washingtontimes--2020-06-02--National Guard patrols torn California streets amid unrest

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - More than 2,400 California National Guard soldiers toting automatic military assault rifles are on the streets and authorities say that has allowed police officers to crack down on the rampant vandalism and thievery that scarred the first several days of demonstrations .
While the vast majority of protesters are peaceful , there have been violent clashes with police in Los Angeles , Sacramento , the San Francisco Bay Area and other cities .
Following a weekend that saw hundreds of businesses damaged , Sacramento received 500 Guard members on Monday , instituted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The National Guard are not playing a proactive law enforcement role , ” said Officer Karl Chan , a spokesman for Sacramento police .
“ They are guarding , and we ’ re using them to guard critical infrastructure to free up our officers to respond to incidents of a critical nature - vandalism , looting , things like that.
” It was much the same in Los Angeles , where soldiers have been deployed since early Sunday after the city ’ s 10,000 officers found themselves unable to stop vandals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
Police vehicles were burned and windows on businesses smashed and the goods inside pillaged .
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore on Monday described his officers as fighting a largely defensive action until the Guard arrived .
Officers at times were pelted with rocks and other objects and the focus became dispersing the crowd rather than going after the perpetrators and allowing the vast majority of demonstrators who were peaceful to continue marching .
Police were largely , and often futilely , attempting to protect businesses , he said , until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty .
That , for instance , allowed officers to stop a Foot Locker from being robbed a second time , Moore said .
“ We captured and arrested those people .
In the absence of the National Guard , we would not have been able to be there , ” he said .
Guard soldiers can not make arrests , but can detain suspects until law enforcement arrives .
The use of Guard troops remains controversial , with Black Los Angeles Young Democrats among those calling Tuesday for their removal from city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that additional law enforcement will only further violence against people of color , ” the group said in a statement .
Gov .
Gavin Newsom said as many as 4,500 soldiers were being deployed statewide , but as of Tuesday his administration said there were 2,430 on duty .
They included 1,300 in Los Angeles and the surrounding county , 100 of whom were in the city of Long Beach , which saw significant damage to businesses at a waterfront outlet mall on Sunday .
Another 500 were assigned to aid the California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each assigned to El Dorado County , and to the city of San Leandro in Alameda County .
Another 500 were assigned to aid the California Highway Patrol .
The Guard deferred questions to the state Office of Emergency Services , where spokesman Brian Ferguson said soldiers ’ duties include providing logistics , aircraft , security and protecting critical infrastructure in coordination with local law enforcement .
The National Lawyers Guild ’ s Sacramento chapter regularly sends green-hatted observers to monitor actions protesters and police .
President Elizabeth Kim said the Guard members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is setting back some folks.
” However , she said that didn ’ t stop protesters from leading a peaceful march .
Afterward , the combination of the soldiers and the curfew freed police to focus on curfew violators , she said , including questioning her as she was escorting two journalists out of the area .
Chan said officers made about 50 arrests Monday , almost all for curfew violations meant to avoid a repeat of the weekend when small groups smashed their way into businesses late at night .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district attorney ’ s office , City Hall , Golden 1 Center and other downtown Sacramento hot spots .
Associated Press journalists John Antczak contributed to this story from Los Angeles and Julie Watson from San Diego .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - More than 2,400 California National Guard soldiers toting military assault rifles are on the streets and authorities say that has allowed police officers to crack down on the rampant vandalism and thievery that scarred the first several days of demonstrations.
While the vast majority of protesters are peaceful, there have been violent clashes with police in Los Angeles, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and other cities.
Following a weekend that saw hundreds of businesses damaged, Sacramento received 500 Guard members on Monday, instituted a curfew and had a much calmer night.
“The National Guard are not playing a proactive law enforcement role,” said Officer Karl Chan, a spokesman for Sacramento police. “They are guarding, and we’re using them to guard critical infrastructure to free up our officers to respond to incidents of a critical nature - vandalism, looting, things like that.”
It was much the same in Los Angeles, where soldiers have been deployed since early Sunday after the city’s 10,000 officers found themselves unable to stop vandals and thieves from targeting officers and ravaging businesses. Police vehicles were burned and windows on businesses smashed and the goods inside pillaged.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore on Monday described his officers as fighting a largely defensive action until the Guard arrived. Officers at times were pelted with rocks and other objects and the focus became dispersing the crowd rather than going after the perpetrators and allowing the vast majority of demonstrators who were peaceful to continue marching.
Police were largely, and often futilely, attempting to protect businesses, he said, until they staged hundreds of soldiers for that duty. That, for instance, allowed officers to stop a Foot Locker from being robbed a second time, Moore said.
“We captured and arrested those people. In the absence of the National Guard, we would not have been able to be there,” he said.
Guard soldiers cannot make arrests, but can detain suspects until law enforcement arrives. While their weapons are capable of fully automatic firing like a machine gun, Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Shiroma said they are trained to fire one bullet at a time during civilian response operations, and then only in self-defense or the defense of others.
More than 2,000 Guard members had already been activated to help with the coronavirus pandemic, Shiroma said, but they are being moved to help law enforcement and replaced by members of the California State Guard force, a volunteer auxiliary.
The use of Guard troops remains controversial, with Black Los Angeles Young Democrats among those calling Tuesday for their removal from city streets.
“It’s clear that additional law enforcement will only further violence against people of color,” the group said in a statement.
It was the first large-scale used of National Guard troops since 1992 rioting over the acquittal of four police officers in the beating of motorist Rodney King. Looting and burning destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, especially in Koreatown and southern Los Angeles areas that were home to large minority communities. Thousands of National Guard members, aided by Army troops and Marines, were brought in to quell the violence.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Tuesday that the Guard was deployed this time to places where buildings were broken into or were threatened.
“One place I said they would not go to is South Los Angeles,” Garcetti said at a briefing. “I think that was a wrong move. We haven’t seen any looting going on there. There is no need. The wrong mistake would have been to say … let’s go to places where people are black and brown because that’s where it’s going to happen.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom said as many as 4,500 soldiers were being deployed statewide, but as of Tuesday his administration said there were 2,430 on duty.
They included 1,300 in Los Angeles and the surrounding county, 100 of whom were in the city of Long Beach, which saw significant damage to businesses at a waterfront outlet mall on Sunday. Another 500 were assigned to aid the California Highway Patrol.
There also were 50 each assigned to El Dorado County, and to the city of San Leandro in Alameda County. Another 500 were assigned to aid the California Highway Patrol.
The Guard deferred questions to the state Office of Emergency Services, where spokesman Brian Ferguson said soldiers’ duties include providing logistics, aircraft, security and protecting critical infrastructure in coordination with local law enforcement.
The National Lawyers Guild’s Sacramento chapter regularly sends green-hatted observers to monitor actions protesters and police. President Elizabeth Kim said the Guard members are “projecting a level of intimidation that is setting back some folks.”
However, she said that didn’t stop protesters from leading a peaceful march. Afterward, the combination of the soldiers and the curfew freed police to focus on curfew violators, she said, including questioning her as she was escorting two journalists out of the area.
Chan said officers made about 50 arrests Monday, almost all for curfew violations meant to avoid a repeat of the weekend when small groups smashed their way into businesses late at night. The Guard stood watch over courthouses, the district attorney’s office, City Hall, Golden 1 Center and other downtown Sacramento hot spots.
____
Associated Press journalists John Antczak contributed to this story from Los Angeles and Julie Watson from San Diego.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Prosecutors oppose mistrial in Robert Durst murder case

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Los Angeles prosecutors are opposing Robert Durst ’ s push for a mistrial , saying Tuesday that the wealthy real estate heir is using the coronavirus pandemic to further delay and distract from the case accusing him of killing his best friend .
After just two days of testimony , the 77-year-old Durst ’ s long-awaited trial was brought to a halt in March because of court closures tied to the virus .
His lawyers argued in April that he can not get a fair trial with the monthslong delay because jurors may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already presented .
In their motion , prosecutors say the Durst ’ s move is “ simply his latest effort to restart a trial for tactical and strategic considerations independent of the pandemic.
” It argues that Durst ’ s team failed to show that the delay will bring irreparable damage to his defense , which the California Supreme Court has said is necessary to declare a mistrial .
Prosecutors say jurors , who were selected for their ability to serve on a long and complicated trial without excessive hardship , will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion concedes that while the long break is “ ‘ unprecedented ’ in the annals of jurisprudence , so is the COVID-19 pandemic which caused it.
” Superior Court Judge Mark Windham is scheduled to consider the mistrial motion June 23 .
The trial , which was being held in a tightly packed courtroom in LA , is tentatively scheduled to resume July 27 at a roomier courthouse in the nearby city of Inglewood to allow for greater social distancing .
Durst , scion of one of New York ’ s wealthiest real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his best friend , Susan Berman , in her home in Beverly Hills in December 2000 .
Prosecutors argued in opening statements that Durst shot Berman because she knew Durst had killed his wife , who disappeared in 1982 .
Durst has never been charged in his wife ’ s killing and has denied having any role in either death .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles prosecutors are opposing Robert Durst’s push for a mistrial, saying Tuesday that the wealthy real estate heir is using the coronavirus pandemic to further delay and distract from the case accusing him of killing his best friend.
After just two days of testimony, the 77-year-old Durst’s long-awaited trial was brought to a halt in March because of court closures tied to the virus. His lawyers argued in April that he cannot get a fair trial with the monthslong delay because jurors may not be able to accurately recall the evidence already presented.
In their motion, prosecutors say the Durst’s move is “simply his latest effort to restart a trial for tactical and strategic considerations independent of the pandemic.”
It argues that Durst’s team failed to show that the delay will bring irreparable damage to his defense, which the California Supreme Court has said is necessary to declare a mistrial.
Prosecutors say jurors, who were selected for their ability to serve on a long and complicated trial without excessive hardship, will be capable of resuming their duties.
The motion concedes that while the long break is “‘unprecedented’ in the annals of jurisprudence, so is the COVID-19 pandemic which caused it.”
Superior Court Judge Mark Windham is scheduled to consider the mistrial motion June 23.
The trial, which was being held in a tightly packed courtroom in LA, is tentatively scheduled to resume July 27 at a roomier courthouse in the nearby city of Inglewood to allow for greater social distancing.
Durst, scion of one of New York’s wealthiest real estate dynasties, is charged with killing his best friend, Susan Berman, in her home in Beverly Hills in December 2000.
Prosecutors argued in opening statements that Durst shot Berman because she knew Durst had killed his wife, who disappeared in 1982.
Durst has never been charged in his wife’s killing and has denied having any role in either death.
___
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Helicopter crashes onto Northern California hillside

FAIRFIELD , Calif. ( AP ) - A helicopter contracted by Pacific Gas & Electric struck one of the utility ’ s power lines and crashed into a Northern California hillside on Tuesday , igniting a grass fire and knocking out electricity to about 38,000 customers , officials said .
There was no immediate word how many people were aboard the Bell 206 helicopter , or what their conditions are .
The crash was reported around 1:30 p.m. along Interstate 80 , midway between the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville .
The aircraft was a third party helicopter contracted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman Brandi Merlo .
She didn ’ t say what kind of work the crew was doing .
The helicopter came into contact with a transmission line before the crash , Merlo said .
The helicopter caught fire after crashing , said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor .
A fire truck responding to the blaze rolled over , sending three firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries , said CalFire spokesman Will Powers .
He said the fire burned about 7 acres .
Some 38,000 PG & E ; customers lost power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be restored , Merlo said .
The FAA and National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash , Gregor said .

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (AP) - Three people were killed when a helicopter contracted by Pacific Gas & Electric struck one of the utility’s power lines and crashed into a Northern California hillside on Tuesday, igniting a grass fire and knocking out electricity to thousands of customers, officials said.
The crash of the Bell 206 helicopter was reported around 1:30 p.m. along Interstate 80, midway between the cities of Fairfield and Vacaville.
The aircraft was a third party helicopter contracted by PG&E, said utility spokeswoman Brandi Merlo. She didn’t say what kind of work the crew was doing.
The helicopter came into contact with a transmission line before the crash, Merlo said.
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office said three people aboard were killed, KCRA-TV reported. They weren’t immediately identified.
The helicopter caught fire after crashing, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.
A fire truck responding to the blaze rolled over, sending three firefighters to the hospital with minor injuries, said CalFire spokesman Will Powers. He said the fire burned about 7 acres.
Some 38,000 PG&E customers lost power and there was no estimate for when it would be restored, Merlo said.
The FAA and National Transportation and Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, Gregor said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Mick Mulvaney: St. John's Episcopal Church visit was 'a very Trump kind of move'

Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on Wednesday said President Trump ’ s dramatic trek to St. John ’ s Episcopal Church on Monday was a typical Trumpian move and said people still waiting for the president to change or moderate his behavior are likely kidding themselves .
“ That ’ s a very Trump kind of move , ” Mr. Mulvaney said on CNBC .
“ He wanted , I think , to send a message that if we wanted to take back the streets , if we wanted to end the riots … we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do we have the will to do that is another question , ” he said .
“ But I think that the message he was trying to convey there … allowing the president to be the president is one of the things that a chief of staff is charged with.
” “ He ’ s in his mid-70s — he ’ s extraordinarily successful doing what he ’ s been doing .
He ’ s not going to change , ” Mr. Mulvaney said of the president .
Mr. Trump made the dramatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John ’ s Episcopal Church , which was vandalized during protests over the weekend , after law enforcement officials had cleared the nearby area just before the president delivered a Rose Garden speech on the unrest following last week ’ s killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
The U.S Park Police issued a statement on Tuesday saying that officials used “ smoke canisters and pepper balls , ” not tear gas , to disperse “ violent protesters ” who had been throwing projectiles .
Citing two administration officials , The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Staff Mark Meadows , Mr. Mulvaney ’ s replacement , credited presidential daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump for the plan during a staff meeting on Tuesday .

Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on Wednesday said President Trump’s dramatic trek to St. John’s Episcopal Church on Monday was a typical Trumpian move and said people still waiting for the president to change or moderate his behavior are likely kidding themselves.
“That’s a very Trump kind of move,” Mr. Mulvaney said on CNBC. “He wanted, I think, to send a message that if we wanted to take back the streets, if we wanted to end the riots … we have the ability to do that.”
“Do we have the will to do that is another question,” he said. “But I think that the message he was trying to convey there … allowing the president to be the president is one of the things that a chief of staff is charged with.”
“He’s in his mid-70s — he’s extraordinarily successful doing what he’s been doing. He’s not going to change,” Mr. Mulvaney said of the president.
Mr. Trump made the dramatic walk from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church, which was vandalized during protests over the weekend, after law enforcement officials had cleared the nearby area just before the president delivered a Rose Garden speech on the unrest following last week’s killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The U.S Park Police issued a statement on Tuesday saying that officials used “smoke canisters and pepper balls,” not tear gas, to disperse “violent protesters” who had been throwing projectiles.
Citing two administration officials, The New York Times reported that current White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Mr. Mulvaney’s replacement, credited presidential daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump for the plan to have Mr. Trump walk to the church during a staff meeting on Tuesday.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--3 Hattiesburg employees on leave after social media posts

HATTIESBURG , Miss .
( AP ) - Three Hattiesburg Fire Department employees are on administrative leave after being accused @ @ @ @ @ social media , city officials said .
The posts were shared on the employees ’ @ @ @ @ @ Hattiesburg spokeswoman Samantha McCain said .
Details of the posts and identities of the employees @ @ @ @ @ , The Hattiesburg American reported .
Other information can ’ t be released because it @ @ @ @ @ McCain said .

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Three Hattiesburg Fire Department employees are on administrative leave after being accused of making inappropriate posts on social media, city officials said.
The posts were shared on the employees’ personal social media accounts, Hattiesburg spokeswoman Samantha McCain said.
Details of the posts and identities of the employees have not been made public, The Hattiesburg American reported. Other information can’t be released because it is a personnel issue, McCain said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Maryland officers suspended amid use of force investigation

UPPER MARLBORO , Md .
( AP ) - Three Maryland police officers were suspended Tuesday after video emerged of an officer throwing a suspect to the ground and kicking him multiple times during an arrest .
The Prince George ’ s County police officer had witnessed an assault and was detaining a suspect at a gas station Monday night , the department said in a statement .
Video taken by a witness at the scene showed the officer grab the suspect as he rose from his knees .
The officer was then captured throwing the man to the ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car , exited and began to assist in handcuffing the suspect .
The first officer then kicked the suspect two times while he lay face down on the ground , according to the video , which was released by Chief Hank Stawinski .
An additional suspect had already been handcuffed , officials said .
The two men were released when the victim in the alleged assault could not be found , according to the statement .
The two officers captured in the video and their immediate supervisor were suspended pending the outcome of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he shared the video “ in the interest of transparency ” and pledged the use of force would be “ thoroughly investigated.
” “ I am sorry and I am angry , ” he added .
The police officers were not immediately identified .

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) - Three Maryland police officers were suspended Tuesday after video emerged of an officer throwing a suspect to the ground and kicking him multiple times during an arrest.
The Prince George’s County police officer had witnessed an assault and was detaining a suspect at a gas station Monday night, the department said in a statement.
Video taken by a witness at the scene showed the officer grab the suspect as he rose from his knees. The officer was then captured throwing the man to the ground before another officer arrived in a patrol car, exited and began to assist in handcuffing the suspect. The first officer then kicked the suspect two times while he lay face down on the ground, according to the video, which was released by Chief Hank Stawinski.
An additional suspect had already been handcuffed, officials said. The two men were released when the victim in the alleged assault could not be found, according to the statement.
The two officers captured in the video and their immediate supervisor were suspended pending the outcome of the internal affairs investigation.
Stawinski said he shared the video “in the interest of transparency” and pledged the use of force would be “thoroughly investigated.”
“I am sorry and I am angry,” he added.
The police officers were not immediately identified.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Tornado, large hail in west-central, southern Minnesota

MANKATO , Minn. ( AP ) - At least one tornado moved through west-central and southern Minnesota , but there @ @ @ @ @ or widespread damage , according to the National Weather Service .
The tornado was reported @ @ @ @ @ p.m. Tuesday .
The weather service issued a tornado warning for communities south of Mankato @ @ @ @ @ branches were down near Pemberton and a large tree blocked a road in New Richland @ @ @ @ @ golf ball-sized hail in Waldorf in Waseca County and quarter-sized hail in Lake Crystal in @ @ @ @ @ the Twin Cities metro area , Cottage Grove firefighters responded to a report of a @ @ @ @ @ No injuries were reported .

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - At least one tornado moved through west-central and southern Minnesota, but there are no reports of injuries or widespread damage, according to the National Weather Service.
The tornado was reported near Garden City about 5 p.m. Tuesday. The weather service issued a tornado warning for communities south of Mankato and Owatonna.
Large tree branches were down near Pemberton and a large tree blocked a road in New Richland. The storm system produced golf ball-sized hail in Waldorf in Waseca County and quarter-sized hail in Lake Crystal in Blue Earth County.
In the Twin Cities metro area, Cottage Grove firefighters responded to a report of a house hit by lightning. No injuries were reported. In central Minnesota, authorities say a lightning strike apparently caused a house fire near Avon on Tuesday afternoon. No one was hurt.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Mississippi prosecutor suggests virus should spread in riots

DANIELSVILLE , Miss .
( AP ) - A county prosecutor in Mississippi has come under fire , and a community college band director in the state has resigned , due to comments they made on social media about national protests over the death of George Floyd .
Madison County Prosecutor Pamela Hancock has since deleted a Facebook comment made over the weekend that said “ we can only hope the deadly strain ” of the coronavirus “ spreads in riots , ” news outlets reported .
Her post drew criticism , including by Monique Harrison Henderson , a commentator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words matter since she “ makes decisions about which black people to prosecute , ” the Clarion Ledger reported .
“ People shouldn ’ t wish death on anyone , ” Henderson said .
The second-term prosecutor defended herself in an interview with Mississippi Today saying she was “ really just making light of it ” and was “ not serious about wanting anyone to die.
” Hancock told the news outlet she has “ nothing against people peacefully protesting , ” adding that she is “ against any breach of peace or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Community College Band Director Reuben McDowell resigned from his job after receiving backlash over a Facebook post where he said police should “ start shootin a few ” protesters in San Diego “ and the rest will scatter , ” WLOX-TV reported .
He added that law enforcement should use “ overwhelming force ” and “ make some examples.
” Dr. Adam Breerwood , the president of the college , said in a statement that McDowell ’ s comments “ do not reflect the values ” of the school , and the college @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence , hate or racism .
”

DANIELSVILLE, Miss. (AP) - A county prosecutor in Mississippi has come under fire, and a community college band director in the state has resigned, due to comments they made on social media about national protests over the death of George Floyd.
Madison County Prosecutor Pamela Hancock has since deleted a Facebook comment made over the weekend that said “we can only hope the deadly strain” of the coronavirus “spreads in riots,” news outlets reported.
Her post drew criticism, including by Monique Harrison Henderson, a commentator on Facebook who said Hancock’s words matter since she “makes decisions about which black people to prosecute,” the Clarion Ledger reported. “People shouldn’t wish death on anyone,” Henderson said.
The second-term prosecutor defended herself in an interview with Mississippi Today saying she was “really just making light of it” and was “not serious about wanting anyone to die.” Hancock told the news outlet she has “nothing against people peacefully protesting,” adding that she is “against any breach of peace or criminal activity.”
Meanwhile, Pearl River Community College Band Director Reuben McDowell resigned from his job after receiving backlash over a Facebook post where he said police should “start shootin a few” protesters in San Diego “and the rest will scatter,” WLOX-TV reported. He added that law enforcement should use “overwhelming force” and “make some examples.”
Dr. Adam Breerwood, the president of the college, said in a statement that McDowell’s comments “do not reflect the values” of the school, and the college “does not tolerate the promotion of violence, hate or racism.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Fatal shooting of Pennsylvania woman in NJ ruled a homicide

EWING , N.J. ( AP ) - The fatal shooting of a Pennsylvania woman inside her boyfriend ’ s New Jersey home this week has been ruled a homicide , authorities said .
Ashley Davis , 32 , of Levittown , had “ visible wounds ” on her body when she was found around 6:30 p.m. Monday in the basement of a Ewing home , according to the Mercer County Prosecutor ’ s Office .
Police also found drugs at the scene , along with two long BB guns and a short BB gun .
An autopsy determined Davis was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that struck internal organs and caused massive internal bleeding , authorities said .
No other injuries were reported in the shooting , but further details on the incident have not been disclosed .
Davis ’ boyfriend , Aaron Adams , 38 , who lives at the home where the body was found , was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon .
Authorities say the investigation into Davis ‘ death is ongoing , and more charges could be filed in the case .
It wasn ’ t known Wednesday if @ @ @ @ @ @

EWING, N.J. (AP) - The fatal shooting of a Pennsylvania woman inside her boyfriend’s New Jersey home this week has been ruled a homicide, authorities said.
Ashley Davis, 32, of Levittown, had “visible wounds” on her body when she was found around 6:30 p.m. Monday in the basement of a Ewing home, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Police also found drugs at the scene, along with two long BB guns and a short BB gun.
An autopsy determined Davis was killed by a metal air gun pellet that struck internal organs and caused massive internal bleeding, authorities said. No other injuries were reported in the shooting, but further details on the incident have not been disclosed.
Davis’ boyfriend, Aaron Adams, 38, who lives at the home where the body was found, was charged with being a felon in possession of a weapon. Authorities say the investigation into Davis’ death is ongoing, and more charges could be filed in the case.
It wasn’t known Wednesday if Adams has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--NYPD's Terence Monahan: Andrew Cuomo called commissioner to apologize for comments about police

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan on Wednesday said New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo called Commissioner Dermot Shea to apologize after the governor said city police failed to do its job during a chaotic Monday night in the city .
“ Don ’ t ever call them ineffective , ” Chief Monahan said on NBC ’ s “ Today ” program .
He said Mr. Cuomo ’ s office reached out to apologize to him on Tuesday evening and that the governor called Commissioner Shea directly to apologize .
“ That ’ s not what he meant — that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police officers , ” Chief Monahan said .
“ I ’ d hope he would come out publicly and say that again today.
” Chief Monahan said the earlier curfew on Tuesday helped the department , and that there are groups amid larger protests “ looking for nothing but trouble.
” “ We ’ ve made a lot of arrests of people outside the New York area , ” he said .
“ We ’ ve gotten intel from people that various different groups of anarchists have been out trying to push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the movement … and just to attack police officers.
” On Tuesday , Mr. Cuomo had said the NYPD and Mayor Bill de Blasio did not do their job on Monday , which saw rampant looting and hundreds of arrests during another night of protests following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
The commissioner had said on Tuesday that the governor ’ s comments were disgraceful .
Chief Monahan did not say whether Mr. Cuomo offered a similar apology to Mr. de Blasio .

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan on Wednesday said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called Commissioner Dermot Shea to apologize after the governor said city police failed to do its job during a chaotic Monday night in the city.
“Don’t ever call them ineffective,” Chief Monahan said on NBC’s “Today” program.
He said Mr. Cuomo’s office reached out to apologize to him on Tuesday evening and that the governor called Commissioner Shea directly to apologize.
“That’s not what he meant — that he did not mean to put down the police officers,” Chief Monahan said. “I’d hope he would come out publicly and say that again today.”
Chief Monahan said the earlier curfew on Tuesday helped the department, and that there are groups amid larger protests “looking for nothing but trouble.”
“We’ve made a lot of arrests of people outside the New York area,” he said. “We’ve gotten intel from people that various different groups of anarchists have been out trying to push their agenda out there, to hijack the movement … and just to attack police officers.”
On Tuesday, Mr. Cuomo had said the NYPD and Mayor Bill de Blasio did not do their job on Monday, which saw rampant looting and hundreds of arrests during another night of protests following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
The commissioner had said on Tuesday that the governor’s comments were disgraceful.
Chief Monahan did not say whether Mr. Cuomo offered a similar apology to Mr. de Blasio.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Detectives still looking for parents of baby found in ocean

BOYNTON BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - Two years after the body of an infant was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean , investigators are still working to solve the case .
The Palm Beach County Sheriff ’ s Office is asking the public , once again , for help in identifying the baby , known as “ Baby June ” because her body was found on June 1 , 2018 .
Off-duty Boynton Beach firefighter Chris Lemieux was aboard a charter boat on the afternoon of June 1 , 2018 , when he saw the body and called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case a homicide and determined the baby was no more than 14 days old .
She had a needle prick on her heel and her umbilical cord had been cut .
That led detectives to believe she was born in a medical facility , the South Florida SunSentinel reported .
Investigators believe the baby was in the water for up to one day .
Authorities submitted the baby ’ s DNA into a genealogical database that has been continually searching for possible relatives .
Tests investigators to believe her parents may have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over time , the Palm Beach County Sheriff ’ s Office examined the birth records of more than 700 babies in Broward , Palm Beach , and Martin counties during the time period Baby June had likely been born .
They found no definitive leads .

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two years after the body of an infant was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean, investigators are still working to solve the case.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public, once again, for help in identifying the baby, known as “Baby June” because her body was found on June 1, 2018.
Off-duty Boynton Beach firefighter Chris Lemieux was aboard a charter boat on the afternoon of June 1, 2018, when he saw the body and called authorities.
A medical examiner ruled the case a homicide and determined the baby was no more than 14 days old. She had a needle prick on her heel and her umbilical cord had been cut. That led detectives to believe she was born in a medical facility, the South Florida SunSentinel reported.
Investigators believe the baby was in the water for up to one day.
Authorities submitted the baby’s DNA into a genealogical database that has been continually searching for possible relatives. Tests investigators to believe her parents may have been from the Caribbean, the newspaper reported.
Over time, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office examined the birth records of more than 700 babies in Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties during the time period Baby June had likely been born. They found no definitive leads.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Germany seeks 5-fold increase in offshore wind power by 2040

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German government wants to increase offshore wind power capacity five-fold by 2040 as part of its plan to wean the country off fossil fuels .
The Cabinet on Wednesday agreed on a bill that would set a goal of 40 Gigawatts of installed offshore wind power capacity in 20 years , from about 7.5 Gigawatts at present .
It also raised the target for 2030 from 15 Gigawatts to 20 .
Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the new offshore wind target for 2030 would help Germany achieve its goal of meeting 65 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a decade .
The longer-term target would provide businesses and coastal regions with planning certainty , he added .
Germany ’ s offshore wind generation is dwarfed by the number of turbines installed on land , which already have a combined capacity of 54 Gigawatts .
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she supports the goal of making Europe ‘ climate neutral ’ by 2050 to curb global warming .
This ambitious target will require the world ’ s biggest economic bloc to phase out the use of fossil fuels .
Because renewable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluctuates depending on the weather , one proposal is to use excess electricity to produce hydrogen that can be easily stored , transported and burned without releasing greenhouse gases .

BERLIN (AP) - The German government wants to increase offshore wind power capacity five-fold by 2040 as part of its plan to wean the country off fossil fuels.
The Cabinet on Wednesday agreed on a bill that would set a goal of 40 Gigawatts of installed offshore wind power capacity in 20 years, from about 7.5 Gigawatts at present. It also raised the target for 2030 from 15 Gigawatts to 20.
Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said the new offshore wind target for 2030 would help Germany achieve its goal of meeting 65% of its gross electricity consumption with renewable energy in a decade. The longer-term target would provide businesses and coastal regions with planning certainty, he added.
Germany’s offshore wind generation is dwarfed by the number of turbines installed on land, which already have a combined capacity of 54 Gigawatts.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she supports the goal of making Europe ‘climate neutral’ by 2050 to curb global warming. This ambitious target will require the world’s biggest economic bloc to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
Because renewable energy generated by wind and solar plants fluctuates depending on the weather, one proposal is to use excess electricity to produce hydrogen that can be easily stored, transported and burned without releasing greenhouse gases.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Court to hear arguments on Dayton gunman's school records

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - The Ohio Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a @ @ @ @ @ groups seeking school records about the man who gunned down nine people in Dayton last @ @ @ @ @ , including The Associated Press , argue the student records could provide information on whether @ @ @ @ @ signs from slain gunman Connor Betts .
The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools district argues Betts ’ @ @ @ @ @ and federal privacy laws .
Ohio GOP Attorney General Dave Yost will argue they should @ @ @ @ @ killed by police 32 seconds after he opened fire Aug. 4 , 2019 , in @ @ @ @ @ District entertainment area .
Armed with an AR-15-style gun with an extended ammunition magazine , @ @ @ @ @ his sister , and injured dozens more .
The Supreme Court took the case after @ @ @ @ @ favor of the district and its denial of access to Betts ’ high school files @

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - State and federal laws governing the privacy of educational records should not prevent an Ohio school district from releasing records about the man who gunned down nine people in Dayton last August, at attorney representing several media groups told the Ohio Supreme Court Wednesday.
The groups, including The Associated Press, argue the student records could provide information on whether authorities properly handled early warning signs from slain gunman Connor Betts.
Nothing in the federal student privacy law protects the rights of a former student who dies as an adult, and neither does an Ohio law meant to align state legislation with that federal act, Erin Rhinehart, who represents the media, told the court in oral arguments conducted via video conferencing because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools district argues Betts’ records are protected by those state and federal privacy laws. But unless the district can show some kind of exception applies in this case, “they must supply the records,” Rhinehart said.
The U.S. Department of Education has interpreted the federal law to mean students’ privacy rights end if they die, as do legal interpretations in other states, she added. Those include opinions backing the release of student records posthumously by attorneys general in several states including Kentucky, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
A decision by the high court is not expected for weeks
Betts was killed by police half a minute after he opened fire Aug. 4 in Dayton’s crowded Oregon District entertainment area. Armed with an AR-15 style gun with an extended ammunition magazine, Betts still killed nine people, including his sister, and wounded dozens more.
This case is exactly why Ohio’s open records law exists, since it seeks critical government records, said Ben Flowers, an assistant Ohio attorney general arguing in favor of the records’ release alongside the media groups.
The records are important because “they may hold clues the public can use to educate itself and its legislators about the red flags raised by mass shooters and potentially to hold accountable local officials who failed to heed those warning signs,” Flowers said.
A lawyer representing the school district disagreed, saying that because the privacy laws don’t specifically deal with releasing records on a student’s death as an adult, the laws shouldn’t be interpreted as allowing the release of the records.
“When a statute is silent on an issue, this court should not find it to be ambiguous,” attorney Tabitha Justice told the court.
She likened the confidentiality provided by the laws in question to a federal law protecting health records, as well as attorney-client privilege. She also said the issue was better suited for state lawmakers than the Supreme Court.
Justice Pat Fischer asked the lawyer representing the media groups about the provision in Ohio law prohibiting the release of records “without the written consent of each student who’s 18 years of age or older.”
”Seems pretty clear,” he said.
That law should be followed in the same way the federal law already has, Rhinehart responded.
The federal law “has been consistently interpreted to find, with the exact same language, that upon death an adult student no longer has those rights and can no longer provide consent,” Rhinehart said.
After the shooting, high school classmates said Betts was suspended years ago for compiling a “hit list” of fellow students he wanted to harm. Two of the classmates said Betts had also been suspended after he came to school with a list of female students he wanted to sexually assault.
Police investigators said Betts had a “history of obsession with violent ideations with mass shootings and expressed a desire to commit a mass shooting.” The FBI said it uncovered evidence Betts “looked into violent ideologies.”
But authorities have also yet to identify a motive, or been able to say definitely whether Betts intended to kill his sister, Megan, or if her death was inadvertent.
The Ohio Supreme Court took the case after an appeals court ruled in favor of Bellbrook-Sugarcreek schools.
The appellate court ruled the media organizations hadn’t established a clear legal right to the records. The organizations also include the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Dayton Daily News, CNN, The New York Times, and WHIO-TV.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: Steve King's primary defeat is victory against white supremacy

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is celebrating Rep. Steve King ’ s loss in Iowa ’ s 4th Congressional District , saying @ @ @ @ @ the most high-profile “ white supremacist ” in Congress .
“ Goodbye , Rep. Steve @ @ @ @ @ said on Twitter .
“ You are certainly not the only white supremacist in federal @ @ @ @ @ among the most prominent.
” “ It ’ s a shame Republicans held you up @ @ @ @ @ , ” the New York Democrat said .
Mr. King lost his five-way GOP primary @ @ @ @ @ s 4th Congressional District to state Sen. Randy Feenstra .
Mr. King has served nine @ @ @ @ @ has become a lightning rod for controversy and a pariah in his own party .

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is celebrating Rep. Steve King’s loss in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, saying it knocks down one of the most high-profile “white supremacist” in Congress.
“Goodbye, Rep. Steve King,” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. “You are certainly not the only white supremacist in federal government, but you were among the most prominent.”
“It’s a shame Republicans held you up as long as they did,” the New York Democrat said.
Mr. King lost his five-way GOP primary contest Tuesday in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District to state Sen. Randy Feenstra.
Mr. King has served nine terms in Congress.
He has become a lightning rod for controversy and a pariah in his own party.
SEE ALSO: Steve King loses Iowa Republican primary to Randy Feenstra
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--US Legislatures slow to pass laws limiting use of force

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - A wave of police killings of young black men in 2014 prompted 24 states to quickly pass some type of law enforcement reform , but many declined to address the most glaring issue : police use of force .
Six years later , only about a third of states have passed laws on the question .
The issue is at the heart of nationwide protests set off by the May 25 death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed a knee into Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he pleaded for air .
Now , some lawmakers and governors are hoping to harness the renewed wave of anger to push through changes on the use of force they couldn ’ t manage after 2014 , a year that included the deaths at the hands of police of Michael Brown in Ferguson , Missouri , Eric Garner in New York and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland .
“ We ’ re absolutely at a point in time where we have to do more , ” said Maryland state Del .
Vanessa Atterbeary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working group announced this week that will take up use-of-force standards for that state .
Pushback from politically influential law enforcement unions prompted some states ’ use-of-force proposals to stall , while others have opted for voluntary programs to change policing practices .
In some states , lawmakers have even broadened the powers of police , such as increasing penalties for those who attack officers or , as in Tennessee and Utah , limiting the power of independent review boards that investigate police conduct .
As of August 2018 , at least 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures .
A handful of those directly restricted what police could do .
In Utah and Missouri , for example , force used by officers must be “ reasonable and necessary.
” Colorado has banned chokeholds , the maneuver used on Garner .
Other laws created task forces to set new standards , boosted training or improved tracking of officers ’ use of guns and deadly force .
In 2014 , Republican-led Wisconsin became the first state in the country to enact a law requiring outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - a law supported by the state ’ s largest police union .
This week , Democratic Gov .
Tony Evers asked the Legislature to go further and pass a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to minimize the use of force and prioritize preserving life .
In New Jersey , Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy and the attorney general said Tuesday they will update state guidelines governing police use of force for the first time in two decades .
Despite the sense in many places that this moment could produce real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have often resisted attempts to restrict officers ’ use of deadly force and are politically potent in most states .
Paige Fernandez , a policing policy adviser at the ACLU , said many unions “ have convinced themselves that police are unable to protect themselves if they value the bodily integrity and personal lives of the the people they are supposed to be serving.
” The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement acknowledging there is “ no doubt ” Floyd ’ s death has diminished public trust in police .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct , ” the organization said .
Since 2016 , groups representing police nationwide have contributed $ 1.3 million directly to candidates for governor and attorney general and given at least another $ 1 million for independent expenditures that advocate for or against candidates for all state-level offices , according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the National Institute on Money in Politics .
Much of that money has been spent in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state enacted a pair of laws last year .
One allows police to use lethal force only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious injury to officers or bystanders .
The second requires additional officer training .
The California debate was driven in part by the fatal 2018 shooting by Sacramento police of 22-year-old Stephon Clark , who was clutching a cellphone that officers said they mistook for a weapon .
The shooting in Ohio of Rice , whose toy Airsoft gun officers said they mistook for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
John Kasich creating the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board .
In 2015 , the board adopted statewide standards limiting use of deadly force by police officers to defending themselves or others from serious injury or death .
The state ’ s Republican-led Legislature opted against turning those recommendations into law , leaving police agencies to comply voluntarily .
Karhlton Moore , who leads the Ohio Department of Public Safety division that oversees the standards , said roughly three-quarters of Ohio residents now live in areas covered by police agencies that are either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certified as upholding the standards .
But Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes , a Democrat who is black , criticized Republican lawmakers this week for failing to enact laws recommended by Kasich ’ s task force , saying their actions “ show us time and time again that black lives do not matter.
” Ohio Democrats want immediate reforms addressing racism and inequality .
In Pennsylvania , a package of bills seeking to limit the justifications for the use of deadly force by police has stalled in the state ’ s Republican-controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t enough , said Democratic Rep. Summer Lee , a chief sponsor of the bills who represents East Pittsburgh .
Police around the nation have condemned the way Floyd was restrained .
Inherent racism must be dealt with as well , said Lee , who is black .
She said some lawmakers were paying lip service to the necessity of fighting racism - but weren ’ t taking action .
“ We have bills - we have tangible things the Legislature can do today , ” Lee said .
Associated Press writers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Catalini in Trenton , New Jersey ; Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville , Tennessee ; Marc Levy in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania ; David Lieb in Jefferson City , Missouri ; Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill , New Jersey ; Don Thompson in Sacramento , Calif. ; Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus ; Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City ; and Brian Witte in Annapolis , Maryland , contributed to this report .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -
A wave of police killings of young black men in 2014 prompted 24 states to quickly pass some type of law enforcement reform, but many declined to address the most glaring issue: police use of force. Six years later, only about a third of states have passed laws on the question.
The issue is at the heart of nationwide protests set off by the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer in Minneapolis pressed a knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes while he pleaded for air.
Now, some lawmakers and governors are hoping to harness the renewed wave of anger to push through changes on the use of force they couldn’t manage after 2014, a year that included the deaths at the hands of police of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, Eric Garner in New York and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
“We’re absolutely at a point in time where we have to do more,” said Maryland state Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, a Democrat who will chair a working group announced this week that will take up use-of-force standards for that state.
Pushback from politically influential law enforcement unions prompted some states’ use-of-force proposals to stall, while others have opted for voluntary programs to change policing practices. In some states, lawmakers have even broadened the powers of police, such as increasing penalties for those who attack officers or, as in Tennessee and Utah, limiting the power of independent review boards that investigate police conduct.
As of August 2018, at least 16 states had passed use-of-force laws, according to the nonpartisan National Conference of State Legislatures. A handful of those directly restricted what police could do. In Utah and Missouri, for example, force used by officers must be “reasonable and necessary.” Colorado has banned chokeholds, the maneuver used on Garner.
Other laws created task forces to set new standards, boosted training or improved tracking of officers’ use of guns and deadly force.
In 2014, Republican-led Wisconsin became the first state in the country to enact a law requiring outside investigations when people die in police custody - a law supported by the state’s largest police union.
This week, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers asked the Legislature, still controlled by Republicans, to go further and pass a bill that would require law enforcement agencies to minimize the use of force and prioritize preserving life. In New Jersey, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and the attorney general said they will update state guidelines governing police use of force for the first time in two decades.
Democratic lawmakers in at least two states - Arizona and Oregon - said this week they want to reform their states’ use-of-force policies in upcoming legislative sessions. A legislative caucus in Oregon representing people of color has asked for a bipartisan effort to recommend changes that can be included in legislation next year.
“The issue is simply two words: accountability and trust,” state Sen. Lew Frederick, a Democrat from Portland, said in the group’s statement. “Both are broken. It will take a major effort to establish them in our society.”
In Colorado, Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that, among other things, would require departments to compile civilian demographic data in use-of-force cases and allow citizens to file lawsuits against police officers for misconduct. Colorado law currently grants them immunity.
Despite the sense in many places that this moment could produce real change, challenges remain.
Police unions have often resisted attempts to restrict officers’ use of deadly force and are politically potent in most states.
Paige Fernandez, a policing policy adviser at the ACLU, said many unions “have convinced themselves that police are unable to protect themselves if they value the bodily integrity and personal lives of the the people they are supposed to be serving.”
The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement acknowledging there is “no doubt” Floyd’s death has diminished public trust in police.
“Police officers need to treat all of our citizens with respect and understanding and should be held to the very highest standards for their conduct,” the organization said.
Since 2016, groups representing police nationwide have contributed $1.3 million directly to candidates for governor and attorney general and given at least another $1 million for independent expenditures that advocate for or against candidates for all state-level offices, according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the National Institute on Money in Politics.
Much of that money has been spent in California, where unions initially defeated reforms before the state enacted a pair of laws last year. One allows police to use lethal force only when necessary to defend against an imminent threat of death or serious injury to officers or bystanders. The second requires additional officer training.
The California debate was driven in part by the fatal 2018 shooting by Sacramento police of 22-year-old Stephon Clark, who was clutching a cellphone that officers said they mistook for a weapon.
The shooting in Ohio of Rice, whose toy Airsoft gun officers said they mistook for a real one, contributed to then-Gov. John Kasich creating the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board.
In 2015, the board adopted statewide standards limiting use of deadly force by police officers to defending themselves or others from serious injury or death. The state’s Republican-led Legislature opted against turning those recommendations into law, leaving police agencies to comply voluntarily.
Karhlton Moore, who leads the Ohio Department of Public Safety division that oversees the standards, said roughly three-quarters of Ohio residents now live in areas covered by police agencies that are either certified or in the process of being certified as upholding the standards.
But Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, a Democrat who is black, criticized Republican lawmakers this week for failing to enact laws recommended by Kasich’s task force, saying their actions “show us time and time again that black lives do not matter.”
Ohio Democrats want immediate reforms addressing racism and inequality.
In Pennsylvania, a package of bills seeking to limit the justifications for the use of deadly force by police has stalled in the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature.
But changing the law isn’t enough, said Democratic Rep. Summer Lee, a chief sponsor of the bills who represents East Pittsburgh. Police around the nation have condemned the way Floyd was restrained.
Inherent racism must be dealt with as well, said Lee, who is black.
She said some lawmakers were paying lip service to the necessity of fighting racism - but weren’t taking action.
“We have bills - we have tangible things the Legislature can do today,” Lee said.
___
Associated Press writers James Anderson in Denver; Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey; Bob Christie in Phoenix; Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; David Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; Andrew Selsky in Salem, Oregon; Don Thompson in Sacramento, Calif.; Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus; Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City; and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--George W. Bush weighs in on George Floyd's death: 'Achieving justice for all is the duty of all'

Former President George W. Bush on Tuesday issued a statement on the recent killing of George Floyd , saying he and former first lady Laura Bush are “ anguished ” by Floyd ’ s “ brutal suffocation ” and disturbed by “ the injustice and fear that suffocate our country.
” “ It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans , especially young African American men , are harassed and threatened in their own country , ” Mr. Bush said .
“ It is a strength when protesters , protected by responsible law enforcement , march for a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former first lady have resisted the urge to speak out about Floyd because “ this is not the time for us to lecture .
It is time for us to listen.
” He said the “ doctrine and habits of racial superiority , which once nearly split our country , still threaten our Union.
” “ We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means , ” he said .
“ Looting is not liberation , and destruction is not progress .
But we also know that lasting peace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system .
And achieving justice for all is the duty of all.
” He said that there is a “ better way : ” “ the way of empathy , and shared commitment , and bold action , and a peace rooted in justice.
” “ I am confident that together , Americans will choose the better way , ” he said .
With the country on edge after Floyd ’ s death while in Minneapolis police custody on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also weighed in earlier this week , saying a small minority of protesters were detracting from a larger cause .
Despite pockets of problems in some spots across the country , the rampant looting and unrest that had been seen some nights in the past week appear to have eased somewhat on Tuesday with various cities under curfew .

Former President George W. Bush on Tuesday issued a statement on the recent killing of George Floyd, saying he and former first lady Laura Bush are “anguished” by Floyd’s “brutal suffocation” and disturbed by “the injustice and fear that suffocate our country.”
“It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country,” Mr. Bush said. “It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future.”
Mr. Bush said he and the former first lady have resisted the urge to speak out about Floyd because “this is not the time for us to lecture. It is time for us to listen.”
He said the “doctrine and habits of racial superiority, which once nearly split our country, still threaten our Union.”
“We know that lasting justice will only come by peaceful means,” he said. “Looting is not liberation, and destruction is not progress. But we also know that lasting peace in our communities requires truly equal justice. The rule of law ultimately depends on the fairness and legitimacy of the legal system. And achieving justice for all is the duty of all.”
He said that there is a “better way:” “the way of empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a peace rooted in justice.”
“I am confident that together, Americans will choose the better way,” he said.
With the country on edge after Floyd’s death while in Minneapolis police custody on Memorial Day, former President Barack Obama also weighed in earlier this week, saying a small minority of protesters were detracting from a larger cause.
Despite pockets of problems in some spots across the country, the rampant looting and unrest that had been seen some nights in the past week appear to have eased somewhat on Tuesday with various cities under curfew.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Peaceful marches contrast recent violence over Floyd's death

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - Several thousand people congregated at the state Capitol in St. Paul for a peaceful protest Tuesday organized by high school students in metro area .
The sit-in on the Capitol ’ s front lawn and steps was in contrast to the civil unrest that has roiled the Twin Cities since George Floyd died May 25 after being pinned face down , handcuffed behind his back , by Minneapolis police officers who suspected he had passed a counterfeit bill at a nearby grocery store .
Army National Guard soldiers handed out bottled water during the protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders from several congregations marched with hundreds past the ruins of burned businesses to the boarded up Target store that was the epicenter of protesting , rioting and looting last week .
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell and St. Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks walked alongside clergy members during the march , the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported .
“ We know we are all hurting , and we all want justice , ” said Stacey L. Smith , pastor of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Paul ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what today is about .
We pray that it is healing that will begin today .
We ’ re going to decree and declare today.
” , Four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd ’ s arrest have been fired and one , Derek Chauvin , who held his knee to Floyd ’ s neck while Floyd pleaded for air has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Several thousand people congregated at the state Capitol in St. Paul for a peaceful protest Tuesday organized by high school students in metro area.
The sit-in on the Capitol’s front lawn and steps was in contrast to the civil unrest that has roiled the Twin Cities since George Floyd died May 25 after being pinned face down, handcuffed behind his back, by Minneapolis police officers who suspected he had passed a counterfeit bill at a nearby grocery store.
Army National Guard soldiers handed out bottled water during the protest.
Also in St. Paul, faith leaders from several congregations marched with hundreds past the ruins of burned businesses to the boarded up Target store that was the epicenter of protesting, rioting and looting last week.
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell and St. Paul Fire Chief Butch Inks walked alongside clergy members during the march, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.
“We know we are all hurting, and we all want justice,” said Stacey L. Smith, pastor of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in St. Paul’s Old Rondo neighborhood. “And that’s what today is about. We pray that it is healing that will begin today. We’re going to decree and declare today.”,
Four Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s arrest have been fired and one, Derek Chauvin, who held his knee to Floyd’s neck while Floyd pleaded for air has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Merchandise stolen during protests recovered, 2 arrested

COLWYN , Pa. ( AP ) - Police in a Philadelphia suburb have recovered a large cache of merchandise valued at between $ 5,000 and $ 10,000 that they say was stolen during recent protests over the death of George Floyd .
Police raided an apartment on Tuesday after an informant tipped them off .
Officers found it chock full of clothing , sneakers , alcohol , beauty supplies , automotive parts and other items .
“ When I walked in and seen what was there , I really thought I was in Kmart , Walmart or something like that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Mayor Maurice Clark Sr. Police believe the items were stashed there before they could be sold on the streets .
“ We were met by a bunch of people that were fleeing out of the property , ” said interim Police Chief Michael Hale .
“ After doing our investigation , we saw bags and bags and boxes and all these bags full of merchandise.
” Two people were arrested and faced charges of theft and receiving stolen property .
Most of the items still had sales tags and police were hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @

COLWYN, Pa. (AP) - Police in a Philadelphia suburb have recovered a large cache of merchandise valued at between $5,000 and $10,000 that they say was stolen during recent protests over the death of George Floyd.
Police raided an apartment on Tuesday after an informant tipped them off.
Officers found it chock full of clothing, sneakers, alcohol, beauty supplies, automotive parts and other items.
“When I walked in and seen what was there, I really thought I was in Kmart, Walmart or something like that. There was stuff everywhere,” said Mayor Maurice Clark Sr.
Police believe the items were stashed there before they could be sold on the streets.
“We were met by a bunch of people that were fleeing out of the property,” said interim Police Chief Michael Hale. “After doing our investigation, we saw bags and bags and boxes and all these bags full of merchandise.”
Two people were arrested and faced charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
Most of the items still had sales tags and police were hoping to return the items to merchants.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Ex-deputy accused of stealing painkillers while on duty

FLORENCE , S.C. ( AP ) - A former deputy accused of stealing prescription painkillers while responding to a South @ @ @ @ @ misconduct in office .
Former Sgt .
Christopher Todd Ard , 32 , was arrested @ @ @ @ @ Florence County jail , according to a news release from the South Carolina Law Enforcement @ @ @ @ @ on surveillance video inside the home in February putting a bottle of Oxycodone into his @ @ @ @ @ residence and returning later , the arrest warrant stated .
The bottle reportedly had 40 @ @ @ @ @ was taken , and had 29 1/2 pills after it was returned .
Ard has @ @ @ @ @ the Morning News reported .
It was unclear whether he had an attorney who could @ @ @ @ @ At least two other Florence County officers have been accused of misconduct in office over @ @ @ @ @ the Morning News reported naming former Sheriff Kenney Boone and former Lt. Mark Edward Fuleihan @

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) - A former deputy accused of stealing prescription painkillers while responding to a South Carolina home was charged with misconduct in office.
Former Sgt. Christopher Todd Ard, 32, was arrested Monday and booked into the Florence County jail, according to a news release from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
Ard was seen on surveillance video inside the home in February putting a bottle of Oxycodone into his ballistics vest, leaving the residence and returning later, the arrest warrant stated. The bottle reportedly had 40 pills in it before it was taken, and had 29 1/2 pills after it was returned.
Ard has been released on bond, the Morning News reported. It was unclear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
At least two other Florence County officers have been accused of misconduct in office over the past two years, the Morning News reported naming former Sheriff Kenney Boone and former Lt. Mark Edward Fuleihan.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--'Not stopping': Defiant NYC protesters march through curfew

NEW YORK ( AP ) - An 8 p.m. curfew didn ’ t stop thousands of defiant demonstrators from marching through the streets of New York City Tuesday night , though some of the rampant destruction seen over the past few nights was quelled .
The citywide curfew , in place through Sunday , was imposed to prevent the widespread vandalism and violence that took over city streets following largely peaceful dayside protests .
Mayor Bill de Blasio doubled down on the citywide curfew , but rejected urging from President Donald Trump and an offer from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Everyone , time to go home so we can keep people safe , ” the mayor said on WINS-AM radio shortly after the curfew took effect .
But demonstrators continued winding through the streets , keeping up the nationwide protests sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd , a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck .
“ I ’ m surprised , ” said Risha Munoz , on Manhattan ’ s Upper West Side , where at points they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in building windows .
“ I didn ’ t think they were gon na let us go on , but we just kept on moving and we ’ re not stopping.
” “ Something has to break , and it ’ s not going to be us , ” said Evan Kutcher , one of hundreds of demonstrators who stood outside the Barclays Center chanting Floyd ’ s name Tuesday evening .
Police began making arrests around 9 p.m. and shut down parts of the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan , blocking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The police department announced it would not allow vehicle traffic south of 96th Street in Manhattan after curfew , though residents , essential workers , buses and truck deliveries were exempt .
“ We ’ re going to have a tough few days .
We ’ re going to beat it back , ” de Blasio said .
Jane Rossi said she witnessed officers rip a man out of his car and arrest him in Chelsea around 10:45 p.m .
The car was behind a group of several hundred protesters that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 8 p.m .
Tensions had risen moments earlier when some in the group began trying to damage a bike rental station and banged on the windows of a JCPenny ’ s .
The vast majority of the crowd moved to stop them .
Officers surrounded the car and arrested the driver moments later .
“ They were just driving behind the protesters making sure that we were safe , ” Rossi said .
“ They were part of the protest.
” NYPD officers forced two Associated Press journalists to stop covering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shoving them and cursing at them while yelling at them to go home .
This , despite an order allowing media to remain on city streets .
Portions of the incident were captured on camera by videojournalist Robert Bumsted , who was working with photographer Maye-E Wong to document the protests in Manhattan .
The video shows more than a half dozen officers confronting the journalists as they filmed and photographed police ordering protesters to go home shortly after the curfew took effect .
Just after midnight Wednesday , most of the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from police patrolling , especially in hot-spot areas for demonstrations in Brooklyn and Manhattan .
There was a heavy police presence in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights , where authorities say police fatally shot a man after responding to reports of shots fired .
NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said the officer-involved shooting was not connected to the protests .
Contributing were Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak , Jim Mustian , Jennifer Peltz , Tom Hays and Karen Matthews in New York .
Michael Hill and Marina Villeneuve reported from @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Peaceful protests over the death of George Floyd continued Wednesday in New York City, but an early curfew, drenching rain and refined police tactics appeared to have stopped some of the destruction of previous nights.
Some critics said the calm came at a high price, as the city was forced to grind to a halt at 8 p.m., bridges were closed to traffic and police arrested dozens of orderly people for violating the curfew.
About an hour after the deadline to get off the street, officers began moving in on crowds of demonstrators in Manhattan and Brooklyn, at times blasting people with pepper spray or using batons to shove people who didn’t move fast enough.
When one demonstrator asked an officer why he was being taken into custody, an Associated Press reporter heard the officer reply, “Curfew violater. You didn’t hear the news?”
NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan said about 60 people were arrested near Central Park out of a large band of protesters who had marched from near the mayor’s residence, Gracie Mansion. Police moved in just before a heavy rain began.
“When we have these big crowds, especially in this area, especially where we’ve had the looting, no more tolerance. They have to be off the street. An 8 o’clock curfew, we gave them until 9 o’clock, and there was no indication that they were going to leave these streets,” Monahan said, noting that the crowd was allowed to disperse once arrests began, and most did.
City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who attended a rally in downtown Brooklyn, expressed outrage that peaceful demonstrations were broken up.
“I can’t believe what I just witnessed & experienced,” Williams wrote on twitter. He called the use of force on nonviolent protesters “disgusting.”
As the evening deepened, there were few reports of the mayhem that had occurred on several days of demonstrations, when protesters burned police vehicles and showered officers with debris. Gone also were the roving bands of people who smashed their way into scores of stores and stole merchandise Sunday and Monday nights.
Protesters also appeared to react more calmly to police attempts to break up crowds, a contrast to the early days of the protests where attempts to break up crowds were sometimes met with thrown objects.
At Gracie Mansion, demonstrators were kneeling in a moment of silence when alarms rang on cellphones, warning that the curfew was approaching.
“This means a lot to me, as a black woman,” said protester Stella Mbah, who kept marching after the curfew passed. “There are so many things police are doing wrong to us black people.”
Another demonstrator, Lisa Horton, said charges announced Wednesday against three other Minneapolis police officers in connection to Floyd’s death were a step, but she was protesting because she feels more needs to change.
“There’s been progress, but are we at a point where we can all celebrate? No,” she said, calling for “radical change” in the criminal justice system.
Tuesday night’s protests had also been mostly peaceful, prompting Mayor Bill de Blasio to declare that an early curfew was working.
“Last night we took a step forward in moving out of this difficult period we’ve had the last few days and moving to a better time,” he said at a morning news briefing.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was critical of the police response on prior nights, said the city Tuesday “was much, much better than the night before.”
“It worked. We got results,” Cuomo said. “Let’s just remember what we did last night and keep that going.”
De Blasio rejected President Donald Trump’s urging and Cuomo’s offer to send in the National Guard to stop the ransacking of stores, saying the NYPD was best suited for the task.
Trump warned in a Fox News Radio interview that if city officials “don’t get their act straightened out, I will solve it. I’ll solve it fast,” but didn’t say what action he might take.
Around Manhattan, even in parts of the city that hadn’t seen the damage and thefts, businesses had boarded up windows Wednesday as a precaution. That was the case at Saks Fifth Avenue, where a line of tattooed men with well-mannered dogs guarded the boarded windows wrapped in chain-link and razor wire.
The nightly curfews will remain in effect through at least Sunday, with the city planning to lift it at the same time it enters the first phase of reopening after more than two months of shutdowns because of the coronavirus.
The marches were part of a wave of protests across the country since the May 25 death of Floyd, a black man who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee on his neck and left it there even after he lost consciousness.
Police said they arrested about 280 people on Tuesday, compared with 700 the previous night. In all, more than 2,000 people have been arrested, the NYPD said.
Wednesday, prosecutors also charged a man with shooting at an occupied police vehicle in Queens. Neither officer in the vehicle was wounded. No demonstration was underway in the area and the man’s motive in shooting at the vehicle was unclear.
De Blasio condemned police for roughing up journalists covering the protests, including two from the AP who were shoved, cursed at and told to go home by officers Tuesday night despite press being considered “essential workers” allowed to be on the streets.
“There should be no condition under which any journalist is detained by the police of this city or any city in the United States of America, period,” de Blasio said, calling for an investigation.
Shea said officers were “doing the best we can under difficult circumstances,” adding that some people stopped by police lied about being journalists.
“We’re not perfect, we do the best we can in a situation,” he said.
___
Jennifer Peltz and Jim Mustian in New York City and Marina Villeneuve in Albany contributed to this report.
___
On Twitter: Follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Jake Seiner at twitter.com/Jake_Seiner


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Germany wants to kick extremists out of military faster

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German government has agreed on a bill that would speed up the dismissal of soldiers involved in extremism or serious crimes .
Current military rules mean that soldiers who have served for more than four years can only be kicked out after they have been convicted of a crime or removed as part of a court-led disciplinary procedure .
In practice , this can mean soldiers remain in the military for years until they are removed .
The bill proposed Wednesday by Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer allows the military to swiftly expel soldiers if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military order or the reputation of the Bundeswehr ” and they have served fewer than eight years .
German officials have expressed alarm over the recent discovery of several far-right extremists in the military , including a member of the special forces unit KSK who had hoarded weapons , ammunition and explosives at home .
Last month , the head of the unit , Brig .
Gen. Markus Kreitmayr , told soldiers that he wouldn ’ t tolerate extremism in the ranks .
The bill still needs to be passed by parliament @

BERLIN (AP) - The German government has agreed on a bill that would speed up the dismissal of soldiers involved in extremism or serious crimes.
Current military rules mean that soldiers who have served for more than four years can only be kicked out after they have been convicted of a crime or removed as part of a court-led disciplinary procedure. In practice, this can mean soldiers remain in the military for years until they are removed.
The bill proposed Wednesday by Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer allows the military to swiftly expel soldiers if their continued presence would “seriously threaten the military order or the reputation of the Bundeswehr” and they have served fewer than eight years.
German officials have expressed alarm over the recent discovery of several far-right extremists in the military, including a member of the special forces unit KSK who had hoarded weapons, ammunition and explosives at home. Last month, the head of the unit, Brig. Gen. Markus Kreitmayr, told soldiers that he wouldn’t tolerate extremism in the ranks.
The bill still needs to be passed by parliament.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Widow: Retired police captain died protecting friend's store

ST. LOUIS ( AP ) - A retired police captain who died during a night of violent protests was trying to protect his friend ’ s pawn shop , his widow said .
David Dorn ’ s last moments were caught on video and apparently posted on Facebook Live , though the video has since been taken down .
He was killed by people who had broken into Lee ’ s Pawn & Jewelry , and his body found on the sidewalk at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday .
No arrests have been made .
His death came on a violent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers were shot , officers were pelted with rocks and fireworks , and 55 businesses were burglarized or damaged , including a convenience store that burned .
Police also shot and gravely injured a burglary suspect who they say shot at officers .
Cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since George Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd ’ s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air .
Dorn was a friend of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checked on the business when alarms went off , his wife , St. Louis police Sgt .
Ann Marie Dorn , told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .
David Dorn served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007 .
He then became chief of Moline Acres , a small town in St. Louis County .
Former St. Louis County police Chief Tim Fitch knew Dorn for 30 years and said they became close friends when Dorn and his wife were leading the St. Louis police department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement careers , while Fitch was leading the county ’ s program .
“ He was very dedicated to youth , especially disadvantaged youth , ” said Fitch , who led the St. Louis County Police Department from 2009 to 2014 .
“ He wanted to see them succeed .
He wanted to be a role model for those young men and women to go into law enforcement.
” Dorn ‘ s personality was “ bigger than life , ” Fitch said .
“ He was a fun guy , a happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he was thinking when somebody did something incredibly stupid like a crime because he would just say it as he saw it.
” When he took over as chief in Moline Acres , Dorn made it clear that his officers would be held to the strictest of standards , Fitch said .
“ He wanted them to do the right thing all the time , ” Fitch said .
The Ethical Society of Police , which represents black officers in St. Louis , said in a news release that Dorn was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve given his life to save them if he had to.
” “ Many of us , the other officers , looked up to him , ” Hayden said .
“ Was very well-liked , very pleasant .
And his wife still works here .
So a very sad time for our agency .
We will honor him .
”

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A retired police captain who died during a night of violent protests was trying to protect his friend’s pawn shop, his widow said.
David Dorn’s last moments were caught on video and apparently posted on Facebook Live, though the video has since been taken down. He was killed by people who had broken into Lee’s Pawn & Jewelry, and his body found on the sidewalk at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. No arrests have been made.
His death came on a violent night in St. Louis, where four officers were shot, officers were pelted with rocks and fireworks, and 55 businesses were burglarized or damaged, including a convenience store that burned. Police also shot and gravely injured a burglary suspect who they say shot at officers.
Cities across the U.S. have seen protests and violence since George Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes even after the handcuffed black man stopped moving and pleading for air.
Dorn was a friend of the pawn shop’s owner and frequently checked on the business when alarms went off, his wife, St. Louis police Sgt. Ann Marie Dorn, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
David Dorn served 38 years on the St. Louis police force before retiring in October 2007. He then became chief of Moline Acres, a small town in St. Louis County.
Former St. Louis County police Chief Tim Fitch knew Dorn for 30 years and said they became close friends when Dorn and his wife were leading the St. Louis police department’s Explorers program for young people interested in law enforcement careers, while Fitch was leading the county’s program.
“He was very dedicated to youth, especially disadvantaged youth,” said Fitch, who led the St. Louis County Police Department from 2009 to 2014. “He wanted to see them succeed. He wanted to be a role model for those young men and women to go into law enforcement.”
Dorn’ s personality was “bigger than life,” Fitch said. “He was a fun guy, a happy guy. You never had to wonder what he was thinking when somebody did something incredibly stupid like a crime because he would just say it as he saw it.”
When he took over as chief in Moline Acres, Dorn made it clear that his officers would be held to the strictest of standards, Fitch said.
“He wanted them to do the right thing all the time,” Fitch said.
The Ethical Society of Police, which represents black officers in St. Louis, said in a news release that Dorn was “the type of brother that would’ve given his life to save them if he had to.”
St. Louis police Chief John Hayden called Dorn a “fine captain.”
“Many of us, the other officers, looked up to him,” Hayden said. “Was very well-liked, very pleasant. And his wife still works here. So a very sad time for our agency. We will honor him.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--New report finds anti-Semitism on the rise in Czech Republic

PRAGUE ( AP ) - The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic doubled last year , the Jewish community said Wednesday .
In its annual report , the Federation of the Jewish Communities said there were 694 anti-Semitic attacks in 2019 compared with 347 in the previous year .
A majority of the attacks - 95 % - were registered on the internet , often on disinformation websites , far-right media and produced by activists involved in an international campaign to boycott Israel .
The Jewish community said there were three attacks on Jewish property last year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harassment and verbal insults .
No physical attack was registered in 2019 .
In June 2019 , an unknown attacker damaged a monument in Prague ’ s main train station which children saved by Sir Nicholas Winton from Nazi death camps unveiled in 2017 to honor their parents .
The Briton arranged eight trains to carry 669 children , most of them Jewish , from Czechoslovakia through Germany to Britain at the outbreak of World War II in 1939 .
He died in 2015 at age 106 .
The children were sent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their parents died in the Holocaust .
The report , however , said the Czech Republic remains a safe country for Jews and anti-Semitism is at a relatively low level compared with other European countries .

PRAGUE (AP) - The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic doubled last year, the Jewish community said Wednesday.
In its annual report, the Federation of the Jewish Communities said there were 694 anti-Semitic attacks in 2019 compared with 347 in the previous year.
A majority of the attacks - 95% - were registered on the internet, often on disinformation websites, far-right media and produced by activists involved in an international campaign to boycott Israel.
The Jewish community said there were three attacks on Jewish property last year and six other incidents involved anti-Semitic threats, harassment and verbal insults. No physical attack was registered in 2019.
In June 2019, an unknown attacker damaged a monument in Prague’s main train station which children saved by Sir Nicholas Winton from Nazi death camps unveiled in 2017 to honor their parents.
The Briton arranged eight trains to carry 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia through Germany to Britain at the outbreak of World War II in 1939. He died in 2015 at age 106.
The children were sent to foster parents. Back home, most of their parents died in the Holocaust.
The report, however, said the Czech Republic remains a safe country for Jews and anti-Semitism is at a relatively low level compared with other European countries.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Lin Miranda doc postponed out of solidarity with protesters

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Just two days before it was to begin streaming , “ We Are Freestyle Love Supreme , ” a documentary about the hip-hop improv group with Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends , has postponed its release out of solidarity with protesters .
The group announced the postponement Wednesday , citing that our “ collective attention ” is turned toward more pressing concerns .
The film had been planned to debut on Hulu on Friday .
“ Today our country , our world struggles to reach an end to this systemic racial injustice , intolerance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Love Supreme said in a statement on Twitter .
“ We add our voices to that fight.
” “ We Are Freestyle Love Supreme , ” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival , is the first movie to put off its release due the unrest following the death of George Floyd .
“ We are for the freedom of expression , creativity , inclusion , equality , and most of all , love , ” the group said .
“ Our work has always centered around creating a safe space for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not exist without the operations of brilliant black artists that created two of our most beloved American art forms , jazz and hip-hop.
” “ We Are Freestyle Love Supreme ” chronicles the off-Broadway show that Miranda and several of his “ Hamilton ” collaborators regularly put on before “ In the Heights ” and “ Hamilton ” made them famous .
The film captures the group reuniting for a Broadway run that concluded earlier this year .
No new release date was announced .

NEW YORK (AP) - Just two days before it was to begin streaming, “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme,” a documentary about the hip-hop improv group with Lin-Manuel Miranda and friends, has postponed its release out of solidarity with protesters.
The group announced the postponement Wednesday, citing that our “collective attention” is turned toward more pressing concerns. The film had been planned to debut on Hulu on Friday.
“Today our country, our world struggles to reach an end to this systemic racial injustice, intolerance, police brutality and hate,” Freestyle Love Supreme said in a statement on Twitter. “We add our voices to that fight.”
“We Are Freestyle Love Supreme,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, is the first movie to put off its release due the unrest following the death of George Floyd.
“We are for the freedom of expression, creativity, inclusion, equality, and most of all, love,” the group said. “Our work has always centered around creating a safe space for those ideals to flourish. Our show does not exist without the operations of brilliant black artists that created two of our most beloved American art forms, jazz and hip-hop.”
“We Are Freestyle Love Supreme” chronicles the off-Broadway show that Miranda and several of his “Hamilton” collaborators regularly put on before “In the Heights” and “Hamilton” made them famous. The film captures the group reuniting for a Broadway run that concluded earlier this year.
No new release date was announced.


washingtontimes--2020-06-03--Donald Trump fires back at 'overrated' James Mattis: 'Glad he is gone!'

President Trump responded to criticism from former Defense Secretary James Mattis by calling him an “ overrated ” military leader whom he relished firing .
“ Probably the only thing Barack Obama and I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis , the world ’ s most overrated General , ” Mr. Trump tweeted .
“ I asked for his letter of resignation , & felt great about.
” Mr. Mattis , a retired four-star Marine general whom the president previously called a hero , criticized the president Wednesday for “ militarizing ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police brutality .
He called Mr. Trump “ the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try.
” He served two years as Defense secretary before leaving in January 2019 .
The president said of Mr. Mattis , “ His nickname was ‘ Chaos ’ , which I didn ’ t like , & changed it to ‘ Mad Dog ’ .
His primary strength was not military , but rather personal public relations.
” In fact , Mr. Mattis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in the military long before Mr. Trump was elected .
A San Diego Tribune article in 2013 refers to the nickname , noting that Mr. Mattis didn ’ t like the moniker .
Said the president , “ I gave him a new life , things to do , and battles to win , but he seldom ‘ brought home the bacon ’ .
I didn ’ t like his ‘ leadership ’ style or much else about him , and many others agree .
Glad he is gone !
” Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigned after clashing with the president over the administration ’ s policy in Syria .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also weighed in , saying Mr. Mattis ’ s statement was “ little more than a self-promotional stunt to appease the DC elite.
” She tweeted Mr. Trump “ is the law and order President that has restored peace to our nation ’ s streets.
” “ Mattis ’ small words pale in comparison to @ POTUS ’ strong action , ” she said .

President Trump responded to criticism from former Defense Secretary James Mattis by calling him an “overrated” military leader whom he relished firing.
“Probably the only thing Barack Obama and I have in common is that we both had the honor of firing Jim Mattis, the world’s most overrated General,” Mr. Trump tweeted. “I asked for his letter of resignation, & felt great about.”
Mr. Mattis, a retired four-star Marine general whom the president previously called a hero, criticized the president Wednesday for “militarizing” the federal response to nationwide protests over police brutality. He called Mr. Trump “the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people — does not even pretend to try.”
He served two years as Defense secretary before leaving in January 2019.
The president said of Mr. Mattis, “His nickname was ‘Chaos’, which I didn’t like, & changed it to ‘Mad Dog’. His primary strength was not military, but rather personal public relations.”
In fact, Mr. Mattis was given the nickname “Mad Dog” in the military long before Mr. Trump was elected. A San Diego Tribune article in 2013 refers to the nickname, noting that Mr. Mattis didn’t like the moniker.
SEE ALSO: James Mattis shreds Donald Trump: ‘Three years without mature leadership’
Said the president, “I gave him a new life, things to do, and battles to win, but he seldom ‘brought home the bacon’. I didn’t like his ‘leadership’ style or much else about him, and many others agree. Glad he is gone!”
Mr. Mattis wasn’t fired; he resigned after clashing with the president over the administration’s policy in Syria.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also weighed in, saying Mr. Mattis’s statement was “little more than a self-promotional stunt to appease the DC elite.”
She tweeted Mr. Trump “is the law and order President that has restored peace to our nation’s streets.”
“Mattis’ small words pale in comparison to @POTUS’ strong action,” she said.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.