mariano has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The announcement came as the team returned to practice ahead of its Champions League match against Manchester City on Aug. 7. Real Madrid lost at home 2-1 in the first leg of the round-of-16 series.
Madrid says Mariano was in “perfect health condition” and was following health protocols.
The entire Madrid squad was tested for COVID-19 on Monday. The players had been on a break of almost 10 days after winning the Spanish league title.
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The French government has maintained a maximum capacity of 5,000 fans in stadiums until the end of August amid the coronavirus pandemic.
French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu says the decision was taken because France has seen an increase in coronavirus cases recently.
But Maracineanu adds that local officials will have the authority to increase the capacity at some events from Aug. 15 if they can obtain special dispensation and observe strict health and safety protocol.
Only 2,805 fans attended the French Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Saint-Etienne last Friday but the number was low because Saint-Etienne fans did not use their allocation of 900 seats at Stade de France.
PSG faces Lyon in the League Cup final at the same stadium on Friday.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Sales tax for bus service will go to Seattle November ballot

SEATTLE ( AP ) - Seattle voters will be asked to approve a sales tax increase to pay for bus service , as the coronavirus pandemic forces transit budget cutbacks .
The Seattle City Council Monday voted to send a measure to the November ballot for a .15 % sales tax to renew a city tax known as the Seattle Transportation Benefit District .
If passed by voters , it would replace an existing .1 % sales tax and $ 60 car-tab fee , meaning taxpayers would see car tab costs decrease and sales taxes increase next year .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million a year for Metro bus service , transit passes for students and people with low incomes and “ emergent needs ” related to the pandemic and the West Seattle Bridge closure .
That ’ s less than the $ 56 million a year raised last year under the current tax .
The council chose not to renew the car-tab fee because those fees are in legal limbo after statewide voters approved a initiative to lower car-tab taxes last fall .
Seattle uses the transportation benefit district money to buy bus service from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seattle .
If voters approve the proposal , up to $ 10 million a year could be spent on programs to offer transit passes to students , people with smaller incomes and essential workers .
Up to $ 9 million a year could be used for “ emerging needs , ” including West Seattle projects , and $ 9 million could be used for street maintenance and other improvements on bus routes .
That amount would later be reduced to $ 3 million a year .
The ballot measure was reworked by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a smaller tax .
Even if voters pass the tax , bus service cuts are likely as Metro weathers deep financial losses due to the pandemic .

SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle voters will be asked to approve a sales tax increase to pay for bus service, as the coronavirus pandemic forces transit budget cutbacks.
The Seattle City Council Monday voted to send a measure to the November ballot for a .15% sales tax to renew a city tax known as the Seattle Transportation Benefit District. If passed by voters, it would replace an existing .1% sales tax and $60 car-tab fee, meaning taxpayers would see car tab costs decrease and sales taxes increase next year.
The six-year measure would raise about $42 million a year for Metro bus service, transit passes for students and people with low incomes and “emergent needs” related to the pandemic and the West Seattle Bridge closure. That’s less than the $56 million a year raised last year under the current tax.
The council chose not to renew the car-tab fee because those fees are in legal limbo after statewide voters approved a initiative to lower car-tab taxes last fall.
Seattle uses the transportation benefit district money to buy bus service from King County Metro on routes that serve Seattle.
If voters approve the proposal, up to $10 million a year could be spent on programs to offer transit passes to students, people with smaller incomes and essential workers. Up to $9 million a year could be used for “emerging needs,” including West Seattle projects, and $9 million could be used for street maintenance and other improvements on bus routes. That amount would later be reduced to $3 million a year.
The ballot measure was reworked by the City Council after the mayor sent down a smaller tax.
Even if voters pass the tax, bus service cuts are likely as Metro weathers deep financial losses due to the pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Larry Hogan, Md. gov.: I wish Donald Trump would 'stick to a message' on the coronavirus crisis

Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan on Tuesday said President Trump appeared to be on his way to a new , more serious tone on the coronavirus crisis before Mr. Trump shared a series of tweets on Monday that were taken down overnight because of misinformation rules .
“ He started to improve that messaging over the past week or so , ” Mr. Hogan said on CNN ’ s “ New Day.
” “ The president was wearing a mask and saying it was patriotic to wear a mask.
” “ The president was saying we had to take it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get worse , ” he continued .
Mr. Hogan , a Republican , said he was pleased with that change in direction .
“ But then he seems to step on his own message by falling back into those old habits of just saying things that are counterproductive , ” he said .
Mr. Hogan said it ’ s a “ great question ” as to which is the real Mr. Trump .
“ I just wish he would listen to the experts in his own administration and stick to a message , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and YouTube removed a video from their platforms that Mr. Trump had shared .
The video from “ America ’ s Frontline Doctors ’ included testimonials saying that people don ’ t need to wear masks and pushing hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19 .

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday said President Trump appeared to be on his way to a new, more serious tone on the coronavirus crisis before Mr. Trump shared a series of tweets on Monday that were taken down overnight because of misinformation rules.
“He started to improve that messaging over the past week or so,” Mr. Hogan said on CNN’s “New Day.” “The president was wearing a mask and saying it was patriotic to wear a mask.”
“The president was saying we had to take it seriously — that this very likely could get worse,” he continued.
Mr. Hogan, a Republican, said he was pleased with that change in direction.
“But then he seems to step on his own message by falling back into those old habits of just saying things that are counterproductive,” he said.
Mr. Hogan said it’s a “great question” as to which is the real Mr. Trump.
“I just wish he would listen to the experts in his own administration and stick to a message,” he said.
Twitter, Facebook and YouTube removed a video from their platforms that Mr. Trump had shared.
The video from “America’s Frontline Doctors’ included testimonials saying that people don’t need to wear masks and pushing hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Texas man charged in Los Angeles killing of teen girl

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A Texas man was was charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage girl at the scene of an illegal street race in Los Angeles last weekend , prosecutors said .
Ramon Roque Monreal , 33 , of El Paso was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon , but his hearing was continued and he has not entered a plea , the Los Angeles Times reported .
It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney .
Monreal was arrested in south Los Angeles County around 3:45 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an unrelated call .
Monreal , who had a firearm , was turned over to LAPD homicide detectives and arrested , police said .
The shooting occurred early Sunday , just minutes after midnight , at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue , and was recorded on video .
Officers responding to a report of illegal street racing were directed to the shooting victim , identified as Alejandra Estrada , 17 , of Huntington Park .
She died at the scene .
Witnesses said the girl was watching the racing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shots were fired , hitting the teen and another person only described as male .
He was hospitalized with serious injuries but was expected to survive .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Texas man was was charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage girl at the scene of an illegal street race in Los Angeles last weekend, prosecutors said.
Ramon Roque Monreal, 33, of El Paso was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon, but his hearing was continued and he has not entered a plea, the Los Angeles Times reported. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.
Monreal was arrested in south Los Angeles County around 3:45 a.m. Sunday by sheriff’s deputies responding to an unrelated call. Monreal, who had a firearm, was turned over to LAPD homicide detectives and arrested, police said.
The shooting occurred early Sunday, just minutes after midnight, at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, and was recorded on video.
Officers responding to a report of illegal street racing were directed to the shooting victim, identified as Alejandra Estrada, 17, of Huntington Park. She died at the scene.
Witnesses said the girl was watching the racing when an argument erupted between two men and shots were fired, hitting the teen and another person only described as male. He was hospitalized with serious injuries but was expected to survive.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Dion Boyd, Chicago deputy police chief, dead in apparent suicide at station

CHICAGO — A high-ranking member of the Chicago Police Department who was promoted earlier this month was found dead Tuesday morning after he apparently shot himself in a station on the city ’ s West Side , authorities said .
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday at the Cook County Medical Examiner ’ s Office on the remains of Deputy Chief Dion Boyd .
If the autopsy confirms that the 57-year-old Boyd fatally shot himself , he would become at least the ninth member of the department to die by suicide in the last two years .
Police Superintendent David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boyd ’ s death .
But the department confirmed that it believes Boyd fatally shot himself , and Brown made sure to reach out to officers and plead with them to seek help if they need it .
“ There is no shame in reaching out for help , ” Brown said during a press briefing during which he announced Boyd ’ s death .
“ Please , officers , please , stay humble , stay human , stay safe and stay well.
” Boyd , who had been with the department for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deputy chief of criminal networks on July 15 , one of several promotions Brown has made .
During the course of his career , Boyd worked as an undercover officer in narcotics , homicide detective and internal affairs officer before moving into command ranks .
Boyd ’ s death is the latest blow to a police force that has seen more than its share of suicides .
In a 2017 report about the department ’ s policing practices , the US .
Justice Department reported that the suicide rate among officers in Chicago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of 18.1 per 100,000 .
“ To every officer , we want you to know that you are deserving of help and healing , and no one needs to struggle alone , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote on Twitter while offering condolences to Boyd ’ s family .
“ This City has a fundamental obligation to support each of you , and over the coming weeks , we will be taking steps to bolster our support network so that every first responder understands that help is available.
” Boyd ’ s body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office by ambulance in a procession that included a fleet of Chicago police vehicles to the medical examiner ’ s office , where dozens of officers had converged in a show of respect .

CHICAGO — A high-ranking member of the Chicago Police Department who was promoted earlier this month was found dead Tuesday morning after he apparently shot himself in a station on the city’s West Side, authorities said.
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office on the remains of Deputy Chief Dion Boyd. If the autopsy confirms that the 57-year-old Boyd fatally shot himself, he would become at least the ninth member of the department to die by suicide in the last two years.
Police Superintendent David Brown did not discuss the circumstances surrounding Boyd’s death. But the department confirmed that it believes Boyd fatally shot himself, and Brown made sure to reach out to officers and plead with them to seek help if they need it.
“There is no shame in reaching out for help,” Brown said during a press briefing during which he announced Boyd’s death. “Please, officers, please, stay humble, stay human, stay safe and stay well.”
Boyd, who had been with the department for 29 years, was sworn in as deputy chief of criminal networks on July 15, one of several promotions Brown has made.
During the course of his career, Boyd worked as an undercover officer in narcotics, homicide detective and internal affairs officer before moving into command ranks.
Boyd’s death is the latest blow to a police force that has seen more than its share of suicides. In a 2017 report about the department’s policing practices, the US. Justice Department reported that the suicide rate among officers in Chicago was 60 % higher than the national average of 18.1 per 100,000.
“To every officer, we want you to know that you are deserving of help and healing, and no one needs to struggle alone,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote on Twitter while offering condolences to Boyd’s family. “This City has a fundamental obligation to support each of you, and over the coming weeks, we will be taking steps to bolster our support network so that every first responder understands that help is available.”
Boyd’s body was taken from the Homan Square police office by ambulance in a procession that included a fleet of Chicago police vehicles to the medical examiner’s office, where dozens of officers had converged in a show of respect.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Police: 3-year-old accidentally shot, killed himself

ATLANTA ( AP ) - A 3-year-old boy died after he found a loaded gun and accidentally shot himself in @ @ @ @ @ according to Atlanta police .
Police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said the shooting happened around @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
Grant said the boy was hospitalized but later died from his @ @ @ @ @ ’ t immediately identified .
An autopsy will be performed to confirm a cause of @ @ @ @ @ preliminary investigation indicates that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted .
It ’ s unclear how @ @ @ @ @ but the child ’ s mother and her boyfriend were cooperating with police .
It @ @ @ @ @ anyone will be charged in the incident .

ATLANTA (AP) - A 3-year-old boy died after he found a loaded gun and accidentally shot himself in the head Tuesday morning, according to Atlanta police.
Police spokesman Officer Anthony Grant said the shooting happened around 11 a.m. Tuesday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Grant said the boy was hospitalized but later died from his wounds. The boy wasn’t immediately identified.
An autopsy will be performed to confirm a cause of death but Grant said a preliminary investigation indicates that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted.
It’s unclear how the boy found the gun but the child’s mother and her boyfriend were cooperating with police.
It’s also unclear whether anyone will be charged in the incident.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Milwaukee man faces federal arson charges in unrest burning

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - A federal grand jury indicted a Milwaukee man Tuesday on arson charges stemming from a home that was set on fire during unrest last month .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said Joshua Lusk , 32 , was indicted Tuesday on charges of arson and attempted arson , injuring a Milwaukee firefighter .
In a statement , U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said Lusk “ engaged in senseless violence , attempting to destroy the home of innocent people.
” It was not immediately known if Lusk had an attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A crowd gathered at the home in June , believing two missing girls were at the house and investigating whether the house was used for sex trafficking .
But police said the girls were never at the house , and there was no evidence human trafficking occurred at the house .
Police previously said the house was set on fire twice , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported .
As the unrest escalated , police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd .
Police said people were throwing bricks and projectiles at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shot and 10 police officers and a firefighter injured .
The three people who were shot weren ’ t shot by police , authorities said .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A federal grand jury indicted a Milwaukee man Tuesday on arson charges stemming from a home that was set on fire during unrest last month.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin said Joshua Lusk, 32, was indicted Tuesday on charges of arson and attempted arson, injuring a Milwaukee firefighter.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger said Lusk “engaged in senseless violence, attempting to destroy the home of innocent people.”
It was not immediately known if Lusk had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
A crowd gathered at the home in June, believing two missing girls were at the house and investigating whether the house was used for sex trafficking. But police said the girls were never at the house, and there was no evidence human trafficking occurred at the house.
Police previously said the house was set on fire twice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. As the unrest escalated, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. Police said people were throwing bricks and projectiles at officers and fire crews.
Three people were shot and 10 police officers and a firefighter injured. The three people who were shot weren’t shot by police, authorities said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--Gavin Newsom denies coronavirus funds to Atwater and Coalinga, cities that defied his orders

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Gov .
Gavin Newsom is using new powers to withhold money from two cities in California ’ s Central Valley that are defying his health orders by allowing all businesses to open during the pandemic .
Newsom blocked nearly $ 65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $ 35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County , the first installments of $ 2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don ’ t toe the line on coronavirus safeguards .
The state ’ s Office of Emergency Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notifying officials that they risked losing more money if they didn ’ t withdraw resolutions defying the state ’ s orders .
The city councils in both cities met Monday and stuck with their resolutions .
“ We chose our path and we prepared for it.
” Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said .
Creighton said the governor is abandoning the small city even as he devotes more resources and federal money to combat a virus surge in the Central Valley .
Creighton said sentiment in his city of 29,000 seems to be running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Newsom was granted the power to block the money in the new state budget that took effect earlier this month .
The cities lost the first one-sixth of their money but can get the rest if they rescind their resolutions , Office of Emergency Services spokesman Brian Ferguson said .
Atwater is eligible for $ 389,000 and Coalinga for $ 216,000 in assistance through the state ’ s Coronavirus Relief Fund .
On Monday , Newsom announced he would spend $ 52 million in the Central Valley to improve virus testing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agricultural region that has a high population of Hispanics , a group disproportionately harmed by the virus .
The state also is sending strike teams of health care workers to help hospitals handle the additional cases .
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday the rate of hospitalizations statewide is slowing and in some parts even flattening .
“ We don ’ t see that in the Central Valley , ” he said .
Merced County on Monday reported its highest-ever number of virus hospitalizations , while Fresno County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health officials in the two counties did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment on the cities ’ defiance .
Virus cases in California started surging in early June and in early July Newsom reimposed shutdown orders on many businesses while also barring indoor religious services and in-school instruction for students in most of the state .
Atwater ’ s City Council declared itself a “ Sanctuary City ” for businesses and made it clear it won ’ t enforce the state ’ s public health order .
Coalinga ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses “ essential ” and thus able to remain open despite the state ’ s shutdown orders .
“ It ’ s just politics , that we have the word ‘ sanctuary ’ for businesses and faith-based ( organizations ) , ” Creighton said , adding that , “ We support ‘ open and safe ’ - masks , social distancing.
” The money from the state fund would have gone to help local businesses hard hit during the pandemic , to buy more personal protective equipment , and to more education and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need that money to do , we ’ re not going to be able to do now , ” Creighton said .
City officials would like to sue the state , he said , but can ’ t afford to fight that battle .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom is using new powers to withhold money from two cities in California’s Central Valley that are defying his health orders by allowing all businesses to open during the pandemic.
Newsom blocked nearly $65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County, the first installments of $2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don’t toe the line on coronavirus safeguards.
The state’s Office of Emergency Services sent letters to the cities last week notifying officials that they risked losing more money if they didn’t withdraw resolutions defying the state’s orders. The city councils in both cities met Monday and stuck with their resolutions.
“We chose our path and we prepared for it.” Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said.
Creighton said the governor is abandoning the small city even as he devotes more resources and federal money to combat a virus surge in the Central Valley. Creighton said sentiment in his city of 29,000 seems to be running about 80-20 in defiance of the governor.
Newsom was granted the power to block the money in the new state budget that took effect earlier this month. The cities lost the first one-sixth of their money but can get the rest if they rescind their resolutions, Office of Emergency Services spokesman Brian Ferguson said.
Atwater is eligible for $389,000 and Coalinga for $216,000 in assistance through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund.
On Monday, Newsom announced he would spend $52 million in the Central Valley to improve virus testing and provide other help to residents in the agricultural region that has a high population of Hispanics, a group disproportionately harmed by the virus. The state also is sending strike teams of health care workers to help hospitals handle the additional cases.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday the rate of hospitalizations statewide is slowing and in some parts even flattening.
“We don’t see that in the Central Valley,” he said.
Merced County on Monday reported its highest-ever number of virus hospitalizations, while Fresno County is just below its highest level. Health officials in the two counties did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment on the cities’ defiance.
Virus cases in California started surging in early June and in early July Newsom reimposed shutdown orders on many businesses while also barring indoor religious services and in-school instruction for students in most of the state.
Atwater’s City Council declared itself a “Sanctuary City” for businesses and made it clear it won’t enforce the state’s public health order. Coalinga’s City Council approved a resolution calling all businesses “essential” and thus able to remain open despite the state’s shutdown orders.
“It’s just politics, that we have the word ‘sanctuary’ for businesses and faith-based (organizations),” Creighton said, adding that, “We support ‘open and safe’ - masks, social distancing.”
The money from the state fund would have gone to help local businesses hard hit during the pandemic, to buy more personal protective equipment, and to more education and outreach, he said.
“Everything we need that money to do, we’re not going to be able to do now,” Creighton said.
City officials would like to sue the state, he said, but can’t afford to fight that battle.


washingtontimes--2020-07-28--California withholds virus money from 2 defiant cities

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - Gov .
Gavin Newsom is using new powers to withhold money from two cities in California ’ s Central Valley that are defying his health orders by allowing all businesses to open during the pandemic .
Newsom blocked nearly $ 65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $ 35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County , the first installments of $ 2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don ’ t toe the line on coronavirus safeguards .
The state ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities last week notifying officials that they risked losing more money if they didn ’ t withdraw resolutions defying the state ’ s orders .
The city councils in both cities met Monday and stuck with their resolutions .
“ We chose our path and we prepared for it.
” Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said .
Creighton said the governor is abandoning the small city even as he devotes more resources and federal money to combat a virus surge in the Central Valley .
Creighton said sentiment in his city of 29,000 seems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the governor .
Newsom was granted the power to block the money in the new state budget that took effect earlier this month .
The cities lost the first one-sixth of their money but can get the rest if they rescind their resolutions , Office of Emergency Services spokesman Brian Ferguson said .
Atwater is eligible for $ 389,000 and Coalinga for $ 216,000 in assistance through the state ’ s Coronavirus Relief Fund .
On Monday , Newsom announced he would spend $ 52 million in the Central Valley to improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in the agricultural region that has a high population of Hispanics , a group disproportionately harmed by the virus .
The state also is sending strike teams of health care workers to help hospitals handle the additional cases .
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday the rate of hospitalizations statewide is slowing and in some parts even flattening .
“ We don ’ t see that in the Central Valley , ” he said .
Merced County on Monday reported its highest-ever number of virus hospitalizations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest level .
Health officials in the two counties did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment on the cities ’ defiance .
Virus cases in California started surging in early June and in early July Newsom reimposed shutdown orders on many businesses while also barring indoor religious services and in-school instruction for students in most of the state .
Atwater ’ s City Council declared itself a “ Sanctuary City ” for businesses and made it clear it won ’ t enforce the state ’ s public health order .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolution calling all businesses “ essential ” and thus able to remain open despite the state ’ s shutdown orders .
“ It ’ s just politics , that we have the word ‘ sanctuary ’ for businesses and faith-based ( organizations ) , ” Creighton said , adding that , “ We support ‘ open and safe ’ - masks , social distancing.
” The money from the state fund would have gone to help local businesses hard hit during the pandemic , to buy more personal protective equipment , and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Everything we need that money to do , we ’ re not going to be able to do now , ” Creighton said .
City officials would like to sue the state , he said , but can ’ t afford to fight that battle .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Gavin Newsom is using new powers to withhold money from two cities in California’s Central Valley that are defying his health orders by allowing all businesses to open during the pandemic.
Newsom blocked nearly $65,000 from Atwater in Merced County and more than $35,000 from Coalinga in Fresno County, the first installments of $2.5 billion in federal funds that cities and counties across the state risk losing if they don’t toe the line on coronavirus safeguards.
The state’s Office of Emergency Services sent letters to the cities last week notifying officials that they risked losing more money if they didn’t withdraw resolutions defying the state’s orders. The city councils in both cities met Monday and stuck with their resolutions.
“We chose our path and we prepared for it.” Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said.
Creighton said the governor is abandoning the small city even as he devotes more resources and federal money to combat a virus surge in the Central Valley. Creighton said sentiment in his city of 29,000 seems to be running about 80-20 in defiance of the governor.
Newsom was granted the power to block the money in the new state budget that took effect earlier this month. The cities lost the first one-sixth of their money but can get the rest if they rescind their resolutions, Office of Emergency Services spokesman Brian Ferguson said.
Atwater is eligible for $389,000 and Coalinga for $216,000 in assistance through the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund.
On Monday, Newsom announced he would spend $52 million in the Central Valley to improve virus testing and provide other help to residents in the agricultural region that has a high population of Hispanics, a group disproportionately harmed by the virus. The state also is sending strike teams of health care workers to help hospitals handle the additional cases.
California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Tuesday the rate of hospitalizations statewide is slowing and in some parts even flattening.
“We don’t see that in the Central Valley,” he said.
Merced County on Monday reported its highest-ever number of virus hospitalizations, while Fresno County is just below its highest level. Health officials in the two counties did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment on the cities’ defiance.
Virus cases in California started surging in early June and in early July Newsom reimposed shutdown orders on many businesses while also barring indoor religious services and in-school instruction for students in most of the state.
Atwater’s City Council declared itself a “Sanctuary City” for businesses and made it clear it won’t enforce the state’s public health order. Coalinga’s City Council approved a resolution calling all businesses “essential” and thus able to remain open despite the state’s shutdown orders.
“It’s just politics, that we have the word ‘sanctuary’ for businesses and faith-based (organizations),” Creighton said, adding that, “We support ‘open and safe’ - masks, social distancing.”
The money from the state fund would have gone to help local businesses hard hit during the pandemic, to buy more personal protective equipment, and to more education and outreach, he said.
“Everything we need that money to do, we’re not going to be able to do now,” Creighton said.
City officials would like to sue the state, he said, but can’t afford to fight that battle.