washingtontimes--2020-07-05--John Roberts swing votes about Supreme Court politics, court watchers say

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has been labeled the Supreme Court ’ s swing vote after siding several times with the liberal wing , but both conservative and liberal court watchers say his judicial moves are all about politics .
Conservatives say Chief Justice Roberts is trying to strike a balance so the high court doesn ’ t appear too political .
Critics say that balancing act is falling short and is resulting in an inconsistent record that appears to be more political than rooted in a particular jurisprudence .
“ Roberts seems to be swinging based much more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it really has to do with how much blowback he thinks he and the court will get , ” said Curt Levey , president of the conservative Committee for Justice .
“ He is protecting the reputation of the Roberts Court .
He is protecting his own reputation.
” Liberals still view the chief justice as a staunch conservative , unlike Justice Anthony M. Kennedy , the court ’ s venerable swing vote for decades until his retirement in 2018 .
Justice Kennedy , although a Republican appointee , was known to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to civil rights , abortion and LGBTQ issues .
With Justice Roberts , there doesn ’ t appear to be a line of legal issues where he will reliably join the liberal wing .
Liberals haven ’ t warmed to the chief justice and don ’ t consider him a reliable swing vote either , despite Justice Roberts ‘ decisions that gave them key wins on abortion and gay rights .
“ Roberts is only the swing vote because of how extreme the other four Republican-appointed justices are , ” said Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alliance for Justice .
Mr. Goldberg said he was shocked that the ruling last week that struck down a Louisiana law that threatened to shutter abortion clinics wasn ’ t 9-0 .
He said the court shouldn ’ t hang on 5-4 decisions in major cases over constitutional rights .
“ What the Supreme Court just over the last week has demonstrated is how critical the court ’ s decisions are and how many of our rights and privileges are in many cases hanging by a thread , ” he said .
Liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinion with Democratic-appointed justices on the abortion case last week , in which he wrote separately from the liberal wing , only invited more cases restricting abortion rather than signaling that he would strike down any challenge to Roe v. Wade .
“ He walks a tightrope in every single case .
That is where he wants to court to be , ” said Josh Blackman , a professor at South Texas College of Law .
As he tries to toe the line , Justice Roberts tends to author narrow opinions that apply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making his middle-of-the-road rulings difficult to use as precedent and uniformity .
Chief Justice Roberts gave the latest example of his stunning reversals last week in the case of June Medical Services v Russo .
The court issued a 5-4 ruling saying a requirement for doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals placed an undue burden on abortion access .
The law at issue mirrored one struck down in Texas four years ago that said abortion providers must have credentials and access to a hospital within 30 miles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking place .
The chief justice joined the liberal wing of the court to strike down the Louisiana law but four years earlier voted to uphold the Texas law .
In the 2016 case , he joined a dissent authored by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. that argued states have an interest in protecting the health of women in cases of medical emergencies .
Writing his separate opinion in the Louisiana case , Chief Justice Roberts said his decision was based on stare decisis , a legal doctrine requiring judges to issue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is identical to a previous case .
“ The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law , for the same reasons .
Therefore , Louisiana ’ s law can not stand under our precedents , ” Chief Justice Roberts wrote .
Ilya Shapiro , director of the Robert A .
Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the libertarian Cato Institute , said what was odd was that Chief Justice Roberts voted to overturn precedent in other terms , including cases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pointed to Janus v. American Federation of State , County , and Municipal Employees , which struck down mandatory union dues as a violation of the First Amendment .
The ruling overturned a case from 1977 that held the opposite view .
“ It ’ s Roberts being strategic , ” said Mr. Shapiro , noting that the chief justice doesn ’ t want the court to move too much , too quickly to the right .
Mr. Levey said the chief justice tends to side with the conservative wing of the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came to cases this term to restrict abortion , LGBTQ rights and protection for Dreamers , the chief justice likely feared major protests at the high court .
“ People would say he is trying to protect the legacy of the court .
But I would ask : Why does protecting the legacy of the court mean ruling or siding with the liberals on the most controversial issues ?
” Mr. Levey said .
“ I just don ’ t think he has a lot of courage when it comes to these highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Adam Feldman , founder of the Empirical SCOTUS blog , noted that the chief justice sided seven more times with the conservative wing of the bench than the liberal wing of the court in 5-4 rulings .
“ I doubt we will ever see Roberts side with the liberals more often than he does with the conservatives in 5-4 decisions across an entire term , ” he told The Washington Times .
“ Although I suppose weirder things have happened .
”

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has been labeled the Supreme Court’s swing vote after siding several times with the liberal wing, but both conservative and liberal court watchers say his judicial moves are all about politics.
Conservatives say Chief Justice Roberts is trying to strike a balance so the high court doesn’t appear too political. Critics say that balancing act is falling short and is resulting in an inconsistent record that appears to be more political than rooted in a particular jurisprudence.
“Roberts seems to be swinging based much more on strategic considerations, and a lot of it really has to do with how much blowback he thinks he and the court will get,” said Curt Levey, president of the conservative Committee for Justice. “He is protecting the reputation of the Roberts Court. He is protecting his own reputation.”
Liberals still view the chief justice as a staunch conservative, unlike Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the court’s venerable swing vote for decades until his retirement in 2018.
Justice Kennedy, although a Republican appointee, was known to side with the Democratic-appointed justices on cases related to civil rights, abortion and LGBTQ issues. With Justice Roberts, there doesn’t appear to be a line of legal issues where he will reliably join the liberal wing.
Liberals haven’t warmed to the chief justice and don’t consider him a reliable swing vote either, despite Justice Roberts’ decisions that gave them key wins on abortion and gay rights.
“Roberts is only the swing vote because of how extreme the other four Republican-appointed justices are,” said Dan Goldberg, legal director for the liberal Alliance for Justice.
Mr. Goldberg said he was shocked that the ruling last week that struck down a Louisiana law that threatened to shutter abortion clinics wasn’t 9-0. He said the court shouldn’t hang on 5-4 decisions in major cases over constitutional rights.
“What the Supreme Court just over the last week has demonstrated is how critical the court’s decisions are and how many of our rights and privileges are in many cases hanging by a thread,” he said.
Liberal activists say Chief Justice Roberts’ concurring opinion with Democratic-appointed justices on the abortion case last week, in which he wrote separately from the liberal wing, only invited more cases restricting abortion rather than signaling that he would strike down any challenge to Roe v. Wade.
“He walks a tightrope in every single case. That is where he wants to court to be,” said Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law.
As he tries to toe the line, Justice Roberts tends to author narrow opinions that apply only to the parties before the court, making his middle-of-the-road rulings difficult to use as precedent and uniformity.
Chief Justice Roberts gave the latest example of his stunning reversals last week in the case of June Medical Services v Russo. The court issued a 5-4 ruling saying a requirement for doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals placed an undue burden on abortion access.
The law at issue mirrored one struck down in Texas four years ago that said abortion providers must have credentials and access to a hospital within 30 miles of the site where the abortion procedure is taking place.
The chief justice joined the liberal wing of the court to strike down the Louisiana law but four years earlier voted to uphold the Texas law. In the 2016 case, he joined a dissent authored by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. that argued states have an interest in protecting the health of women in cases of medical emergencies.
Writing his separate opinion in the Louisiana case, Chief Justice Roberts said his decision was based on stare decisis, a legal doctrine requiring judges to issue the same ruling on a case if it is identical to a previous case.
“The Louisiana law imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law, for the same reasons. Therefore, Louisiana’s law cannot stand under our precedents,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote.
Ilya Shapiro, director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, said what was odd was that Chief Justice Roberts voted to overturn precedent in other terms, including cases with 30- to 40-year-old precedents.
Mr. Shapiro pointed to Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which struck down mandatory union dues as a violation of the First Amendment. The ruling overturned a case from 1977 that held the opposite view.
“It’s Roberts being strategic,” said Mr. Shapiro, noting that the chief justice doesn’t want the court to move too much, too quickly to the right.
Mr. Levey said the chief justice tends to side with the conservative wing of the court in lower-profile cases. But when it came to cases this term to restrict abortion, LGBTQ rights and protection for Dreamers, the chief justice likely feared major protests at the high court.
“People would say he is trying to protect the legacy of the court. But I would ask: Why does protecting the legacy of the court mean ruling or siding with the liberals on the most controversial issues?” Mr. Levey said.
“I just don’t think he has a lot of courage when it comes to these highly politically charged issues,” he added.
Adam Feldman, founder of the Empirical SCOTUS blog, noted that the chief justice sided seven more times with the conservative wing of the bench than the liberal wing of the court in 5-4 rulings.
“I doubt we will ever see Roberts side with the liberals more often than he does with the conservatives in 5-4 decisions across an entire term,” he told The Washington Times. “Although I suppose weirder things have happened.”
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--Lawyer: Remains of missing Texas soldier identified

DALLAS ( AP ) - Army investigators have identified the body of a soldier who vanished more than two months ago from a base in Texas , according to a lawyer for the soldier ’ s family .
Remains found last week buried near Fort Hood belong to Spc .
Vanessa Guillén and Army officials informed her family in Houston Sunday , attorney Natalie Khawam told The Associated Press .
Guillén , who had been missing since April , was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier who took his own life last week , federal and military investigators have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the Leon River in Bell County , about 20 miles ( 32 kilometers ) east of Fort Hood , during a the search for Guillén .
An Army spokesman said earlier Sunday that they were still waiting for positive identification of the remains .
Investigators were unable to use dental records to identify Guillén because of the state of her remains and instead used DNA from bone and hair samples , Khawam said .
Guillén ’ s family received the information in the company of their priest , she said .
Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s disappearance as Aaron David Robinson .
Cecily Aguilar , a 22-year-old civilian from a community near near Fort Hood , was arrested and charged with one count for allegedly helping hide the body of 20-year-old solider , according to a criminal complaint .
Guillén ’ s family has said that they believe she was sexually harassed by Robinson and is calling for a congressional investigation .
Mayra Guillen said last week that her sister had spoken with their mother about experiencing sexual harassment , but that her mother has been too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their text conversations , Mayra Guillen said she believed her sister was afraid during her time at Fort Hood .
Khawam said Sunday that military sexual harassment is “ epidemic ” and demands attention from Congress .
“ You can ’ t turn a blind eye anymore , ” she said .

DALLAS (AP) - Army investigators have identified the body of a soldier who vanished more than two months ago from a base in Texas, according to a lawyer for the soldier’s family.
Remains found last week buried near Fort Hood belong to Spc. Vanessa Guillén and Army officials informed her family in Houston Sunday, attorney Natalie Khawam told The Associated Press. Guillén, who had been missing since April, was killed and dismembered by a fellow soldier who took his own life last week, federal and military investigators have said.
Human remains were found Tuesday near the Leon River in Bell County, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Fort Hood, during a the search for Guillén. An Army spokesman said earlier Sunday that they were still waiting for positive identification of the remains.
Investigators were unable to use dental records to identify Guillén because of the state of her remains and instead used DNA from bone and hair samples, Khawam said. Guillén’s family received the information in the company of their priest, she said.
Army officials identified the soldier suspected in Guillén’s disappearance as Aaron David Robinson. Cecily Aguilar, a 22-year-old civilian from a community near near Fort Hood, was arrested and charged with one count for allegedly helping hide the body of 20-year-old solider, according to a criminal complaint.
Guillén’s family has said that they believe she was sexually harassed by Robinson and is calling for a congressional investigation.
Mayra Guillen said last week that her sister had spoken with their mother about experiencing sexual harassment, but that her mother has been too devastated to talk about it. From their text conversations, Mayra Guillen said she believed her sister was afraid during her time at Fort Hood.
Khawam said Sunday that military sexual harassment is “epidemic” and demands attention from Congress. “You can’t turn a blind eye anymore,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--Chicago violence over July 4th claims 7-year-old girl, 13 others

CHICAGO — At least 13 people , including a 7-year-old girl at a family party and a teenage boy , were killed in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend , police said .
At least 59 others were shot and wounded .
In one shooting , just before midnight Saturday , four males opened fire on a large gathering in the street in the Englewood neighborhood , police spokesman Tom Ahern said .
Two males died at the scene and two more , including a 14-year-old boy , died at a hospital , Ahern said .
Four others were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the other three were in fair condition , Ahern said .
The four attackers fled the scene .
No one was arrested .
The 7-year-old girl was fatally shot in the head while standing on the sidewalk at her grandmother ’ s house during a Fourth of July party around 7 p.m. in the Austin neighborhood , police said .
Suspects got out of a car and began shooting , police said .
No one has been arrested .
“ Tonight , a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended by the barrel of a gun , ” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Twitter late Saturday .
The mayor added : “ As a city , we must wrap our arms around our youth so they understand there ’ s a future for them that isn ’ t wrapped up in gun violence.
” A 32-year-old man was injured in the shooting and was in fair condition .
The Chicago Sun-Times , citing police , said that seven of those injured in shootings were minors .
The shootings this weekend that killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when victims included a 1-year-old boy riding in a car with his mother and a 10-year-old girl who was inside her home when a bullet fired a block away pierced a window and struck her in the head as she sat on a couch .
In response to violence that has occurred since Memorial Day weekend , police said they would have 1,200 extra officers on the streets for this holiday weekend .

CHICAGO — At least 13 people, including a 7-year-old girl at a family party and a teenage boy, were killed in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend, police said. At least 59 others were shot and wounded.
In one shooting, just before midnight Saturday, four males opened fire on a large gathering in the street in the Englewood neighborhood, police spokesman Tom Ahern said. Two males died at the scene and two more, including a 14-year-old boy, died at a hospital, Ahern said.
Four others were injured; one was in critical condition and the other three were in fair condition, Ahern said. The four attackers fled the scene. No one was arrested.
The 7-year-old girl was fatally shot in the head while standing on the sidewalk at her grandmother’s house during a Fourth of July party around 7 p.m. in the Austin neighborhood, police said.
Suspects got out of a car and began shooting, police said. No one has been arrested.
“Tonight, a 7-year-old girl in Austin joined a list of teenagers and children whose hopes and dreams were ended by the barrel of a gun,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said on Twitter late Saturday.
The mayor added: “As a city, we must wrap our arms around our youth so they understand there’s a future for them that isn’t wrapped up in gun violence.”
A 32-year-old man was injured in the shooting and was in fair condition.
The Chicago Sun-Times, citing police, said that seven of those injured in shootings were minors.
The shootings this weekend that killed young people followed tragedy the weekend before when victims included a 1-year-old boy riding in a car with his mother and a 10-year-old girl who was inside her home when a bullet fired a block away pierced a window and struck her in the head as she sat on a couch.
In response to violence that has occurred since Memorial Day weekend, police said they would have 1,200 extra officers on the streets for this holiday weekend.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--UTV crash kills 13-year-old, injures 5 others

HORTON , Kan. ( AP ) - A 13-year-old was killed and five others were injured early Sunday after a @ @ @ @ @ a rural roadway and crashed in northeast Kansas , the Jackson County Sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ release .
The office is investigating the crash , which occured about 2 a.m. near @ @ @ @ @ north of Topeka .
The initial investigation showed the driver had been running the UTV @ @ @ @ @ driver lost control and overturned , ejecting a 13-year-old front-seat passenger .
The 13-year-old was @ @ @ @ @ .
The child ’ s name has not been released .
Five others were taken @ @ @ @ @ Topeka and Sabetha Hospital , some of them with life threatening injuries .

HORTON, Kan. (AP) - A 13-year-old was killed and five others were injured early Sunday after a utility terrain vehicle ran off a rural roadway and crashed in northeast Kansas, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The office is investigating the crash, which occured about 2 a.m. near Netawaka, about 43 miles north of Topeka.
The initial investigation showed the driver had been running the UTV alongside another UTV when the driver lost control and overturned, ejecting a 13-year-old front-seat passenger. The 13-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The child’s name has not been released. Five others were taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka and Sabetha Hospital, some of them with life threatening injuries.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--Family lawyer: Army investigators have identified remains of soldier who vanished more than 2 months

DALLAS ( AP ) - Family lawyer : Army investigators have identified remains of soldier who vanished more than 2 @ @ @ @ @ .

DALLAS (AP) - Family lawyer: Army investigators have identified remains of soldier who vanished more than 2 months ago from Texas base.
Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--6-year-old boy fatally shot in San Francisco neighborhood

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - A 6-year-old boy was killed in a San Francisco shooting that left another person @ @ @ @ @ .
Officers responding to reports of gunfire found the child suffering from a gunshot wound @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood , the San Francisco Chronicle reported .
The young victim was rushed to a @ @ @ @ @ , the newspaper said .
A second male victim , whose age was not released @ @ @ @ @ gunshot wound that police described as non-life-threatening .
There have been no arrests and there @ @ @ @ @

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A 6-year-old boy was killed in a San Francisco shooting that left another person wounded, police said Sunday.
Officers responding to reports of gunfire found the child suffering from a gunshot wound late Saturday in the Bayview neighborhood, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The young victim was rushed to a hospital, where he died, the newspaper said.
A second male victim, whose age was not released, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound that police described as non-life-threatening.
There have been no arrests and there is no suspect description.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--Inside the Beltway: Professor: Trump has 91% chance to win

Let us pause for a moment and consider the Primary Model , a political forecasting method which predicts the ultimate outcome of White House races on voting patterns from presidential primaries .
The model has a laudable track record .
Established in 1996 by Stony Brook University political science professor Helmut Norpoth , the Primary Model correctly picked the victors in multiple presidential elections — including the last one .
On March 7 , 2016 , it predicted then-candidate Donald Trump had an 87 % chance of defeating Hillary Clinton .
Will the president also vanquish Democratic nominee Joseph R. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump a 91 % chance of winning in November .
This model has picked the winner in all but two elections since 1912 , when primaries were introduced , including , of course , Trump ’ s victory in 2016 , ” Mr. Norpoth tells Inside the Beltway in a statement .
“ As for polls showing Trump trailing Joe Biden right now , remember 2016 .
Polls and poll-based forecasts all handed Clinton a certain victory .
But this is not the only failure , ” he continues .
As a historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bouts .
“ The terrain of presidential contests is littered with nominees who saw a poll lead in the spring turn to dust in the fall .
The list is long and discouraging for early front-runners .
Beginning with Thomas Dewey in 1948 , it spans such notables as Richard Nixon in 1960 , Jimmy Carter in 1980 , Michael Dukakis in 1988 , George H.W .
Bush in 1992 , and John Kerry in 2004 — to cite just the most spectacular cases , ” Mr. Norpoth advises .
In case you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a task force for “ building and rebuilding monuments to American heroes ” and the plans include a formal National Garden of Heroes — a statuary park for such luminaries .
In his official proclamation issued Friday , Mr. Trump cited the many statues vandalized or destroyed during ongoing public unrest .
“ These statues are not ours alone , to be discarded at the whim of those inflamed by fashionable political passions ; they belong to generations that have come before us and to generations yet unborn .
My Administration will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ memory .
In the face of such acts of destruction , it is our responsibility as Americans to stand strong against this violence , and to peacefully transmit our great national story to future generations through newly commissioned monuments to American heroes , ” Mr. Trump said .
In April , singer , producer and clothing entrepreneur Kanye West announced he would vote to reelect President Trump when the time comes .
Now it appears he could be a rival .
Or something .
“ We must now realize the promise of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and building our future .
I am running for president of the United States !
# 2020VISION , ” Mr. West tweeted Saturday night to 29.5 million followers .
“ Is Kanye a Democrat or Republican ?
” Jeff Benjamin , an editor for Billboard and a correspondent for Rolling Stone , asked in a tweet .
According to the Hollywood Reporter , “ the announcement follows numerous statements by West in the past about his intentions to run for the highest office in the land — most recently last November at Fast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference with that announcement was his presidential sights were set on a 2024 bid.
” “ It is unclear if West has filed any paperwork necessary to run for president this election year , which would mean he ’ d likely have to run as a write-in candidate .
As of Saturday evening , the only candidate for president named Kanye West in the Federal Election Commission database for the 2020 election year is a Green Party candidate named ‘ Kanye Deez Nutz West , ’ ” the Hollywood Reporter wrote .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joseph R. Biden is having a little difficulty with major broadcasters ?
And it ’ s all President Trump ’ s fault ?
Read on .
“ Team Biden battles networks for airtime still dominated by Trump , ” advises Vanity Fair .
“ Though CNN , MSNBC , and Fox News carried Biden ’ s latest speech , the campaign has been frustrated when other events go uncovered .
‘ The burden is on the candidate to say something that ’ s newsworthy , ’ says one veteran producer , ” Vanity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Radio Free Europe — which has turned 70 years old .
On July 4 , 1950 , the U.S.-based broadcaster debuted with a 30-minute message to audiences in Czechoslovakia , sent from New York to a transmitter on the back of a flatbed truck in Lampertheim , West Germany .
It would inform listeners under communist rule that regular broadcasts would come soon .
These days , the message is delivered in 27 languages to 23 nations , and to an audience of 38 million .
“ Uncensored news and open debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impediments to them must be swiftly met with a robust insistence upon liberty and the power of the imagination .
People must not be told what to think , but they must be afforded the ability to think , ” said Michael Pack , chief of the U.S. Agency for Global Media , a federal entity which oversees six broadcast sources which include Radio Free Europe and its companion network Radio Liberty , plus Voice of America — the last of which alone commands an audience of 280 million worldwide .
• 42 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” their personal doctor for advice about coronavirus ; 43 % of Republicans , 31 % of independents and 52 % of Democrats agree .
• 36 % overall say they “ somewhat trust ” their doctor ; 41 % of Republicans , 40 % of independents and 32 % of Democrats agree .
• 5 % overall don ’ t trust their doctor ; 5 % of Republicans , 10 % of independents and 2 % of Democrats agree .
• 11 % overall say the question is “ not applicable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 12 % of independents and 11 % of Democrats agree .
• 5 % overall don ’ t know ; 4 % of Republicans , 7 % of independents and 3 % of Democrats agree .
Source : A Reader ’ s Digest poll of 2,070 U.S. adults conducted June 19-20 and released June 30 .

NEWS AND OPINION:
Let us pause for a moment and consider the Primary Model, a political forecasting method which predicts the ultimate outcome of White House races on voting patterns from presidential primaries.
The model has a laudable track record. Established in 1996 by Stony Brook University political science professor Helmut Norpoth, the Primary Model correctly picked the victors in multiple presidential elections — including the last one.
On March 7, 2016, it predicted then-candidate Donald Trump had an 87% chance of defeating Hillary Clinton. Will the president also vanquish Democratic nominee Joseph R. Biden?
“The Primary Model gives Trump a 91% chance of winning in November. This model has picked the winner in all but two elections since 1912, when primaries were introduced, including, of course, Trump’s victory in 2016,” Mr. Norpoth tells Inside the Beltway in a statement.
“As for polls showing Trump trailing Joe Biden right now, remember 2016. Polls and poll-based forecasts all handed Clinton a certain victory. But this is not the only failure,” he continues.
As a historical exercise, the model also forecast past bouts.
“The terrain of presidential contests is littered with nominees who saw a poll lead in the spring turn to dust in the fall. The list is long and discouraging for early front-runners. Beginning with Thomas Dewey in 1948, it spans such notables as Richard Nixon in 1960, Jimmy Carter in 1980, Michael Dukakis in 1988, George H.W. Bush in 1992, and John Kerry in 2004 — to cite just the most spectacular cases,” Mr. Norpoth advises.
A MONUMENTAL DECISION
In case you missed it, President Trump has established a task force for “building and rebuilding monuments to American heroes” and the plans include a formal National Garden of Heroes — a statuary park for such luminaries. In his official proclamation issued Friday, Mr. Trump cited the many statues vandalized or destroyed during ongoing public unrest.
“These statues are not ours alone, to be discarded at the whim of those inflamed by fashionable political passions; they belong to generations that have come before us and to generations yet unborn. My Administration will not abide an assault on our collective national memory. In the face of such acts of destruction, it is our responsibility as Americans to stand strong against this violence, and to peacefully transmit our great national story to future generations through newly commissioned monuments to American heroes,” Mr. Trump said.
KANYE’S BIG SURPRISE
In April, singer, producer and clothing entrepreneur Kanye West announced he would vote to reelect President Trump when the time comes. Now it appears he could be a rival. Or something.
“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States! #2020VISION,” Mr. West tweeted Saturday night to 29.5 million followers.
“You have my full support!” Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted back.
“Is Kanye a Democrat or Republican?” Jeff Benjamin, an editor for Billboard and a correspondent for Rolling Stone, asked in a tweet.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, “the announcement follows numerous statements by West in the past about his intentions to run for the highest office in the land — most recently last November at Fast Company’s Innovation Festival. The difference with that announcement was his presidential sights were set on a 2024 bid.”
“It is unclear if West has filed any paperwork necessary to run for president this election year, which would mean he’d likely have to run as a write-in candidate. As of Saturday evening, the only candidate for president named Kanye West in the Federal Election Commission database for the 2020 election year is a Green Party candidate named ‘Kanye Deez Nutz West,’” the Hollywood Reporter wrote.
BIDEN VERSUS BROADCASTERS
What’s this? Democratic presidential hopeful Joseph R. Biden is having a little difficulty with major broadcasters? And it’s all President Trump‘s fault? Read on.
“Team Biden battles networks for airtime still dominated by Trump,” advises Vanity Fair.
“Though CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News carried Biden’s latest speech, the campaign has been frustrated when other events go uncovered. ‘The burden is on the candidate to say something that’s newsworthy,’ says one veteran producer,” Vanity Fair notes.
A BROADCAST STALWART
Applause, please, for Radio Free Europe — which has turned 70 years old. On July 4, 1950, the U.S.-based broadcaster debuted with a 30-minute message to audiences in Czechoslovakia, sent from New York to a transmitter on the back of a flatbed truck in Lampertheim, West Germany.
It would inform listeners under communist rule that regular broadcasts would come soon. These days, the message is delivered in 27 languages to 23 nations, and to an audience of 38 million.
“Uncensored news and open debate are hallmarks of free societies, and impediments to them must be swiftly met with a robust insistence upon liberty and the power of the imagination. People must not be told what to think, but they must be afforded the ability to think,” said Michael Pack, chief of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a federal entity which oversees six broadcast sources which include Radio Free Europe and its companion network Radio Liberty, plus Voice of America — the last of which alone commands an audience of 280 million worldwide.
POLL DU JOUR
• 42% of U.S. adults “strongly trust” their personal doctor for advice about coronavirus; 43% of Republicans, 31% of independents and 52% of Democrats agree.
• 36% overall say they “somewhat trust” their doctor; 41% of Republicans, 40% of independents and 32% of Democrats agree.
• 5% overall don’t trust their doctor; 5% of Republicans, 10% of independents and 2% of Democrats agree.
• 11% overall say the question is “not applicable to them”; 8% of Republicans, 12% of independents and 11% of Democrats agree.
• 5% overall don’t know; 4% of Republicans, 7% of independents and 3% of Democrats agree.
Source: A Reader’s Digest poll of 2,070 U.S. adults conducted June 19-20 and released June 30.
• Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-05--Frederick Douglass statue defaced in Rochester, New York

Frederick Douglass was not a slave owner , not a Confederate general , nor even a “ white savior ” abolitionist .
His statue still was vandalized over the weekend .
A Douglass statue in Rochester , New York — the site of his famous July 4 address — was damaged and removed over the Independence Day weekend , according to news reports backed by social-media pictures from the site .
The statue of the famed 19th-century former slave and antebellum abolitionist had stood at Maplewood Park , Fox-2 news in St. Louis reported .
According to pictures , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bits of it were scattered around the area .
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle , citing a statement from local police , reported that the statue itself had been taken away , “ placed over the fence to the gorge and was leaning against the fence ” on the river side .
There was damage to the lower part of the statue and to Douglass ’ hand , the newspaper reported .
Douglass is perhaps the most-famous Black abolitionist in American history and his best-known speech is an 1852 Independence Day address to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July ?
” It is frequently read and spoken at Independence Day ceremonies around the country as a reminder of both the imperfections of America ’ s founders and the nation ’ s potential to fulfill its promises .

Frederick Douglass was not a slave owner, not a Confederate general, nor even a “white savior” abolitionist.
His statue still was vandalized over the weekend.
A Douglass statue in Rochester, New York — the site of his famous July 4 address — was damaged and removed over the Independence Day weekend, according to news reports backed by social-media pictures from the site.
The statue of the famed 19th-century former slave and antebellum abolitionist had stood at Maplewood Park, Fox-2 news in St. Louis reported.
According to pictures, the statue’s base was gone and bits of it were scattered around the area.
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, citing a statement from local police, reported that the statue itself had been taken away, “placed over the fence to the gorge and was leaning against the fence” on the river side.
There was damage to the lower part of the statue and to Douglass’ hand, the newspaper reported.
Douglass is perhaps the most-famous Black abolitionist in American history and his best-known speech is an 1852 Independence Day address to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing Society called “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”
It is frequently read and spoken at Independence Day ceremonies around the country as a reminder of both the imperfections of America’s founders and the nation’s potential to fulfill its promises.
• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Croatia's opposition leader stepping down after vote defeat

ZAGREB , Croatia ( AP ) - The leader of Croatia ’ s main liberal opposition party announced his resignation Monday , a day after a crushing defeat in the country ’ s parliamentary election held amid a coronavirus spike .
Davor Bernardic said he is stepping down as president of the Social Democratic Party after the vote which was convincingly won by Croatia ’ s ruling conservatives .
He said he won ’ t run for the party president in an upcoming internal party election .
The conservative Croatian Democratic Union , or HDZ , party has consolidated its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country ’ s 151-member parliament in Sunday ’ s election .
The party didn ’ t obtain an absolute majority and is expected to form a coalition government with smaller right-wing groups .
The Restart Coalition , led by Bernardic ’ s left-wing SDP party , won 41 seats , 15 seats less than in the previous parliament .
The right-wing Homeland Movement led by folk singer-turned-politician Miroslav Skoro came in third with 16 seats .
The election , originally scheduled for September , was called earlier by HDZ to capitalize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s coronavirus task force , which had handled the initial wave of the epidemic relatively well amid unprecedented restrictions and travel bans imposed in the country .
However , a new spike in cases which started in mid-June seemed to have melted away HDZ ’ s advantage and polls suggested a neck-and-neck race with no clear winner between HDZ and an SDP .
The election was also marked by the lowest-ever turnout , with less than 47 % of Croatia ’ s 3.8 million voters casting ballots .
That is explained by many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations amid the new COVID-19 wave .

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) - The leader of Croatia’s main liberal opposition party announced his resignation Monday, a day after a crushing defeat in the country’s parliamentary election held amid a coronavirus spike.
Davor Bernardic said he is stepping down as president of the Social Democratic Party after the vote which was convincingly won by Croatia’s ruling conservatives. He said he won’t run for the party president in an upcoming internal party election.
The conservative Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, party has consolidated its power in Croatia after winning 66 seats in the country’s 151-member parliament in Sunday’s election. The party didn’t obtain an absolute majority and is expected to form a coalition government with smaller right-wing groups.
The Restart Coalition, led by Bernardic’s left-wing SDP party, won 41 seats, 15 seats less than in the previous parliament.
The right-wing Homeland Movement led by folk singer-turned-politician Miroslav Skoro came in third with 16 seats.
The election, originally scheduled for September, was called earlier by HDZ to capitalize on the popularity of the government’s coronavirus task force, which had handled the initial wave of the epidemic relatively well amid unprecedented restrictions and travel bans imposed in the country.
However, a new spike in cases which started in mid-June seemed to have melted away HDZ’s advantage and polls suggested a neck-and-neck race with no clear winner between HDZ and an SDP.
The election was also marked by the lowest-ever turnout, with less than 47% of Croatia’s 3.8 million voters casting ballots. That is explained by many voters deciding to stay away from polling stations amid the new COVID-19 wave.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Union meets with mediator as shipyard strike enters 3rd week

BATH , Maine ( AP ) - The union representing striking shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works is meeting with a federal mediator as the strike enters a third week .
The negotiating committee of Machinists Local S6 was to meet with a federal mediator Monday , the union announced .
A meeting between the company and the mediator is expected later in the week .
Shipbuilders went on strike June 22 after 87 % of those who voted rejected the company ’ s final contract offer .
The proposal included pay raises of 3 % per year over three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension contributions intact .
But shipbuilders opposed the hiring of subcontractors , changes in work rules and provisions that they characterized as an attack on seniority .
“ We will not allow our rights on the job to be trampled by corporate greed .
We sacrifice everyday to make BIW best built .
It ’ s time they respect us and come to the table with a fair contract , ” the union said on social media .
Bath Iron Works , a subsidiary of General Dynamics , is one of the Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .
The company announced last week that it will begin broader hiring of subcontractors during the strike to continue production .
The shipyard was already behind schedule before the strike .

BATH, Maine (AP) - The union representing striking shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works is meeting with a federal mediator as the strike enters a third week.
The negotiating committee of Machinists Local S6 was to meet with a federal mediator Monday, the union announced. A meeting between the company and the mediator is expected later in the week.
Shipbuilders went on strike June 22 after 87% of those who voted rejected the company’s final contract offer.
The proposal included pay raises of 3% per year over three years and largely kept health care benefits and pension contributions intact.
But shipbuilders opposed the hiring of subcontractors, changes in work rules and provisions that they characterized as an attack on seniority.
“We will not allow our rights on the job to be trampled by corporate greed. We sacrifice everyday to make BIW best built. It’s time they respect us and come to the table with a fair contract,” the union said on social media.
Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, is one of the Navy’s biggest shipbuilders and employs 6,800 workers.
The company announced last week that it will begin broader hiring of subcontractors during the strike to continue production. The shipyard was already behind schedule before the strike.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Stabbing suspect surrenders to Bismarck police

BISMARCK , N.D. ( AP ) - Bismarck police have made an arrest in a stabbing case .
Authorities say @ @ @ @ @ police on Sunday .
Bermudes was wanted on probable charges of attempted murder and simple @ @ @ @ @ stabbed early Friday near a liquor store in Bismarck .
The individual was taken to @ @ @ @ @ The victim ’ s condition has not been released .
It ’ s not known @ @ @ @ @ attorney to speak on his behalf .

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Bismarck police have made an arrest in a stabbing case.
Authorities say 27-year-old Benjamin Bermudes surrendered to police on Sunday. Bermudes was wanted on probable charges of attempted murder and simple assault.
The victim was stabbed early Friday near a liquor store in Bismarck. The individual was taken to Sanford Hospital for treatment. The victim’s condition has not been released.
It’s not known whether Bermudes has hired an attorney to speak on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--2 women found dead in Tacoma home, police investigating

TACOMA , Wash. ( AP ) - Police are investigating after two women were found dead early Sunday inside their @ @ @ @ @ reports officers and medics were dispatched to the scene , a residence in the 1000 @ @ @ @ @ at around 4 a.m. after a man called 911 to report that he arrived home @ @ @ @ @ roommates unresponsive , said Wendy Haddow of the Tacoma police .
The two women , @ @ @ @ @ were pronounced dead at the scene by medics with the Tacoma Fire Department .
No @ @ @ @ @ about the two women .

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - Police are investigating after two women were found dead early Sunday inside their home in Tacoma.
KOMO-TV reports officers and medics were dispatched to the scene, a residence in the 1000 block of Pierce Street, at around 4 a.m. after a man called 911 to report that he arrived home and found his two female roommates unresponsive, said Wendy Haddow of the Tacoma police.
The man attempted lifesaving measures while police responded.
The two women, aged 31 and 34, were pronounced dead at the scene by medics with the Tacoma Fire Department. No other information was immediately available about the two women.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Austria: bachelor party ends with snake-bitten tongue

BERLIN ( AP ) - A German man ’ s bachelor party in the Austrian Alps ended with a snake @ @ @ @ @ a trip to a hospital .
The Austria Press Agency reported Monday that the local @ @ @ @ @ was dared to touch with his tongue a baby viper on the floor of an @ @ @ @ @ Muerztal in southeastern Austria .
The snake bit him and his tongue swelled up .
@ @ @ @ @ were called to the scene on Saturday evening , and he was taken to a @ @ @ @ @ said the partygoers may have confused the young snake with a worm .

BERLIN (AP) - A German man’s bachelor party in the Austrian Alps ended with a snake bite on the tongue and a trip to a hospital.
The Austria Press Agency reported Monday that the local Red Cross said the 38-year-old was dared to touch with his tongue a baby viper on the floor of an Alpine hut at Neuberg im Muerztal in southeastern Austria.
The snake bit him and his tongue swelled up. Mountain rescuers and a doctor were called to the scene on Saturday evening, and he was taken to a hospital.
The Red Cross said the partygoers may have confused the young snake with a worm.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Police: Virginia man posts stickers to spread Neo Nazi blog

NORFOLK , Va. ( AP ) - A Virginia man accused of posting QR code stickers that direct people to @ @ @ @ @ been arrested .
Samuel Caskey of Virginia Beach was arrested Friday , the Norfolk Police @ @ @ @ @ The day before his arrest , police said in a news release that the stickers @ @ @ @ @ signs and telephone poles in the city ’ s Ghent neighborhood in January .
When @ @ @ @ @ police said , the QR code would direct people “ to a New York based @ @ @ @ @ Neo Nazis.
” City officials removed them in January , but they reappeared in June @ @ @ @ @ identified , police said .
“ Let me be very clear , discriminatory acts such @ @ @ @ @ investigated by the Norfolk Police Department , and those responsible will be held accountable , @ @ @ @ @ said .
Caskey , 33 , faces a graffiti charge , WAVY-TV reported .
It @ @ @ @ @ he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf .

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A Virginia man accused of posting QR code stickers that direct people to a white supremacist blog has been arrested.
Samuel Caskey of Virginia Beach was arrested Friday, the Norfolk Police Department announced on Twitter. The day before his arrest, police said in a news release that the stickers had started appearing on street signs and telephone poles in the city’s Ghent neighborhood in January.
When scanned by a camera, police said, the QR code would direct people “to a New York based blog for white supremacists and Neo Nazis.” City officials removed them in January, but they reappeared in June, leading to Caskey being identified, police said.
“Let me be very clear, discriminatory acts such as this will be thoroughly investigated by the Norfolk Police Department, and those responsible will be held accountable,” Chief Larry D. Boone said.
Caskey, 33, faces a graffiti charge, WAVY-TV reported. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Uber buys Postmates in $2.65 billion all-stock deal

SILVER SPRING , Md .
( AP ) - Uber finally got its food delivery company , acquiring Postmates in a $ 2.65 billion all-stock deal , the ride-hailing giant confirmed Monday .
Uber and its Uber Eats food-delivery division will gain ground against DoorDash , which controls about 37 % of the U.S. food delivery market .
That ’ s compared with Uber Eats ’ 20 % share before the Postmates deal .
Grubhub holds around 30 % of the U.S. food delivery market , according to Second Measure , a data analysis company .
Last month , Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which would have made it the dominant U.S. food-delivery service .
But Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway.com ended up nabbing Chicago ’ s Grubhub in a $ 7.3 billion deal .
Uber was reportedly seeking to team Grubhub with its Uber Eats business .
The food delivery sector is undergoing a major consolidation this year and more is expected .
The number of people using food delivery services is on the rise because of the coronavirus pandemic , but customers tend to jump around from service to service depending on where they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaned on its food delivery business with COVID-19 cutting into all ride-share businesses .
Rides for Uber slid 3 % in the first quarter compared with the previous years .
Bookings through its food delivery business , on the other hand , surged 54 % in the same period .
By acquiring Postmates , Uber not only gets the bigger share of the food delivery market it has long desired , but also shores itself up against further pandemic-related losses in its ride-sharing division .
“ In our opinion , Uber finds itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the consolidation theme as the Grubhub deal fell apart on anti-trust concerns , and now must quickly look to acquire market share and added scale which makes the Postmates deal a smart strategic fit , ” analysts with Wedbush Securities wrote Monday .
Postmates , a closely held private company , claims 600,000 food and restaurant merchants to choose from , which it claims is the largest selection in the U.S .
The company says it has the ability to serve 80 % of households across all 50 states .
The boards of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021 .
Uber and Postmates are both based in San Francisco .
Shares of Uber Technologies Inc. surged more than 9 % before the opening bell Monday .

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) - Uber has widened its reach in the fiercely competitive delivery market by acquiring Postmates in a $2.65 billion all-stock deal, the company said Monday.
The acquisition enables the ride-hailing giant to increase its delivery offerings at a time when the global pandemic has suppressed customers’ desire for rides while boosting home delivery needs. While Uber’s meal delivery business, Uber Eats, has mostly focused on restaurants, Postmates delivers a wider array of goods including groceries, pharmacy items, alcoholic drinks and party supplies.
“The vision for us is to become an everyday service,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, in a conference call with investors Monday. “Postmates is a great step along that vision. Anyplace you want to go, anything you want delivered to your home, Uber is going to be there with you, and we think these everyday frequent interactions create a habit, create a connection with customers.
Uber and its Uber Eats food-delivery division will gain ground against DoorDash, which controls about 44% of the U.S. meal delivery market. That’s compared with Uber Eats’ 23% share before the Postmates deal. Grubhub and its subsidiaries had just under 23% of the U.S. meal delivery market, according to May figures from Second Measure, a data analysis company. Postmates had about 8% of the market.
“We really believe that the market is much bigger than, let’s say, the traditional delivery players,” Khosrowshahi said. “We look at groceries as a category, there’s a lot of hot food being delivered, we look at essentials as a category that we are going to go after as well.”
Last month, Uber lost out in a bid for Grubhub, which would have made it the dominant U.S. food delivery service. But Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway.com ended up nabbing Chicago’s Grubhub in a $7.3 billion deal. Uber was reportedly seeking to team Grubhub with its Uber Eats business.
The food delivery sector is undergoing a major consolidation this year and more is expected. The number of people using food delivery services is on the rise because of the coronavirus pandemic, but customers tend to jump around from service to service depending on where they can find the best deal.
Some restaurants are already leaving the platforms, saying the commissions - which can top 30% - are too high.
The Panda Express chain launched its own delivery service last month, saying delivery companies were making its meals too expensive for consumers. In March, some Washington restaurant and bar owners banded together to start their own delivery service, DC To-GoGo. It currently offers delivery from 18 establishments, and founder Josh Saltzman said it’s adding more each week.
Smaller restaurants, however, lack the muscle to negotiate favorable terms with the third-party platforms, or the capacity to build out their own online ordering service. Many are turning to delivery, despite the costs, as a means surviving pandemic shutdown orders.
For restaurants, “the deal is not quite as good,” said Stephen Beck, managing partner of management consultancy cg42. “A consolidation of power, so to speak, and fewer options is not a good thing for the restaurant industry.”
Third-party delivery orders in the U.S. have risen from 2% of restaurant transactions to about 7% during the pandemic, according to David Portalatin, food industry advisor at the NPD Group. In the month of May, third-party delivery orders rose 170% compared to the previous year, he said.
“It’s a very challenging business to start with and for that reason, you had a lot of independent restaurants who said third-party delivery is not for us. Then, the world changed dramatically overnight,” Portalatin said. “There has been a dramatic shift, so everybody is participating. That is going to enable the third-party apps to sign up a whole lot of restaurants.”
For many restaurants, the price of partnering with third-party platforms is coming on top of the costs of reopening with reduced capacity and other safety restrictions imposed because of the virus, Portalatin said.
“Unfortunately, some restaurants are going to close, and some are going to evolve,” he said.
Uber has leaned on its food delivery business with COVID-19 cutting into all ride-share businesses. Uber’s rides business slid 3% in the first quarter and dropped 80% in April compared with the same time last year. Bookings through its food delivery business, on the other hand, surged 54% in the first quarter.
By acquiring Postmates, Uber not only gets the bigger share of the food delivery market it has long desired, but also shores itself up against further pandemic-related losses in its ride-hailing division.
“In our opinion, Uber finds itself with its back against the wall on the consolidation theme as the Grubhub deal fell apart on anti-trust concerns, and now must quickly look to acquire market share and added scale which makes the Postmates deal a smart strategic fit,” analysts with Wedbush Securities wrote Monday.
Postmates, a closely held private company, claims 600,000 food and restaurant merchants to choose from, which it claims is the largest selection in the U.S. The company says it has the ability to serve 80% of households across all 50 states.
The boards of both companies have approved the transaction and the deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
Uber and Postmates are both based in San Francisco.
Shares of Uber Technologies Inc. rose $1.84, or 6%, to close Monday at $32.52.
______
AP Business Writers Alexandra Olson in New York and Dee-Ann Durbin in Ann Arbor, Michigan, contributed to this story.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--12-year-old boy, 69-year-old man killed in Brooklyn fire

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A 12-year-old boy and a 69-year-old man were killed when fire tore through a @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The fire started just before 2 a.m. on the top floor of @ @ @ @ @ the Flatbush neighborhood , police said .
The young boy and the 69-year-old man were @ @ @ @ @ .
Their names were not immediately released .
An 82-year-old woman and a 30-year-old woman @ @ @ @ @ the fire .
A Fire Department spokesperson said five firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the @ @ @ @ @ the fire is under investigation .

NEW YORK (AP) - A 12-year-old boy and a 69-year-old man were killed when fire tore through a Brooklyn apartment early Monday, police said.
The fire started just before 2 a.m. on the top floor of a five-story apartment building in the Flatbush neighborhood, police said. The young boy and the 69-year-old man were pronounced dead at area hospitals. Their names were not immediately released. An 82-year-old woman and a 30-year-old woman were hospitalized with injuries from the fire.
A Fire Department spokesperson said five firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Uber buys Postmates for $2.65 billion as food delivery companies try to survive a crowded, intensely

SAN FRANCISCO ( AP ) - Uber buys Postmates for $ 2.65 billion as food delivery companies try to survive @ @ @ @ @ field .

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, a restaurant advertises Uber Eats in the Coconut Grove neighborhood in Miami. Some app-based delivery companies have announced hiring sprees to cope with a surge in orders from millions of people …
FILE - In this Nov. 6, …


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--University renames hall after namesake called segregationist

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - A university in Mississippi removed the name of a former president from @ @ @ @ @ petition called the man a segregationist .
On Friday , Belhaven University in Jackson announced @ @ @ @ @ T. Gillespie Hall to Lakeview Hall , news outlets reported .
Gillespie served as president @ @ @ @ @ for 33 years , starting in 1921 .
According to the petition , Gillespie ’ @ @ @ @ @ 1950s “ have no place ” on the campus .
In 1954 , Gillespie published @ @ @ @ @ Segregation , ” where he argued against racial integration in schools based on biblical grounds @ @ @ @ @ in The Journal of Presbyterian History .
The name change comes after Belhaven officials joined @ @ @ @ @ the retirement of the Mississippi state flag .
According to a tweet from the university @ @ @ @ @ the name change .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A university in Mississippi removed the name of a former president from a residence hall after a petition called the man a segregationist.
On Friday, Belhaven University in Jackson announced it would change the Guy T. Gillespie Hall to Lakeview Hall, news outlets reported. Gillespie served as president of the private Christian university for 33 years, starting in 1921.
According to the petition, Gillespie’s segregationist views from the 1950s “have no place” on the campus.
In 1954, Gillespie published “A Christian View on Segregation,” where he argued against racial integration in schools based on biblical grounds, according to an article in The Journal of Presbyterian History.
The name change comes after Belhaven officials joined other universities and called for the retirement of the Mississippi state flag.
According to a tweet from the university, the Gillespie family supported the name change.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Waukesha shootout ends when man takes own life, police say

WAUKESHA , Wis. ( AP ) - A shootout with a domestic assault suspect in Waukesha ended when the man @ @ @ @ @ according to police .
Officers were called to a home shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday @ @ @ @ @ a handgun attempted to strangle a woman and threatened to shoot family members and police @ @ @ @ @ to flee from the home along with three young children , authorities said .
Police @ @ @ @ @ negotiate with the 45-year-old man when he began shooting from a window , striking an @ @ @ @ @ one officer who was hit by shrapnel .
Officers returned fire .
Police later entered @ @ @ @ @ man dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound .
Two firearms were recovered on scene @ @ @ @ @ officers who fired their weapons are on administrative leave based on departmental policy .
The @ @ @ @ @ treated at a local hospital and released .
Greenfield police are leading the investigation into @ @ @

WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP) - A shootout with a domestic assault suspect in Waukesha ended when the man took his own life, according to police.
Officers were called to a home shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday where the man armed with a handgun attempted to strangle a woman and threatened to shoot family members and police.
The woman was able to flee from the home along with three young children, authorities said.
Police said they were trying to negotiate with the 45-year-old man when he began shooting from a window, striking an occupied armored vehicle and injuring one officer who was hit by shrapnel. Officers returned fire.
Police later entered the home and found the man dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Two firearms were recovered on scene, officials said. The officers who fired their weapons are on administrative leave based on departmental policy.
The officer who was injured was treated at a local hospital and released.
Greenfield police are leading the investigation into the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Father, son charged in shooting that left 4 men wounded

EPHRATA , Pa. ( AP ) - A man involved in a fight opened fire on six people after his father gave him a rifle at their home , authorities said , leaving four people wounded .
The shooting in Ephrata occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday , according to the Lancaster County District Attorney ’ s Office .
Mark Ivie Jr. , 20 , and another man had fought a few minutes earlier near Ivie ’ s home following an argument over a previous incident , authorities said .
The man Ivie fought with was among the people he shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear if that man was among those wounded .
Two of the shooting victims were in critical condition , while two others were hospitalized in stable condition .
Another man suffered serious injuries when he was beaten by Mark Ivie Sr. , 43. authorities said .
Ivie Jr. is charged with six counts each of attempted homicide , aggravated assault and conspiracy .
His bail was set at $ 1 million .
The elder Ivie faces six counts each of aggravated assault and conspiracy .
His bail was set at $ 750,000 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ either man has retained an attorney .

EPHRATA, Pa. (AP) - A man involved in a fight opened fire on six people after his father gave him a rifle at their home, authorities said, leaving four people wounded.
The shooting in Ephrata occurred around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office.
Mark Ivie Jr., 20, and another man had fought a few minutes earlier near Ivie’s home following an argument over a previous incident, authorities said. The man Ivie fought with was among the people he shot at, but it wasn’t clear if that man was among those wounded.
Two of the shooting victims were in critical condition, while two others were hospitalized in stable condition. Another man suffered serious injuries when he was beaten by Mark Ivie Sr., 43. authorities said.
Ivie Jr. is charged with six counts each of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and conspiracy. His bail was set at $1 million.
The elder Ivie faces six counts each of aggravated assault and conspiracy. His bail was set at $750,000.
It wasn’t known Monday if either man has retained an attorney.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Serbian military opens field hospital amid coronavirus spike

BELGRADE , Serbia ( AP ) - Troops in Serbia set up an emergency 500-bed field hospital Monday , a day after neighboring Kosovo re-imposed a nighttime curfew in four cities , as the Balkans battled to contain a surge in coronavirus infections that underscored the risks of swiftly easing lockdowns .
The makeshift hospital in a sports hall in the Serbian capital , Belgrade , is a “ precautionary measure ” as hospitals in the capital are reaching their capacity because of the coronavirus outbreak , the city ’ s deputy mayor , Goran Vesic , said .
Serbian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the peak of the pandemic in the Balkan country in March and April .
Serbia ’ s rising infections provide a chilling insight into how the virus , while retreating in much of Europe , can roar back if lockdowns are lifted too swiftly .
The country went from having some of Europe ’ s toughest lockdown measures to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May .
Soccer and tennis matches were played in front of packed stands , resulting in several players testing positive .
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following an event he organized in Serbia and the Croatian Adriatic resort of Zadar .
Greece moved to contain the burgeoning threat by banning Serbs from crossing its only open land border from Monday morning .
The new restrictions caused a seven-kilometer ( four-mile ) traffic jam at the Promahonas border crossing with Bulgaria .
Authorities eventually allowed scores of cars into Greece that had been trapped overnight .
On Sunday , Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti reimposed nighttime curfews in the capital , Pristina , and three other cities with sharply rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit , with bus seating cut by half .
A day earlier Kosovar authorities reported 8 deaths from the coronavirus , the highest daily number in the Western Balkan country since the start of the outbreak in March .
New daily cases were 178 , also the highest so far .
Spain also was taking action to rein in regional spikes , two weeks after the hard-hit country ended a state of emergency in force since mid-March .
Over 28,000 people are confirmed to have died from the virus in Spain .
Restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in the northwestern county of A Mariña , on the northern Atlantic coast , and over 200,000 in northeastern Catalonia ’ s Segrià county around Lleida .
The latter is particularly worrying because it affects migrant laborers harvesting fruit who are considered highly vulnerable to contagion because many endure basic living and working conditions .
The restrictions were coming into force at the start of Europe ’ s summer holiday season that usually sees millions of people crisscrossing the continent in search of sun , sand and cultural highlights .
Paris was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reopening the world-renowned Louvre Museum , home to Leonardo da Vinci ’ s Mona Lisa .
The Eiffel Tower reopened June 25 .
Face masks were a must and visitor numbers were limited , with reservations required .
Thrill-seeking tourists and locals in Spain , however , were out of luck .
The San Fermin festival that features the adrenaline-charged running of the bulls in Pamplona was scheduled to open Monday but has been canceled due to fears the packed streets could become a virus spreading event .
Some 400 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gathered at noon at a central Pamplona square where in normal times more than 12,000 would witness the launch of a rocket known as “ Chupinazo ” to open the nine-day festival , bathing each other with red wine and champagne .
There was better news for Britons planning a Greek vacation getaway .
Greece ’ s government announced that direct flights from the United Kingdom to all airports in Greece can resume as of July 15 .
Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said the decision was taken “ in cooperation with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts.
” Greece had previously banned all flights from Britain due to the extent of the coronavirus spread there .
Meanwhile , the British government threw a 1.57 billion-pound ( $ 1.96 billion ) lifeline to museums , galleries , theaters , movie theaters , heritage sites and music venues hit by coronavirus lockdowns .
“ When we heard last night , we slept for the first time since March , ” said Kwame Kwei-Armah , artistic director of London ’ s Young Vic theater .
Corder reported from The Hague , Netherlands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

MIAMI (AP) - Hospitals rapidly approached capacity across the Sunbelt, and the Miami area closed indoor dining at restaurants and gyms again because of the surging coronavirus Monday, as the U.S. emerged from a Fourth of July weekend of picnics, pool parties and beach outings that health officials fear could fuel the rapidly worsening outbreak.
The seesaw effect - restrictions lifted, then reimposed - has been seen around the country in recent weeks and is expected again after a holiday that saw crowds of people celebrating, many without masks.
“We were concerned before the weekend and remain concerned post-holiday, as anecdotal stories and observed behavior indicate that many continue to disregard important protective guidance,” said Heather Woolwine, a spokeswoman for the Medical University of South Carolina.
Confirmed cases are on the rise in 41 out of 50 states plus the District of Columbia, and the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is increasing in 39 states.
Florida, which recorded an all-time high of 11,400 new cases Saturday and has seen its positive test rate lately reach more than 18%, has been hit especially hard, along with other Sunbelt states such as Arizona, California and Texas.
A virus outbreak in the California Legislature indefinitely delayed the state Assembly’s return to work from a scheduled summer recess. Five people including Assemblywoman Autumn Burke tested positive. Coronavirus hospitalizations in California have increased 56% in the past two weeks while the number of confirmed cases has jumped 53%.
In Miami-Dade County, population 2.7 million, Mayor Carlos Gimenez ordered the closing of restaurants to indoor dining and certain other indoor places, including vacation rentals, seven weeks after they were allowed to reopen. Gimenez had initially said that restaurants would be closed to all dining but in a statement Monday evening the mayor said that after meeting with medical experts and a restaurant industry group that his emergency order “will allow for outdoor dining, where possible, to continue with restrictions.” Beaches will reopen on Tuesday after being closed over the weekend.
“But if we see crowding and people not following the public health rules, I will be forced to close the beaches again,” the mayor warned.
Hospitalizations across the state have been ticking upward, with nearly 1,700 patients admitted in the past seven days compared with 1,200 the previous week. Five hospitals in the St. Petersburg area were out of intensive care unit beds, officials said. Miami’s Baptist Hospital had only four of its 88 ICU beds available.
“If we continue to increase at the pace we have been, we won’t have enough ventilators, enough rooms,” said Dr. David De La Zerda, ICU medical director and pulmonologist at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Officials in Texas also reported hospitals are in danger of being overwhelmed. Hospitalizations statewide surged past 8,000 for the first time over the weekend, a more than fourfold increase in the past month. Houston officials said intensive care units there have exceeded capacity.
Along the border with Mexico, two severely ill patients were flown hundreds of miles north to Dallas and San Antonio because hospitals in the Rio Grande Valley were full.
In Arizona, the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 topped 3,200, a new high, and hospitals statewide were at 89% capacity. Confirmed cases surpassed 100,000, and more than half of those infected, or over 62,000, are under 44 years old, state health officials said.
As cases surge across the state, Katie Cameron said it appears some of her neighbors in Phoenix are in denial. The mother of two said she’s seen people tearing down caution tape meant to keep them off playground equipment in parks, large groups gathering to socialize and - most concerning - very few masks.
“I feel like people don’t care or don’t think its real,” Cameron said. “It’s kind of like ‘out of sight, out of mind’ or they are just lying to themselves because they don’t want to believe it.”
Health officials in South Carolina reported over 1,500 new cases Monday. If the numbers keep rising at their current rates, hospitals will probably have to adopt an emergency plan to add 3,000 more beds in places such as hotels and gyms, authorities said.
Alabama has been averaging about 1,000 new cases a day, two or three times what it was seeing in late April, when its stay-at-home order was lifted.
“We set a record for highs over the holiday weekend, and, of course, given the number of people who were out and about over the weekend celebrating, we are certainly concerned about what the next couple of weeks are going to look like as well,” said Scott Harris, Alabama’s health officer.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice reversed course and ordered the wearing of face masks indoors, joining other state leaders around the country.
“I’m telling you, West Virginia, if we don’t do that and do this now, we’re going to be in a world of hurt,” he said, adding: “It’s not much of an inconvenience.”
The coronavirus is blamed for over a half-million deaths worldwide, including more than 130,000 in the U.S., according to the tally kept by Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed infections nationwide stood at 2.9 million, though the real number is believed to be 10 times higher.
New cases per day nationwide have hit record levels of well over 50,000.
Average deaths per day have fallen over the past two weeks from around 600 to about 510, in what experts say reflects advances in treatment and prevention as well as the large share of cases among young adults, who are more likely than older ones to survive COVID-19.
But deaths are considered a lagging indicator - that is, it takes time for people to get sick and die. And experts are worried the downward trend in deaths could reverse itself.
Meanwhile, three of the top U.S. medical organizations issued an open letter urging Americans to wear masks, social distance and wash hands often to help stop “the worst public health crisis in generations.”
The American Medical Association, American Nurses Association and American Hospital Association issued the plea in the absence of a mask-wearing order from Washington and said steps taken early on that helped slow the spread of COVID-19 “were too quickly abandoned.”
The White House again rejected calls for a nationwide order to wear face coverings, with White House chief of staff Mark Meadows saying on Fox News that it is a matter for governors and mayors to decide.
In New York, once the most lethal hot spot in the country, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he was concerned about reports of large gatherings over the holiday weekend in New York City, on Fire Island and other places.
“I understand people are fatigued,” he said. “We’ve been doing this for 128 days. I get it. But it doesn’t change the facts, and we have to stay smart.”
___
Gomez Licon reported from Miami. Pane reported from Boise, Idaho.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Commerzbank shares jump after CEO, board chair quit

FRANKFURT , Germany ( AP ) - Shares in Germany ’ s struggling Commerzbank rose more than 8 % on Monday in the wake of the resignation of the bank ’ s CEO and board chairman under pressure over the bank ’ s sagging profits and stock price .
CEO Martin Zielke and board chair Stefan Schmittmann submitted their resignations on Friday .
Zielke said that the bank ’ s financial performance had been “ unsatisfactory ” and that the bank needed “ a profound transformation and a new CEO.
” Shares rose to 4.45 euros in early afternoon trading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank ’ s management has been criticized by U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management , the second-largest shareholder , over the pace of restructuring .
The bank is reportedly considering dropping 7,000 jobs and closing branches as it struggles with low profitability .
Discussions last year about a possible merger with Germany ’ s Deutsche Bank did not lead to a deal .
Commerzbank made a net loss of 295 million euros ( $ 320 million ) in the first three months of the year .
Very low or negative interest rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since they lower returns on bond holdings and squeeze margins on lending .
However the European Central Bank has taken steps to ease the impact of negative rates on bank profits by exempting some of their holdings at the central bank from the official negative rate .
Job cuts “ will be just the start for the bank , ” wrote ABN AMRO analyst Tom Kinmonth .
“ Commerzbank is caught in a trap .
Negative interest rates are hurting banks with low domestic government bond yields.
” Commerzbank ’ s largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 15 % , a legacy of a state bailout of the bank during the global financial crisis in 2009 .

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - Shares in Germany’s struggling Commerzbank rose more than 8% on Monday in the wake of the resignation of the bank’s CEO and board chairman under pressure over the bank’s sagging profits and stock price.
CEO Martin Zielke and board chair Stefan Schmittmann submitted their resignations on Friday. Zielke said that the bank’s financial performance had been “unsatisfactory” and that the bank needed “a profound transformation and a new CEO.”
Shares rose to 4.45 euros in early afternoon trading in Europe.
Media reports indicate the bank’s management has been criticized by U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, the second-largest shareholder, over the pace of restructuring. The bank is reportedly considering dropping 7,000 jobs and closing branches as it struggles with low profitability. Discussions last year about a possible merger with Germany’s Deutsche Bank did not lead to a deal. Commerzbank made a net loss of 295 million euros ($320 million) in the first three months of the year.
Very low or negative interest rates are one factor that can weaken profits, since they lower returns on bond holdings and squeeze margins on lending. However the European Central Bank has taken steps to ease the impact of negative rates on bank profits by exempting some of their holdings at the central bank from the official negative rate.
Job cuts “will be just the start for the bank,” wrote ABN AMRO analyst Tom Kinmonth. “Commerzbank is caught in a trap. Negative interest rates are hurting banks with low domestic government bond yields.”
Commerzbank’s largest shareholder is the German government with more than 15%, a legacy of a state bailout of the bank during the global financial crisis in 2009.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Germany spent over $1B to cover costs linked to US troops

BERLIN ( AP ) - The German government has paid more than $ 1 billion over the past decade to cover costs related to the stationing of U.S. troops in Germany , according to the finance ministry in Berlin .
The ministry provided the figures in reply to a query from opposition Left Party lawmaker Brigitte Freihold .
The reply was obtained Monday by The Associated Press , and was first reported by German news agency dpa .
The German government paid a total of 982.4 million euros ( $ 1.1 billion ) between 2010 and 2019 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 648.5 million euros went into construction work .
Last month , U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is ordering a major reduction in troop strength in Germany , from around 34,500 personnel down to 25,000 .
Germany is a hub for U.S. operations in the Middle East and Africa .
Germany wasn ’ t notified of the move , which came after Trump branded the NATO ally “ delinquent ” for failing to pay enough for its own defense , by not meeting a goal set in 2014 for members to halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 2 % of gross national product on defense by 2024 .
Trump has stressed that the German economy benefits from spending by the U.S. troops based there .
According to NATO figures , Germany is spending about 1.38 % of GDP on its defense budget .
Berlin aims to hit 1.5 % by 2024 and insists that this level of spending allows it to meet NATO ’ s defense planning goals .
The U.S. - at around 3.4 % of GDP - spends more on defense than all 29 other allies combined @

BERLIN (AP) - The German government has paid more than $1 billion over the past decade to cover costs related to the stationing of U.S. troops in Germany, according to the finance ministry in Berlin.
The ministry provided the figures in reply to a query from opposition Left Party lawmaker Brigitte Freihold. The reply was obtained Monday by The Associated Press, and was first reported by German news agency dpa.
The German government paid a total of 982.4 million euros ($1.1 billion) between 2010 and 2019, according to the finance ministry. Of that, 648.5 million euros went into construction work.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is ordering a major reduction in troop strength in Germany, from around 34,500 personnel down to 25,000.
Germany is a hub for U.S. operations in the Middle East and Africa.
Germany wasn’t notified of the move, which came after Trump branded the NATO ally “delinquent” for failing to pay enough for its own defense, by not meeting a goal set in 2014 for members to halt budget cuts and move toward spending at least 2% of gross national product on defense by 2024. Trump has stressed that the German economy benefits from spending by the U.S. troops based there.
According to NATO figures, Germany is spending about 1.38% of GDP on its defense budget. Berlin aims to hit 1.5% by 2024 and insists that this level of spending allows it to meet NATO’s defense planning goals. The U.S. - at around 3.4% of GDP - spends more on defense than all 29 other allies combined.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Manufacturers warn recovery could falter without more immigration

President Trump ’ s coronavirus immigration pause could stunt the recovery by preventing key managers from multinational companies from being able to come into the U.S. to get their operations moving again , the National Association of Manufacturers warned Monday .
Jay Timmons , NAM ’ s president , told Mr. Trump in a letter that the “ resurgence is put at risk ” by the current policy , which as of June 22 blocks many key guest-workers from arriving in the U.S. for the rest of the year .
Mr. Timmons said some companies , such as pharmaceuticals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be able to bring top-level scientists here .
And plant managers from global companies , such as automobile manufacturing , won ’ t be able to come to ramp up production .
“ We are facing an unprecedented economic situation , but not all parts of the economy , all sectors , all employers and all communities are impacted in the same way , ” Mr. Timmons wrote .
“ The June 22 proclamation disregards this economic reality and imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction on employers that is inconsistent with the complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws.
” He called for the president to cancel the order altogether , or at least add exceptions for “ critical industries.
” The immigration pause began in April with a two-month blockade on some new legal permanent immigration , covering perhaps 25,000 people a month .
In June , Mr. Trump expanded that pause through the rest of the year , and added in hundreds of thousands of temporary legal visas like H-1B program covering high-skilled workers , and the H-2B program for seasonal non-agriculture employment such as lifeguarding at summer resorts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House has cast the moves as a way to block foreign competitors from arriving to undercut Americans who are now out of work amid the pandemic but seeking to regain jobs .
But the White House has shown a willingness to exempt some immigration in cases where it feels those newcomers will spur the recovery , such as the EB-5 program , also known as the “ golden visa.
” Under EB-5 , wealthy investors willing to pony up at least $ 900,000 for a job-creating investment can enter the U.S. Administration officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recovery .
The EB-5 program is also used by companies associated with the family of Mr. Trump ’ s son-in-law and senior White House advisor , Jared Kushner .
The economy added 4.8 million jobs back last month and the unemployment rate stood at 11.1 % , still the worst since the Great Depression , but a significant improvement from April , when it topped 14 % .

President Trump’s coronavirus immigration pause could stunt the recovery by preventing key managers from multinational companies from being able to come into the U.S. to get their operations moving again, the National Association of Manufacturers warned Monday.
Jay Timmons, NAM’s president, told Mr. Trump in a letter that the “resurgence is put at risk” by the current policy, which as of June 22 blocks many key guest-workers from arriving in the U.S. for the rest of the year.
Mr. Timmons said some companies, such as pharmaceuticals, may shift research overseas because they won’t be able to bring top-level scientists here. And plant managers from global companies, such as automobile manufacturing, won’t be able to come to ramp up production.
“We are facing an unprecedented economic situation, but not all parts of the economy, all sectors, all employers and all communities are impacted in the same way,” Mr. Timmons wrote. “The June 22 proclamation disregards this economic reality and imposes a one-size-fits-all restriction on employers that is inconsistent with the complex and calibrated system established by our immigration laws.”
He called for the president to cancel the order altogether, or at least add exceptions for “critical industries.”
The immigration pause began in April with a two-month blockade on some new legal permanent immigration, covering perhaps 25,000 people a month.
In June, Mr. Trump expanded that pause through the rest of the year, and added in hundreds of thousands of temporary legal visas like H-1B program covering high-skilled workers, and the H-2B program for seasonal non-agriculture employment such as lifeguarding at summer resorts, or staffing landscaping.
The White House has cast the moves as a way to block foreign competitors from arriving to undercut Americans who are now out of work amid the pandemic but seeking to regain jobs.
But the White House has shown a willingness to exempt some immigration in cases where it feels those newcomers will spur the recovery, such as the EB-5 program, also known as the “golden visa.” Under EB-5, wealthy investors willing to pony up at least $900,000 for a job-creating investment can enter the U.S.
Administration officials say that kind of investment could help the recovery. The EB-5 program is also used by companies associated with the family of Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House advisor, Jared Kushner.
The economy added 4.8 million jobs back last month and the unemployment rate stood at 11.1%, still the worst since the Great Depression, but a significant improvement from April, when it topped 14%.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Swiss indict 2 for alleged ties to IS recruitment ring

GENEVA ( AP ) - Swiss federal prosecutors said Monday they have indicted two men alleged to have tried to join up with jihadists in territory once held by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq .
A Swiss-Tunisian dual national , who is accused of having recruited IS members , and a Swiss co-defendant face charges linked to a ban on radical groups like IS and al-Qaida .
They allegedly trained with a group in Switzerland and France before traveling to Turkey in late 2015 .
In Turkey , they stayed in an IS safe house until they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities , the Attorney General ’ s office said in a statement .
They were returned to Switzerland in the summer of 2016 , and temporarily placed in pretrial detention .
The two men were late released subject to unspecified “ alternative measures , ” the statement said .
Such measures can include bail , handover of passports , movement restrictions and the need to regularly check in with authorities .
Swiss prosecutors are currently conducting some 70 criminal proceedings linked to “ jihadist-motivated terrorism , ” mostly involving propaganda , recruitment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Switzerland did not face any major violent extremist attacks like those other parts of Europe during the heyday of IS in the mid-2010s .
The two men were not identified .
Prosecutors will say what penalties they are asking for when the case is heard in Swiss federal criminal court .

GENEVA (AP) - Swiss federal prosecutors said Monday they have indicted two men alleged to have tried to join up with jihadists in territory once held by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.
A Swiss-Tunisian dual national, who is accused of having recruited IS members, and a Swiss co-defendant face charges linked to a ban on radical groups like IS and al-Qaida. They allegedly trained with a group in Switzerland and France before traveling to Turkey in late 2015.
In Turkey, they stayed in an IS safe house until they were stopped from entering Syria by Turkish authorities, the Attorney General’s office said in a statement. They were returned to Switzerland in the summer of 2016, and temporarily placed in pretrial detention.
The two men were late released subject to unspecified “alternative measures,” the statement said. Such measures can include bail, handover of passports, movement restrictions and the need to regularly check in with authorities.
Swiss prosecutors are currently conducting some 70 criminal proceedings linked to “jihadist-motivated terrorism,” mostly involving propaganda, recruitment and financing of radical groups, the office said. Switzerland did not face any major violent extremist attacks like those other parts of Europe during the heyday of IS in the mid-2010s.
The two men were not identified. Prosecutors will say what penalties they are asking for when the case is heard in Swiss federal criminal court.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Senator investigated by state board over COVID-19 comments

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( AP ) - State Sen. Scott Jensen said he ’ s being investigated by the @ @ @ @ @ Practice for some public comments he made as a doctor about the coronavirus .
In @ @ @ @ @ Chaska Republican said the investigation related to his earlier criticism of the Minnesota Department of @ @ @ @ @ on when doctors should characterize deaths as due to COVID-19 .
Jensen said he was @ @ @ @ @ be inflated is each state ’ s allocation of federal funds depended on the number @ @ @ @ @ said doesn ’ t know who filed a complaint with the board and that he @ @ @ @ @ said he will cooperate fully with the investigation , the Star Tribune reported .
In @ @ @ @ @ the board is focused on two allegations : spreading misinformation about the death toll and @ @ @ @ @ by comparing COVID-19 with the flu .

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - State Sen. Scott Jensen said he’s being investigated by the Minnesota State Board of Medical Practice for some public comments he made as a doctor about the coronavirus.
In a video released Sunday the Chaska Republican said the investigation related to his earlier criticism of the Minnesota Department of Health for following federal guidelines on when doctors should characterize deaths as due to COVID-19.
Jensen said he was fearful the death toll might be inflated is each state’s allocation of federal funds depended on the number of coronavirus deaths.
He said doesn’t know who filed a complaint with the board and that he felt “targeted.” Jensen said he will cooperate fully with the investigation, the Star Tribune reported.
In the video, Jensen said the board is focused on two allegations: spreading misinformation about the death toll and providing “reckless advice” by comparing COVID-19 with the flu.


washingtontimes--2020-07-06--Lightning strikes, injures 2 men leaving Clearwater Beach

CLEARWATER , Fla. ( AP ) - Lightning struck two people on Sunday afternoon as a line of storms from @ @ @ @ @ onto Clearwater of Beach , police said .
Gacek Arkadiusz , 37 , of Des @ @ @ @ @ unconscious and not breathing when police arrived at the scene around 2:15 p.m. , media @ @ @ @ @ began CPR until lifeguards arrived and took over medical treatment .
He was taken to @ @ @ @ @ , Clearwater police said .
Sav Keomany , 43 , Pickerington , Ohio , who @ @ @ @ @ , was taken to the hospital in stable condition , media outlets reported .
Authorities @ @ @ @ @ the beach because of the storms and were about halfway between the waterline and the @ @ @ @ @ struck .

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Lightning struck two people on Sunday afternoon as a line of storms from the Gulf of Mexico moved onto Clearwater of Beach, police said.
Gacek Arkadiusz, 37, of Des Plaines, Illinois, was unconscious and not breathing when police arrived at the scene around 2:15 p.m., media outlets reported. An officer began CPR until lifeguards arrived and took over medical treatment.
He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, Clearwater police said.
Sav Keomany, 43, Pickerington, Ohio, who was a few feet away, was taken to the hospital in stable condition, media outlets reported.
Authorities said the men were leaving the beach because of the storms and were about halfway between the waterline and the sand dunes when they were struck.