washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Europe holds low-key VE-Day commemorations due to virus

LONDON ( AP ) — Europe was marking the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces following six years of war in a low-key fashion Friday due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions across the continent .
Instead of the big celebrations that had been planned , people across Europe have been asked to mark the moment in private .
Queen Elizabeth II will lead the tributes in the U.K. to mark the 75th anniversary with a broadcast to the nation at 9 p.m. , the exact time that her father addressed the nation 75 years ago .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 a.m. to honor the memories of the British servicemen and women who gave their lives during the war .
The silence will be led by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall , and broadcast from a location in Scotland , where they are self-isolating .
The victory speech of Britain ’ s wartime prime minister , Winston Churchill , will also be broadcast later on BBC Television .
French President Emmanuel Macron is to visit the statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Paris before attending a VE Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
De Gaulle led the Free France forces during the war from London after his country had been invaded by Germany in 1940 .
France had been liberated in 1944 .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other high-ranking officials are to lay a wreath at the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Victims of War and Tyranny .
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is also set to deliver a speech and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is expected to be illuminated to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day .

LONDON (AP) — Europe was marking the 75th anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces following six years of war in a low-key fashion Friday due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions across the continent.
Instead of the big celebrations that had been planned, people across Europe have been asked to mark the moment in private.
BRITAIN
Queen Elizabeth II will lead the tributes in the U.K. to mark the 75th anniversary with a broadcast to the nation at 9 p.m., the exact time that her father addressed the nation 75 years ago.
A two-minute silence will be observed at 11 a.m. to honor the memories of the British servicemen and women who gave their lives during the war. The silence will be led by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and broadcast from a location in Scotland, where they are self-isolating.
The victory speech of Britain’s wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill, will also be broadcast later on BBC Television.
FRANCE
French President Emmanuel Macron is to visit the statue of General Charles de Gaulle in Paris before attending a VE Day commemoration ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.
De Gaulle led the Free France forces during the war from London after his country had been invaded by Germany in 1940. France had been liberated in 1944.
GERMANY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other high-ranking officials are to lay a wreath at the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Victims of War and Tyranny.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is also set to deliver a speech and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is expected to be illuminated to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Fairmont State offers virtual commencement this weekend

FAIRMONT , W.Va. ( AP ) - Fairmont State University ’ s Class of 2020 will have a virtual commencement @ @ @ @ @ ceremonies tentatively set for Aug. 8 .
University President Mirta Martin will give a welcome @ @ @ @ @ invited to record a message or photo and message to be included in the ceremony @ @ @ @ @ be viewed at fairmont.stageclip.com beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday , the university said in a @ @ @ @ @ the class “ deserves celebrating ” because “ they confronted the defining crisis of our @ @ @ @ @ virtual nursing pinning ceremony and virtual senior award celebration are planned for Wednesday .
Links @ @ @ @ @ available on the university ’ s social media .

FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) - Fairmont State University’s Class of 2020 will have a virtual commencement this weekend, with in-person ceremonies tentatively set for Aug. 8.
University President Mirta Martin will give a welcome address, and students were invited to record a message or photo and message to be included in the ceremony. The virtual ceremony can be viewed at fairmont.stageclip.com beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, the university said in a news release.
Martin said the class “deserves celebrating” because “they confronted the defining crisis of our time and persevered.”
A virtual nursing pinning ceremony and virtual senior award celebration are planned for Wednesday. Links to each event will be available on the university’s social media.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Kentucky gets $22 million for public transit during pandemic

LOUISVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has received nearly $ 23 million from the federal @ @ @ @ @ package .
The money will go to 17 public transit agencies around Kentucky that have @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
It was part of the CARES Act passed in March .
Kentucky Transportation @ @ @ @ @ agencies have lost ridership and employee time .
“ These agencies are struggling financially , @ @ @ @ @ needed to keep services running and our people protected , ” Gray said .
The @ @ @ @ @ , including administrative leave for employees who have been exposed to COVID-19 .
The agencies @ @ @ @ @ personal protective equipment , disinfectant and protective barriers .

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky plans to do coronavirus testing at all nursing homes statewide in a targeted strategy aimed at a hard-hit segment during the pandemic, state officials said Friday.
Health officials hope to test residents and staff at all long-term care facilities in about two months, state Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander said in detailed testing plans.
“We think we’ve tested about 10% of the residents and we are going to get to 100%,” he said.
Testing will be done at no charge to the facilities, residents and staff, Friedlander said.
“It is a very aggressive strategy where we are now going to be very targeted in making sure that we know the situation in each of the facilities, especially for the most vulnerable, and are able to take some quick action,” Gov. Andy Beshear said during his daily briefing.
The facilities will be expected to have plans in place to respond to positive cases, Friedlander said.
The testing strategy is the result of a partnership with Norton Healthcare, local health departments and emergency management leaders, the governor’s office said.
The coronavirus has been especially prevalent among the state’s older population. Of Kentucky’s nearly 300 virus-related deaths, more than half have been people who were at nursing homes. More than 860 residents of long-term care facilities have tested positive for the virus. The state stopped allowing visitors in nursing homes in March, which has saved lives, Friedlander said Friday.
The state also is now in a much better situation to provide personal protective equipment to long-term care facilities, Friedlander said. This week, the federal government started delivering PPE to make sure facilities have 14-day supplies, he said.
Meanwhile, the governor reported 176 more coronavirus cases in Kentucky on Friday, raising the statewide total to more than 6,280 cases since the pandemic began. More than 2,260 people in Kentucky have recovered from the virus, Beshear said. But 210 of Kentucky’s virus patients are in intensive care units, a number on the rise the past couple of weeks, he said.
Beshear reported four virus-related deaths, bringing the state’s total death count to at least 298.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, even death.
Next Monday will usher in reopenings for factories and some businesses as part of Beshear’s plan to gradually restart the parts of Kentucky’s economy stalled by the pandemic. The phase-in starting Monday includes a broad resumption of manufacturing and construction work, and applies to such businesses as car and boat dealerships, professional services and pet grooming and boarding.
The governor stressed that businesses have to follow “healthy at work” guidelines when reopening. Doing so correctly and safely will put Kentucky at a competitive advantage, he said.
“I believe that the healthiest economy coming out of COVID-19 is going to be the one that can keep the virus contained while they successfully reopen,” he said. “So if one groups runs out, does things too aggressively, has to shut down again for a while, they’re not going to come out in the best place.”
Beshear also announced that government offices and agencies can open on May 18 and funeral homes can open on May 20, the governor’s office said.
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Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Tekashi 6ix9ine releases new video from home confinement

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine lit up social media on Friday , releasing a new song and video created during his home confinement just weeks after being freed from a Manhattan federal lockup over coronavirus fears .
In “ Gooba , ” the multi-tattooed rapper whose real name is Daniel Hernandez puts on a rainbow-colored performance accompanied by six women and a puppy .
At times , his ankle monitor is plainly visible .
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered Tekashi 6ix9ine freed on April 2 , to serve the last four months of his two-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the rapper , who has asthma , would be at risk from the virus in federal prison .
Engelmayer relaxed his home-confinement requirements on April 29 to permit him to create his music during certain hours with approval from his Probation Department officer .
The rapper was sentenced in December after he had testified against members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang .
The deal earned him leniency from charges that could have subjected him to a mandatory minimum 37 years in prison for crimes that included orchestrating a shooting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine lit up social media on Friday, releasing a new song and video created during his home confinement just weeks after being freed from a Manhattan federal lockup over coronavirus fears.
In “Gooba,” the multi-tattooed rapper whose real name is Daniel Hernandez puts on a rainbow-colored performance accompanied by six women and a puppy. At times, his ankle monitor is plainly visible.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered Tekashi 6ix9ine freed on April 2, to serve the last four months of his two-year sentence at an undisclosed location over concerns that the rapper, who has asthma, would be at risk from the virus in federal prison.
Engelmayer relaxed his home-confinement requirements on April 29 to permit him to create his music during certain hours with approval from his Probation Department officer.
The rapper was sentenced in December after he had testified against members of the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods gang. The deal earned him leniency from charges that could have subjected him to a mandatory minimum 37 years in prison for crimes that included orchestrating a shooting in which an innocent bystander was wounded.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Dallas furloughs city workers after virus crushes finances

DALLAS ( AP ) - Dallas officials announced Friday that around 500 of the city ’ s approximately 13,000 workers will be furloughed for 2 1/2 months starting next week because the coronavirus pandemic has decimated municipal finances .
The move came as deaths in Texas linked to COVID-19 , the illness caused by the new coronavirus , topped 1,000 on Friday , with confirmed cases topping 36,600 .
The true numbers are likely higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
The furlough is to run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will include employees across 10 departments .
Use of paid leave and vacation time will not be allowed , but furloughed workers will continue to be covered by the city health care plan and will be eligible for unemployment benefits , City Manager T.C .
Broadnax said .
In a letter sent Friday to employees , Broadnax said the April-long economic shutdown imposed by the outbreak was expected to cause a $ 25 million budget shortfall this year .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott is slowly easing restrictions on business activity , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million to $ 134 million was still expected in next year ’ s budget .
Broadnax said no essential workers or nonessential workers approved for working from home will be affected immediately .
However , this may not be the last furlough needed to meet the challenge of slashed city revenue from the economic shutdown and subsequent squeeze .
The effort to stabilize the city workforce may require intermittent furlough days , additional job positions selected for extended furloughs , even layoffs , he said .
“ We are closely monitoring our budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas to help cover both immediate and projected shortfalls , ” Broadnax wrote to employees .
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson , who said he had known such measures were likely , added in a statement Friday that the city ’ s fiscal horizon remained cloudy .
“ Further difficulties may still be ahead as we face historic budget shortfalls caused by COVID-19 , ” he said .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia .
As much of a blow the pandemic dealt to Dallas finances , it pales next to those faced by Houston , where the economy is still dependent on the oil and gas industry .
The price of oil has recovered to about $ 25 a barrel after plunging below zero last month as demand vanished because of the worldwide COVID-19 lockdown .
As a result , Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner expected a city budget deficit of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the history of this city of more than 2.3 million , the country ’ s fourth largest .

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas officials announced Friday that around 500 of the city’s approximately 13,000 workers will be furloughed for 2 1/2 months starting next week because the coronavirus pandemic has decimated municipal finances.
The move came as deaths in Texas linked to COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, topped 1,000 on Friday, with confirmed cases topping 36,600. The true numbers are likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
The furlough is to run from next Wednesday through July 31 and will include employees across 10 departments. Use of paid leave and vacation time will not be allowed, but furloughed workers will continue to be covered by the city health care plan and will be eligible for unemployment benefits, City Manager T.C. Broadnax said.
In a letter sent Friday to employees, Broadnax said the April-long economic shutdown imposed by the outbreak was expected to cause a $25 million budget shortfall this year. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is slowly easing restrictions on business activity, but Broadnax said a shortfall of $73 million to $134 million was still expected in next year’s budget.
Broadnax said no essential workers or nonessential workers approved for working from home will be affected immediately. However, this may not be the last furlough needed to meet the challenge of slashed city revenue from the economic shutdown and subsequent squeeze. The effort to stabilize the city workforce may require intermittent furlough days, additional job positions selected for extended furloughs, even layoffs, he said.
“We are closely monitoring our budget and implementing cost saving measures in other areas to help cover both immediate and projected shortfalls,” Broadnax wrote to employees.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who said he had known such measures were likely, added in a statement Friday that the city’s fiscal horizon remained cloudy.
“Further difficulties may still be ahead as we face historic budget shortfalls caused by COVID-19,” he said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
As much of a blow the pandemic dealt to Dallas finances, it pales next to those faced by Houston, where the economy is still dependent on the oil and gas industry. The price of oil has recovered to about $25 a barrel after plunging below zero last month as demand vanished because of the worldwide COVID-19 lockdown.
As a result, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner expected a city budget deficit of about $200 million, the worst in the history of this city of more than 2.3 million, the country’s fourth largest.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--California Gov. Newsom formally endorses Biden for president

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California Gov .
Gavin Newsom formally endorsed Joe Biden for president on Friday , praising the former vice president for his “ deep compassion and empathy ” during a virtual high-dollar fundraiser in partnership with the Democratic National Committee .
“ I just couldn ’ t be more proud of you and the prospects of your presidency , ” he told Biden .
Newsom ’ s endorsement of Biden , a fellow Democrat , was expected .
But the first-term governor has been careful to avoid the appearance of partisan politics as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state through the coronavirus pandemic .
He ’ s regularly complimented Republican President Donald Trump , even using Trump ’ s slogan of “ promise made , promise kept ” recently when thanking him for sending California testing swabs .
Trump ’ s campaign quickly put the clip in a digital ad alongside positive remarks by other Democrats .
It ’ s one of several ads that feature Newsom .
Newsom didn ’ t mention Trump at all as he spoke to the fundraiser ’ s hundreds of participants .
Biden , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one hell of a job ” leading California through the pandemic and thanked him for “ protecting the cornerstone or our democracy - the right to vote.
” Earlier Friday , Newsom signed an executive order to send all California voters a mail-in ballot with prepaid postage for the November election .
In-person voting will still be allowed if voters choose .
The pandemic has brought attention to an expansion of mail voting , and Trump has claimed without evidence it would increase voter fraud .
But Biden said he thinks Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a move .
Biden said Newsom can expect to hear a lot from him if he wins the presidency .
“ Gov , if I get elected I ’ m going to need you badly , not a joke , ” Biden said .
It was Biden ’ s first joint fundraising event with the Democratic National Committee , which allows donors to give more money than they can give directly to Biden ’ s campaign .
Co-chairs of the event were asked to raise $ 100,000 , according to an invitation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Barack Obama , led the discussion .
Newsom had supported Sen. Kamala Harris , a fellow Californian , in the Democratic presidential primary .
She exited the race in late 2019 .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom formally endorsed Joe Biden for president on Friday, praising the former vice president for his “deep compassion and empathy” during a virtual high-dollar fundraiser in partnership with the Democratic National Committee.
“I just couldn’t be more proud of you and the prospects of your presidency,” he told Biden.
Newsom’s endorsement of Biden, a fellow Democrat, was expected. But the first-term governor has been careful to avoid the appearance of partisan politics as he steers the nation’s most populous state through the coronavirus pandemic.
He’s regularly complimented Republican President Donald Trump, even using Trump’s slogan of “promise made, promise kept” recently when thanking him for sending California testing swabs. Trump’s campaign quickly put the clip in a digital ad alongside positive remarks by other Democrats. It’s one of several ads that feature Newsom.
Newsom didn’t mention Trump at all as he spoke to the fundraiser’s hundreds of participants.
Biden, in turn, said Newsom was doing “one hell of a job” leading California through the pandemic and thanked him for “protecting the cornerstone or our democracy - the right to vote.” Earlier Friday, Newsom signed an executive order to send all California voters a mail-in ballot with prepaid postage for the November election. In-person voting will still be allowed if voters choose.
The pandemic has brought attention to an expansion of mail voting, and Trump has claimed without evidence it would increase voter fraud. But Biden said he thinks Republicans, Democrats and independents alike would support such a move.
Biden said Newsom can expect to hear a lot from him if he wins the presidency.
“Gov, if I get elected I’m going to need you badly, not a joke,” Biden said.
It was Biden’s first joint fundraising event with the Democratic National Committee, which allows donors to give more money than they can give directly to Biden’s campaign. Co-chairs of the event were asked to raise $100,000, according to an invitation. David Plouffe, an adviser to former President Barack Obama, led the discussion.
Newsom had supported Sen. Kamala Harris, a fellow Californian, in the Democratic presidential primary. She exited the race in late 2019.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Records: $325K deal paid in handcuffed man’s shooting death

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - A Louisiana sheriff ’ s office in 2018 paid a $ 325,000 settlement after the fatal shooting of a black man who had been handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car , according to newly released records .
Copies of the check from the Iberia Parish Sheriff ’ s Office in the settlement case of Victor White III were released this week after a federal court ruled in March that the payment had to be made public , The Advocate reported .
White ’ s family filed a lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The settlement was resolved in 2018 but the federal judge declined to make the settlement amount public and the mother of White ’ s child agreed with the judge .
A $ 133,000 annuity presumably went to White ’ s child , the newspaper reported .
The remaining $ 192,000 was paid to the attorney .
In 2014 , White , 22 , was shot in the right side of his chest while handcuffed from behind in the back of a patrol car .
A parish coroner ruled White ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2015 that no federal charges would be filed in White ’ s death .
However , White ’ s unusual death put the sheriff ’ s office and then Sheriff Louis Ackal in the spotlight .
A woman who worked for Ackal said she heard the sheriff give coded instructions for writing reports to justify beatings of detainees .
She also said Ackal referred to black people as “ gorillas ” and another racial slur , the lawyers said .
A federal civil right probe resulted in guilty pleas by 11 deputies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of sordid police abuse , often racially motivated , on the streets of New Iberia and inside the parish jail , the newspaper reported .
Deputies said Ackal orchestrated the racially motivated attacks but he was acquitted in 2016 .
The $ 325,000 settlement was among the bigger payouts from lawsuits during Ackal ’ s tenure , which totaled more than $ 6 million .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana sheriff’s office in 2018 paid a $325,000 settlement after the fatal shooting of a black man who had been handcuffed in the back seat of a patrol car, according to newly released records.
Copies of the check from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office in the settlement case of Victor White III were released this week after a federal court ruled in March that the payment had to be made public, The Advocate reported.
White’s family filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Louis Ackal and a deputy. The settlement was resolved in 2018 but the federal judge declined to make the settlement amount public and the mother of White’s child agreed with the judge.
A $133,000 annuity presumably went to White’s child, the newspaper reported. The remaining $192,000 was paid to the attorney.
In 2014, White, 22, was shot in the right side of his chest while handcuffed from behind in the back of a patrol car. A parish coroner ruled White’s death a suicide.
The Justice Department announced in 2015 that no federal charges would be filed in White’s death.
However, White’s unusual death put the sheriff’s office and then Sheriff Louis Ackal in the spotlight.
A woman who worked for Ackal said she heard the sheriff give coded instructions for writing reports to justify beatings of detainees. She also said Ackal referred to black people as “gorillas” and another racial slur, the lawyers said.
A federal civil right probe resulted in guilty pleas by 11 deputies, several of whom furnished sworn accounts of sordid police abuse, often racially motivated, on the streets of New Iberia and inside the parish jail, the newspaper reported.
Deputies said Ackal orchestrated the racially motivated attacks but he was acquitted in 2016.
The $325,000 settlement was among the bigger payouts from lawsuits during Ackal’s tenure, which totaled more than $6 million.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--South Dakota high court upholds verdict in hospital case

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - South Dakota ’ s high court upheld a jury ’ s verdict that a children ’ s specialty hospital was not negligent in restraining a student and documenting it .
The South Dakota Supreme Court said that a Minnehaha County court didn ’ t abuse its discretion when it excluded evidence from the trial , the Argus Leader reported Thursday .
In 2013 , Neil and Debbie Graff sued then Children ’ s Care Hospital and Schools , now LifeScape , after their son lived there as a student .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restraint more than 130 times , causing their son emotional stress , according to the lawsuit .
A prone restraint requires a person to be on the floor face-down , while holding their arms and legs .
A technique that was later prohibited under administrative rules .
The lawsuit said that the school didn ’ t properly document the restraints or inform his parents about them .
The boy was diagnosed with global developmental delays and autism .
He was at the facility from March to September of 2010 .
A jury voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 .
Hospital staff testified that restraints were used when he was acting out in an aggressive manner and dangerous to himself or others .
The Graff family appealed , saying the circuit court should have allowed the jury to see Department of Health surveys .
But the circuit court said the surveys only showed “ deficiencies in record-keeping done by CCHS ” and would be damaging .
The justices said they were also missing a full jury trial transcript of the case , arguing the lack of one “ looms large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it “ prevents their assessment of prejudice.
” Graff family attorney Luce told the justices that the hospital ’ s attorney was going to provide the transcript .
But Children ’ s Care ’ s attorney Mark Haigh said it was the Graffs ’ responsibility .

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota’s high court upheld a jury’s verdict that a children’s specialty hospital was not negligent in restraining a student and documenting it.
The South Dakota Supreme Court said that a Minnehaha County court didn’t abuse its discretion when it excluded evidence from the trial, the Argus Leader reported Thursday.
In 2013, Neil and Debbie Graff sued then Children’s Care Hospital and Schools, now LifeScape, after their son lived there as a student.
The Graffs accused staff of using a prone restraint more than 130 times, causing their son emotional stress, according to the lawsuit. A prone restraint requires a person to be on the floor face-down, while holding their arms and legs. A technique that was later prohibited under administrative rules. The lawsuit said that the school didn’t properly document the restraints or inform his parents about them.
The boy was diagnosed with global developmental delays and autism. He was at the facility from March to September of 2010.
A jury voted in favor of Children’s Care in 2018. Hospital staff testified that restraints were used when he was acting out in an aggressive manner and dangerous to himself or others.
The Graff family appealed, saying the circuit court should have allowed the jury to see Department of Health surveys. But the circuit court said the surveys only showed “deficiencies in record-keeping done by CCHS” and would be damaging.
The justices said they were also missing a full jury trial transcript of the case, arguing the lack of one “looms large in this appeal,” and that it “prevents their assessment of prejudice.”
Graff family attorney Luce told the justices that the hospital’s attorney was going to provide the transcript. But Children’s Care’s attorney Mark Haigh said it was the Graffs’ responsibility.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--3 cruise ships carrying only crew to dock at Port of Oakland

OAKLAND , Calif. ( AP ) - Three cruise ships that have not carried passengers or crew members with the coronavirus will dock at the Port of Oakland for several months , officials said Friday .
The Oakland-bound Norwegian Cruise Line vessels will arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend .
Two will tie up Saturday at the Outer Harbor Terminal .
The third will dock Sunday at Howard Terminal on the Oakland Estuary .
Neither area is being used for shipping , officials said .
The shipping port in March provided an emergency berth to the cruise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disembarked from that ship , including some who tested positive for the coronavirus .
Officials said the cruise liner reached out to them after the U.S. government banned cruise operations at U.S. ports during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ These ships are under federal requirements to report health concerns , and we understand that they haven ’ t had a history of coronavirus , so we ’ ll do what we can to help , ” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan .
The port said the ships would be managed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to allow them to disembark but if they had to get off the ship , the cruise liner would be required to submit a disembarkation plan to state , federal and port authorities .
There are about 100 cruise ships worldwide seeking safe harbor , the port said .

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Three cruise ships that have not carried passengers or crew members with the coronavirus will dock at the Port of Oakland for several months, officials said Friday.
The Oakland-bound Norwegian Cruise Line vessels will arrive in the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend. Two will tie up Saturday at the Outer Harbor Terminal. The third will dock Sunday at Howard Terminal on the Oakland Estuary. Neither area is being used for shipping, officials said.
The shipping port in March provided an emergency berth to the cruise ship Grand Princess and hundreds of passengers disembarked from that ship, including some who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials said the cruise liner reached out to them after the U.S. government banned cruise operations at U.S. ports during the coronavirus pandemic.
“These ships are under federal requirements to report health concerns, and we understand that they haven’t had a history of coronavirus, so we’ll do what we can to help,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Danny Wan.
The port said the ships would be managed by small crews and there are no plans to allow them to disembark but if they had to get off the ship, the cruise liner would be required to submit a disembarkation plan to state, federal and port authorities.
There are about 100 cruise ships worldwide seeking safe harbor, the port said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Betty Wold Johnson, mother of Jets owners, dies at 99

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Betty Wold Johnson , the mother of New York Jets owners Christopher Johnson and Woody Johnson , has died .
She was 99 .
The Jets announced her death Friday night on their website , but didn ’ t provide details .
Betty Wold Johnson was often referred to as “ The First Lady of the Jets ” by players , and called them her “ grandchildren.
” She was renowned for her philanthropic efforts and was a long-time contributor to arts , education and healthcare initiatives in the New York and New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jets ‘ chairman and CEO , while Woody Johnson is serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom .
Woody Johnson purchased the team in 2000 and the franchise became an important part of his mother ’ s life .
“ There are very few people in this world who live to 99 , ” Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin told the Jets ‘ website .
“ And I ’ m sure if you go back and look at everything she did for other people , you could probably write @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standpoint .
She had such a charitable heart and a charitable way about her.
” Betty Wold Johnson was raised in Minnesota and often attended Golden Gophers games with her father , Karl Christian Wold .
She later married Robert Wood Johnson III , the grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I - the co-founder of Johnson & Johnson .
“ When I think of her , I think of her as ‘ The First Lady of the Jets , ’ ” former quarterback Chad Pennington said .
“ I think of Ms. Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she treated people , how she carried herself and how she represented herself and her family .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - Betty Wold Johnson, the mother of New York Jets owners Christopher Johnson and Woody Johnson, has died. She was 99.
The Jets announced her death Friday night on their website, but didn’t provide details.
Betty Wold Johnson was often referred to as “The First Lady of the Jets” by players, and called them her “grandchildren.” She was renowned for her philanthropic efforts and was a long-time contributor to arts, education and healthcare initiatives in the New York and New Jersey areas.
Christopher Johnson is currently the Jets’ chairman and CEO, while Woody Johnson is serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom. Woody Johnson purchased the team in 2000 and the franchise became an important part of his mother’s life.
“There are very few people in this world who live to 99,” Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin told the Jets’ website. “And I’m sure if you go back and look at everything she did for other people, you could probably write a book on her from a philanthropic standpoint. She had such a charitable heart and a charitable way about her.”
Betty Wold Johnson was raised in Minnesota and often attended Golden Gophers games with her father, Karl Christian Wold. She later married Robert Wood Johnson III, the grandson of Robert Wood Johnson I - the co-founder of Johnson & Johnson.
“When I think of her, I think of her as ‘The First Lady of the Jets,’” former quarterback Chad Pennington said. “I think of Ms. Johnson as nothing but first class with how she treated people, how she carried herself and how she represented herself and her family.”
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Detainees sue; Northwest immigration jail has positive test

SEATTLE ( AP ) - Officials on Friday confirmed the first positive COVID-19 test at the Northwest detention center in Tacoma , in a detainee who had previously tested positive at another detention center and was being medically screened on arrival at the immigration jail .
The development came just as immigrant rights advocates were going to court again in an attempt to free medically vulnerable detainees before any outbreak there .
In a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court , the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and the American Civil Liberties Union argued that it has become increasingly clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect people in custody from the coronavirus .
In a filing in a separate case Friday , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a detainee tested positive during a medical intake screening and will remain medically segregated for two weeks .
The agency said that according to the Pierce County health department , the detainee has recovered and is no longer infectious , but still had enough virus cells present to test positive for the disease .
The detainee had been at the Northwest detention center before being transferred to an immigration jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deportation flight .
While there he developed symptoms , tested positive on April 11 , and was treated in isolation .
Since his deportation flight was canceled , he was flown back up to Tacoma along with three other detainees , wrote Dr. Sheri Malakhova , clinical director for ICE Health Services Corps at the Northwest detention center .
When they arrived in Tacoma on Tuesday , none of the four had symptoms , but were nevertheless tested .
The results came back Friday , with three negative and the one who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deemed recovered , Malakhova said .
More than 750 immigration detainees at more than 40 detention facilities around the country have tested positive for the disease , a number that activists say may be an undercount given a paucity of testing at some facilities .
On Wednesday , ICE confirmed the first COVID death of a detainee , at Otay Mesa detention Center in California .
“ I ’ m scared .
It ’ s going to happen in here , ” Perla Martinez Acosta , 37 , a detainee at the Tacoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tuberculosis and other medical conditions , said Thursday in a phone interview .
“ I don ’ t want to die in here in this facility , away from my family.
” The lawsuit Friday was brought on behalf of four named detainees against ICE and the GEO Group , which runs the jail .
It seeks class-action status that could bring about the release of roughly 100 people whom ICE officials have already identified as being at a higher risk of illness or death from the disease , said Northwest Immigrant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Courts around the country have ordered medically vulnerable people released from ICE custody , but efforts to spring detainees from the privately run , for-profit immigration jail in Tacoma have met with limited success .
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed one case on behalf of nine detainees ; while U.S. District Judge James Robart declined to order their release , saying there was no evidence of an outbreak at the detention center , ICE released four of the nine on its own .
In a separate federal lawsuit , Judge Ricardo Martinez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainee named Rafael Pimentel-Estrada , saying that as a civil detainee - not a criminal offender - he had a right to kept in conditions of “ reasonable safety.
” ICE has taken steps to reduce the risk of an outbreak , including stopping visitation and observing newly arrived detainees for two weeks before introducing them to the general population .
But Martinez noted that the detainees are largely responsible for doing their own sanitation work , with no evidence of professional cleaning ; that shared bathrooms , sinks and other areas make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most concerningly ” - that guards at the facility are not required to wear personal protection equipment that could help protect the detainees and themselves .
Martinez Acosta said she recently sought a test after developing some symptoms , but the medical staff refused to give her one because her fever wasn ’ t high enough .
The agency declined to comment on the lawsuit , but said it has evaluated detainees for medical risk and released more than 900 nationwide , with additional releases possible .

SEATTLE (AP) - Officials on Friday confirmed the first positive COVID-19 test at the Northwest detention center in Tacoma, in a detainee who had previously tested positive at another detention center and was being medically screened on arrival at the immigration jail. The development came just as immigrant rights advocates were going to court again in an attempt to free medically vulnerable detainees before any outbreak there.
In a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project and the American Civil Liberties Union argued that it has become increasingly clear that there is no way to adequately protect people in custody from the coronavirus.
In a filing in a separate case Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a detainee tested positive during a medical intake screening and will remain medically segregated for two weeks. The agency said that according to the Pierce County health department, the detainee has recovered and is no longer infectious, but still had enough virus cells present to test positive for the disease.
The detainee had been at the Northwest detention center before being transferred to an immigration jail in Florence, Arizona, ahead of a deportation flight. While there he developed symptoms, tested positive on April 11, and was treated in isolation. Since his deportation flight was canceled, he was flown back up to Tacoma along with three other detainees, wrote Dr. Sheri Malakhova, clinical director for ICE Health Services Corps at the Northwest detention center.
When they arrived in Tacoma on Tuesday, none of the four had symptoms, but were nevertheless tested. The results came back Friday, with three negative and the one who had been ill still positive, but deemed recovered, Malakhova said.
More than 750 immigration detainees at more than 40 detention facilities around the country have tested positive for the disease, a number that activists say may be an undercount given a paucity of testing at some facilities. On Wednesday, ICE confirmed the first COVID death of a detainee, at Otay Mesa detention Center in California.
“I’m scared. It’s going to happen in here,” Perla Martinez Acosta, 37, a detainee at the Tacoma detention center with a history of asthma, tuberculosis and other medical conditions, said Thursday in a phone interview. “I don’t want to die in here in this facility, away from my family.”
The lawsuit Friday was brought on behalf of four named detainees against ICE and the GEO Group, which runs the jail. It seeks class-action status that could bring about the release of roughly 100 people whom ICE officials have already identified as being at a higher risk of illness or death from the disease, said Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Legal Director Matt Adams.
Courts around the country have ordered medically vulnerable people released from ICE custody, but efforts to spring detainees from the privately run, for-profit immigration jail in Tacoma have met with limited success. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed one case on behalf of nine detainees; while U.S. District Judge James Robart declined to order their release, saying there was no evidence of an outbreak at the detention center, ICE released four of the nine on its own.
In a separate federal lawsuit, Judge Ricardo Martinez last week ordered the release of a detainee named Rafael Pimentel-Estrada, saying that as a civil detainee - not a criminal offender - he had a right to kept in conditions of “reasonable safety.”
ICE has taken steps to reduce the risk of an outbreak, including stopping visitation and observing newly arrived detainees for two weeks before introducing them to the general population.
But Martinez noted that the detainees are largely responsible for doing their own sanitation work, with no evidence of professional cleaning; that shared bathrooms, sinks and other areas make social distancing impossible; and - “most concerningly” - that guards at the facility are not required to wear personal protection equipment that could help protect the detainees and themselves.
Martinez Acosta said she recently sought a test after developing some symptoms, but the medical staff refused to give her one because her fever wasn’t high enough.
The agency declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said it has evaluated detainees for medical risk and released more than 900 nationwide, with additional releases possible.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--College on Navajo has record number of bachelor's degrees

TSAILE , Ariz. ( AP ) - A college on the Navajo Nation has a record number of students receiving bachelor ’ s degrees .
Diné College holds one graduation ceremony each year in the spring .
It was scheduled Friday , but the coronavirus changed that .
Instead , students are being recognized for a month on the college ’ s website with their biographies , photos and congratulatory messages .
They can also share video of at-home celebrations with their family .
The graduates will get their diplomas at a later date , along with a cap and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 176 students getting degrees and certificates , 53 will receive four-year degrees .
Those include 21 bachelor ’ s degrees in psychology , 10 in business administration , eight in public health and several in elementary education .
Five are getting bachelor ’ s degrees in biology , a program established about three years ago .
The number of bachelor ’ s degrees is up from 41 last year and 30 in 2018 .
Nearly 1,500 mostly Navajos are enrolled at the school that has several campuses across the Navajo Nation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexico and Utah .
Diné College is the first college established by a tribe more than 50 years ago .

TSAILE, Ariz. (AP) - A college on the Navajo Nation has a record number of students receiving bachelor’s degrees.
Diné College holds one graduation ceremony each year in the spring. It was scheduled Friday, but the coronavirus changed that.
Instead, students are being recognized for a month on the college’s website with their biographies, photos and congratulatory messages. They can also share video of at-home celebrations with their family.
The graduates will get their diplomas at a later date, along with a cap and gown, and some souvenirs.
Of the 176 students getting degrees and certificates, 53 will receive four-year degrees. Those include 21 bachelor’s degrees in psychology, 10 in business administration, eight in public health and several in elementary education.
Five are getting bachelor’s degrees in biology, a program established about three years ago.
The number of bachelor’s degrees is up from 41 last year and 30 in 2018.
Nearly 1,500 mostly Navajos are enrolled at the school that has several campuses across the Navajo Nation. The reservation extends into Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
Diné College is the first college established by a tribe more than 50 years ago.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Athlete sues University of Michigan over sexual assault

ANN ARBOR , Mich. ( AP ) - A University of Michigan track and field female athlete is suing the university in federal court , accusing school officials of failing to protect her from a teammate she alleges sexually assaulted and stalked her .
In the 62-page sex discrimination lawsuit , the athlete says her male track teammate sexually assaulted her while she was sleeping in her dorm room in fall 2016 .
The lawsuit says the athlete ’ s teammate admitted to her in spring 2017 that he sexually assaulted her after she had fallen asleep during their study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest legal action against the UM athletic department related to sexual misconduct .
Hundreds of former athletes and others have settled sexual abuse allegations against the now-deceased Dr. Robert Anderson who worked at the university for decades .
The complaint is against the UM Board of Regents , Athletic Director Warde Manuel , track and field head coach Henry and several Title IX and academic officials , The Detroit News reported .
The woman wants the university to pay unspecified damages , reinstate her student-athlete benefits and enforce a no-contact order designed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who works on campus .
The athlete is specifically accusing Henry of cruelly responding to the allegations .
The coach declined to keep the person who allegedly assaulted her away from her , the lawsuit said , despite a no-contact order issued by the university .
“ Instead , defendant Henry callously responded that several female track athletes had disclosed being sexually assaulted to him over the years and most were unable to ‘ handle ’ being on the track team afterwards , ” according to the lawsuit .
The lawsuit also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the no-contact order , which triggered panic attacks for the woman when she attended a class with the person who allegedly assaulted her .
The woman ’ s grades declined , and she couldn ’ t attend team events .
Henry cut her off the team in November 2017 , the lawsuit says .
An internal investigation concluded in 2018 that the woman ’ s teammate was responsible for sexually assaulting her , and he was placed on probation , according to the lawsuit .

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - A University of Michigan track and field female athlete is suing the university in federal court, accusing school officials of failing to protect her from a teammate she alleges sexually assaulted and stalked her.
In the 62-page sex discrimination lawsuit, the athlete says her male track teammate sexually assaulted her while she was sleeping in her dorm room in fall 2016. The lawsuit says the athlete’s teammate admitted to her in spring 2017 that he sexually assaulted her after she had fallen asleep during their study sessions.
The lawsuit filed Thursday is the latest legal action against the UM athletic department related to sexual misconduct. Hundreds of former athletes and others have settled sexual abuse allegations against the now-deceased Dr. Robert Anderson who worked at the university for decades.
The complaint is against the UM Board of Regents, Athletic Director Warde Manuel, track and field head coach Henry and several Title IX and academic officials, The Detroit News reported.
The woman wants the university to pay unspecified damages, reinstate her student-athlete benefits and enforce a no-contact order designed to separate her from her former teammate, who works on campus.
University and team spokesmen declined to comment Thursday.
The athlete is specifically accusing Henry of cruelly responding to the allegations. The coach declined to keep the person who allegedly assaulted her away from her, the lawsuit said, despite a no-contact order issued by the university.
“Instead, defendant Henry callously responded that several female track athletes had disclosed being sexually assaulted to him over the years and most were unable to ‘handle’ being on the track team afterwards,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that university officials failed to enforce the no-contact order, which triggered panic attacks for the woman when she attended a class with the person who allegedly assaulted her. The woman’s grades declined, and she couldn’t attend team events. Henry cut her off the team in November 2017, the lawsuit says.
An internal investigation concluded in 2018 that the woman’s teammate was responsible for sexually assaulting her, and he was placed on probation, according to the lawsuit.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Oregon COVID-19 cases top 3,000, deaths reach 124

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Three more people have died from COVID-19 , bringing the death total to @ @ @ @ @ , state officials said .
The Oregon Health Authority said Friday that another 75 cases @ @ @ @ @ 3,032 Oregonians have tested positive for the coronavirus .
The three newly-reported deaths include an @ @ @ @ @ man in Marion County , and a 71-year-old woman in Multnomah County , all of @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Oregon Health Authority .
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority recover .
But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness @ @ @ @ @ , particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Three more people have died from COVID-19, bringing the death total to at least 124 in Oregon, state officials said.
The Oregon Health Authority said Friday that another 75 cases were confirmed, and that 3,032 Oregonians have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The three newly-reported deaths include an 80-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man in Marion County, and a 71-year-old woman in Multnomah County, all of whom had underlying health conditions, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
The virus causes mild to moderate symptoms in most patients, and the vast majority recover. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and death in some patients, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Police: Man fires shots at Virginia apartment complex

LYNCHBURG , Va. ( AP ) - Police in Virginia were trying to make contact on Friday with a man @ @ @ @ @ shots and barricaded himself inside an apartment .
Lynchburg police responded to Birchwood Apartments around @ @ @ @ @ WSET reported .
On their Twitter page , police said a crisis negotiation team as @ @ @ @ @ are on the scene .
A police spokesman wasn ’ t available Friday evening for @ @ @ @ @ also reported that police could be heard on loudspeakers talking to someone inside the apartments @ @ @ @ @ up .
Officers are telling people to avoid the area because the situation is dangerous @

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Police in Virginia arrested a man Friday who they say fired shots and barricaded himself inside an apartment.
Lynchburg police responded to Birchwood Apartments late Friday afternoon after a report of a disorderly situation, authorities said in a news release.
Joseph Akeem Anderson, 30, eventually surrendered to officers after barricading himself in a residence for more than three hours, police said. The Lynchburg man faces numerous charges including child endangerment and discharging a firearm in the city limits. No injuries were reported.
It was not immediately clear whether Anderson had an attorney who could comment on the charges.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Man accused of shooting at Milwaukee police is charged

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - A 36-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged after authorities say he fired at Milwaukee police @ @ @ @ @ from them earlier this week .
Jason Gonzalez was charged Friday with two counts of @ @ @ @ @ of a dangerous weapon .
According to the criminal complaint , the two officers were @ @ @ @ @ in an unmarked squad car when Gonzalez and another man approached them .
Gonzalez pulled @ @ @ @ @ running after the officers identified themselves as police .
The complaint says Gonzalez ’ s @ @ @ @ @ running away .
It was not immediately clear if Gonzalez had an attorney to comment @ @ @ @ @ other men were also charged with one count each of obstructing an officer .
The @ @ @ @ @ weapons and were not hurt .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A 36-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged after authorities say he fired at Milwaukee police officers as he was running from them earlier this week.
Jason Gonzalez was charged Friday with two counts of reckless endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon.
According to the criminal complaint, the two officers were on a surveillance detail Monday in an unmarked squad car when Gonzalez and another man approached them.
Gonzalez pulled out a gun and began running after the officers identified themselves as police. The complaint says Gonzalez’s gun fired as he was running away. It was not immediately clear if Gonzalez had an attorney to comment on his behalf.
Two other men were also charged with one count each of obstructing an officer.
The officers did not fire their weapons and were not hurt.


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Editorial Roundup: New England

Editorial Roundup: New England

Editorials from around New England : It took a long time for Connecticut to dig out of the fiscal hole created by the Great Recession and exacerbated by decades of failing to adequately set aside funds for its pension obligations .
But a corner had been turned and , showing some monetary discipline , a record $ 2.5 billion budget surplus - a rainy day fund - was accumulated .
The good news is that Connecticut will have that surplus to mitigate the fiscal damage it faces due to the pandemic .
Revenues have plummeted across the board .
Sales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is out buying .
Gasoline tax revenues have plunged because driving is down by half .
And income tax revenues have dropped as unemployment spiked and investment income declined .
The bad news is the surplus won ’ t be nearly enough to cover the losses .
Analysts foresee a $ 7 billion revenue decline over the next three years .
The state anticipates a $ 934 million deficit this fiscal year , a projected $ 2.3 billion gap in the budget that begins July 1 , and another $ 2 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that follow .
And the numbers may be optimistic .
Everything will have to be on the table to address this .
Everything except once agan pushing off pension obligations .
State workers must again be asked for a wage freeze .
Yes , that ’ s been demanded of them repeatedly over the past decade , but given how the private sector is being hammered we don ’ t see how state worker raises can be justified .
We don ’ t see layoffs as a good option .
The state workforce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control spending .
Services must be provided .
And layoffs can be self-defeating by deepening the economic damage .
Like Gov .
Ned Lamont , we have previously resisted calls for an income tax increase on highest earners because of its potential to drive those taxpayers elsewhere .
Now it may be unavoidable .
The rich are most insulated from the economic damage .
And other states will be raising taxes too .
The gas tax will have to go up , the sharp drop in gasoline prices lessening that blow .
Municipal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approaches to trim costs demanded , not suggested .
And our elected leaders in Washington must fight for federal help .
Unlike the federal government , Connecticut must balance its budget .
There will be no easy means to that end .
Anyone suggesting otherwise is self-delusional or lying .
Receivership working , but more work to be done If there ’ s one thing both sides in the debate over state receivership of Holyoke Public Schools can agree on , it ’ s this : Five years into an experiment that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no clear finish line in sight for when the city will regain control of its own school system .
While opponents of state receivership decry that a local superintendent and school committee members elected by Holyoke residents have been denuded of their authority to lead , it ’ s premature for the state to hand back authority when the job isn ’ t finished - no matter how bad opponents want it .
Despite some successes , Holyoke ’ s school system is not fixed after a half-decade of receivership .
To get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the community , just listen to how two prominent politicians summed up their feelings about state receivership for the Gazette ’ s three-part series , “ Receivership in Holyoke , ” which ran last week .
The series , by reporter Dusty Christensen , examines five years of receivership and was published a week before the state named a new receiver/superintendent to replace Stephen Zrike , who is set to depart in June .
“ They made a big play to take us over and then provided us basically no resources , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better off than they were five years ago substantively , ” former City Council president Kevin Jourdain said .
To Jourdain ’ s point , former educators have spoken up at council meetings about high teacher turnover - some 600 veteran teachers , administrators and staff have left the district since 2015 , they say - and questionable test scores .
Others say the state is to blame for a failed effort to bond for the construction of two new middle schools .
Not all believe receivership is a bad thing , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he believes the district “ is in a much better place than it was five years ago.
” Vega and other supporters say receivership has brought improvements for the 12-school , 5,350-student district .
Among those are better graduation and dropout rates , fewer student suspensions and more opportunities for students .
The school system is heading in the right direction , especially when compared to the grim statistics that led the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to step in five years ago .
Some of those figures included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 62 % , the lowest in the state , and a dropout rate of more than 7 % ; 12 years of being designated as underperforming ; a decline in test scores since 2011 ; an out-of-school suspension rate during the 2013-20014 school year of 20 % , which was five times higher than the state average ; and nearly 29 % of chronically absent students during the two school years preceding receivership .
These troubling statistics came amid a backdrop of racism , with black students and Hispanic students getting suspended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it should be noted that 80 % of the district ’ s students identify as Hispanic .
Mayor Alex Morse , a graduate of Holyoke schools , says receivership has helped initiate conversations about equity in the district , both for students and for the diversity of its staff .
“ I think one of our biggest faults in Holyoke Public Schools has been our inability to confront racism , ” he said .
So how do things look today ?
The graduation rate is now about 72 % , and the dropout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate dropped to 9 % in 2019 , including significant drops among black and Hispanic students .
Chronic absenteeism is now at 25.7 % .
Work in other areas is showing progress , including the Opportunity Academy , a set of alternative high school pathways for students not succeeding at Holyoke High School ’ s North and Dean campuses .
Created in the second year of receivership , the Academy lets students continue or restart their work toward a diploma in three programs : Gateway to College , the Success Center and LightHouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to go .
While there has been some improvement on MCAS standardized testing for English language arts , math and science scores haven ’ t improved .
Then there ’ s teacher retention .
Only 36 school districts out of the 403 in the state had worse teacher retention rates in 2019 than Holyoke , whose retention rate of 67 % is 20 percentage points below the state average .
We agree that steps need to be taken to retain quality teachers , and to acknowledge some of the reasons why experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniority , longer work days and school year , a cutting of pay and sick days , and a new district approach that is more hands-off with students in the areas of behavior and discipline .
The last point is a drastic change in philosophy , one that calls for a more give-and-take relationship with students through so-called restorative justice programs that rely on meetings and reconciliation between victim and offender as opposed to punitive measures .
Some teachers say this has led to a “ drop in standards for behavior , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holyoke and are being use in other districts in the region .
We agree with Morse , who says the way to build a stronger school system is not to “ suspend and expel our ways out of these challenges.
” Under receivership , the district has made significant progress in hiring teachers who are more reflective of the students they serve .
The number of teachers of color in the building has climbed 9 percentage points to 22 % across the school system .
The state should not bow to the demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Why ?
Because we haven ’ t heard enough in the way of solutions from this group to warrant taking that chance .
Receivership should stay the course , and local control will come .
Lavrentiy Beria , the infamous prosecutor for the murderous dictator Josef Stalin , boasted of his system of “ justice ” in the Soviet Union .
“ Show me the man , ” he said , “ and I ’ ll find you the crime.
” It is horrifying that several leading figures at the Federal Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going after three-star General Michael Flynn , who has Rhode Island connections .
New documents finally disclosed under pressure from General Flynn and his lawyer , Sidney Powell , showed the FBI plotted to set up Mr. Flynn and bring him down .
He was driven out of his job as national security adviser to President Trump , and eventually pleaded guilty to lying to agents .
Prosecutors had made clear they would target his son for prosecution unless he did so , Ms. Powell contends .
Mr. Flynn is trying to withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exculpatory evidence has come to light .
The FBI decided to use the chaos surrounding the presidential transition to send agents to interview General Flynn at the White House in January 2017 .
Agents told him at the time he would not need a lawyer .
Mr. Flynn , believing he was not a target , brought them in and talked openly with them .
Documents that the Justice Department unsealed late Wednesday revealed that top FBI officials pondered whether their “ goal ” in interviewing the general would be “ to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecute him or get him fired.
” In other words , it was a frame-up .
In America , that ’ s a no-no .
There must be probable cause for investigations , lest the government abuse its powers and go after its political enemies , negating our core values of equal justice and our cherished First Amendment right to oppose the government politically .
It is possible now that some of the agents could be charged by U.S. Attorney John Durham , who is looking into an alleged conspiracy by members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The notes were taken by the FBI ’ s former head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after meeting with then-FBI Director James Comey and then deputy-Director Andrew McCabe .
Both Mr. Comey and Mr. McCabe have made clear their animosity against President Trump since those events .
After the interview , new documents reveal , the FBI was ready to close its investigation of Mr. Flynn , having found nothing “ derogatory.
” But FBI official Peter Strzok , whose text messages also revealed anti-Trump animosity , urged against it .
General Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been a critic of his policies toward Iran and Islamic terrorism after leaving that administration .
We supported Hillary Clinton for president and hold no high regard for Mr. Trump .
But more important than our political differences is making sure that our justice system is not politicized .
That could very quickly turn us into a banana republic or worse .
Questions swirl around the Flynn case .
Why did his original lawyers so badly advise him ?
Why did the FBI hold on to exculpatory evidence it is required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of justice ?
Where was Director Chris Wray ?
We are willing to bet that most residents of Brattleboro would agree the Soldiers Monument at the Common should be amended to include the 65 people of color from greater Brattleboro who fought for the union in the Civil War , many as part of the famed Massachusetts 54th regiment , but were not honored in stone when the monument was dedicated .
An article about the missing names , written by the Brattleboro Historical Society , with research conducted by Brattleboro Area Middle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reformer in December .
Through that story , we learned some of these soldiers ’ names : Charles P. Smith .
Daniel Green .
Benjamin Loney .
Hayworth Matthews .
All had important stories to tell , and courageous service worth saluting .
Some were born here ; others escaped bondage in the South and settled here .
All joined the fight .
Sadly , many of their comrades ’ names are lost to the ages , though the Brattleboro Historical Society has been working to fix that .
These men risked their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lives , for a nation that did not love them back the way it should have .
Unquestionably , they all deserve to be honored .
But we also think these men would be appalled by petty vandalism recently scrawled upon the nearby Veterans Memorial Monument , which honors those who served in World War I , World War II , Korea and Vietnam , as a means of promoting their remembrance .
We think the Civil War soldiers of color who charged into the teeth of rifle fire and mortar shells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the injustice of their exclusion in the same manner as they fought : Head-on , heads held high , with their names attached to their words and deeds .
It ’ s difficult to imagine them anonymously defacing a marker honoring fellow veterans with spray paint .
Some might deem this vandalism an act of civil disobedience .
But people who get themselves arrested for a cause , or purposely violate unjust laws to raise awareness of that injustice , do so in public , unafraid of the consequences .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support this cause will respect public property and reflect the values of the very people whose honor and remembrance is much overdue .
We hope those committed to addressing this injustice will instead take their case to the Brattleboro Select Board , to the media , and to Main Street .
They will be heard .
In the meantime , this community owes a debt of gratitude to the Brattleboro Historical Society and to the students who assisted their research .
They have made the case that our history is incomplete without recognition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of color .
Hundreds of thousands of hogs raised by farmers to provide Americans with ham , bacon and other meat products will not make it to the slaughterhouse unless ways are found to cure a nasty side-effect of COVID-19 .
It is that a number of meat processing plants have been shut down because of the disease .
A few were closed after they became coronavirus hotspots with numerous workers coming down with the disease .
At one giant plant in Sioux Falls , South Dakota , 640 employees reportedly became infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down - as have been other meat processing plants .
That has resulted in a break in the food supply chain , involving not just hogs but also beef cattle and poultry .
With no processing plants to accept their livestock , some farmers already have begun killing them .
Why not just keep them on the farm ?
Because our ultra-efficient agriculture sector has become something of a victim of just-in-time production schedules .
Farmers plan in terms of feed , pasture , veterinarian services , livestock pens and shelters and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready for slaughter out as soon as they are ready .
Then , another generation of animals comes in .
Some farmers simply can not handle retaining a large number of animals that were supposed to go to a processing plant .
That inflicts a crushing blow on some farmers , of course .
It affects processors ’ finances adversely .
And it interrupts the flow of meat products to consumers .
Shortages of some meat products already are being felt .
The very scale of the meat industry is an obstacle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships about 100 million servings of pork products every week .
Closure of that one facility took a giant bite out of the nation ’ s meat supply .
And keeping hundreds of meat processing workers packed into a single plant safe from COVID-19 presents a challenge .
Thus far , no one seems to have come up with a good solution .
Clearly , one needs to be found , with federal government financial assistance , if necessary .
This is a COVID-19 disaster that , if not beaten , will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New testing capacity comes at just the right time As people ’ s tolerance for staying at home appears to be waning , and the subject of stay-at-home orders begins to put the country at odds , we end the week with some welcome good news .
Gov .
Janet Mills on Thursday announced a partnership with Idexx , the Westbrook-based world leader in animal diagnostics , that will triple state capacity for COVID-19 testing , a critical component of the state ’ s plan to allow businesses to reopen safely .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widespread testing nationwide was going to be necessary to reopen businesses and restart activities after social distancing was used to “ flatten the curve.
” It ’ s been frustrating then to watch the Trump administration abdicate all responsibility for securing the testing kits and supplies necessary for a robust program .
As of Friday morning , it ’ s been 63 days since President Donald Trump said , “ Anybody that wants a test can get a test .
That ’ s what the bottom line is , ” and it remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
As the president pushed states to end stay-at-home orders and open businesses , an analysis last month by Harvard University researchers found that only 19 states were conducting the bare minimum of tests to safely do so .
Maine was not one of them .
But with the Idexx partnership , it appears that the state will have the capacity it needs .
Mills said the new tests , which could be available as soon as next week , would allow the state to remove its tiered testing system , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people in congregate settings .
Now , truly , at least in Maine , everyone who wants a test should be able to get one .
( Some of those tests may be taken with swabs made by Guilford-based Puritan Medical Products , recipients of $ 75.5 million in federal funding last week . )
It will also allow the state to more quickly identify possible hotspots and move to suppress them .
As a result , Mills said she and her cabinet are discussing adjusting the timelines and protocols in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state , whether you think the business restrictions have been too onerous , or you ’ re more worried about the virus rebounding .
For an example of the usefulness of testing , look no further than President Trump , who along with his staff has started to travel and hold events - all because they have access to frequent rapid testing .
Under a more competent and focused federal administration , that would not be a luxury , nor would the good news announced Thursday make Maine such an outlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in the early weeks of the outbreak said he didn ’ t want widespread testing because he feared how the higher case numbers would look .
After more than a million confirmed cases and 70,000 American deaths , and with consensus among experts that testing is woefully inadequate , he repeated that view just this week .
In between , he failed to use the power of the federal government to produce enough tests and necessary supplies .
Instead , the president left states to fend for themselves , and in many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left Maine in a bad position .
The Mills administration , with the help of a local business that has grown into a global behemoth , appears to have made the best of it - just in time .

Editorials from around New England:
CONNECTICUT
Tough medicine needed for pandemic-driven fiscal sickness
The New London Day
May 8
It took a long time for Connecticut to dig out of the fiscal hole created by the Great Recession and exacerbated by decades of failing to adequately set aside funds for its pension obligations. But a corner had been turned and, showing some monetary discipline, a record $2.5 billion budget surplus - a rainy day fund - was accumulated.
The good news is that Connecticut will have that surplus to mitigate the fiscal damage it faces due to the pandemic. Revenues have plummeted across the board. Sales tax revenues have dropped because no one is out buying. Gasoline tax revenues have plunged because driving is down by half. And income tax revenues have dropped as unemployment spiked and investment income declined.
The bad news is the surplus won’t be nearly enough to cover the losses. Analysts foresee a $7 billion revenue decline over the next three years.
The state anticipates a $934 million deficit this fiscal year, a projected $2.3 billion gap in the budget that begins July 1, and another $2 billion in each of the next two fiscal years that follow. And the numbers may be optimistic.
Everything will have to be on the table to address this. Everything except once agan pushing off pension obligations.
State workers must again be asked for a wage freeze. Yes, that’s been demanded of them repeatedly over the past decade, but given how the private sector is being hammered we don’t see how state worker raises can be justified.
We don’t see layoffs as a good option. The state workforce has been thinned by past efforts to control spending. Services must be provided. And layoffs can be self-defeating by deepening the economic damage.
Like Gov. Ned Lamont, we have previously resisted calls for an income tax increase on highest earners because of its potential to drive those taxpayers elsewhere. Now it may be unavoidable. The rich are most insulated from the economic damage. And other states will be raising taxes too.
The gas tax will have to go up, the sharp drop in gasoline prices lessening that blow.
Municipal aid will suffer too, with regional approaches to trim costs demanded, not suggested.
And our elected leaders in Washington must fight for federal help.
Unlike the federal government, Connecticut must balance its budget. There will be no easy means to that end. Anyone suggesting otherwise is self-delusional or lying.
Online: https://bit.ly/2WhtNJ1
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MASSACHUSETTS
Receivership working, but more work to be done
Daily Hampshire Gazette
May 8
If there’s one thing both sides in the debate over state receivership of Holyoke Public Schools can agree on, it’s this: Five years into an experiment that has no fixed blueprint, there’s no clear finish line in sight for when the city will regain control of its own school system.
While opponents of state receivership decry that a local superintendent and school committee members elected by Holyoke residents have been denuded of their authority to lead, it’s premature for the state to hand back authority when the job isn’t finished - no matter how bad opponents want it. Despite some successes, Holyoke’s school system is not fixed after a half-decade of receivership.
To get a glimpse of how the issue divides the community, just listen to how two prominent politicians summed up their feelings about state receivership for the Gazette’s three-part series, “Receivership in Holyoke,” which ran last week. The series, by reporter Dusty Christensen, examines five years of receivership and was published a week before the state named a new receiver/superintendent to replace Stephen Zrike, who is set to depart in June.
“They made a big play to take us over and then provided us basically no resources, and five years later the schools are no better off than they were five years ago substantively,” former City Council president Kevin Jourdain said.
To Jourdain’s point, former educators have spoken up at council meetings about high teacher turnover - some 600 veteran teachers, administrators and staff have left the district since 2015, they say - and questionable test scores. Others say the state is to blame for a failed effort to bond for the construction of two new middle schools.
Not all believe receivership is a bad thing, however. State Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke, said he believes the district “is in a much better place than it was five years ago.”
Vega and other supporters say receivership has brought improvements for the 12-school, 5,350-student district. Among those are better graduation and dropout rates, fewer student suspensions and more opportunities for students.
The school system is heading in the right direction, especially when compared to the grim statistics that led the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to step in five years ago.
Some of those figures included a four-year graduation rate in 2015 of 62%, the lowest in the state, and a dropout rate of more than 7%; 12 years of being designated as underperforming; a decline in test scores since 2011; an out-of-school suspension rate during the 2013-20014 school year of 20%, which was five times higher than the state average; and nearly 29% of chronically absent students during the two school years preceding receivership.
These troubling statistics came amid a backdrop of racism, with black students and Hispanic students getting suspended in higher numbers than white students - though it should be noted that 80% of the district’s students identify as Hispanic.
Mayor Alex Morse, a graduate of Holyoke schools, says receivership has helped initiate conversations about equity in the district, both for students and for the diversity of its staff. “I think one of our biggest faults in Holyoke Public Schools has been our inability to confront racism,” he said.
So how do things look today? The graduation rate is now about 72%, and the dropout rate is 3.6%. The suspension rate dropped to 9% in 2019, including significant drops among black and Hispanic students. Chronic absenteeism is now at 25.7%.
Work in other areas is showing progress, including the Opportunity Academy, a set of alternative high school pathways for students not succeeding at Holyoke High School’s North and Dean campuses. Created in the second year of receivership, the Academy lets students continue or restart their work toward a diploma in three programs: Gateway to College, the Success Center and LightHouse Holyoke.
There’s a long way to go. While there has been some improvement on MCAS standardized testing for English language arts, math and science scores haven’t improved.
Then there’s teacher retention. Only 36 school districts out of the 403 in the state had worse teacher retention rates in 2019 than Holyoke, whose retention rate of 67% is 20 percentage points below the state average.
We agree that steps need to be taken to retain quality teachers, and to acknowledge some of the reasons why experienced teachers are leaving - a loss of seniority, longer work days and school year, a cutting of pay and sick days, and a new district approach that is more hands-off with students in the areas of behavior and discipline.
The last point is a drastic change in philosophy, one that calls for a more give-and-take relationship with students through so-called restorative justice programs that rely on meetings and reconciliation between victim and offender as opposed to punitive measures. Some teachers say this has led to a “drop in standards for behavior,” but such programs are having success in Holyoke and are being use in other districts in the region.
We agree with Morse, who says the way to build a stronger school system is not to “suspend and expel our ways out of these challenges.”
Under receivership, the district has made significant progress in hiring teachers who are more reflective of the students they serve. The number of teachers of color in the building has climbed 9 percentage points to 22% across the school system.
The state should not bow to the demands of those who want back local control. Why? Because we haven’t heard enough in the way of solutions from this group to warrant taking that chance. Receivership should stay the course, and local control will come.
Online: https://bit.ly/2YJYmbI
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RHODE ISLAND
A frame-up of General Flynn
Providence Journal
May 3
Lavrentiy Beria, the infamous prosecutor for the murderous dictator Josef Stalin, boasted of his system of “justice” in the Soviet Union. “Show me the man,” he said, “and I’ll find you the crime.”
It is horrifying that several leading figures at the Federal Bureau of Investigation evidently adopted this standard in going after three-star General Michael Flynn, who has Rhode Island connections.
New documents finally disclosed under pressure from General Flynn and his lawyer, Sidney Powell, showed the FBI plotted to set up Mr. Flynn and bring him down.
He was driven out of his job as national security adviser to President Trump, and eventually pleaded guilty to lying to agents. Prosecutors had made clear they would target his son for prosecution unless he did so, Ms. Powell contends.
Mr. Flynn is trying to withdraw that plea, given that loads of exculpatory evidence has come to light.
The FBI decided to use the chaos surrounding the presidential transition to send agents to interview General Flynn at the White House in January 2017. Agents told him at the time he would not need a lawyer. Mr. Flynn, believing he was not a target, brought them in and talked openly with them.
Documents that the Justice Department unsealed late Wednesday revealed that top FBI officials pondered whether their “goal” in interviewing the general would be “to get him to lie, so we can prosecute him or get him fired.”
In other words, it was a frame-up.
In America, that’s a no-no. There must be probable cause for investigations, lest the government abuse its powers and go after its political enemies, negating our core values of equal justice and our cherished First Amendment right to oppose the government politically.
It is possible now that some of the agents could be charged by U.S. Attorney John Durham, who is looking into an alleged conspiracy by members of the Obama administration against the incoming president.
The notes were taken by the FBI’s former head of counterintelligence Bill Priestap after meeting with then-FBI Director James Comey and then deputy-Director Andrew McCabe. Both Mr. Comey and Mr. McCabe have made clear their animosity against President Trump since those events.
After the interview, new documents reveal, the FBI was ready to close its investigation of Mr. Flynn, having found nothing “derogatory.” But FBI official Peter Strzok, whose text messages also revealed anti-Trump animosity, urged against it.
General Flynn, who once served President Obama, had been a critic of his policies toward Iran and Islamic terrorism after leaving that administration.
We supported Hillary Clinton for president and hold no high regard for Mr. Trump.
But more important than our political differences is making sure that our justice system is not politicized. That could very quickly turn us into a banana republic or worse.
Questions swirl around the Flynn case. Why did his original lawyers so badly advise him? Why did the FBI hold on to exculpatory evidence it is required to present to the court in the interests of justice? Where was Director Chris Wray?
Online: https://bit.ly/2SNxjZf
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Spray paint the wrong tool for correcting Brattleboro’s history
The Brattleboro Reformer
May 4
We are willing to bet that most residents of Brattleboro would agree the Soldiers Monument at the Common should be amended to include the 65 people of color from greater Brattleboro who fought for the union in the Civil War, many as part of the famed Massachusetts 54th regiment, but were not honored in stone when the monument was dedicated.
An article about the missing names, written by the Brattleboro Historical Society, with research conducted by Brattleboro Area Middle School students, was published in the Reformer in December. Through that story, we learned some of these soldiers’ names: Charles P. Smith. Daniel Green. Benjamin Loney. Hayworth Matthews. All had important stories to tell, and courageous service worth saluting.
Some were born here; others escaped bondage in the South and settled here. All joined the fight. Sadly, many of their comrades’ names are lost to the ages, though the Brattleboro Historical Society has been working to fix that.
These men risked their lives, and in some cases gave their lives, for a nation that did not love them back the way it should have. Unquestionably, they all deserve to be honored.
But we also think these men would be appalled by petty vandalism recently scrawled upon the nearby Veterans Memorial Monument, which honors those who served in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam, as a means of promoting their remembrance.
We think the Civil War soldiers of color who charged into the teeth of rifle fire and mortar shells would, given the chance, confront the injustice of their exclusion in the same manner as they fought: Head-on, heads held high, with their names attached to their words and deeds. It’s difficult to imagine them anonymously defacing a marker honoring fellow veterans with spray paint.
Some might deem this vandalism an act of civil disobedience. But people who get themselves arrested for a cause, or purposely violate unjust laws to raise awareness of that injustice, do so in public, unafraid of the consequences.
It’s our hope that future action intended to support this cause will respect public property and reflect the values of the very people whose honor and remembrance is much overdue. We hope those committed to addressing this injustice will instead take their case to the Brattleboro Select Board, to the media, and to Main Street. They will be heard.
In the meantime, this community owes a debt of gratitude to the Brattleboro Historical Society and to the students who assisted their research. They have made the case that our history is incomplete without recognition of Brattleboro’s Civil War soldiers of color.
Online: https://bit.ly/2WgD2t1
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
Solution must be found
The Nashua Telegraph
May 8
Hundreds of thousands of hogs raised by farmers to provide Americans with ham, bacon and other meat products will not make it to the slaughterhouse unless ways are found to cure a nasty side-effect of COVID-19.
It is that a number of meat processing plants have been shut down because of the disease. A few were closed after they became coronavirus hotspots with numerous workers coming down with the disease. At one giant plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 640 employees reportedly became infected with COVID-19. The facility was shut down - as have been other meat processing plants.
That has resulted in a break in the food supply chain, involving not just hogs but also beef cattle and poultry. With no processing plants to accept their livestock, some farmers already have begun killing them.
Why not just keep them on the farm? Because our ultra-efficient agriculture sector has become something of a victim of just-in-time production schedules. Farmers plan in terms of feed, pasture, veterinarian services, livestock pens and shelters and a variety of other factors to ship stock ready for slaughter out as soon as they are ready. Then, another generation of animals comes in. Some farmers simply cannot handle retaining a large number of animals that were supposed to go to a processing plant.
That inflicts a crushing blow on some farmers, of course. It affects processors’ finances adversely.
And it interrupts the flow of meat products to consumers. Shortages of some meat products already are being felt.
The very scale of the meat industry is an obstacle. The Sioux Falls plant cited above normally ships about 100 million servings of pork products every week. Closure of that one facility took a giant bite out of the nation’s meat supply.
And keeping hundreds of meat processing workers packed into a single plant safe from COVID-19 presents a challenge.
Thus far, no one seems to have come up with a good solution. Clearly, one needs to be found, with federal government financial assistance, if necessary. This is a COVID-19 disaster that, if not beaten, will have both immediate and long-lasting adverse effects.
Online: https://bit.ly/2xQnP8y
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MAINE
New testing capacity comes at just the right time
Kennebec Journal
May 8
As people’s tolerance for staying at home appears to be waning, and the subject of stay-at-home orders begins to put the country at odds, we end the week with some welcome good news.
Gov. Janet Mills on Thursday announced a partnership with Idexx, the Westbrook-based world leader in animal diagnostics, that will triple state capacity for COVID-19 testing, a critical component of the state’s plan to allow businesses to reopen safely.
It has been clear for months now that widespread testing nationwide was going to be necessary to reopen businesses and restart activities after social distancing was used to “flatten the curve.”
It’s been frustrating then to watch the Trump administration abdicate all responsibility for securing the testing kits and supplies necessary for a robust program. As of Friday morning, it’s been 63 days since President Donald Trump said, “Anybody that wants a test can get a test. That’s what the bottom line is,” and it remains as untrue now as when he said it.
As the president pushed states to end stay-at-home orders and open businesses, an analysis last month by Harvard University researchers found that only 19 states were conducting the bare minimum of tests to safely do so. Maine was not one of them.
But with the Idexx partnership, it appears that the state will have the capacity it needs. Mills said the new tests, which could be available as soon as next week, would allow the state to remove its tiered testing system, which limited tests mostly to health care workers and people in congregate settings.
Now, truly, at least in Maine, everyone who wants a test should be able to get one. (Some of those tests may be taken with swabs made by Guilford-based Puritan Medical Products, recipients of $75.5 million in federal funding last week.)
It will also allow the state to more quickly identify possible hotspots and move to suppress them. As a result, Mills said she and her cabinet are discussing adjusting the timelines and protocols in her reopening plan - great news for everyone in the state, whether you think the business restrictions have been too onerous, or you’re more worried about the virus rebounding.
For an example of the usefulness of testing, look no further than President Trump, who along with his staff has started to travel and hold events - all because they have access to frequent rapid testing.
Under a more competent and focused federal administration, that would not be a luxury, nor would the good news announced Thursday make Maine such an outlier.
But here we are. President Trump in the early weeks of the outbreak said he didn’t want widespread testing because he feared how the higher case numbers would look. After more than a million confirmed cases and 70,000 American deaths, and with consensus among experts that testing is woefully inadequate, he repeated that view just this week. In between, he failed to use the power of the federal government to produce enough tests and necessary supplies.
Instead, the president left states to fend for themselves, and in many cases compete against each other.
That left Maine in a bad position. The Mills administration, with the help of a local business that has grown into a global behemoth, appears to have made the best of it - just in time.
Online: https://bit.ly/2YJZcW4
___


washingtontimes--2020-05-08--Oregon Shakespeare Festival cancels fall season due to virus

ASHLAND , ore. ( AP ) - The Oregon Shakespeare Festival , a major tourist draw in southern Oregon , @ @ @ @ @ due to the coronavirus outbreak .
In a statement the festival noted Oregon Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ large gatherings wouldn ’ t happen in the state until at least late September .
@ @ @ @ @ was to begin Sept. 8 .
“ The health and safety of our entire Ashland @ @ @ @ @ staff , volunteers , patrons , and Festival partners , is our highest priority , @ @ @ @ @ artistic director , said .
The festival urged 2020 ticketholders to donate tickets or consider @ @ @ @ @ 2021 .
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is among the oldest and largest professional @ @ @ @ @ .
It prides itself on offering outdoor showings of Shakespeare ’ s plays performed in @ @ @ @ @ his contemporary audiences would have experienced , but it also offers other types of theater @ @ @ @ @

ASHLAND, ore. (AP) - The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a major tourist draw in southern Oregon, is cancelling its fall season due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In a statement the festival noted Oregon Gov . Kate Brown recently said that large gatherings wouldn’t happen in the state until at least late September. The company’s season was to begin Sept. 8.
“The health and safety of our entire Ashland community, including artists, staff, volunteers, patrons, and Festival partners, is our highest priority,” Nataki Garrett, OSF artistic director, said.
The festival urged 2020 ticketholders to donate tickets or consider a voucher for use in 2021.
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is among the oldest and largest professional nonprofit theaters in the nation. It prides itself on offering outdoor showings of Shakespeare’s plays performed in a venue similar to what his contemporary audiences would have experienced, but it also offers other types of theater in indoor performance halls.