washingtontimes--2020-12-10--From Cape Cod to Alaska, college leagues eye MLB changes

Years before he became commissioner of the Alaska Baseball League , Chris Beck pointed to the 6-foot-7 slugger in the Anchorage Glacier Pilots ’ uniform and told his son to say hello .
Beck had a feeling about the freshman from Fresno State - a towering outfielder named Aaron Judge .
“ I told my son to go get his autograph , because he just was different , ” Beck said .
It was a quintessential college summer league experience , an up-close look at a major league star long before his big break .
It ’ s one Beck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have for years - but he ’ s not entirely confident they will .
Already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic and changes in player development that have limited their prospect pool , collegiate summer leagues like the ABL were hit by another potential obstacle recently when Major League Baseball announced the formation of at least two amateur leagues for college players with professional aspirations .
The Appalachian League , formerly a Rookie-level minor league , will convert into a 10-team wood bat summer league in 2021 for college players entering their freshman and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLB Draft League is launching for college and high school players during their draft-eligible year .
Both leagues have spawned as MLB shrinks its affiliated minors from 160 teams to 120 , repurposing franchises to serve amateur talent .
The new leagues will offer those players access to top-level coaching , guaranteed looks from pro scouts , and ballparks outfitted with the latest cameras and tracking systems that provide prized data to major league front offices .
It ’ s mostly good news for players hoping to get noticed .
Less ideal for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that chance .
“ Any time MLB puts their name on something , they do it well , ” Beck said .
“ They have the money to back it .
The problem is it ’ s going to put some of the smaller leagues out of business , I think.
” Wood-bat college summer leagues have played a crucial role in the development of many major leaguers .
Most leagues start in May or June , after the completion of the spring college season , and they offer players high-end competition at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some of the same technology they ’ ll find in MLB ’ s leagues .
For decades , the leagues have run largely independent of MLB , and they figure to be affected differently .
The Cape Cod League has long been the top destination for rising college juniors and has produced over 1,400 big leaguers .
With the Appalachian League targeting incoming freshman and sophomores and the MLB Draft League likely to draw players heading into their senior seasons or later , Cape Cod Commissioner Eric Zmuda expects his league to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for players with two years of college experience .
“ When you look at our history , nothing has changed in that respect , ” Zmuda said .
The squeeze is more likely to be felt further down the ladder in leagues that were already dealing with complications stemming from changes in player development .
In-game reps - although still important - are less of a priority for modern players .
Pitchers are limiting their workloads to try to stay healthy , and players on both sides of the ball are placing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or lab work at facilities like Driveline .
Sean McGrath , commissioner of the New England Collegiate Baseball League , said recruiting has undoubtedly become a greater challenge in recent years , and he acknowledged that is likely to be complicated further by the new Appalachian and MLB Draft Leagues .
Even so , he remains optimistic leagues like the NECBL will still find future big leaguers .
“ I truly don ’ t believe that every kid who will play professional baseball will appear in one of ( MLB ’ s new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northwoods League Commissioner Ryan Voz holds a similar view and doesn ’ t believe MLB ’ s incursion is an existential threat on its own .
For starters , the league ’ s sustainability isn ’ t tied strictly to the talent .
It helps that the NWL ’ s alumni list includes MLB stars like Max Scherzer , Chris Sale and Pete Alonso , but the business model for its franchises is tied more closely to their community value as an affordable , family-friendly gathering spot .
“ Fans are looking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for great entertainment , ” Voz said .
“ And that ’ s where the Northwoods League we feel is really kind of a combination of all of them.
” Of course , competition for players isn ’ t the only concern for some leagues .
The Cape and NECBL are members of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball , a 12-league organization that receives funding from MLB .
Leagues can apply for grants worth thousands of dollars for crucial expenses like baseballs , umpire fees and team travel .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that MLB plans to pull that funding , but if it did in the future , it could put NACSB members in a difficult position .
“ Certainly it would have an impact , ” McGrath said .
“ It ’ s a lot of ticket sales or several sponsorships to offset that loss.
” Summer league executives say they are full-steam ahead on planning for the 2021 season after most lost 2020 to the pandemic - the Northwoods League was among the exceptions and even hosted several hundred fans at many games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play remain in decent financial shape .
The timing of March ’ s coronavirus surge meant leagues avoided most of their biggest expenses , like baseballs , bats , umpire fees and travel .
Uncertainty remains for next season , though , pending the status of a virus vaccine .
Franchises rely on host families for players , a potentially dangerous arrangement amid a pandemic .
They also depend on sponsorships and donations from community businesses that have been hit harder .
“ If those two things go away , we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The alumni list for Beck ’ s ABL includes some of the best in baseball history - Tom Seaver , Barry Bonds and Randy Johnson .
It ’ s already become less common for players of that caliber to pass through Alaska .
Beck is hoping the obstacles presented by 2020 don ’ t make things worse .
“ When they can see the Aaron Judges , ” he said , “ the guys that go on to play in the big leagues , and they can remember that time they saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that helps our attendance and helps everything .
”

Years before he became commissioner of the Alaska Baseball League, Chris Beck pointed to the 6-foot-7 slugger in the Anchorage Glacier Pilots’ uniform and told his son to say hello.
Beck had a feeling about the freshman from Fresno State - a towering outfielder named Aaron Judge.
“I told my son to go get his autograph, because he just was different,” Beck said.
It was a quintessential college summer league experience, an up-close look at a major league star long before his big break. It’s one Beck hopes fans in the 49th State will have for years - but he’s not entirely confident they will.
Already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic and changes in player development that have limited their prospect pool, collegiate summer leagues like the ABL were hit by another potential obstacle recently when Major League Baseball announced the formation of at least two amateur leagues for college players with professional aspirations.
The Appalachian League, formerly a Rookie-level minor league, will convert into a 10-team wood bat summer league in 2021 for college players entering their freshman and sophomore seasons. Meanwhile, the six-team MLB Draft League is launching for college and high school players during their draft-eligible year.
Both leagues have spawned as MLB shrinks its affiliated minors from 160 teams to 120, repurposing franchises to serve amateur talent. The new leagues will offer those players access to top-level coaching, guaranteed looks from pro scouts, and ballparks outfitted with the latest cameras and tracking systems that provide prized data to major league front offices.
It’s mostly good news for players hoping to get noticed. Less ideal for the leagues that used to give them that chance.
“Any time MLB puts their name on something, they do it well,” Beck said. “They have the money to back it. The problem is it’s going to put some of the smaller leagues out of business, I think.”
Wood-bat college summer leagues have played a crucial role in the development of many major leaguers. Most leagues start in May or June, after the completion of the spring college season, and they offer players high-end competition at parks filled with pro scouts and equipped with some of the same technology they’ll find in MLB’s leagues.
For decades, the leagues have run largely independent of MLB, and they figure to be affected differently.
The Cape Cod League has long been the top destination for rising college juniors and has produced over 1,400 big leaguers. With the Appalachian League targeting incoming freshman and sophomores and the MLB Draft League likely to draw players heading into their senior seasons or later, Cape Cod Commissioner Eric Zmuda expects his league to hold its ground as the premier stop for players with two years of college experience.
“When you look at our history, nothing has changed in that respect,” Zmuda said.
The squeeze is more likely to be felt further down the ladder in leagues that were already dealing with complications stemming from changes in player development. In-game reps - although still important - are less of a priority for modern players. Pitchers are limiting their workloads to try to stay healthy, and players on both sides of the ball are placing a premium on other training, like weightlifting or lab work at facilities like Driveline.
Sean McGrath, commissioner of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, said recruiting has undoubtedly become a greater challenge in recent years, and he acknowledged that is likely to be complicated further by the new Appalachian and MLB Draft Leagues.
Even so, he remains optimistic leagues like the NECBL will still find future big leaguers.
“I truly don’t believe that every kid who will play professional baseball will appear in one of (MLB’s new) leagues,” he said.
Northwoods League Commissioner Ryan Voz holds a similar view and doesn’t believe MLB’s incursion is an existential threat on its own.
For starters, the league’s sustainability isn’t tied strictly to the talent. It helps that the NWL’s alumni list includes MLB stars like Max Scherzer, Chris Sale and Pete Alonso, but the business model for its franchises is tied more closely to their community value as an affordable, family-friendly gathering spot.
“Fans are looking for good baseball, but they’re looking for great entertainment,” Voz said. “And that’s where the Northwoods League we feel is really kind of a combination of all of them.”
Of course, competition for players isn’t the only concern for some leagues.
The Cape and NECBL are members of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, a 12-league organization that receives funding from MLB. Leagues can apply for grants worth thousands of dollars for crucial expenses like baseballs, umpire fees and team travel.
There’s no indication at this point that MLB plans to pull that funding, but if it did in the future, it could put NACSB members in a difficult position.
“Certainly it would have an impact,” McGrath said. “It’s a lot of ticket sales or several sponsorships to offset that loss.”
Summer league executives say they are full-steam ahead on planning for the 2021 season after most lost 2020 to the pandemic - the Northwoods League was among the exceptions and even hosted several hundred fans at many games.
Even those that didn’t play remain in decent financial shape. The timing of March’s coronavirus surge meant leagues avoided most of their biggest expenses, like baseballs, bats, umpire fees and travel.
Uncertainty remains for next season, though, pending the status of a virus vaccine. Franchises rely on host families for players, a potentially dangerous arrangement amid a pandemic. They also depend on sponsorships and donations from community businesses that have been hit harder.
“If those two things go away, we’re all in trouble,” Beck said.
The alumni list for Beck’s ABL includes some of the best in baseball history - Tom Seaver, Barry Bonds and Randy Johnson. It’s already become less common for players of that caliber to pass through Alaska. Beck is hoping the obstacles presented by 2020 don’t make things worse.
“When they can see the Aaron Judges,” he said, “the guys that go on to play in the big leagues, and they can remember that time they saw him in Alaska, the average fan, that helps our attendance and helps everything.”
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washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Georgia lawmaker indicted, accused of ignoring hit-and-run

ATLANTA ( AP ) - A high-ranking Georgia state lawmaker has been indicted on misdemeanor charges alleging he wrongly ignored a fatal 2019 hit-and-run crash that his friend called him about as the victim lay dying in a ditch .
State Rep. Trey Kelley , who as majority whip is the fourth-ranking member among House Republicans , was indicted Thursday on a charge of reckless conduct , according to Polk County District Attorney Jack Browning .
Ralph “ Ryan ” Dover III , the man accused of calling Kelley instead of 911 after fatally hitting bicyclist Eric Keais , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reckless conduct .
A lawyer for Kelley said the lawmaker had been “ fully cooperative ” with the investigation and looks forward to presenting the facts in court .
“ I feel confident that Trey - who was not even in the car at the time of the collision and was called to the scene after the fact - did nothing wrong , ” Lester Tate wrote in an email .
“ Once all the facts are known , I believe that he will be vindicated.
” Tate said Kelley will turn himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed on .
It ’ s unclear if Dover has a lawyer .
Kelley , a Cedartown resident and lawyer , represents all of Polk and parts of Floyd and Haralson counties in northwest Georgia .
Officials have said Dover hit Keais while driving his SUV on North Main Street in Cedartown on the night of Sept. 11 , 2019 .
Instead of calling 911 , Dover drove elsewhere and called Kelley , who in turn called Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome at home , according to authoriites .
An officer was sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have been injured , and eventually found Keais lying in a ditch , gravely wounded .
Keais died from his injuries soon afterward .
Georgia ’ s reckless conduct law says people can ’ t harm or endanger others , either by acting or failing to act .
Browning said in a statement that law enforcement and emergency medical personnel weren ’ t contacted until about 45 minutes after Keais was hit .
The Polk County Coroner ruled the death a “ homicide by vehicle.
” No one was arrested , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including after a series of stories by WXIA-TV .
An incident report details windshield and other significant damage to Dover ’ s SUV .
Kelley told police that night he wasn ’ t sure whether Dover hit a person or a deer .
However , Kelley told police he saw a bicycle at the side of the road , according to an incident report .
“ At that time , I still did not know another human being was involved , ” Kelley said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with law enforcement.
” Browning said grand jurors heard two days of evidence including videos , witness recordings and testimony from law enforcement officers and a state medical examiner .
Browning said he instructed grand jurors to “ determine for themselves and to recommend the charges they believed were appropriate and justified under the law ” in part because the Georgia State Patrol never filed any charges .
Aaron Keais , the victim ’ s brother , has also called for charges against Newsome .
Kelley easily defeated a Republican opponent in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November against a Democrat .
Republicans unanimously reelected him as whip last month .
Browning said the case now moves to Polk County Superior Court .

ATLANTA (AP) - A high-ranking Georgia state lawmaker has been indicted on misdemeanor charges alleging he wrongly ignored a fatal 2019 hit-and-run crash that his friend called him about as the victim lay dying in a ditch.
State Rep. Trey Kelley, who as majority whip is the fourth-ranking member among House Republicans, was indicted Thursday on a charge of reckless conduct, according to Polk County District Attorney Jack Browning.
Ralph “Ryan” Dover III, the man accused of calling Kelley instead of 911 after fatally hitting bicyclist Eric Keais, was indicted on charges of felony hit-and-run and reckless conduct.
A lawyer for Kelley said the lawmaker had been “fully cooperative” with the investigation and looks forward to presenting the facts in court.
“I feel confident that Trey - who was not even in the car at the time of the collision and was called to the scene after the fact - did nothing wrong,” Lester Tate wrote in an email. “Once all the facts are known, I believe that he will be vindicated.”
Tate said Kelley will turn himself in on Friday, with bail already agreed on. It’s unclear if Dover has a lawyer.
Kelley, a Cedartown resident and lawyer, represents all of Polk and parts of Floyd and Haralson counties in northwest Georgia.
Officials have said Dover hit Keais while driving his SUV on North Main Street in Cedartown on the night of Sept. 11, 2019. Instead of calling 911, Dover drove elsewhere and called Kelley, who in turn called Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsome at home, according to authoriites. An officer was sent to the area, unaware that someone may have been injured, and eventually found Keais lying in a ditch, gravely wounded. Keais died from his injuries soon afterward.
Georgia’s reckless conduct law says people can’t harm or endanger others, either by acting or failing to act.
Browning said in a statement that law enforcement and emergency medical personnel weren’t contacted until about 45 minutes after Keais was hit. The Polk County Coroner ruled the death a “homicide by vehicle.” No one was arrested, but attention to the case increased this year, including after a series of stories by WXIA-TV.
An incident report details windshield and other significant damage to Dover’s SUV. Kelley told police that night he wasn’t sure whether Dover hit a person or a deer. However, Kelley told police he saw a bicycle at the side of the road, according to an incident report.
“At that time, I still did not know another human being was involved,” Kelley said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution earlier this year. “I fully cooperated with law enforcement.”
Browning said grand jurors heard two days of evidence including videos, witness recordings and testimony from law enforcement officers and a state medical examiner. Browning said he instructed grand jurors to “determine for themselves and to recommend the charges they believed were appropriate and justified under the law” in part because the Georgia State Patrol never filed any charges.
Aaron Keais, the victim’s brother, has also called for charges against Newsome.
Kelley easily defeated a Republican opponent in a primary and won the general election in November against a Democrat. Republicans unanimously reelected him as whip last month.
Browning said the case now moves to Polk County Superior Court.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Anthony Veasna So, acclaimed fiction writer, dead at age 28

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The author of a highly anticipated debut story collection has died .
Anthony Veasna So was 28 .
His death was announced Thursday by his publisher , Ecco , which did not immediately provide additional details .
A native of Stockton , California , who had settled in San Francisco , So once described himself as a “ queer boy , a Khmer-American son of former refugees , a failed computer scientist , a grotesque parody of the model minority , and a graduate of Stanford University.
” In “ Afterparties , ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon the tragedies his family endured in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge and his own struggles with sexual and cultural identity .
“ ’ Afterparties ’ was one of the first books I acquired for Ecco , and everything about Anthony ’ s exuberant writing felt new to me - its blazing wit , crackling energy , deep empathy , ” So ’ s editor , Helen Atsma , tweeted Thursday .
Publishers Weekly reported earlier this year that So had agreed to a two-book , six-figure deal with Ecco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publishers .
George Saunders , Bryan Washington and Mary Karr are among those who have praised him .
“ The mind-frying hilarity of Anthony Veasna So ’ s first book of fiction settles him as the genius of social satire our age needs now more than ever , ” Karr wrote in a blurb for the book .
“ Few writers can handle firm plot action and wrenching pathos in such elegant prose .
This unforgettable new voice is at once poetic and laugh-out-loud funny.
” The story “ Three Women of Chuck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in The New Yorker in February , is set during a late summer night in a family-run business where the neighborhood has been devastated by the financial crisis of 2008-2009 .
The store is not named for an actual person ; the owner , a Cambodian immigrant named Sothy , thought an American name would bring in more customers .
Sothy works alongside her two daughters , all of them coping with the lack of business and the knowledge that Sothy ’ s former husband now has a second family .
“ Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downtown business , and driving away their nighttime customers , save for the odd worn-out worker from the nearby hospital , consider these summer nights , endless under the fluorescent lights , the family ’ s last pillars of support , ” So wrote .
“ Imagine Chuck ’ s Donuts a mausoleum to their glorious past.
” So taught at several schools , including Syracuse University and Colgate University and the Oakland-based Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants .
So is survived by his partner , Alex Torres ; his parents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister and brother-in-law , Samantha Lamb and Zachary Lamb , and his nephew , Oliver Lamb .
According to Ecco , he had been working on a novel , “ about three Khmer-American cousins - a pansexual rapper , a comedian philosopher , and a hot-headed illustrator .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - The author of a highly anticipated debut story collection has died. Anthony Veasna So was 28. His death was announced Thursday by his publisher, Ecco, which did not immediately provide additional details.
A native of Stockton, California, who had settled in San Francisco, So once described himself as a “queer boy, a Khmer-American son of former refugees, a failed computer scientist, a grotesque parody of the model minority, and a graduate of Stanford University.” In “Afterparties,” to be published in August, he drew upon the tragedies his family endured in Cambodia during the rule of the Khmer Rouge and his own struggles with sexual and cultural identity.
“’Afterparties’ was one of the first books I acquired for Ecco, and everything about Anthony’s exuberant writing felt new to me - its blazing wit, crackling energy, deep empathy,” So’s editor, Helen Atsma, tweeted Thursday.
Publishers Weekly reported earlier this year that So had agreed to a two-book, six-figure deal with Ecco, which prevailed over several other interested publishers. George Saunders, Bryan Washington and Mary Karr are among those who have praised him.
“The mind-frying hilarity of Anthony Veasna So’s first book of fiction settles him as the genius of social satire our age needs now more than ever,” Karr wrote in a blurb for the book. “Few writers can handle firm plot action and wrenching pathos in such elegant prose. This unforgettable new voice is at once poetic and laugh-out-loud funny.”
The story “Three Women of Chuck’s Donuts,” which ran in The New Yorker in February, is set during a late summer night in a family-run business where the neighborhood has been devastated by the financial crisis of 2008-2009. The store is not named for an actual person; the owner, a Cambodian immigrant named Sothy, thought an American name would bring in more customers. Sothy works alongside her two daughters, all of them coping with the lack of business and the knowledge that Sothy’s former husband now has a second family.
“Even with the recession wiping out almost every downtown business, and driving away their nighttime customers, save for the odd worn-out worker from the nearby hospital, consider these summer nights, endless under the fluorescent lights, the family’s last pillars of support,” So wrote. “Imagine Chuck’s Donuts a mausoleum to their glorious past.”
So taught at several schools, including Syracuse University and Colgate University and the Oakland-based Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants.
So is survived by his partner, Alex Torres; his parents, Sienghay So and Ravy So; his sister and brother-in-law, Samantha Lamb and Zachary Lamb, and his nephew, Oliver Lamb. According to Ecco, he had been working on a novel, “about three Khmer-American cousins - a pansexual rapper, a comedian philosopher, and a hot-headed illustrator.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Brandon Bernard emergency request to halt execution denied

A federal appeals court Thursday denied an last-minute emergency request to halt the execution of Brandon Bernard , clearing the way for the ninth inmate death sentence carried out this year by the Trump administration .
In a brief , one-page order , the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the request without explanation .
Bernard , 40 , was scheduled to die late Thursday night by lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute , Indiana .
He was sentenced to death for the 1999 murders of married youth ministers Todd and Stacie Bagley in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case attracted attention from Democratic lawmakers and celebrity activists , who pleaded with Mr. Trump to commute his sentence to life in prison because of newly-discovered evidence .
Since the Trump administration resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus , Democrats have largely been mum about the eight federal inmates put to death so far .
But they say the case of Brandon Bernard is different because newly uncovered evidence raises questions about his role in the murders .
In a joint statement , Democratic Sens .
Cory Booker of New Jersey and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president to commute Bernard ’ s sentence .
“ Since he was sentenced to death , new evidence has come to light and a number of deficiencies in his initial defense have been exposed , ” they said .
“ Mr .
Bernard ’ s post-conviction attorneys have continued to seek legal relief in the courts and Mr. Bernard should be allowed to keep pursuing available legal avenues to challenge his death sentence.
” Rep. Ayanna Pressley , Massachusetts Democrat , flanked by Sister Helen Prejean , a Roman Catholic nun and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petition the White House to stop Bernard ’ s execution .
“ We need to fight for Brandon like he is our own son , ” Ms. Pressley said in a media appearance with The Appeal .
“ We need to fight for him like he is a member of our family because he is .
We are all one human family.
” “ Murdering Brandon will only further the cycles of trauma and harm , ” she continued .
Lawmakers aren ’ t the only ones advocating for Bernard .
Kim Kardashian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Mr. Trump to commute the sentence .
“ Brandon Bernard , a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government .
Having gotten to know Brandon , I am heartbroken about this execution .
I ’ m calling on @ realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison , ” she wrote on Twitter .
At the time of the crime , Bernard was part of a gang that carjacked and killed the Bagleys .
Although Bernard was not involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning the vehicle while the Bagleys remained inside it .
Mr. Bagley ’ s death came as a result of gunshot wounds , but Mrs. Bagley died of smoke inhalation while unconscious from the gunshot wound , according to autopsies .
Bernard and his three accomplices were convicted , but two have been released .
A third , Christopher Vialva , was executed earlier this year .
Bernard ’ s lawyers last month uncovered new evidence they say prosecutors withheld during his 2000 trial .
The evidence is the testimony of an expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a low-level member of the gang and did not participate in the carjacking .
A federal judge this week denied a request from Bernard ’ s attorneys to halt his execution , ruling that the expert witness was not compelling enough to change the verdict or sentence .
On Thursday , his attorneys had asked the 7th Circuit to overturn that decision .
The appeal raised similar claims presented to the U.S. District Court , arguing that the newly discovered evidence is strong enough to warrant commuting Bernard ’ s sentence .
Defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ was neither a leader in the group nor the ‘ worst of the worst , ’ as the jury needed to conclude before imposing a death sentence.
” “ Any prosecutor worth his or her salt ” would recognize that this information had to be disclosed to the defense , attorneys wrote in the filing .

A federal appeals court Thursday denied an last-minute emergency request to halt the execution of Brandon Bernard, clearing the way for the ninth inmate death sentence carried out this year by the Trump administration.
In a brief, one-page order, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the request without explanation.
Bernard, 40, was scheduled to die late Thursday night by lethal injection at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. He was sentenced to death for the 1999 murders of married youth ministers Todd and Stacie Bagley in Killeen, Texas.
Bernard’s case attracted attention from Democratic lawmakers and celebrity activists, who pleaded with Mr. Trump to commute his sentence to life in prison because of newly-discovered evidence.
Since the Trump administration resumed federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, Democrats have largely been mum about the eight federal inmates put to death so far. But they say the case of Brandon Bernard is different because newly uncovered evidence raises questions about his role in the murders.
In a joint statement, Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Richard J. Durbin of Illinois called on the president to commute Bernard’s sentence.
“Since he was sentenced to death, new evidence has come to light and a number of deficiencies in his initial defense have been exposed,” they said. “Mr. Bernard’s post-conviction attorneys have continued to seek legal relief in the courts and Mr. Bernard should be allowed to keep pursuing available legal avenues to challenge his death sentence.”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts Democrat, flanked by Sister Helen Prejean, a Roman Catholic nun and noted death-penalty activist, urged supporters to petition the White House to stop Bernard’s execution.
“We need to fight for Brandon like he is our own son,” Ms. Pressley said in a media appearance with The Appeal. “We need to fight for him like he is a member of our family because he is. We are all one human family.”
“Murdering Brandon will only further the cycles of trauma and harm,” she continued.
Lawmakers aren’t the only ones advocating for Bernard. Kim Kardashian West also issued a public plea aimed at Mr. Trump to commute the sentence.
“Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government. Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution. I’m calling on @realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison,” she wrote on Twitter.
At the time of the crime, Bernard was part of a gang that carjacked and killed the Bagleys. Although Bernard was not involved in the carjacking, he participated in burning the vehicle while the Bagleys remained inside it.
Mr. Bagley’s death came as a result of gunshot wounds, but Mrs. Bagley died of smoke inhalation while unconscious from the gunshot wound, according to autopsies.
Bernard and his three accomplices were convicted, but two have been released. A third, Christopher Vialva, was executed earlier this year.
Bernard’s lawyers last month uncovered new evidence they say prosecutors withheld during his 2000 trial. The evidence is the testimony of an expert witness who planned to say Bernard was a low-level member of the gang and did not participate in the carjacking.
A federal judge this week denied a request from Bernard’s attorneys to halt his execution, ruling that the expert witness was not compelling enough to change the verdict or sentence.
On Thursday, his attorneys had asked the 7th Circuit to overturn that decision. The appeal raised similar claims presented to the U.S. District Court, arguing that the newly discovered evidence is strong enough to warrant commuting Bernard’s sentence.
Defense attorneys said the evidence shows that Bernard “was neither a leader in the group nor the ‘worst of the worst,’ as the jury needed to conclude before imposing a death sentence.”
“Any prosecutor worth his or her salt” would recognize that this information had to be disclosed to the defense, attorneys wrote in the filing.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Electors across country prepare to cast ballots in Electoral College

Last month ’ s election turns out to have been the pre-season .
The real election for president is set for Monday , when groups large and small will gather in state capitals across the country and cast their votes as part of the Electoral College , effectively appointing the next chief executive .
The outcome is not in doubt .
According to the results certified in each state , Democrat Joseph R. Biden won 25 states and the District of Columbia and earned 306 electoral votes .
President Trump won 25 states , too , but his are more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
The electors themselves were chosen by the parties earlier in the year , in many cases well before Democrats even knew Mr. Biden and his running mate , Kamala D. Harris , would be their nominees .
The system of electors was created by the Constitution ’ s Article II and solidified in the 12th and 23rd Amendments — though the term Electoral College doesn ’ t actually appear in the founding document .
Using electors was a compromise between selecting the president by direct popular election , by a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As the founders envisioned it , the average voter might not know enough to make an informed decision about national candidates , but he could select local leaders who would be capable .
Thus when voters went to the polls last month , they were actually casting ballots for a slate of electors .
Since Mr. Biden won Virginia , his electors will be the ones voting for president in that state on Monday .
Mr. Trump , meanwhile , won North Carolina , so his electors will be the ones voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convoluted process that has evolved over time and is something quite different from what the Founders envisioned , ” said Rebecca Green , a professor and co-director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School .
“ When you look at the certification of the vote , the safe harbor , and the Electoral College , these are all just one more step by which the results become more and more finalized.
” Electors can not be federal elected officials or anyone holding “ an office of trust or profit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be most anyone else the party chooses .
The Congressional Research Service said they turn out to be “ a mixture of state and local elected officials , party activists , celebrities and ordinary citizens.
” “ With the electors you ’ ll see a lot of variation , ” said Louis Gurvich , chairman of the Louisiana GOP , which picked its electors by caucus in February .
“ It ’ s not an election , but you can put it around , quietly , that you ’ d be interested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s something you can put on your political resume.
” Generally , the electors gather in their state capitols and hold two votes : one for president , another for vice president .
The only change that COVID appears to have made is moving the votes to a bigger room .
Every state has a winner-take-all approach to electors , save for Maine and Nebraska , which dole out two electors to the statewide winner , but then award the other electors — two in the case of Maine , three in Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional district .
In this year , as has happened more often in recent years , both of those states will split their electoral votes , with Mr. Trump winning one of Maine ’ s four votes and Mr. Biden collecting one of Nebraska ’ s five votes .
Nebraska electors will first meet in the governor ’ s office and then , at 2:10 p.m. Central time , move to a larger room necessitated by COVID and hold their vote , the secretary of state ’ s office said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are interested this year , ” spokeswoman Cindi Allen said .
“ It ’ s pretty straightforward , but there seems to be a little more moment to it this time , more attention is being paid.
” The electoral college votes will be opened and read aloud at a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6 .
The Trump campaign this week shrugged off the looming Electoral College vote , vowing to press on with its court challenges .
“ The only fixed day in the U.S. Constitution is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at noon , ” said Rudolph W. Giuliani and Jenna Ellis , the lawyers leading Mr. Trump ‘ s challenges .
Under the Constitution , there is no rule binding electors to vote for the candidate they were attached to on the ballot , and indeed “ faithless electors ” sometimes defy their voters ’ wishes .
In 2016 , one elector in Hawaii and four in Washington state , won by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton , cast votes for someone else , and two electors in Texas , won by Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left the final official tally at 304-227 .
There ’ s been little talk of faithless electors this year .
Most state laws contain language that electors “ shall ” cast their ballots for their party ’ s candidate who won the state and the Supreme Court this year unanimously upheld state laws punishing “ faithless electors — but many states don ’ t have clear punishments for the occasional elector who votes differently .
“ I think a faithless elector would most likely be escorted from the room and another elector would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Last month’s election turns out to have been the pre-season.
The real election for president is set for Monday, when groups large and small will gather in state capitals across the country and cast their votes as part of the Electoral College, effectively appointing the next chief executive.
The outcome is not in doubt.
According to the results certified in each state, Democrat Joseph R. Biden won 25 states and the District of Columbia and earned 306 electoral votes. President Trump won 25 states, too, but his are more sparsely populated and earned just 232 electoral votes.
The electors themselves were chosen by the parties earlier in the year, in many cases well before Democrats even knew Mr. Biden and his running mate, Kamala D. Harris, would be their nominees.
The system of electors was created by the Constitution’s Article II and solidified in the 12th and 23rd Amendments — though the term Electoral College doesn’t actually appear in the founding document.
Using electors was a compromise between selecting the president by direct popular election, by a vote of state legislatures, or by Congress. As the founders envisioned it, the average voter might not know enough to make an informed decision about national candidates, but he could select local leaders who would be capable.
Thus when voters went to the polls last month, they were actually casting ballots for a slate of electors.
Since Mr. Biden won Virginia, his electors will be the ones voting for president in that state on Monday. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, won North Carolina, so his electors will be the ones voting there.
“It is a very convoluted process that has evolved over time and is something quite different from what the Founders envisioned,” said Rebecca Green, a professor and co-director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School. “When you look at the certification of the vote, the safe harbor, and the Electoral College, these are all just one more step by which the results become more and more finalized.”
Electors cannot be federal elected officials or anyone holding “an office of trust or profit under the United States,” but can be most anyone else the party chooses. The Congressional Research Service said they turn out to be “a mixture of state and local elected officials, party activists, celebrities and ordinary citizens.”
“With the electors you’ll see a lot of variation,” said Louis Gurvich, chairman of the Louisiana GOP, which picked its electors by caucus in February. “It’s not an election, but you can put it around, quietly, that you’d be interested in being an elector. It’s something you can put on your political resume.”
Generally, the electors gather in their state capitols and hold two votes: one for president, another for vice president. The only change that COVID appears to have made is moving the votes to a bigger room.
Every state has a winner-take-all approach to electors, save for Maine and Nebraska, which dole out two electors to the statewide winner, but then award the other electors — two in the case of Maine, three in Nebraska — based on the victor in each congressional district.
In this year, as has happened more often in recent years, both of those states will split their electoral votes, with Mr. Trump winning one of Maine’s four votes and Mr. Biden collecting one of Nebraska’s five votes.
Nebraska electors will first meet in the governor’s office and then, at 2:10 p.m. Central time, move to a larger room necessitated by COVID and hold their vote, the secretary of state’s office said.
“I think there’s a lot of people who are interested this year,” spokeswoman Cindi Allen said. “It’s pretty straightforward, but there seems to be a little more moment to it this time, more attention is being paid.”
The electoral college votes will be opened and read aloud at a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6.
The Trump campaign this week shrugged off the looming Electoral College vote, vowing to press on with its court challenges.
“The only fixed day in the U.S. Constitution is the inauguration of the president on Jan. 20 at noon,” said Rudolph W. Giuliani and Jenna Ellis, the lawyers leading Mr. Trump’s challenges.
Under the Constitution, there is no rule binding electors to vote for the candidate they were attached to on the ballot, and indeed “faithless electors” sometimes defy their voters’ wishes.
In 2016, one elector in Hawaii and four in Washington state, won by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, cast votes for someone else, and two electors in Texas, won by Mr. Trump, cast deviant votes. That left the final official tally at 304-227.
There’s been little talk of faithless electors this year.
Most state laws contain language that electors “shall” cast their ballots for their party’s candidate who won the state and the Supreme Court this year unanimously upheld state laws punishing “faithless electors — but many states don’t have clear punishments for the occasional elector who votes differently.
“I think a faithless elector would most likely be escorted from the room and another elector would then be appointed,” Ms. Allen said.
• James Varney can be reached at jvarney@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Nearly 20% of MLS players tested positive during season

The Major League Soccer Players ’ Association says nearly 20 % of the league ’ s players tested positive for the coronavirus over the course of the season .
Bob Foose , executive director of the union , revealed the results in a conference call with reporters Thursday .
“ During a time when most professionals were working at home , our players were going to work every day , really just about every single day .
Almost 20 % of the players in the league at one point or another were infected with the virus , which meant that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t become infected became dangers and dangerous to their partners , their family and their friends just by virtue of doing their jobs , ” Foose said .
MLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figure , which would mean about 150 players tested positive .
The league ’ s protocols called for several tests to confirm cases .
Some of the league ’ s players also tested positive only after international duty .
MLS teams had played just two games before the season was suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold the MLS is Back tournament in a bubble in Florida this summer .
Teams then returned to local markets to complete an abbreviated season .
The MLS Cup championship game between the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew is set for Saturday .
The league and the union reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement in early February , but it had not been ratified when the season was put on hold .
The two sides renegotiated the deal in June ahead of the tournament , agreeing to a new one that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Foose said there are fears that MLS could invoke a clause included in the reworked contract that would essentially allow the league to withdraw from the deal and renegotiate if adverse economic conditions exist .
“ We negotiated hard for that clause , but at this time , there ’ s nothing really for me to add as to when and if that clause would be triggered , ” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during his annual State of the League address earlier this week .
Foose said invoking the clause “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force majeure clause was added to the CBA at a time when we didn ’ t have any idea what 2021 was going to look like , and it was intended to be used in the event of a catastrophic impact on the league ’ s ability to conduct its business at that point , ” he said .
LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye said a third contract negotiation would be detrimental to the league .
“ I think if we go into another situation like that , there ’ s going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at this and be like , we don ’ t want to come to MLS because it ’ s too exhausting having to do something like that , ” Kaye said .
Foose suggested the planned start of the 2021 season should be pushed back .
In his address , Garber said the league planned on an early to mid-March start .
Foose said the season was particularly grueling , both emotionally and physically , with U.S. players away from their families for as many as 75 days , and 120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
An early March start date means bringing players back to camp as early as January .
“ We ’ ve made that clear to the league that we ’ d like to see it pushed back , ” Foose said .
“ At the end of the day , that ’ s not something that we control .
So we ’ ll have to see where they come out .
”

The Major League Soccer Players’ Association says nearly 20% of the league’s players tested positive for the coronavirus over the course of the season.
Bob Foose, executive director of the union, revealed the results in a conference call with reporters Thursday.
“During a time when most professionals were working at home, our players were going to work every day, really just about every single day. Almost 20% of the players in the league at one point or another were infected with the virus, which meant that those who became infected and those who didn’t become infected became dangers and dangerous to their partners, their family and their friends just by virtue of doing their jobs,” Foose said.
MLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figure, which would mean about 150 players tested positive. The league’s protocols called for several tests to confirm cases. Some of the league’s players also tested positive only after international duty.
MLS teams had played just two games before the season was suspended in March. The league regrouped to hold the MLS is Back tournament in a bubble in Florida this summer.
Teams then returned to local markets to complete an abbreviated season. The MLS Cup championship game between the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew is set for Saturday.
The league and the union reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement in early February, but it had not been ratified when the season was put on hold.
The two sides renegotiated the deal in June ahead of the tournament, agreeing to a new one that included across-the-board pay cuts and reduced bonuses.
Foose said there are fears that MLS could invoke a clause included in the reworked contract that would essentially allow the league to withdraw from the deal and renegotiate if adverse economic conditions exist.
“We negotiated hard for that clause, but at this time, there’s nothing really for me to add as to when and if that clause would be triggered,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during his annual State of the League address earlier this week.
Foose said invoking the clause “would be a mistake.”
“The force majeure clause was added to the CBA at a time when we didn’t have any idea what 2021 was going to look like, and it was intended to be used in the event of a catastrophic impact on the league’s ability to conduct its business at that point,” he said.
LAFC midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye said a third contract negotiation would be detrimental to the league.
“I think if we go into another situation like that, there’s going to be guys around the world who are going to look at this and be like, we don’t want to come to MLS because it’s too exhausting having to do something like that,” Kaye said.
Foose suggested the planned start of the 2021 season should be pushed back. In his address, Garber said the league planned on an early to mid-March start.
Foose said the season was particularly grueling, both emotionally and physically, with U.S. players away from their families for as many as 75 days, and 120 days for Canadian plyers because of travel restrictions. An early March start date means bringing players back to camp as early as January.
“We’ve made that clear to the league that we’d like to see it pushed back,” Foose said. “At the end of the day, that’s not something that we control. So we’ll have to see where they come out.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Alaska governor planning new COVID-19 disaster declaration

JUNEAU , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska Gov .
Mike Dunleavy plans to issue a new disaster emergency declaration related to the pandemic next week , his office said Thursday .
Dunleavy spokesperson Jeff Turner said further details are expected to be released by Monday , the day before the existing order expires .
The Legislature earlier this year approved a declaration that ended Nov. 15 .
Dunleavy followed it up with a new , 30-day order , despite concerns raised by lawmakers about its legal underpinnings and requests by legislative leaders that he call a special session to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s top legal adviser , Megan Wallace , in a September memo , said there was no statutory provision authorizing the governor to issue a second declaration for the same disaster .
Dunleavy ’ s office has said the declaration he issued in March and that lawmakers extended until Nov. 15 was in response to the threat of an outbreak of COVID-19 .
Dunleavy said the subsequent declaration was “ based upon the determination of moving from the threat of a pandemic to an actual pandemic.
” His office has said the declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like those for travel-related testing , expanded telemedicine and suspension of certain regulations or fees .

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy plans to issue a new disaster emergency declaration related to the pandemic next week, his office said Thursday.
Dunleavy spokesperson Jeff Turner said further details are expected to be released by Monday, the day before the existing order expires.
The Legislature earlier this year approved a declaration that ended Nov. 15. Dunleavy followed it up with a new, 30-day order, despite concerns raised by lawmakers about its legal underpinnings and requests by legislative leaders that he call a special session to address the issue. The Legislature’s top legal adviser, Megan Wallace, in a September memo, said there was no statutory provision authorizing the governor to issue a second declaration for the same disaster.
Dunleavy’s office has said the declaration he issued in March and that lawmakers extended until Nov. 15 was in response to the threat of an outbreak of COVID-19.
Dunleavy said the subsequent declaration was “based upon the determination of moving from the threat of a pandemic to an actual pandemic.” His office has said the declaration allows for such things as health orders, like those for travel-related testing, expanded telemedicine and suspension of certain regulations or fees.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Sherman says it will take 'miracle' to return to 49ers

Richard Sherman said it will likely take a “ miracle ” for him to return to the San Francisco 49ers next season because of the team ’ s tight salary cap situation .
Sherman is in the final year of a three-year contract he negotiated by himself with the 49ers after being released by Seattle in 2018 .
Sherman is earning nearly $ 14 million this season , but with the salary cap possibly dropping next season because of reduced revenues from the coronavirus , keeping Sherman will be difficult .
The Niners have about 40 players who aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star left tackle Trent Williams .
Linebacker Fred Warner also is in line for a lucrative extension , making it difficult for Sherman to be able to return .
“ If there ’ s some miracle that happens , then sure there ’ s an opening , ” Sherman said Wednesday .
“ But there ’ s 40 free agents and they ’ ll probably have $ 30 million or less in cash .
They got to bring back Trent who costs over $ 20 million .
They have to pay Fred , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Anybody who knows the situation understands that.
” Sherman has performed well after being cut by Seattle following a season-ending Achilles injury in 2017 .
He started 14 games his first season with the Niners but showed some rust returning from the injury .
Sherman had three interceptions and 11 passes defensed last season when he was a second-team All-Pro and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl .
Sherman has been hampered by injuries this season .
He hurt his calf in Week 1 and missed the next nine games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first game back on Nov. 29 against the Rams , but struggled in coverage last week in a 34-24 loss to Buffalo .

Richard Sherman said it will likely take a “miracle” for him to return to the San Francisco 49ers next season because of the team’s tight salary cap situation.
Sherman is in the final year of a three-year contract he negotiated by himself with the 49ers after being released by Seattle in 2018.
Sherman is earning nearly $14 million this season, but with the salary cap possibly dropping next season because of reduced revenues from the coronavirus, keeping Sherman will be difficult.
The Niners have about 40 players who aren’t under contract next season, including star left tackle Trent Williams. Linebacker Fred Warner also is in line for a lucrative extension, making it difficult for Sherman to be able to return.
“If there’s some miracle that happens, then sure there’s an opening,” Sherman said Wednesday. “But there’s 40 free agents and they’ll probably have $30 million or less in cash. They got to bring back Trent who costs over $20 million. They have to pay Fred, who will cost $18 million-plus a year. Anybody who knows the situation understands that.”
Sherman has performed well after being cut by Seattle following a season-ending Achilles injury in 2017. He started 14 games his first season with the Niners but showed some rust returning from the injury.
Sherman had three interceptions and 11 passes defensed last season when he was a second-team All-Pro and helped the Niners reach the Super Bowl.
Sherman has been hampered by injuries this season. He hurt his calf in Week 1 and missed the next nine games. He had an interception in his first game back on Nov. 29 against the Rams, but struggled in coverage last week in a 34-24 loss to Buffalo.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Clear Channel cancels billboard art depicting Floyd's death

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Clear Channel Outdoor has canceled a billboard order for downtown Minneapolis that featured an artist ’ s painting of George Floyd being restrained by three police officers , the artist said Thursday .
Brooklyn-based artist Don Perlis said he got an email Thursday from Clear Channel account executive Beau Ryan saying the billboard image was rejected because it “ depicts acts of violence.
” The depiction of Perlis ’ oil-on-canvas painting entitled “ Floyd ” was also on a billboard in New York ’ s Times Square for most of November , the Star Tribune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Outdoor were not immediately returned to the Star Tribune or The Associated Press .
The art was sponsored by the George Floyd Justice Billboard Committee , a group of New York-based artists who raised funds online for billboards nationwide .
Identical billboards are scheduled for Atlanta and Los Angeles next month .
Corinne Basabe , billboard committee chairwoman , said art is important in social justice movements .
“ I think it ’ s important that we still remember the horror of what happened to him that sparked a movement internationally , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also a work of art .
It ’ s telling the truth.
” Perlis ’ painting shows Floyd on the ground , restrained by three officers as a fourth looks away .
The Minneapolis billboard was scheduled to go up Jan. 11 , and was to feature a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that said : “ Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
” Perlis said he was surprised by the cancellation , and found it odd that his art was censored after the video of Floyd being pinned to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moments before he died has been broadcast worldwide .
“ The painting is sad , but it ’ s not violent really .
You ’ d have to know what ’ s happening , ” Perlis said .
Basabe said the billboard committee won ’ t give up and is exploring its possibilities .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Clear Channel Outdoor has canceled a billboard order for downtown Minneapolis that featured an artist’s painting of George Floyd being restrained by three police officers, the artist said Thursday.
Brooklyn-based artist Don Perlis said he got an email Thursday from Clear Channel account executive Beau Ryan saying the billboard image was rejected because it “depicts acts of violence.” The depiction of Perlis’ oil-on-canvas painting entitled “Floyd” was also on a billboard in New York’s Times Square for most of November, the Star Tribune reported.
Messages left with Clear Channel Outdoor were not immediately returned to the Star Tribune or The Associated Press.
The art was sponsored by the George Floyd Justice Billboard Committee, a group of New York-based artists who raised funds online for billboards nationwide. Identical billboards are scheduled for Atlanta and Los Angeles next month.
Corinne Basabe, billboard committee chairwoman, said art is important in social justice movements.
“I think it’s important that we still remember the horror of what happened to him that sparked a movement internationally,” Basabe said. “It’s also a work of art. It’s telling the truth.”
Perlis’ painting shows Floyd on the ground, restrained by three officers as a fourth looks away. The Minneapolis billboard was scheduled to go up Jan. 11, and was to feature a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Perlis said he was surprised by the cancellation, and found it odd that his art was censored after the video of Floyd being pinned to the ground and gasping for air in the moments before he died has been broadcast worldwide.
“The painting is sad, but it’s not violent really. You’d have to know what’s happening,” Perlis said.
Basabe said the billboard committee won’t give up and is exploring its possibilities.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Sen. Rand Paul delays defense bill vote over troop drawdowns

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - A Senate vote on a wide-ranging defense policy bill was delayed Thursday after Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to the measure , casting the next steps in doubt and raising the slim prospect of a government shutdown if a short-term spending bill caught up in the dispute is not approved by Friday .
Paul said on the Senate floor that he opposes a provision in the defense bill that would limit President Donald Trump ’ s ability to draw down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Germany .
His objections threatened another must-pass bill , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government open through Dec. 18 .
The House has passed the stopgap measure , but a government shutdown would occur if the Senate does not act on it by midnight Friday .
Paul said he would drop his objection if GOP leaders allowed a final vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday .
Senators from both parties were eager to finish work on the bill this week .
South Dakota Sen. John Thune , the No .
2 Senate Republican , said he thought Paul - who has provoked government shutdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maximum leverage to remove the provision on troop withdrawals .
“ I think he ’ s just trying to figure out ways to derail the bill .
And … when you ’ re in the U.S Senate that ’ s your prerogative .
But most of our people would like to get it done ” Thursday , Thune said .
“ His thing is just to delay this and use all the time so it pushes the vote on ( the defense bill ) into next week , which pushes the override vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the following week , Thune said of his fellow Republican , Paul .
Paul said he is concerned that the troop-amendment “ creates 535 commanders-in-chief in Congress ” and hampers the president ’ s ability to deploy troops as he sees fit .
Democrats support the measure because they oppose Trump , Paul said , but the amendment would also apply to future presidents , including President-elect Joe Biden .
Paul attacked the author of the troop amendment , Rep. Liz Cheney , R-Wyo.
, saying she and her father , former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ belief in “ perpetual war.
” “ The philosophy of these people is about war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war , ” Paul said .
Cheney hit back on Twitter , charging that Paul was “ currently holding up passage of the # NDAA , blaming America , and delaying hazardous duty pay to hundreds of thousands of our service members and their families .
Inexcusable.
” She added : “ Rand and I do have one thing in common , though .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The dispute over the defense bill came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , in a rare break with Trump , urged passage of the measure despite Trump ’ s threat to veto it .
McConnell , R-Ky. , said Thursday that it was important for Congress to continue a nearly 60-year streak of passing the National Defense Authorization Act , which affirms 3 % pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes billions in military programs and construction .
“ This NDAA will unlock more than $ 740 billion for the training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service members and civilian employees need to defend American lives and American interests , ” McConnell said in a Senate speech ahead of an expected vote Thursday or Friday .
” It will give our troops the 3 % pay raise they deserve .
It ’ ll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific.
” The Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the defense bill on Tuesday , defying Trump ’ s veto threat and setting up a possible showdown with the Republican president in the waning days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans joined 195 Democrats in backing the bill , which received support from more than 80 % of the House - well above the two-thirds support required to override a potential veto .
Trump has vowed to veto the bill unless lawmakers clamp down on social media companies he claims were biased against him during the election .
Trump also wants Congress to strip out a provision of the bill that allows renaming of military bases that now honor Confederate leaders .
McConnell did not address Trump ’ s veto threat , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s major progress at modernizing our capabilities , our technologies and our strategic nuclear deterrent.
” The bill “ does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass .
But a huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out , ” McConnell said .
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he will veto “ the very weak ” defense bill unless it repeals Section 230 , a part of the communications code that shields Twitter , Facebook and other tech giants from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media content - a battle cry of conservatives who say the social media giants treat them unfairly - interjects an unrelated but complicated issue into a bill that Congress takes pride in having passed unfailingly for nearly 60 years .
It follows Trump ’ s bid over the summer to sabotage the package with a veto threat over Confederate base names .
If he does veto the defense bill , Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes , senior House members said .
“ I think we can override @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vetoes , ” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md.
, said Tuesday .
“ I hope he does not veto .
I hope he reconsiders .
And I think he will get substantial pressure ( from Republicans ) that , you know , you don ’ t want to put the defense bill at risk.″ The defense measure guides Pentagon policy and cements decisions about troop levels , new weapons systems and military readiness , military personnel policy and other military goals .
Many programs can only go into effect if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate vote on a wide-ranging defense policy bill was delayed Thursday after Kentucky Republican Rand Paul objected to the measure, casting the next steps in doubt and raising the slim prospect of a government shutdown if a short-term spending bill caught up in the dispute is not approved by Friday.
Paul said on the Senate floor that he opposes a provision in the defense bill that would limit President Donald Trump’s ability to draw down U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Germany. His objections threatened another must-pass bill, a one-week spending measure that would keep the government open through Dec. 18. The House has passed the stopgap measure, but a government shutdown would occur if the Senate does not act on it by midnight Friday.
Paul said he would drop his objection if GOP leaders allowed a final vote on the National Defense Authorization Act on Monday. Senators from both parties were eager to finish work on the bill this week.
South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican, said he thought Paul - who has provoked government shutdowns before - was using the time-crunch for maximum leverage to remove the provision on troop withdrawals.
“I think he’s just trying to figure out ways to derail the bill. And … when you’re in the U.S Senate that’s your prerogative. But most of our people would like to get it done” Thursday, Thune said.
“His thing is just to delay this and use all the time so it pushes the vote on (the defense bill) into next week, which pushes the override vote” on a possible Trump veto into the following week, Thune said of his fellow Republican, Paul.
Paul said he is concerned that the troop-amendment “creates 535 commanders-in-chief in Congress” and hampers the president’s ability to deploy troops as he sees fit. Democrats support the measure because they oppose Trump, Paul said, but the amendment would also apply to future presidents, including President-elect Joe Biden.
Paul attacked the author of the troop amendment, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., saying she and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, share a neoconservative belief in “perpetual war.”
“The philosophy of these people is about war and substantiating war and making sure that it becomes and is perpetual war,” Paul said.
Cheney hit back on Twitter, charging that Paul was “currently holding up passage of the #NDAA, blaming America, and delaying hazardous duty pay to hundreds of thousands of our service members and their families. Inexcusable.”
She added: “Rand and I do have one thing in common, though. We’re both 5’2” tall.”
The dispute over the defense bill came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a rare break with Trump, urged passage of the measure despite Trump’s threat to veto it.
McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that it was important for Congress to continue a nearly 60-year streak of passing the National Defense Authorization Act, which affirms 3% pay raises for U.S. troops and authorizes billions in military programs and construction.
“This NDAA will unlock more than $740 billion for the training, tools and cutting-edge equipment that our service members and civilian employees need to defend American lives and American interests,” McConnell said in a Senate speech ahead of an expected vote Thursday or Friday. ”It will give our troops the 3% pay raise they deserve. It’ll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific.”
The Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly approved the defense bill on Tuesday, defying Trump’s veto threat and setting up a possible showdown with the Republican president in the waning days of his administration.
A total of 140 Republicans joined 195 Democrats in backing the bill, which received support from more than 80% of the House - well above the two-thirds support required to override a potential veto.
Trump has vowed to veto the bill unless lawmakers clamp down on social media companies he claims were biased against him during the election. Trump also wants Congress to strip out a provision of the bill that allows renaming of military bases that now honor Confederate leaders.
McConnell did not address Trump’s veto threat, but said the bill “will secure President Trump’s major progress at modernizing our capabilities, our technologies and our strategic nuclear deterrent.”
The bill “does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass. But a huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out,” McConnell said.
Trump tweeted Tuesday that he will veto “the very weak” defense bill unless it repeals Section 230, a part of the communications code that shields Twitter, Facebook and other tech giants from content liability.
The dispute over social media content - a battle cry of conservatives who say the social media giants treat them unfairly - interjects an unrelated but complicated issue into a bill that Congress takes pride in having passed unfailingly for nearly 60 years. It follows Trump’s bid over the summer to sabotage the package with a veto threat over Confederate base names.
If he does veto the defense bill, Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes, senior House members said.
“I think we can override the veto, if in fact he vetoes,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday. “I hope he does not veto. I hope he reconsiders. And I think he will get substantial pressure (from Republicans) that, you know, you don’t want to put the defense bill at risk.″
The defense measure guides Pentagon policy and cements decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals. Many programs can only go into effect if the bill is approved, including military construction.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--World carbon dioxide emissions drop 7% in pandemic-hit 2020

A locked-down pandemic-struck world cut its carbon dioxide emissions this year by 7 % , the biggest drop ever , new preliminary figures show .
The Global Carbon Project , an authoritative group of dozens of international scientists who track emissions , calculated that the world will have put 37 billion U.S. tons ( 34 billion metric tons ) of carbon dioxide in the air in 2020 .
That ’ s down from 40.1 billion US tons ( 36.4 billion metric tons ) in 2019 , according a study published Thursday in the journal Earth System Science Data .
Scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are staying home , traveling less by car and plane , and that emissions are expected to jump back up after the pandemic ends .
Ground transportation makes up about one-fifth of emissions of carbon dioxide , the chief man-made heat-trapping gas .
“ Of course , lockdown is absolutely not the way to tackle climate change , ” said study co-author Corinne LeQuere , a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia .
The same group of scientists months ago predicted emission drops of 4 % to 7 % , depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second coronavirus wave and continued travel reductions pushed the decrease to 7 % , LeQuere said .
Emissions dropped 12 % in the United States and 11 % in Europe , but only 1.7 % in China .
That ’ s because China had an earlier lockdown with less of a second wave .
Also China ’ s emissions are more industrial based than other countries and its industry was less affected than transportation , LeQuere said .
The calculations - based on reports detailing energy use , industrial production and daily mobility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside scientists .
Even with the drop in 2020 , the world on average put 1,185 tons ( 1,075 metric tons ) of carbon dioxide into the air every second .
Final figures for 2019 published in the same study show that from 2018 to 2019 emissions of the main man-made heat-trapping gas increased only 0.1 % , much smaller than annual jumps of around 3 % a decade or two ago .
Even with emissions expected to rise after the pandemic , scientists are wondering if 2019 be the peak of carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are certainly very close to an emissions peak , if we can keep the global community together , ” said United Nations Development Director Achim Steiner .
Chris Field , director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment , thinks emissions will increase after the pandemic , but said “ I am optimistic that we have , as a society learned some lessons that may help decrease emissions in the future.
” “ For example , ” he added , “ as people get good at telecommuting a couple of days a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need quite so many business trips , we might see behavior-related future emissions decreases.
” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

A locked-down pandemic-struck world cut its carbon dioxide emissions this year by 7%, the biggest drop ever, new preliminary figures show.
The Global Carbon Project, an authoritative group of dozens of international scientists who track emissions, calculated that the world will have put 37 billion U.S. tons (34 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide in the air in 2020. That’s down from 40.1 billion US tons (36.4 billion metric tons) in 2019, according a study published Thursday in the journal Earth System Science Data.
Scientists say this drop is chiefly because people are staying home, traveling less by car and plane, and that emissions are expected to jump back up after the pandemic ends. Ground transportation makes up about one-fifth of emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief man-made heat-trapping gas.
“Of course, lockdown is absolutely not the way to tackle climate change,” said study co-author Corinne LeQuere, a climate scientist at the University of East Anglia.
The same group of scientists months ago predicted emission drops of 4% to 7%, depending on the progression of COVID-19. A second coronavirus wave and continued travel reductions pushed the decrease to 7%, LeQuere said.
Emissions dropped 12% in the United States and 11% in Europe, but only 1.7% in China. That’s because China had an earlier lockdown with less of a second wave. Also China’s emissions are more industrial based than other countries and its industry was less affected than transportation, LeQuere said.
The calculations - based on reports detailing energy use, industrial production and daily mobility counts - were praised as accurate by outside scientists.
Even with the drop in 2020, the world on average put 1,185 tons (1,075 metric tons) of carbon dioxide into the air every second.
Final figures for 2019 published in the same study show that from 2018 to 2019 emissions of the main man-made heat-trapping gas increased only 0.1%, much smaller than annual jumps of around 3% a decade or two ago. Even with emissions expected to rise after the pandemic, scientists are wondering if 2019 be the peak of carbon pollution, LeQuere said.
“We are certainly very close to an emissions peak, if we can keep the global community together,” said United Nations Development Director Achim Steiner.
Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, thinks emissions will increase after the pandemic, but said “I am optimistic that we have, as a society learned some lessons that may help decrease emissions in the future.”
“For example,” he added, “as people get good at telecommuting a couple of days a week or realize they don’t need quite so many business trips, we might see behavior-related future emissions decreases.”
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Follow AP’s climate coverage at https://www.apnews.com/Climate
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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears .
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--School district ends request for massacre social media posts

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) - A Florida school district abruptly dropped its request Thursday that the families of students and staff slain in a 2018 high school massacre be required to turn over their social media posts from that period as it tries to defend itself from lawsuits .
Attorney Eugene Pettis , who represents the Broward County Public Schools , lamented to Circuit Judge Patti Englander Henning that the media was portraying in an unfair light the request made of the families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School victims .
The Feb. 14 , 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members dead .
Numerous families are suing the district and others for negligence .
According to the South Florida SunSentinel , Pettis told the judge that the district wants to move the case forward and is concentrating on aspects where the district and the plaintiffs could agree .
The district had previously cited multiple lawsuits in which judges found social media postings were relevant for the defense , including lawsuits against local governments .
The families have numerous claims against the district , including that it knew the shooting suspect , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat and did little to protect the school from him .
Attorneys for the families previously said the request was intrusive and unnecessary .
The posts would only show the families were grieving for their dead loved ones .
Former student Nikolas Cruz , 22 , is charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting and faces a possible death sentence if convicted .
His trial has been postponed because of the pandemic .
Cruz had a long history of emotional and behavioral problems and his social media posts have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Instagram posts of him with guns .
In addition to the school district , Cruz , the Broward County Sheriff ’ s Office and its former deputy , Scot Peterson , who was stationed at the school , and others are facing multiple lawsuits .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida school district abruptly dropped its request Thursday that the families of students and staff slain in a 2018 high school massacre be required to turn over their social media posts from that period as it tries to defend itself from lawsuits.
Attorney Eugene Pettis, who represents the Broward County Public Schools, lamented to Circuit Judge Patti Englander Henning that the media was portraying in an unfair light the request made of the families of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School victims.
The Feb. 14, 2018, massacre left 14 students and three staff members dead. Numerous families are suing the district and others for negligence.
According to the South Florida SunSentinel, Pettis told the judge that the district wants to move the case forward and is concentrating on aspects where the district and the plaintiffs could agree.
The district had previously cited multiple lawsuits in which judges found social media postings were relevant for the defense, including lawsuits against local governments. The families have numerous claims against the district, including that it knew the shooting suspect, a former student at the school, was a threat and did little to protect the school from him.
Attorneys for the families previously said the request was intrusive and unnecessary. The posts would only show the families were grieving for their dead loved ones.
Former student Nikolas Cruz, 22, is charged with 17 counts of first-degree murder in the shooting and faces a possible death sentence if convicted. His trial has been postponed because of the pandemic. Cruz had a long history of emotional and behavioral problems and his social media posts have been presented as evidence. They include threats and Instagram posts of him with guns.
In addition to the school district, Cruz, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and its former deputy, Scot Peterson, who was stationed at the school, and others are facing multiple lawsuits.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Navajo Nation reports 347 new COVID-19 cases, 6 more deaths

WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. ( AP ) - Navajo Nation health officials on Thursday reported 347 new COVID-19 cases and @ @ @ @ @ all , the tribe has now reported 18,943 cases and 699 know deaths since the @ @ @ @ @ of Health officials said nearly 179,000 people on the vast reservation that includes parts of @ @ @ @ @ Utah have been tested for COVID-19 and more than 10,000 have recovered .
But officials @ @ @ @ @ communities with uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus since late last month .
Tribal officials said @ @ @ @ @ beds on the reservation are being used as COVID-19 cases surge .
They warn that @ @ @ @ @ point where health care workers will have to make difficult decisions about providing care with @ @ @ @ @ tribe has extended its stay-at-home order though Dec. 28 in an attempt to stop the @ @ @ @ @

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Navajo Nation health officials on Thursday reported 347 new COVID-19 cases and six more deaths.
In all, the tribe has now reported 18,943 cases and 699 know deaths since the pandemic began.
Navajo Department of Health officials said nearly 179,000 people on the vast reservation that includes parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah have been tested for COVID-19 and more than 10,000 have recovered.
But officials have identified 77 Navajo Nation communities with uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus since late last month.
Tribal officials said nearly all intensive care unit beds on the reservation are being used as COVID-19 cases surge.
They warn that the tribe is nearing a point where health care workers will have to make difficult decisions about providing care with limited hospital resources.
The tribe has extended its stay-at-home order though Dec. 28 in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Olson comes up aces and takes 1-shot lead in Women's Open

She captured the U.S .
Junior Girls her second time playing the tournament , won a record 20 times while at North Dakota State and went 4-1 in her lone Curtis Cup appearance .
In seven years on the LPGA Tour , however , she ’ s still looking for that first title .
“ Coming out here , I expected to win really early .
It always kind of came easy to me in college , ” Olson said .
“ It ’ s not easy to win out here .
You have to put four really good days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way Thursday in the U.S. Women ’ s Open .
Olson got back to under par with one swing , an 8-iron for a hole-in-one on her seventh hole , the 16th at Cypress Creek , and kept right on going until she had a 4-under 67 and a one-shot lead at Champions Golf Club .
She also had the 18-hole lead at Royal Troon in the Women ’ s British Open before following that with an 81 .
Olson was one hole away from winning the Evian Championship two years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hole .
“ It has been , I think , a test of my patience , ” Olson said .
And even on a perfect day for scoring , it was clear this Women ’ s Open would be a stern test .
Olson was among only 11 players who broke 70 on the Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit courses .
For the first time , two courses are being used for the opening rounds because of the limited daylight by postponing the premier event in women ’ s golf to December .
Out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at par or better .
“ We had absolutely perfect weather today and 4 under is leading , ” Champions member Stacy Lewis said after a 72 .
“ I don ’ t think scores are going anywhere.
” Moriya Jutanugarn managed to keep bogeys off her card on the Jackrabbit course for a 68 , leaving her tied with former Women ’ s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno ( Cypress Creek ) and A Lim Kim ( Jackrabbit ) .
Sophia Popov was among the group at 69 .
She figured it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. Women ’ s Open this year when the USGA had to scrap qualifying because of the COVID-19 pandemic .
And then when golf resumed , Popov earned a spot in the Women ’ s British Open and won at Royal Troon .
And now she ’ s already in the mix at the U.S. Women ’ s Open , along with so many others .
Asked if she had come down from the cloud of her surprise major victory , Popov smiled and said , “ Am I down yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to come down off of it .
I quite like it , ” she said .
“ But yeah , I think it took me a couple weeks , but after that it was back to reality .
You ’ ve got to grind , you ’ ve got to practice , you ’ ve got to do everything the same way you did before , just now you have a lot more events to play and better events to play.
” None of the top five in the world ranking broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 73 , while Sei Young Kim had a 72 in what could be a battle for No .
1 this week .
Nelly Korda , playing for the first time in two months because of back pain , had only one birdie in her round of 73 .
Danielle Kang didn ’ t make any birdies and shot 72 .
The starting times for the second round were moved up a little more than an hour because or rain and wind in the forecast , which figures to make the courses even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jackrabbit course was a bout a stroke easier .
Cypress Creek will be used on the weekend .
Most enjoyable for Olson was watching her 8-iron in flight on the par-3 16h hole and tracking it all the way into the hole , her second ace in competition on the LPGA Tour .
She had a big crew of family and friends from North Dakota for her previous hole-in-one .
She had only a few marshals , two other players and caddies , and a few people from a backyard to provide the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 141 to the flag and the pin was on the right side of the green with the wind kind of coming from from the right , ” she said .
“ So I hit a fade to try to hold the wind , and it landed two paces short of the flag , had some good spin on it and just trickled in .
We saw the whole thing , which was fun.
” Megan Khang was the only player to reach 5 under on the day until dropping a few shots on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a double bogey on the 18th hole when she flubbed a pitch that came back down to her feet .
That dropped her to a 70 .
Brittany Lincicome , a two-time ANA Inspiration winner , suffered the same fate .
She was bogey-free when she missed the green to the left on No .
18 at Jackrabbit .
Her pitch was weak and back down the slope , and her next pitch was too strong .
She made double bogey and shot 70 .
“ The U.S. Open you can just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then make a double within like two seconds , ” Lincicome said .
“ Super bummed to finish that way .
… Under par at the U.S. Open is really good , so can ’ t complain , but obviously that last hole is going to hurt .
”

HOUSTON (AP) - Winning once felt easy to Amy Olson.
She captured the U.S. Junior Girls her second time playing the tournament, won a record 20 times while at North Dakota State and went 4-1 in her lone Curtis Cup appearance.
In seven years on the LPGA Tour, however, she’s still looking for that first title.
“Coming out here, I expected to win really early. It always kind of came easy to me in college,” Olson said. “It’s not easy to win out here. You have to put four really good days together.”
She got one out of the way Thursday in the U.S. Women’s Open.
Olson got back to under par with one swing, an 8-iron for a hole-in-one on her seventh hole, the 16th at Cypress Creek, and kept right on going until she had a 4-under 67 and a one-shot lead at Champions Golf Club.
She also had the 18-hole lead at Royal Troon in the Women’s British Open before following that with an 81. Olson was one hole away from winning the Evian Championship two years ago until a double bogey on the final hole.
“It has been, I think, a test of my patience,” Olson said.
And even on a perfect day for scoring, it was clear this Women’s Open would be a stern test.
Olson was among only 11 players who broke 70 on the Cypress Creek and Jackrabbit courses. For the first time, two courses are being used for the opening rounds because of the limited daylight by postponing the premier event in women’s golf to December.
Out of 156 players, only 36 were at par or better.
“We had absolutely perfect weather today and 4 under is leading,” Champions member Stacy Lewis said after a 72. “I don’t think scores are going anywhere.”
Moriya Jutanugarn managed to keep bogeys off her card on the Jackrabbit course for a 68, leaving her tied with former Women’s British Open champion Hinako Shibuno (Cypress Creek) and A Lim Kim (Jackrabbit).
Sophia Popov was among the group at 69. She figured it would be a long shot to be in the U.S. Women’s Open this year when the USGA had to scrap qualifying because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And then when golf resumed, Popov earned a spot in the Women’s British Open and won at Royal Troon.
And now she’s already in the mix at the U.S. Women’s Open, along with so many others. Asked if she had come down from the cloud of her surprise major victory, Popov smiled and said, “Am I down yet?”
“I’m trying not to come down off of it. I quite like it,” she said. “But yeah, I think it took me a couple weeks, but after that it was back to reality. You’ve got to grind, you’ve got to practice, you’ve got to do everything the same way you did before, just now you have a lot more events to play and better events to play.”
None of the top five in the world ranking broke par. Jin Young Ko opened with a 73, while Sei Young Kim had a 72 in what could be a battle for No. 1 this week. Nelly Korda, playing for the first time in two months because of back pain, had only one birdie in her round of 73. Danielle Kang didn’t make any birdies and shot 72.
The starting times for the second round were moved up a little more than an hour because or rain and wind in the forecast, which figures to make the courses even tougher.
For one round, the Jackrabbit course was a bout a stroke easier. Cypress Creek will be used on the weekend.
Most enjoyable for Olson was watching her 8-iron in flight on the par-3 16h hole and tracking it all the way into the hole, her second ace in competition on the LPGA Tour. She had a big crew of family and friends from North Dakota for her previous hole-in-one. She had only a few marshals, two other players and caddies, and a few people from a backyard to provide the cheers on Thursday.
“I had 141 to the flag and the pin was on the right side of the green with the wind kind of coming from from the right,” she said. “So I hit a fade to try to hold the wind, and it landed two paces short of the flag, had some good spin on it and just trickled in. We saw the whole thing, which was fun.”
Megan Khang was the only player to reach 5 under on the day until dropping a few shots on the back nine at Jackrabbit and finishing with a double bogey on the 18th hole when she flubbed a pitch that came back down to her feet. That dropped her to a 70.
Brittany Lincicome, a two-time ANA Inspiration winner, suffered the same fate. She was bogey-free when she missed the green to the left on No. 18 at Jackrabbit. Her pitch was weak and back down the slope, and her next pitch was too strong. She made double bogey and shot 70.
“The U.S. Open you can just lose your concentration for two seconds and then make a double within like two seconds,” Lincicome said. “Super bummed to finish that way. … Under par at the U.S. Open is really good, so can’t complain, but obviously that last hole is going to hurt.”


washingtontimes--2020-12-10--Judge upholds firing of officer who lied in McDonald case

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A Cook County judge on Thursday upheld the firing of a Chicago police officer for his role in the alleged cover-up of police actions in the 2014 murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald .
Judge Sophia Hall ruled the Chicago Police Board made a sound decision in dismissing Officer Ricardo Viramontes last year for making statements inconsistent with the dashcam video of Officer Jason Van Dyke ’ s shooting of the teen .
Attorney Tom Needham says Viramontes is disappointed by the ruling .
“ One of the things that ’ s disheartening about this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all the officers involved in this , it seems like the higher you were in rank the less likely it was that you ’ d suffer some severe sanctions , ” Needham said .
“ The people who paid with their careers were the lowest ranking people .
Something about that just seems unfair.
” Viramontes is accused of making false statements to the lead detective on the scene of McDonald ’ s shooting and during his disciplinary hearing before the police board in April 2019 .
As documented in the detective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned toward Van Dyke and Officer Joseph Walsh before Van Dyke shot and killed the teenager .
Last month judges upheld the firings of Sgt .
Stephen Franko and Officer Daphne Sebastian .
A fourth officer , Janet Mondragon , is awaiting a judge ’ s decision in an appeal of her dismissal .
The police board fired the officers after determining they exaggerated the threat posed by McDonald in order to justify Van Dyke ’ s actions , and determined they approved or filed false or misleading police reports .
Three other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partner , were arrested on criminal conspiracy charges , but a judge later dismissed the charges against all of them .
Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a six-year sentence .

CHICAGO (AP) - A Cook County judge on Thursday upheld the firing of a Chicago police officer for his role in the alleged cover-up of police actions in the 2014 murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
Judge Sophia Hall ruled the Chicago Police Board made a sound decision in dismissing Officer Ricardo Viramontes last year for making statements inconsistent with the dashcam video of Officer Jason Van Dyke’s shooting of the teen.
Attorney Tom Needham says Viramontes is disappointed by the ruling.
“One of the things that’s disheartening about this case is that the sanctions that were imposed on all the officers involved in this, it seems like the higher you were in rank the less likely it was that you’d suffer some severe sanctions,” Needham said. “The people who paid with their careers were the lowest ranking people. Something about that just seems unfair.”
Viramontes is accused of making false statements to the lead detective on the scene of McDonald’s shooting and during his disciplinary hearing before the police board in April 2019. As documented in the detective’s reports, Viramontes said McDonald turned toward Van Dyke and Officer Joseph Walsh before Van Dyke shot and killed the teenager.
Last month judges upheld the firings of Sgt. Stephen Franko and Officer Daphne Sebastian. A fourth officer, Janet Mondragon, is awaiting a judge’s decision in an appeal of her dismissal.
The police board fired the officers after determining they exaggerated the threat posed by McDonald in order to justify Van Dyke’s actions, and determined they approved or filed false or misleading police reports.
Three other officers, including Van Dyke’s partner, were arrested on criminal conspiracy charges, but a judge later dismissed the charges against all of them.
Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a six-year sentence.