washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Harry H. Rogers, Virginia man who drove through Black Lives Matter protest, sentenced to 6 years

RICHMOND , Va. — A Virginia man who a prosecutor described as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan and who drove through a Black Lives Matter protest in June was sentenced Monday to six years in jail .
Harry H. Rogers , 36 , was convicted of six misdemeanors and sentenced to a year in jail for each charge , the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported .
Rogers still faces three felony charges of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the June 7 incident .
The three felony counts were certified Monday to a grand jury by the same Henrico County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty of four simple assaults , property damage and hit-and-run .
The felony charges will be heard by a grand jury in September , the newspaper reported .
The judge didn ’ t uphold hate crime enhancement on four simple assault charges , agreeing with the defense argument that the three victims , all of whom are white , were not targeted because of their race .
Two people who were struck by Rogers testified .
A third victim was only identified as John Doe .
The prosecution played Facebook Live video captured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of driving through the crowd .
During a hearing the day after the incident , Henrico County Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Shannon Taylor said in a statement that based on his social media posts and by his own admission , Rogers was a Klan leader .

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia man who a prosecutor described as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan and who drove through a Black Lives Matter protest in June was sentenced Monday to six years in jail.
Harry H. Rogers, 36, was convicted of six misdemeanors and sentenced to a year in jail for each charge, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Rogers still faces three felony charges of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the June 7 incident.
The three felony counts were certified Monday to a grand jury by the same Henrico County General District Court judge who found Rogers guilty of four simple assaults, property damage and hit-and-run. The felony charges will be heard by a grand jury in September, the newspaper reported.
The judge didn’t uphold hate crime enhancement on four simple assault charges, agreeing with the defense argument that the three victims, all of whom are white, were not targeted because of their race.
Two people who were struck by Rogers testified. A third victim was only identified as John Doe. The prosecution played Facebook Live video captured after the incident in which Rogers boasts of driving through the crowd.
During a hearing the day after the incident, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said in a statement that based on his social media posts and by his own admission, Rogers was a Klan leader.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Virginia man who drove through BLM protest: 6 years in jail

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - A Virginia man who a prosecutor described as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan and who drove through a Black Lives Matter protest in June was sentenced Monday to six years in jail .
Harry H. Rogers , 36 , was convicted of six misdemeanors and sentenced to a year in jail for each charge , the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported .
Rogers still faces three felony charges of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the June 7 incident .
The three felony counts were certified Monday to a grand jury by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who found Rogers guilty of four simple assaults , property damage and hit-and-run .
The felony charges will be heard by a grand jury in September , the newspaper reported .
The judge didn ’ t uphold hate crime enhancement on four simple assault charges , agreeing with the defense argument that the three victims , all of whom are white , were not targeted because of their race .
Two people who were struck by Rogers testified .
A third victim was only identified at John Doe .
The prosecution played Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Rogers boasts of driving through the crowd .
During a hearing the day after the incident , Henrico County Commonwealth ’ s Attorney Shannon Taylor said in a statement that based on his social media posts and by his own admission , Rogers was a Klan leader .

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A Virginia man who a prosecutor described as a leader of the Ku Klux Klan and who drove through a Black Lives Matter protest in June was sentenced Monday to six years in jail.
Harry H. Rogers, 36, was convicted of six misdemeanors and sentenced to a year in jail for each charge, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Rogers still faces three felony charges of attempted malicious wounding in connection with the June 7 incident.
The three felony counts were certified Monday to a grand jury by the same Henrico County General District Court judge who found Rogers guilty of four simple assaults, property damage and hit-and-run. The felony charges will be heard by a grand jury in September, the newspaper reported.
The judge didn’t uphold hate crime enhancement on four simple assault charges, agreeing with the defense argument that the three victims, all of whom are white, were not targeted because of their race.
Two people who were struck by Rogers testified. A third victim was only identified at John Doe. The prosecution played Facebook Live video captured after the incident in which Rogers boasts of driving through the crowd.
During a hearing the day after the incident, Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor said in a statement that based on his social media posts and by his own admission, Rogers was a Klan leader.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--California judge rules Uber, Lyft drivers are employees

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - A judge on Monday ordered ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors , a shift that would guarantee benefits like overtime , sick leave and expense reimbursement for workers who make up much of the freewheeling gig economy .
But the ruling from San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman won ’ t take effect right away as both Uber and Lyft said Monday they will immediately appeal to a higher court , which could put the ruling on hold as the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling as a milestone in their fight to apply traditional worker protections to a fast-growing segment of the labor force .
But the companies criticized the decision , saying it threatens to shut them down during a pandemic-induced economic downturn where many people who have lost their jobs turn to the ride-hailing companies to make money .
“ Our elected leaders should be focused on creating work , not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression , ” Uber spokesperson Davis White said .
The lawsuit was filed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city attorneys of Los Angeles , San Diego and San Francisco under a new California law that says companies can only classify workers as contractors if they perform work “ outside the usual course ” of their business .
The law has wide-reaching implications across a number of sectors , but none more so than the ride-hailing industry .
The companies have already challenged the law in federal court , where their efforts to stop it from taking effect have , so far , failed .
And they have pledged to spend more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ballot measure in November that , if approved by voters , would exempt them from the law .
Lawyers for Uber and Lyft say drivers are not fundamental to the business , arguing the companies are “ multi-sided platforms ” whose activities encompass much more than transportation .
But Schulman rejected those arguments , writing in a 34-page opinion that the argument “ flies in the face of economic reality and common sense.
” “ To state the obvious , drivers are central , not tangential , to Uber and Lyft ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
State officials have argued Uber and Lyft ’ s behavior hurts more than just drivers , noting the companies don ’ t pay into the state ’ s unemployment insurance fund that covers benefits for people when they lose their jobs .
The state ’ s fund was quickly depleted following huge job losses because of the pandemic , resulting in the state borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government .
“ Our state and workers shouldn ’ t have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , California ’ s Democratic attorney general , said “ We ’ re going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules.
” But ride-haling companies have been hurt by the pandemic , too .
Uber announced last week it lost $ 1.78 billion in the past three months as millions of people stayed home during the pandemic .
Uber said it did not anticipate any immediate disruptions because of the ruling for its more than 100,000 drivers in California .
Lyft , meanwhile , turned its attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ultimately , we believe this issue will be decided by California voters and that they will side with drivers , ” Lyft spokesperson Julie Wood said .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A judge on Monday ordered ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft to treat their California drivers as employees instead of independent contractors, a shift that would guarantee benefits like overtime, sick leave and expense reimbursement for workers who make up much of the freewheeling gig economy.
But the ruling from San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman won’t take effect right away as both Uber and Lyft said Monday they will immediately appeal to a higher court, which could put the ruling on hold as the case continues.
Still, advocates praised the ruling as a milestone in their fight to apply traditional worker protections to a fast-growing segment of the labor force. But the companies criticized the decision, saying it threatens to shut them down during a pandemic-induced economic downturn where many people who have lost their jobs turn to the ride-hailing companies to make money.
“Our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression,” Uber spokesperson Davis White said.
The lawsuit was filed by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the city attorneys of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco under a new California law that says companies can only classify workers as contractors if they perform work “outside the usual course” of their business.
The law has wide-reaching implications across a number of sectors, but none more so than the ride-hailing industry. The companies have already challenged the law in federal court, where their efforts to stop it from taking effect have, so far, failed. And they have pledged to spend more than a hundred million dollars to support a ballot measure in November that, if approved by voters, would exempt them from the law.
Lawyers for Uber and Lyft say drivers are not fundamental to the business, arguing the companies are “multi-sided platforms” whose activities encompass much more than transportation. But Schulman rejected those arguments, writing in a 34-page opinion that the argument “flies in the face of economic reality and common sense.”
“To state the obvious, drivers are central, not tangential, to Uber and Lyft’s entire ride-hailing business,” Schulman wrote.
State officials have argued Uber and Lyft’s behavior hurts more than just drivers, noting the companies don’t pay into the state’s unemployment insurance fund that covers benefits for people when they lose their jobs. The state’s fund was quickly depleted following huge job losses because of the pandemic, resulting in the state borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government.
“Our state and workers shouldn’t have to foot the bill when big businesses try to skip out on their responsibilities,” Becerra, California’s Democratic attorney general, said “We’re going to keep working to make sure Uber and Lyft play by the rules.”
But ride-haling companies have been hurt by the pandemic, too. Uber announced last week it lost $1.78 billion in the past three months as millions of people stayed home during the pandemic.
Uber said it did not anticipate any immediate disruptions because of the ruling for its more than 100,000 drivers in California. Lyft, meanwhile, turned its attention to the November ballot initiative.
“Ultimately, we believe this issue will be decided by California voters and that they will side with drivers,” Lyft spokesperson Julie Wood said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Trump foreign policy moves at stake in election

President Trump wants to dramatically reshuffle U.S. forces in Europe to chastise Germany for not spending enough on defense , but that and a range of other foreign policy pushes by the president are likely to fall by the wayside if presumptive Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden wins the White House in November .
Mr. Biden would seek to cancel a slate of key Trump initiatives , including the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear and Paris climate deals , as well as the planned U.S. exit from the World Health Organization , political analysts say .
While speculation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump ’ s aggressive policy toward China , military insiders say there is little doubt the former vice president would move quickly on the Europe troop realignment issue with the goal of stopping it dead in its tracks .
Pentagon leaders have made it abundantly clear that they intend to move with great caution .
They stress that it will take many months to pull nearly 12,000 troops from Germany , move U.S. European Command headquarters from Stuttgart to Mons , Belgium , and take other steps outlined by the Defense Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create a key window of opportunity for Mr. Biden , who likely would cancel — or at least delay and review — many of the Europe moves as part of a broader effort to repair bruised relationships between the U.S. and NATO partners .
Such a move would allow the former vice president to put an immediate stamp on military and international affairs .
Specialists say that while Pentagon officials may not be actively slow-walking Mr. Trump ’ s orders , they may be counting on the creaky wheels of bureaucracy to buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president abruptly changes course .
“ There ’ s a lot of steps to be taken first , and there ’ s a lot of planning that ’ s got to be done and monies that have to be found and negotiations to be done , ” said Jim Townsend , who was deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy during the Obama administration .
“ This isn ’ t going to happen tomorrow , ” Mr. Townsend said .
“ A lot of times , the people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they know it ’ s going to take a while … and they ’ re relying on the system to kill it .
“ It will be slow-walked , ” he added , “ but not because they ’ re doing it on purpose.
” Other aggressive Trump foreign policy shifts , such as the American withdrawal from several key international defense treaties and a planned U.S. exit from the World Health Organization , could be reversed in just the first few weeks of a hypothetical Biden presidency .
Analysts say Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly to resurrect American participation in the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal — two landmark accomplishments of the Obama administration that Mr. Trump has scrapped .
The former vice president also would reexamine the administration ’ s China policy , though it ’ s not clear exactly how Mr. Biden would handle the complex relationship between Washington and Beijing .
As part of the Trump administration ’ s policy announced last month , the number of U.S. troops in Germany will drop from 36,000 to about 24,000 .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will move to Italy and some will rotate farther east to better protect NATO ’ s border with Russia .
Officials cast the plan as the result of careful consideration and a desire to modernize America ’ s military footprint in Europe .
But Mr. Trump made no secret of the real motivation , undercutting careful efforts by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other Pentagon officials to cast the policy as the right move for U.S. national security .
“ The United States has been taken advantage of for 25 years , both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the president said just hours after the Pentagon announced the plan on July 29 .
“ We are protecting Germany .
So we ’ re reducing the force because they ’ re not paying their bill .
It ’ s very simple : They ’ re delinquent .
Very simple.
” Analysts say the issues of motivation and rationale make all the difference .
Careful military plans that result from years of planning and consultation with allies , they say , naturally will move much faster because the Pentagon understands exactly what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives they are trying to achieve .
“ If this had been a policy that emerged from within the Pentagon and the wheels had already begun to turn , then it ’ s possible that the change in the presence in Europe could have moved more quickly , ” said Charles Kupchan , a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations .
“ But given that the decision seems to have come out of the Oval Office , first you have to figure out what the president wants , ” said Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affairs at the National Security Council during the Obama administration .
“ Then you have to do the planning .
Then you have to figure out the implications for warm bodies and equipment and logistics .
And then finally , at the end of the process , things start to move , but that takes time.
” Leading military commanders have been clear about how much work must be done to enact all of the planned changes .
“ What we have right now is really a concept , a concept that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shared with the Congress , and we ’ ve shared inside the department fairly widely .
We now have to turn it into plans , ” Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten told reporters during the July 29 press conference .
Democrats in Congress said the decision amounts to petty personal politics by Mr. Trump , who has cast Germany as a freeloader dependent on America for cheap military protection .
Germans bristle at such charges and say they are ramping up defense spending with hopes to hit the threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often cited by Mr. Trump .
America ’ s military presence in Europe is just one key foreign policy move that could be ripe for reversal in the early days of a Biden White House .
Decisions that have been made relatively recently will be the easiest to reverse , such as Mr. Trump ’ s withdrawal from WHO because of the organization ’ s unwillingness , the White House argues , to hold China fully accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ The Trump administration decision to withdraw from the WHO undermined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely a Biden administration would reverse that decision and renew our participation and support , ” said P.J .
Crowley , who served as an assistant secretary of state for public affairs during the Obama administration .
“ I would expect such a move to receive bipartisan support.
” On the Paris climate deal , the U.S. technically must remain a part of the accord until Nov. 4 — a day after the presidential election .
Should Mr. Trump lose the election , he could still ensure that the U.S. exits the pact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would publicly state an intention to rejoin immediately after Mr. Biden is sworn in .
A Biden administration would be faced with more complex considerations when looking at whether to reverse Mr. Trump ’ s exits from several key arms and defense treaties with Russia .
The Trump administration last year pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns that Moscow was violating the deal .
The White House also argued that any such nuclear deals in the 21st century must involve China , a sentiment the Biden team may share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether to reenter the Open Skies Treaty , which allows for unarmed reconnaissance flights over other nations .
The White House has accused Russia of violating that agreement by refusing to allow flights over sensitive areas .
A Democratic White House , specialists say , would thoroughly review Open Skies and other deals but ultimately may decide to follow Mr. Trump ’ s path .
“ I think a Biden administration will also see that Russia was responsible for essentially deteriorating the commitment , under the Open Skies Treaty and almost gave the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of Russia ’ s violations , ” said Mark Simakovsky , a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the former Europe/NATO chief of staff for the office of the secretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon .
“ I don ’ t necessarily think you would just see Biden unilaterally get us back into all of these treaties overnight , ” Mr. Simakovsky said .
“ But I think you clearly see another policy review being undertaken .
”

Lauren Meier, Ben Wolfgang and Ben Wolfgang, Lauren Meier

President Trump wants to dramatically reshuffle U.S. forces in Europe to chastise Germany for not spending enough on defense, but that and a range of other foreign policy pushes by the president are likely to fall by the wayside if presumptive Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden wins the White House in November.
Mr. Biden would seek to cancel a slate of key Trump initiatives, including the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear and Paris climate deals, as well as the planned U.S. exit from the World Health Organization, political analysts say.
While speculation is rampant over how the Democrat might overhaul Mr. Trump’s aggressive policy toward China, military insiders say there is little doubt the former vice president would move quickly on the Europe troop realignment issue with the goal of stopping it dead in its tracks.
Pentagon leaders have made it abundantly clear that they intend to move with great caution. They stress that it will take many months to pull nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, move U.S. European Command headquarters from Stuttgart to Mons, Belgium, and take other steps outlined by the Defense Department last month.
The slow process could create a key window of opportunity for Mr. Biden, who likely would cancel — or at least delay and review — many of the Europe moves as part of a broader effort to repair bruised relationships between the U.S. and NATO partners. Such a move would allow the former vice president to put an immediate stamp on military and international affairs.
Specialists say that while Pentagon officials may not be actively slow-walking Mr. Trump’s orders, they may be counting on the creaky wheels of bureaucracy to buy them some time in case the next president abruptly changes course.
“There’s a lot of steps to be taken first, and there’s a lot of planning that’s got to be done and monies that have to be found and negotiations to be done,” said Jim Townsend, who was deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy during the Obama administration.
“This isn’t going to happen tomorrow,” Mr. Townsend said. “A lot of times, the people in the system who know this is bollocks, they know it’s going to take a while … and they’re relying on the system to kill it.
“It will be slow-walked,” he added, “but not because they’re doing it on purpose.”
Other aggressive Trump foreign policy shifts, such as the American withdrawal from several key international defense treaties and a planned U.S. exit from the World Health Organization, could be reversed in just the first few weeks of a hypothetical Biden presidency.
Analysts say Mr. Biden and his foreign policy team would seek quickly to resurrect American participation in the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal — two landmark accomplishments of the Obama administration that Mr. Trump has scrapped.
The former vice president also would reexamine the administration’s China policy, though it’s not clear exactly how Mr. Biden would handle the complex relationship between Washington and Beijing.
U.S. troops in Europe
As part of the Trump administration’s policy announced last month, the number of U.S. troops in Germany will drop from 36,000 to about 24,000. Some of the forces will return home, some will move to Italy and some will rotate farther east to better protect NATO’s border with Russia.
Officials cast the plan as the result of careful consideration and a desire to modernize America’s military footprint in Europe. But Mr. Trump made no secret of the real motivation, undercutting careful efforts by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other Pentagon officials to cast the policy as the right move for U.S. national security.
“The United States has been taken advantage of for 25 years, both on trade and on the military,” the president said just hours after the Pentagon announced the plan on July 29. “We are protecting Germany. So we’re reducing the force because they’re not paying their bill. It’s very simple: They’re delinquent. Very simple.”
Analysts say the issues of motivation and rationale make all the difference.
Careful military plans that result from years of planning and consultation with allies, they say, naturally will move much faster because the Pentagon understands exactly what the goals are and what national security objectives they are trying to achieve.
“If this had been a policy that emerged from within the Pentagon and the wheels had already begun to turn, then it’s possible that the change in the presence in Europe could have moved more quickly,” said Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
“But given that the decision seems to have come out of the Oval Office, first you have to figure out what the president wants,” said Mr. Kupchan, former senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council during the Obama administration. “Then you have to do the planning. Then you have to figure out the implications for warm bodies and equipment and logistics. And then finally, at the end of the process, things start to move, but that takes time.”
Leading military commanders have been clear about how much work must be done to enact all of the planned changes.
“What we have right now is really a concept, a concept that we’ve shared with our allies, shared with the Congress, and we’ve shared inside the department fairly widely. We now have to turn it into plans,” Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten told reporters during the July 29 press conference.
Democrats in Congress said the decision amounts to petty personal politics by Mr. Trump, who has cast Germany as a freeloader dependent on America for cheap military protection. Germans bristle at such charges and say they are ramping up defense spending with hopes to hit the threshold of 2% of gross domestic product often cited by Mr. Trump.
Rethinking the withdrawal
America’s military presence in Europe is just one key foreign policy move that could be ripe for reversal in the early days of a Biden White House.
Decisions that have been made relatively recently will be the easiest to reverse, such as Mr. Trump’s withdrawal from WHO because of the organization’s unwillingness, the White House argues, to hold China fully accountable for the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Trump administration decision to withdraw from the WHO undermined our national security. It is very likely a Biden administration would reverse that decision and renew our participation and support,” said P.J. Crowley, who served as an assistant secretary of state for public affairs during the Obama administration. “I would expect such a move to receive bipartisan support.”
On the Paris climate deal, the U.S. technically must remain a part of the accord until Nov. 4 — a day after the presidential election. Should Mr. Trump lose the election, he could still ensure that the U.S. exits the pact, but a Biden transition team likely would publicly state an intention to rejoin immediately after Mr. Biden is sworn in.
A Biden administration would be faced with more complex considerations when looking at whether to reverse Mr. Trump’s exits from several key arms and defense treaties with Russia. The Trump administration last year pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over concerns that Moscow was violating the deal.
The White House also argued that any such nuclear deals in the 21st century must involve China, a sentiment the Biden team may share.
The next president also would weigh whether to reenter the Open Skies Treaty, which allows for unarmed reconnaissance flights over other nations.
The White House has accused Russia of violating that agreement by refusing to allow flights over sensitive areas. A Democratic White House, specialists say, would thoroughly review Open Skies and other deals but ultimately may decide to follow Mr. Trump’s path.
“I think a Biden administration will also see that Russia was responsible for essentially deteriorating the commitment, under the Open Skies Treaty and almost gave the Trump administration the ability to walk out because of Russia’s violations,” said Mark Simakovsky, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and the former Europe/NATO chief of staff for the office of the secretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon.
“I don’t necessarily think you would just see Biden unilaterally get us back into all of these treaties overnight,” Mr. Simakovsky said. “But I think you clearly see another policy review being undertaken.”
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com. • Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Police sergeant disciplined for comments on protest video

COLORADO SPRINGS , Colo. ( AP ) - The Colorado Springs Police Department has disciplined an officer accused of calling for protesters to be killed in comments during a live social media broadcast .
Police Chief Vince Niski wrote in a letter to the community Monday that Sgt .
Keith Wrede was suspended for 40 hours , removed from his specialized unit and reassigned to a different position within the department .
News channel KRDO-TV notified the department that it received a tip about commentary posted during a video stream of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the city on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for about 30 minutes while calling for an end to racial injustice and police brutality .
The tip alleged a Colorado Springs police sergeant used the pseudonym Steven Eric when posting comments including , “ KILL THEM ALL.
” Another post on the Facebook page included photos of the protest and called the Black Lives Matter organization a “ terrorist.
” The Facebook account has since been deleted , and a phone number for Wrede could not be found Monday .
“ We offer our organizational humility and a heartfelt apology to our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter .
“ Please make no mistake that I do not condone his actions , or attempt to minimize the severity of harm it has done in a time of rebuilding between law enforcement and the community.
” He pushed back on calls to fire Wrede , saying the sergeant has professionally served the community for 20 years , and the post was “ an isolated incident of an error in judgment.
” Wrede ’ s suspension resulted in about $ 2,000 in lost wages .

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The Colorado Springs Police Department has disciplined an officer accused of calling for protesters to be killed in comments during a live social media broadcast.
Police Chief Vince Niski wrote in a letter to the community Monday that Sgt. Keith Wrede was suspended for 40 hours, removed from his specialized unit and reassigned to a different position within the department.
News channel KRDO-TV notified the department that it received a tip about commentary posted during a video stream of a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the city on June 30. Demonstrators blocked Interstate 25 for about 30 minutes while calling for an end to racial injustice and police brutality.
The tip alleged a Colorado Springs police sergeant used the pseudonym Steven Eric when posting comments including, “KILL THEM ALL.” Another post on the Facebook page included photos of the protest and called the Black Lives Matter organization a “terrorist.”
The Facebook account has since been deleted, and a phone number for Wrede could not be found Monday.
“We offer our organizational humility and a heartfelt apology to our entire community,” Niski wrote in the letter. “Please make no mistake that I do not condone his actions, or attempt to minimize the severity of harm it has done in a time of rebuilding between law enforcement and the community.”
He pushed back on calls to fire Wrede, saying the sergeant has professionally served the community for 20 years, and the post was “an isolated incident of an error in judgment.”
Wrede’s suspension resulted in about $2,000 in lost wages.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Vegas police: Armed man shot dead in home with woman hostage

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - Las Vegas police shot and killed a man they said was armed , wanted for questioning about several neighborhood fires and eluded an officer ’ s gunshot during a chase before taking a woman hostage , authorities said Monday .
The woman was not harmed , but police Capt .
Nichole Splinter said the man was shot by SWAT officers who entered the mobile home after police created a distraction .
Splinter said the man had a gun .
The name of the slain man and the officers involved in the shootings were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people got out of the mobile home before police arrived a little after the first shooting about 9:15 a.m. near the busy intersections of Nellis Boulevard and Gowan Road .
The police captain said the officer who fired one shot during the foot chase reported the man pointed a handgun at him as he fled .
Police said the fatal shooting happened a little before noon .
David Reeves , an employee at an auto lot where a palm tree had been set afire earlier , told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed he was the man who set that fire .
Splinter said several trees and cars were burned in the area .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Las Vegas police shot and killed a man they said was armed, wanted for questioning about several neighborhood fires and eluded an officer’s gunshot during a chase before taking a woman hostage, authorities said Monday.
The woman was not harmed, but police Capt. Nichole Splinter said the man was shot by SWAT officers who entered the mobile home after police created a distraction. Splinter said the man had a gun.
The name of the slain man and the officers involved in the shootings were not immediately made public.
Splinter said several other people got out of the mobile home before police arrived a little after the first shooting about 9:15 a.m. near the busy intersections of Nellis Boulevard and Gowan Road.
The police captain said the officer who fired one shot during the foot chase reported the man pointed a handgun at him as he fled.
Police said the fatal shooting happened a little before noon.
David Reeves, an employee at an auto lot where a palm tree had been set afire earlier, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he saw the man running from police and believed he was the man who set that fire.
Splinter said several trees and cars were burned in the area.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--UN envoy says Guinea-Bissau in fragile state after elections

UNITED NATIONS ( AP ) - The U.N. envoy for Guinea-Bissau said Monday the “ political crisis and the parliamentary paralysis ” following elections this year have left the impoverished West African nation in a fragile state as the United Nations prepares to end its peace-building mission at the end of the year .
Rosine Sori-Coulibaly told a virtual Security Council meeting that recent political developments have led to “ a politically charged atmosphere with mounting mistrust ” among political players .
Guinea-Bissau , a nation of of just over 1.6 million inhabitants located between Senegal to the north and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long been beset by instability , corruption and drug trafficking .
Since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974 it has experienced four coup d ’ etats and more than a dozen attempted coups .
In the 2000s , Guinea-Bissau became known as a transit point for cocaine between Latin America and Europe as traffickers profited from corruption and weak law enforcement .
But the drug trade has become less prominent with increasing enforcement .
In a run-off presidential election in December , former army general and prime minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was immediately contested by losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira , another former prime minister from the long-ruling PAIGC party who challenged the result in the Supreme Court .
Embalo had himself sworn in as president in late February after dismissing the former government , and despite a pending Supreme Court decision to annul the election results .
He started forming a new government with support from the military , which according to published reports took control of all state institutions and the national broadcast media .
According to those reports , former PaIGC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and several ministers , as well as PAIGC presidential candidate Simoes Pereira , left the country because of concerns for their personal safety .
Sori-Coulibaly said “ mutual accusations and reported acts of intimidation against those opposing the new political ” order “ have created a hostile environment , making it difficult to reach a compromise for the sake of political stability and consensus building around national peace-building priorities.
” She said that while president Embalo and his supporters are focused on consolidating power , the PAIGC party is contesting the June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the new prime minister , Nuno Gomes Nabiam .
Embalo has expressed a desire to form a broad-based government but prospects are low because of strong opposition from PAIGC , Sori-Coulibaly “ Concerns about insecurity and human rights abuses , such as the July 26 raid on Radio Capital FM , which is considered allied to the opposition , as well as the arbitrary arrests , intimidation and detention of persons and political figures perceived as opposing the current administration have been reported , ” she said .
“ These occurrences have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political and parliamentary paralysis have prevented the U.N. mission from supporting urgent reforms including the review of the Constitution , the electoral law and the law on political parties .
The U.N. special representative said Embalo ’ s desire to change the system of government - from semi-presidential to presidential - under the new constitution , “ if not carefully managed and widely discussed ” may further compound “ an already fragile situation.
” The United Nations has had a peace-building operation in Guinea-Bissau since 1999 .
The Security Council in late February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.N. mission by Dec. 31 , 2020 .
Sori-Coulibaly told the council the mission is starting to wind down , but stressed that U.N. support for Guinea-Bissau “ will remain crucial.
” She called for a strengthened U.N. country team to continue peace-building efforts and protect and promote human rights .
“ Funding will be essential for averting a financial cliff , ” she said .

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. envoy for Guinea-Bissau said Monday the “political crisis and the parliamentary paralysis” following elections this year have left the impoverished West African nation in a fragile state as the United Nations prepares to end its peace-building mission at the end of the year.
Rosine Sori-Coulibaly told a virtual Security Council meeting that recent political developments have led to “a politically charged atmosphere with mounting mistrust” among political players.
Guinea-Bissau, a nation of of just over 1.6 million inhabitants located between Senegal to the north and Guinea to the east and south, has long been beset by instability, corruption and drug trafficking. Since it gained independence from Portugal in 1974 it has experienced four coup d’etats and more than a dozen attempted coups.
In the 2000s, Guinea-Bissau became known as a transit point for cocaine between Latin America and Europe as traffickers profited from corruption and weak law enforcement. But the drug trade has become less prominent with increasing enforcement.
In a run-off presidential election in December, former army general and prime minister Umaro Cissoko Embalo topped the poll. But the result was immediately contested by losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira, another former prime minister from the long-ruling PAIGC party who challenged the result in the Supreme Court.
Embalo had himself sworn in as president in late February after dismissing the former government, and despite a pending Supreme Court decision to annul the election results. He started forming a new government with support from the military, which according to published reports took control of all state institutions and the national broadcast media.
According to those reports, former PaIGC prime minister Aristides Gomes went into hiding, and several ministers, as well as PAIGC presidential candidate Simoes Pereira, left the country because of concerns for their personal safety.
Sori-Coulibaly said “mutual accusations and reported acts of intimidation against those opposing the new political” order “have created a hostile environment, making it difficult to reach a compromise for the sake of political stability and consensus building around national peace-building priorities.”
She said that while president Embalo and his supporters are focused on consolidating power, the PAIGC party is contesting the June 29 parliamentary vote that approved the program of the new prime minister, Nuno Gomes Nabiam.
Embalo has expressed a desire to form a broad-based government but prospects are low because of strong opposition from PAIGC, Sori-Coulibaly
“Concerns about insecurity and human rights abuses, such as the July 26 raid on Radio Capital FM, which is considered allied to the opposition, as well as the arbitrary arrests, intimidation and detention of persons and political figures perceived as opposing the current administration have been reported,” she said. “These occurrences have heightened political tensions.”
Sori-Coulibaly said the political and parliamentary paralysis have prevented the U.N. mission from supporting urgent reforms including the review of the Constitution, the electoral law and the law on political parties.
The U.N. special representative said Embalo’s desire to change the system of government - from semi-presidential to presidential - under the new constitution, “if not carefully managed and widely discussed” may further compound “an already fragile situation.”
The United Nations has had a peace-building operation in Guinea-Bissau since 1999. The Security Council in late February confirmed an earlier plan to end the U.N. mission by Dec. 31, 2020.
Sori-Coulibaly told the council the mission is starting to wind down, but stressed that U.N. support for Guinea-Bissau “will remain crucial.” She called for a strengthened U.N. country team to continue peace-building efforts and protect and promote human rights.
“Funding will be essential for averting a financial cliff,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Scientists find no link between long lines, coronavirus cases in blow to mail-in voting

An epidemiological study by top scientists threw cold water on calls for universal mail-in voting to avoid long lines at the polls and the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus .
The report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that despite long lines in Wisconsin ’ s April 7 primary elections — at the peak of the outbreak — there was no spike in new cases , hospitalizations or deaths .
The battleground state was the first in the nation to hold a primary after stay-at-home orders were issued in late March .
The voting was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The CDC study of the impact on voters in Milwaukee revealed that 33 % fewer deaths were reported three weeks after the elections than earlier in April .
“ After a peak in hospitalizations during the last week in March , hospitalizations gradually declined , ” said the analysis , stressing that the CDC ’ s guidance urging physical distancing , cleaning and disinfecting at the polls appeared to have worked .
The CDC report said a longer voting period and increased number of polling locations in November could help reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the risk of transmission of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that is blamed for the deaths of more than 163,000 people in the U.S. “ The data from Milwaukee provide preliminary evidence to suggest mitigation strategies were effective , but more observations are necessary , ” said Eva Leidman , who leads the CDC ’ s Wisconsin COVID-19 Response Field Team .
According to the CDC study , however , the percentage of voters who cast mail-in ballots increased fifteenfold for the primary and the number of polling places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just five in April , resulting in long lines .
Allies of President Trump , who is campaigning against mail-in voting for the November elections , said the evidence was clear-cut .
“ We can stand in line in the grocery store and many other places — the airport , whatever — but we can ’ t stand in line for balloting with the proper distancing ?
” said Curt Levey , president of the conservative activist group Committee for Justice and a lawyer on Mr. Trump ’ s advisory board Lawyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endure whatever risks there are in standing in line for groceries , we certainly ought to be able to stand in line and endure those risks for voting , ” he said .
Another hurdle for in-person voting during the coronavirus crisis is that many poll workers are senior citizens , who are at a high risk for severe cases of COVID-19 .
Many poll workers have not been willing to volunteer during primaries this year , and it remains doubtful that enough younger volunteers will come forward .
In Wisconsin , meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court to oppose some of the state ’ s restrictions on voting by mail .
Democrats accuse the Republican Party of trying to make it harder to vote because primary turnout was strong across the country for Democrats .
The risk of virus transmission in long voter lines has been a chief complaint of Democratic leaders , including Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak , who signed legislation this week to institute universal mail-in voting .
“ This bill will help prevent Nevadans from experiencing the long lines at polling locations they faced during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their safety , safeguard their right to make their voices heard , and help reduce the spread of COVID-19 , ” Mr. Sisolak tweeted .
The Trump campaign has challenged Nevada ’ s move in court , and Republicans argue it is just a way to force more mail-in voting , which they think is intended to benefit the Democratic Party .
“ It ’ s crystal clear that Donald Trump and the RNC are going to do everything they can to block access to voting — given Trump ’ s failed response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s tanked the economy and how he ’ s out of touch with reality .
That ’ s the only way they can win , ” said Chris Meagher , deputy communications director for the DNC .
Marge Baker , executive vice president for the People for the American Way , said it isn ’ t about eliminating in-person voting but limiting it and having the necessary resources to make it safe during the COVID-19 era .
“ The important point here is not whether one activity is more dangerous .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opportunity for utilizing an option for voting that preserves our rights and is unquestionably safer in this pandemic environment .
Why wouldn ’ t we want to do that ?
A number of states and the U.S. military have relied on mail-in ballots for years .
All the evidence is that they are safe and reliable , ” she said .
Five states — Colorado , Hawaii , Oregon , Washington and Utah — hold all of their elections by mail .
Democrats have been claiming long lines disenfranchise minority voters since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives the left more fuel , said Logan Churchwell , a spokesman for the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation .
“ They are rewrapping the same excuse with pandemic tone around it .
That ’ s nothing new , ” he said .

An epidemiological study by top scientists threw cold water on calls for universal mail-in voting to avoid long lines at the polls and the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus.
The report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that despite long lines in Wisconsin’s April 7 primary elections — at the peak of the outbreak — there was no spike in new cases, hospitalizations or deaths.
The battleground state was the first in the nation to hold a primary after stay-at-home orders were issued in late March. The voting was marred by hourslong waits at the polls.
The CDC study of the impact on voters in Milwaukee revealed that 33% fewer deaths were reported three weeks after the elections than earlier in April.
“After a peak in hospitalizations during the last week in March, hospitalizations gradually declined,” said the analysis, stressing that the CDC’s guidance urging physical distancing, cleaning and disinfecting at the polls appeared to have worked.
The CDC report said a longer voting period and increased number of polling locations in November could help reduce the number of people at the polls and the risk of transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that is blamed for the deaths of more than 163,000 people in the U.S.
“The data from Milwaukee provide preliminary evidence to suggest mitigation strategies were effective, but more observations are necessary,” said Eva Leidman, who leads the CDC’s Wisconsin COVID-19 Response Field Team.
According to the CDC study, however, the percentage of voters who cast mail-in ballots increased fifteenfold for the primary and the number of polling places in Milwaukee dropped from 181 in 2016 to just five in April, resulting in long lines.
Allies of President Trump, who is campaigning against mail-in voting for the November elections, said the evidence was clear-cut.
“We can stand in line in the grocery store and many other places — the airport, whatever — but we can’t stand in line for balloting with the proper distancing?” said Curt Levey, president of the conservative legal group Committee for Justice and a lawyer on Mr. Trump’s advisory board Lawyers for Trump.
“If we can endure whatever risks there are in standing in line for groceries, we certainly ought to be able to stand in line and endure those risks for voting,” he said.
Another hurdle for in-person voting during the coronavirus crisis is that many poll workers are senior citizens, who are at a high risk for severe cases of COVID-19. Many poll workers have not been willing to volunteer during primaries this year, and it remains doubtful that enough younger volunteers will come forward.
In Wisconsin, meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee went to court to oppose some of the state’s restrictions on voting by mail.
Democrats accuse the Republican Party of trying to make it harder to vote because primary turnout was strong across the country for Democrats.
The risk of virus transmission in long voter lines has been a chief complaint of Democratic leaders, including Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, who signed legislation this week to institute universal mail-in voting.
“This bill will help prevent Nevadans from experiencing the long lines at polling locations they faced during the primary election, which will protect their safety, safeguard their right to make their voices heard, and help reduce the spread of COVID-19,” Mr. Sisolak tweeted.
The Trump campaign has challenged Nevada’s move in court, and Republicans argue it is just a way to force more mail-in voting, which they think is intended to benefit the Democratic Party.
“It’s crystal clear that Donald Trump and the RNC are going to do everything they can to block access to voting — given Trump’s failed response to this pandemic, how he’s tanked the economy and how he’s out of touch with reality. That’s the only way they can win,” said Chris Meagher, deputy communications director for the DNC.
Marge Baker, executive vice president for the People for the American Way, said it isn’t about eliminating in-person voting but limiting it and having the necessary resources to make it safe during the COVID-19 era.
“The important point here is not whether one activity is more dangerous. It’s that we make full use of the opportunity for utilizing an option for voting that preserves our rights and is unquestionably safer in this pandemic environment. Why wouldn’t we want to do that? A number of states and the U.S. military have relied on mail-in ballots for years. All the evidence is that they are safe and reliable,” she said.
Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah — hold all of their elections by mail.
Democrats have been claiming long lines disenfranchise minority voters since the 2004 elections, suggesting the pandemic gives the left more fuel, said Logan Churchwell, a spokesman for the conservative Public Interest Legal Foundation.
“They are rewrapping the same excuse with pandemic tone around it. That’s nothing new,” he said.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--LA sheriff concerned after deputies confront 3 Black teens

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - The Los Angeles County sheriff said Monday he has concerns about tactics deputies used to detain three Black teenagers at gunpoint after the mother of one said the youths had been threatened by a man holding a knife .
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a social media post that he had seen a video of the incident - which was uploaded by one of the teen ’ s mothers to her Instagram profile last week - and that the matter is being investigated .
CBS Los Angeles reported that the trio were teenagers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department , said the youths were not arrested during the incident Friday and had been released at the scene .
Tammi Collins wrote on Instagram that her son was sitting with friends at a bus stop in the Santa Clarita Valley when a man asked them if they had any drugs and then tried to steal their belongings .
She said the man then pulled out a knife and tried to stab them .
Collins wrote that bystanders called police to help the boys , though she wrote that apparently one caller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man .
Navarro said a caller reported that two Black men in their early 20s had struck a man with a skateboard .
The 11-minute video Collins posted shows at least three deputies pointing their guns at the teens - including one deputy who had a long gun .
The teens obeyed the deputies ’ commands to back up with their hands up and knelt on the ground to be handcuffed .
Bystanders shouted at the officers that the teens didn ’ t do anything .
The bystanders also tried to advise the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying “ keep your hands up , keep your hands up !
” as well as “ just listen to them and it ’ ll be over soon ” and “ don ’ t answer any questions until your mom gets there.
” After the teens were handcuffed , the deputies argued with the crowd over what happened and what the callers reported .
“ If they weren ’ t doing wrong , we wouldn ’ t be here , ” one deputy said .
Navarro said deputies could not find the man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded the video but she wrote that she didn ’ t know how she could help her son in the aftermath .
“ This is something my son and his friends will never forget , ” she wrote .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles County sheriff said Monday he is ordering a review of tactics deputies used to detain three teenagers at gunpoint after the mother of one said the youths had been threatened by a man holding a knife.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a social media post that he had seen a video of the incident - which was uploaded by one of the teens’ mothers to her Instagram profile last week - and that the matter is being investigated.
Villanueva is ordering a “thorough” review of the incident and an in-depth review of the Sheriff Department’s patrol rifle deployment policy and training after video showed one deputy holding an AR-15 rifle, according to tweets from the Sheriff’s Department.
CBS Los Angeles reported that the trio were teenagers. Deputy Juanita Navarro, a spokeswoman for the department, said the youths were not arrested during the incident Friday and had been released at the scene.
An attorney for the teens, Robert Brown, says two of the teens are Black and one is white.
Tammi Collins wrote on Instagram that her son was sitting with friends at a bus stop in the Santa Clarita Valley when a man asked them if they had any drugs and then tried to steal their belongings. She said the man then pulled out a knife and tried to stab them.
Collins wrote that bystanders called police to help the boys, though she wrote that apparently one caller reported that the teens were attacking the man.
Navarro said a caller reported that two Black men in their early 20s had struck a man with a skateboard.
The 11-minute video Collins posted shows at least three deputies pointing their guns at the teens - including one deputy who had a rifle. The teens obeyed the deputies’ commands to back up with their hands up and knelt on the ground to be handcuffed.
Bystanders shouted at the officers that the teens didn’t do anything.
The bystanders also tried to advise the teens as they were being detained, saying “keep your hands up, keep your hands up!” as well as “just listen to them and it’ll be over soon” and “don’t answer any questions until your mom gets there.”
After the teens were handcuffed, the deputies argued with the crowd over what happened and what the callers reported.
“If they weren’t doing wrong, we wouldn’t be here,” one deputy said.
Navarro said deputies could not find the man.
It was not clear if Collins recorded the video, but she wrote that she didn’t know how she could help her son in the aftermath.
“This is something my son and his friends will never forget,” she wrote.
___
This story was first published on August 10, 2020. It has been corrected to remove references to the three teens being Black. The attorney for the teens, Robert Brown, says one of the teens is white.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Montana warden says he resigned over working conditions

MISSOULA , Mont .
( AP ) - The former warden at the Montana State Prison said he resigned because of problems with offered treatment programs and conflicts with Director Reginald Michael .
Lynn Guyer disclosed why he resigned in an interview with the Missoulian that came about one month after he left the agency .
“ I am leaving with my dignity , ” Guyer told the Missoulian in a phone interview Friday , after the newspaper obtained his exit questionnaire .
Guyer confirmed he sent it to the governor ’ s office and staff .
Guyer said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sex offenders and drug and alcohol addicts and that was hurting their ability to get appropriate treatment and succeed .
Montana Department of Corrections spokesperson Carolynn Bright said Friday that the department “ is committed to evidence-based programming as an integral part of its justice reinvestment efforts.
” Guyer further argued that Clinical Services Division Administrator Connie Winner stalled progress in implementing evidence-based programming for sex offenders and others .
Bright did not directly respond to a question about claims Winner had slowed the pace of implementing such programming thus far .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he left was because of his relationship with Michael .
Guyer said he was often belittled by Michael in front of his subordinates .
Through an email with department spokesperson Bright , the director did not answer a question about claims he degraded field staff .
Bright cited personnel policy .
Guyer began working at the Deer Lodge facility in October 2018 , following his retirement from a 30-year career with the Idaho Department of Corrections .
He has since moved back to Idaho .
Montana State Prison is the largest correctional facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male inmates and employing about 640 uniformed and non-uniformed workers .

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - The former warden at the Montana State Prison said he resigned because of problems with offered treatment programs and conflicts with Director Reginald Michael.
Lynn Guyer disclosed why he resigned in an interview with the Missoulian that came about one month after he left the agency.
“I am leaving with my dignity,” Guyer told the Missoulian in a phone interview Friday, after the newspaper obtained his exit questionnaire. Guyer confirmed he sent it to the governor’s office and staff.
Guyer said there was a lack of evidence-based practices for sex offenders and drug and alcohol addicts and that was hurting their ability to get appropriate treatment and succeed.
Montana Department of Corrections spokesperson Carolynn Bright said Friday that the department “is committed to evidence-based programming as an integral part of its justice reinvestment efforts.”
Guyer further argued that Clinical Services Division Administrator Connie Winner stalled progress in implementing evidence-based programming for sex offenders and others. Bright did not directly respond to a question about claims Winner had slowed the pace of implementing such programming thus far.
He also said one of the main reasons he left was because of his relationship with Michael. Guyer said he was often belittled by Michael in front of his subordinates.
Through an email with department spokesperson Bright, the director did not answer a question about claims he degraded field staff. Bright cited personnel policy.
Guyer began working at the Deer Lodge facility in October 2018, following his retirement from a 30-year career with the Idaho Department of Corrections. He has since moved back to Idaho.
Montana State Prison is the largest correctional facility in the state, housing about 1,600 male inmates and employing about 640 uniformed and non-uniformed workers.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--SC businessman launches, funds conservative statewide PAC

COLUMBIA , S.C. ( AP ) - John Warren , the businessman who nearly bested South Carolina Gov .
Henry McMaster for the GOP nomination two years ago , is launching a political action committee that could ultimately serve as the springboard for another effort to oust the incumbent , should Warren opt to run again .
“ Although I lost the primary , I still love South Carolina , ” Warren told The Associated Press on Monday , a day ahead of the group ’ s official launch and introductory video release .
“ In talking to a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , business , higher education system , I really felt like South Carolina ’ s Conservative Future was the way to really effect positive change for all of South Carolina.
” Warren , 41 , said the political action committee would focus on several areas , among them developing a grassroots network “ to really engage and create change , and not just attend meetings.
” Warren said the group will look to recruit and support “ conservative , capable and courageous ” candidates for state House and Senate races .
He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to further those campaigns , starting with this fall ’ s general elections .
In planning stages for six months , Warren said , the effort is based on the “ conservative reform movement ” he posited during the 2018 campaign , when he said he was committed to creating such an organization “ to advance conservative policy , ” had he been elected .
That year , Warren - a multi-millionaire who served in the Marines and went on to found a successful Greenville mortgage company - went from political anonymity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gubernatorial primary , forcing McMaster into a contentious runoff .
That sprint toward the nomination included a last-minute trip from President Donald Trump to campaign on behalf of McMaster , who as lieutenant governor had been the first statewide-elected politician in the country to back his 2016 White House bid .
The primary and its ensuing runoff tested the heft of Trump ’ s endorsement in South Carolina , where McMaster became governor in early 2016 following Nikki Haley ’ s departure to serve as U.N. ambassador .
With Haley ’ s early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governorship he ’ d long sought when the president-elect cleared his path .
In office for more than a year by 2018 , McMaster ran as an unelected incumbent , touting economic development and championing issues aligned with the president ’ s priorities , such as restricting funding for groups affiliated with abortions .
Entering the race just months before the primary , Warren finished second in a four-way contest , ultimately netting the endorsements of two Republican rivals and hitting McMaster on his ties to political consultants caught up in a wide-ranging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 3 million of his own funds toward his coffers , ultimately losing the nomination by less than 8 percentage points .
With Republicans in control of South Carolina ’ s Legislature , as well as the Governor ’ s Mansion and all statewide-elected offices , Warren said Monday that new voices are needed within the GOP to move the state forward , recalling recent legislative stalemates .
“ As a conservative Republican , I say this - the only party to really blame for stagnation is the Republican Party in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ So if things don ’ t get done , it ’ s because the Republican Party is failing to enact that , and that ’ s why I think it ’ s so important to have an outside conservative organization that actually wants to support the Republican platform and get these reforms through.
” Warren said the “ very well-funded ” group would have a statewide presence and be headquartered in Greenville .
Asked if the committee was a launch point for a 2022 effort of his own , Warren demurred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipated the group would have influence beyond November .
“ I ’ ve made no decisions on 2022 , but I think what is clear , I want to serve the people of South Carolina and right at this .
moment , South Carolina ’ s Conservative Future is the best way for me to do that.
” Meg Kinnard can be reached at http : //twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - John Warren, the businessman who nearly bested South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster for the GOP nomination two years ago, is launching a political action committee that could ultimately serve as the springboard for another effort to oust the incumbent, should Warren opt to run again.
“Although I lost the primary, I still love South Carolina,” Warren told The Associated Press on Monday, a day ahead of the group’s official launch and introductory video release. “In talking to a lot of people and analyzing the landscape politically, business, higher education system, I really felt like South Carolina’s Conservative Future was the way to really effect positive change for all of South Carolina.”
Warren, 41, said the political action committee would focus on several areas, among them developing a grassroots network “to really engage and create change, and not just attend meetings.” Warren said the group will look to recruit and support “conservative, capable and courageous” candidates for state House and Senate races. He added it would seek to make independent expenditures to further those campaigns, starting with this fall’s general elections.
In planning stages for six months, Warren said, the effort is based on the “conservative reform movement” he posited during the 2018 campaign, when he said he was committed to creating such an organization “to advance conservative policy,” had he been elected.
That year, Warren - a multi-millionaire who served in the Marines and went on to found a successful Greenville mortgage company - went from political anonymity to the second-place finisher in a four-way GOP gubernatorial primary, forcing McMaster into a contentious runoff. That sprint toward the nomination included a last-minute trip from President Donald Trump to campaign on behalf of McMaster, who as lieutenant governor had been the first statewide-elected politician in the country to back his 2016 White House bid.
The primary and its ensuing runoff tested the heft of Trump’s endorsement in South Carolina, where McMaster became governor in early 2016 following Nikki Haley’s departure to serve as U.N. ambassador. With Haley’s early exit, McMaster was elevated to the governorship he’d long sought when the president-elect cleared his path.
In office for more than a year by 2018, McMaster ran as an unelected incumbent, touting economic development and championing issues aligned with the president’s priorities, such as restricting funding for groups affiliated with abortions.
Entering the race just months before the primary, Warren finished second in a four-way contest, ultimately netting the endorsements of two Republican rivals and hitting McMaster on his ties to political consultants caught up in a wide-ranging Statehouse corruption probe. Warren also put more than $3 million of his own funds toward his coffers, ultimately losing the nomination by less than 8 percentage points.
With Republicans in control of South Carolina’s Legislature, as well as the Governor’s Mansion and all statewide-elected offices, Warren said Monday that new voices are needed within the GOP to move the state forward, recalling recent legislative stalemates.
“As a conservative Republican, I say this - the only party to really blame for stagnation is the Republican Party in South Carolina,” he told AP. “So if things don’t get done, it’s because the Republican Party is failing to enact that, and that’s why I think it’s so important to have an outside conservative organization that actually wants to support the Republican platform and get these reforms through.”
Warren said the “very well-funded” group would have a statewide presence and be headquartered in Greenville. Asked if the committee was a launch point for a 2022 effort of his own, Warren demurred on a future campaign but said he anticipated the group would have influence beyond November.
“I’ve made no decisions on 2022, but I think what is clear, I want to serve the people of South Carolina and right at this. moment, South Carolina’s Conservative Future is the best way for me to do that.”
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Searchers looking for missing 3-year-old girl in Wisconsin

WINTER , Wisconsin ( AP ) - Searchers are looking for a missing 3-year-old girl in northern Wisconsin .
Abby @ @ @ @ @ the Winter area , according to the Sawyer County Sheriff ’ s Office .
She @ @ @ @ @ the woods around 6:45 p.m. Sunday .
Police believe the dog has been located , @ @ @ @ @ Abby .
Authorities are asking the public to check their properties and outbuildings for any @ @ @ @ @ WDIO-TV reported .

WINTER, Wisconsin (AP) - Searchers are looking for a missing 3-year-old girl in northern Wisconsin.
Abby Ladwig was last seen in the Winter area, according to the Sawyer County Sheriff’s Office. She followed the family dog into the woods around 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Police believe the dog has been located, but the search continues for Abby.
Authorities are asking the public to check their properties and outbuildings for any sign of the girl, WDIO-TV reported.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--Connecticut issues first $1,000 fines to travel violators

The Connecticut Department of Public Health issued its first $ 1,000 fines on Monday to two individuals who Gov .
Ned Lamont said failed to comply with the travel advisory for residents who return home from states with high COVID-19 infection rates .
The Democrat said the two unnamed people had flown back to Connecticut from Louisiana and Florida and neither filled out a health form that ’ s required from anyone entering from any state with a 10 % or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average or a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form , one of the people also refused to quarantine for the required 14 days and was fined an additional $ 1,000 .
Lamont said a coworker had notified state officials that the person was not complying with Lamont ’ s executive order .
Officials received a tip about the other person as well .
“ Look , I hate to do it , but we ’ re going to be serious and show people we ’ re serious about this , ” Lamont told reporters during his coronavirus briefing .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
For those few of you who aren ’ t , please be on notice.
” Since Aug. 4 , Puerto Rico and 34 states have been on the list , which applies to people entering New York and New Jersey as well .
Josh Geballe , Lamont ’ s chief operating officer , said the incidents happened a couple weeks ago .
One person is from Windham County and the other is from Hartford County .
Meanwhile , he said there are additional investigations currently underway concerning other possible violators .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ need people to follow these rules .
We need people to comply .
This is one of the riskiest areas for the state of Connecticut right now as people travel into this state , bringing the virus with them , ” he said .
“ We need you to fill out the form .
You need to quarantine .
And we expect you to do that , ” Geballe said .
“ If not , there will be consequences.
” Geballe said the information on the forms is key in case someone tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that person may have come in contact with .
He said more than 20,000 of the health forms have been submitted so far , with about 1,000 filed daily .
Geballe said they provide “ a significant amount of data that we can call on if we need it.
” Lamont also said there will be stepped-up enforcement concerning large private parties and suggested people who claim they can ’ t wear face masks because of medical reasons to carry a doctor ’ s note with them , noting some people have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask requirements .
Lamont praised the city of Bridgeport for recently closing down bars that were essentially masquerading as restaurants to get around the state ’ s ban on stand-alone bars reopening during the continuing pandemic .
He said hundreds of people were at those locations .
Last week , Bridgeport had the most COVID-19 cases in the state .
“ That ’ s just how you get a flare-up again , ” Lamont said .
In other coronavirus news in Connecticut : Lamont said Connecticut continues to have a low rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about .6 % , which the governor called “ amazing.
” Since Friday , there have been 247 new confirmed cases out of more than 38,000 more tests .
Three more people died of COVID-associated causes , for a total of 4,444 individuals .
Meanwhile , the number of hospitalizations dropped by one patient , to 64 .
Lamont signed an executive order on Monday that gives election officials some extra time to count absentee ballots for Tuesday ’ s primary , so long as they ’ re postmarked with Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ballots must arrive by Aug. 13 in order to be counted in the final vote tally .
Lamont said Secretary of the State Denise Merrill requested the order because Tropical Storm Isaias and other issues delayed the delivery of applications and ballots .
Also , power outages affected election workers ’ abilities to process ballots .
“ Didn ’ t want to have anybody disenfranchized due to difficulties related to these electric outages , ” Lamont said .
Some Republican legislators criticized the move , accusing Merrill , a Democrat , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s allowing people to use COVID-19 as an excuse to vote absentee in both the primary and general election .
“ She ’ s trying to blame everyone , including the weather , for her errors .
This is not the fault of a storm , it ’ s not the fault of the postal service , and it ’ s not the fault of town clerks , ” said Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano , R-North Haven .
“ Secretary Merrill ’ s third-party mail house missed multiple deadlines and delayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the secretary was concerned that people who expected their ballot to count wouldn ’ t have it arrive in time because of storm-related delays .
“ I don ’ t know why Republicans don ’ t want those votes to count , ” said Gabe Rosenberg .

The Connecticut Department of Public Health issued its first $1,000 fines on Monday to two individuals who Gov. Ned Lamont said failed to comply with the travel advisory for residents who return home from states with high COVID-19 infection rates.
The Democrat said the two unnamed people had flown back to Connecticut from Louisiana and Florida and neither filled out a health form that’s required from anyone entering from any state with a 10% or higher positive rate over a seven-day rolling average or a new daily positive test rate higher than 10 per 100,000 residents.
Besides not filling out a form, one of the people also refused to quarantine for the required 14 days and was fined an additional $1,000. Lamont said a coworker had notified state officials that the person was not complying with Lamont’s executive order. Officials received a tip about the other person as well.
“Look, I hate to do it, but we’re going to be serious and show people we’re serious about this,” Lamont told reporters during his coronavirus briefing. “Overwhelmingly, people are doing the right thing. For those few of you who aren’t, please be on notice.”
Since Aug. 4, Puerto Rico and 34 states have been on the list, which applies to people entering New York and New Jersey as well.
Josh Geballe, Lamont’s chief operating officer, said the incidents happened a couple weeks ago. One person is from Windham County and the other is from Hartford County. Meanwhile, he said there are additional investigations currently underway concerning other possible violators.
“This is for real. We need people to follow these rules. We need people to comply. This is one of the riskiest areas for the state of Connecticut right now as people travel into this state, bringing the virus with them,” he said.
“We need you to fill out the form. You need to quarantine. And we expect you to do that,” Geballe said. “If not, there will be consequences.”
Geballe said the information on the forms is key in case someone tests positive and officials need to trace who that person may have come in contact with. He said more than 20,000 of the health forms have been submitted so far, with about 1,000 filed daily. Geballe said they provide “a significant amount of data that we can call on if we need it.”
Lamont also said there will be stepped-up enforcement concerning large private parties and suggested people who claim they can’t wear face masks because of medical reasons to carry a doctor’s note with them, noting some people have been abusing the exemption from state’s mask requirements.
Lamont praised the city of Bridgeport for recently closing down bars that were essentially masquerading as restaurants to get around the state’s ban on stand-alone bars reopening during the continuing pandemic. He said hundreds of people were at those locations. Last week, Bridgeport had the most COVID-19 cases in the state.
“That’s just how you get a flare-up again,” Lamont said.
In other coronavirus news in Connecticut:
___
LOW INFECTION RATE
Lamont said Connecticut continues to have a low rate of infection. Figures released Monday show it’s about .6%, which the governor called “amazing.” Since Friday, there have been 247 new confirmed cases out of more than 38,000 more tests.
Three more people died of COVID-associated causes, for a total of 4,444 individuals. Meanwhile, the number of hospitalizations dropped by one patient, to 64.
___
PRIMARY BALLOTS
Lamont signed an executive order on Monday that gives election officials some extra time to count absentee ballots for Tuesday’s primary, so long as they’re postmarked with Tuesday’s date of Aug. 11. The ballots must arrive by Aug. 13 in order to be counted in the final vote tally.
Lamont said Secretary of the State Denise Merrill requested the order because Tropical Storm Isaias and other issues delayed the delivery of applications and ballots. Also, power outages affected election workers’ abilities to process ballots.
“Didn’t want to have anybody disenfranchized due to difficulties related to these electric outages,” Lamont said.
Some Republican legislators criticized the move, accusing Merrill, a Democrat, of mishandling the new, temporary system that’s allowing people to use COVID-19 as an excuse to vote absentee in both the primary and general election.
“She’s trying to blame everyone, including the weather, for her errors. This is not the fault of a storm, it’s not the fault of the postal service, and it’s not the fault of town clerks,” said Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven. “Secretary Merrill’s third-party mail house missed multiple deadlines and delayed sending ballots.”
A spokesman for Merrill said the secretary was concerned that people who expected their ballot to count wouldn’t have it arrive in time because of storm-related delays.
“I don’t know why Republicans don’t want those votes to count,” said Gabe Rosenberg.


washingtontimes--2020-08-10--22 arrested in Austin during another weekend of protests

AUSTIN , Texas ( AP ) - Twenty-two people were arrested over two nights of demonstrations in Austin to protest law enforcement handling of a protester ’ s shooting death at a previous demonstration , police said Monday .
Most of the arrests happened Sunday in front of the Austin police headquarters , where 18 people were taken into custody , according to a police statement .
Four others were arrested Saturday at the corner of Congress Avenue and Fourth Street , the site of a makeshift memorial for Garrett Foster , a man fatally shot during a July 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included violating a city ordinance , interfering with public duties , assaulting an officer and obstructing a highway .
Two people were arrested for illegally carrying a weapon .
Army Sgt .
Daniel Perry shot Foster from inside his car in self-defense after he said Foster raised an assault rifle in Perry ’ s direction , Perry ’ s attorney Clint Broden has said .
Perry has not been charged and Austin police have not named a subject .
Witnesses told police that a vehicle honked and stopped as protesters crossed the street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was holding an assault-style rifle , approached the driver ’ s side window and was shot from inside the vehicle , the witnesses said .
In a video streamed live on Facebook , a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters start screaming and scattering .

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Twenty-two people were arrested over two nights of demonstrations in Austin to protest law enforcement handling of a protester’s shooting death at a previous demonstration, police said Monday.
Most of the arrests happened Sunday in front of the Austin police headquarters, where 18 people were taken into custody, according to a police statement. Four others were arrested Saturday at the corner of Congress Avenue and Fourth Street, the site of a makeshift memorial for Garrett Foster, a man fatally shot during a July 25 Black Lives Matter demonstration.
The charges included violating a city ordinance, interfering with public duties, assaulting an officer and obstructing a highway. Two people were arrested for illegally carrying a weapon.
Army Sgt. Daniel Perry shot Foster from inside his car in self-defense after he said Foster raised an assault rifle in Perry’s direction, Perry’s attorney Clint Broden has said. Perry has not been charged and Austin police have not named a subject.
Witnesses told police that a vehicle honked and stopped as protesters crossed the street in front of it. Foster, who was holding an assault-style rifle, approached the driver’s side window and was shot from inside the vehicle, the witnesses said.
In a video streamed live on Facebook, a car can be heard honking before several shots ring out and protesters start screaming and scattering.


washingtontimes--2020-08-11--Lebanon marks one week since deadly Beirut explosion

BEIRUT ( AP ) - A nation still burying its dead Tuesday marked a week since the explosion in Beirut that flattened much of the Lebanese capital ’ s port , damaged buildings and left thousands of people dead and injured .
Several events , including a moment of silence at 6:08 p.m. local time when the blast happened , were planned to commemorate the explosion .
It was caused by the ignition of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been sitting at Beirut port for more than six years .
A candlelight vigil was also planned for later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outrage against the country ’ s top political leaders and security agencies , and led to the resignation of the government on Monday .
In the wake of the disaster , documents have come to light that show that top Lebanese officials knew about the existence of the stockpile in the heart of Beirut near residential areas , and did nothing about it .
It still wasn ’ t clear what caused the fire in a port warehouse that triggered the explosion of the chemicals , which created a shockwave so powerful it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island of Cyprus more than 200 kilometers ( 180 miles ) across the Mediterranean .
“ From one minute to the next , the world changed for people in Beirut , ” said Basma Tabaja , deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross ’ s delegation in Lebanon on Tuesday .
The explosion , which obliterated the capital ’ s port , damaged thousands of apartments and offices in the capital and came on top of an unprecedented economic and financial crisis the country the country has been mired in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s collective distress .
Meanwhile , behind the scenes contacts got underway Tuesday for the formation of a new government , a day after Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned .
Diab ’ s government , which was supported by the militant group Hezbollah and its allies , unraveled after the deadly blast , with three ministers announcing they were quitting .
Diab ’ s government was formed after his predecessor , Saad Hariri , stepped down in October in response to anti-government demonstrations over endemic corruption .
It took months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled on Diab .
Lebanese have demanded an independent Cabinet not backed by any of the political political parties they blame for the mess they are in .
Many are also calling for an independent investigation into the port explosion , saying they had zero trust in a local probe .
Lebanese officials have rejected an international investigation .
The government , in the last decision it made before resigning Monday , referred the case to the Supreme Judicial Council , Lebanon ’ s top judicial body , which handles crimes infringing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as political and state security crimes .

BEIRUT (AP) - The shattered city of Beirut on Tuesday marked a week since the catastrophic explosion that killed at least 171 people, injured thousands and plunged Lebanon into a deeper political crisis.
Thousands of people marched near the devastated port, remembering those who died in the most destructive single blast to hit the country.
They observed a minute of silence at 6:08 p.m. local time, the moment on Aug. 4 that thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate exploded in the city’s port where it had been stored for more than six years, apparently with the knowledge of top political and security officials.
At that moment Tuesday, church bells tolled and mosque loudspeakers recited a call to prayer.
Hundreds marched through the streets of the hard-hit neighborhood of Gemayze carrying portraits of the dead before a candlelight vigil after dusk near the port.
“He knew,” read a poster bearing President Michel Aoun’s picture.
Aoun, in office since 2016, said Friday he was first told of the dangerous stockpile nearly three weeks ago and immediately ordered military and security agencies to do “what was needed.” But he suggested his responsibility ended there, saying he had no authority over the port.
“I’m very furious, I’m enraged, I’m angry, I’m sad. I’m hopeless,” said Anthony Semaan, in his 20s, who said he came to pay respects to the victims.
Like others, he said the government’s resignation makes no difference.
“First of all, there are questions that need to be answered. And second, there are other rats that need to be brought down first, and when they are brought down then maybe we can start thinking about the future,” he added.
Young people carried placards, each one printed with the names of one dead in a red and a green cedar, Lebanon’s national symbol, and sat on stairs in the Gemayze district, facing the port. Elsewhere in the city, burials of the dead continued.
The explosion has fueled outrage against top political leaders and security agencies, and led to the resignation of the government on Monday. In the wake of the disaster, documents have come to light that show that top Lebanese officials knew about the existence of the stockpile in the heart of Beirut near residential areas, and did nothing about it.
Aoun pledged “to all Lebanese who are in pain that I will not be silent and will not rest until the facts are revealed.” He tweeted that referring the case to the Supreme Judicial Council is only the first step.
It still wasn’t clear what caused the fire in a port warehouse that triggered the explosion of the chemicals, which created a shock wave so powerful it was felt as far away as the island of Cyprus, more than 200 kilometers (180 miles) across the Mediterranean.
“From one minute to the next, the world changed for people in Beirut,” said Basma Tabaja, deputy head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’s delegation in Lebanon.
Outgoing Health Minister Hamad Hassan said the blast killed at least 171 people, with between 30 and 40 still missing. Of the injured, 1,500 needed special treatment while 120 remain in intensive care, he said.
The explosion damaged thousands of apartments and offices in the capital and came amid an unprecedented economic and financial crisis facing the country since late last year.
U.N. food agency head David Beasley, who said a day earlier he is “very, very concerned” Lebanon could run out of bread in about two and a half weeks, told The Associated Press that the World Food Program was looking at all options to make certain there is no interruptions in the food supply.
“We’re looking at the port of Tripoli. We’re looking at all other options, trucking food in, as well as shipping food in, flying food in, whatever it takes,” Beasley said. “Obviously, we want to get the port operating as quickly as possible because that’s the cheapest way to feed the most people.”
Meanwhile, efforts to form a new government got underway a day after Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned. His government, which was supported by the militant group Hezbollah and its allies, unraveled after the deadly blast, with three ministers announcing they were quitting.
His government was formed after his predecessor, Saad Hariri, stepped down in October in response to anti-government demonstrations over endemic corruption. It took months of bickering among the leadership factions before they settled on Diab.
Lebanese have demanded an independent Cabinet not backed by any of the political political parties they blame for the mess they are in. Many are also calling for an independent investigation into the port explosion, saying they had zero trust in a local probe.
Lebanese officials have rejected an international investigation. The government, in the last decision it made before resigning, referred the case to the Supreme Judicial Council, Lebanon’s top judicial body, which handles crimes infringing on national security as well as political and state security crimes.
The state-run National News Agency said that after the case was referred to the Supreme Judicial Council, state prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat will continue his work as a general judicial prosecutor. NNA said that the investigation will continue by the military police and state prosecution and charges will be later filed to the judicial investigator who is to be named by the outgoing minister of justice.
The ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in fertilizers and explosives, originated from a cargo ship called MV Rhosus that had been traveling from the country of Georgia to Mozambique in 2013. It made an unscheduled detour to Beirut as the Russian shipowner was struggling with debts and hoped to earn some extra cash in Lebanon. Unable to pay port fees and reportedly leaking, the ship was impounded.
—
Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue, Nadine Achoui-Lesage and Sarah El Deeb contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-08-11--Man charged in beating death of girlfriend’s toddler

EUCLID , Ohio ( AP ) - A man has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of his @ @ @ @ @ , who authorities said suffered a fatal head injury while in his care last month @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 million for Devon Mallory , 31 , of Euclid .
It wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ has retained an attorney .
Mallory is accused of killing 18-month-old Sofia Echevarria .
The @ @ @ @ @ five days after she was taken to a hospital , and her death was ruled @ @ @ @ @ trauma to the head .
Cleveland.com reported that the girl suffered severe brain bleeding .
@ @ @ @ @ part of her skull to relieve the pressure , and doctors told investigators that her @ @ @ @ @ be accidental .
Investigators have not yet determined exactly what happened when the child was @ @ @ @ @ of lying to police , and authorities said his explanation of Sofia ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ examiner ’ s findings .

EUCLID, Ohio (AP) - A man has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of his girlfriend’s toddler daughter, who authorities said suffered a fatal head injury while in his care last month.
Bail was set at $1 million for Devon Mallory, 31, of Euclid. It wasn’t known Tuesday if he has retained an attorney.
Mallory is accused of killing 18-month-old Sofia Echevarria. The child died July 30, five days after she was taken to a hospital, and her death was ruled a homicide from blunt force trauma to the head.
Cleveland.com reported that the girl suffered severe brain bleeding. A surgeon needed to remove part of her skull to relieve the pressure, and doctors told investigators that her injuries did not appear to be accidental.
Investigators have not yet determined exactly what happened when the child was injured. Mallory is accused of lying to police, and authorities said his explanation of Sofia’s death is inconsistent with the medical examiner’s findings.