washingtontimes--2020-08-04--RIGHT AT HOME: Dining in the great outdoors, stylishly

Squeezing the most out of summer - especially this coronavirus summer - has often meant eating and entertaining outside , for those with the space to do it .
“ The goal today is to lavish just as much love and attention on your outdoor setup as you do your indoor rooms .
Even if it ’ s just a fire escape in the city , ” says interior designer Elaine Griffin , based in St. Simons Island , Georgia .
To elevate your al fresco entertaining , she advises , begin with the layout .
Set up the dining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The further it is , the more oversize trays you ’ ll need to carry stuff out.
” Place your seating toward the best view you ’ ve got .
And kids ’ play areas should be easily seen .
“ Think of the outdoors like you would an open plan interior , ” Griffin says .
Get a good light source , whether it ’ s sunlight for breakfast or lunch , or light strings for cocktails and dinner .
Griffin says wicker is having a moment this summer , indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it ’ s affordable and virtually indestructible , ” she says .
She cites Amanda Lindroth ’ s tabletop accessories : “ She ’ s like the Ralph Lauren of wicker : collectible , timelessly classic and insanely chic.
” Outdoor spaces reap drama from an oversize mirror , too .
“ They ’ re great on side or back walls to add depth and reflect light , ” says Griffin .
Pillar candles in tall , clear , cylinder vases make inexpensive hurricanes .
“ Station these to illuminate the approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drama , flanking patio stairs and doors , ” she says .
Get a set of battery-operated ones with a remote control , and you won ’ t have to worry about wind or fire safety .
If you ’ re using a tablecloth , make sure you ’ ve got anchors and clips to hold it in place in a breeze .
On Etsy.com , there are cast-resin and metallic weights shaped like flowers , birds and shells , as well as ones crafted of polished pebbles or sea glass .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Choose placemats or table coverings that can be wiped clean easily .
If your decor style is modern , Ikea has square or round placemats with bold , pop-art graphic stripe or swirl patterns , or vibrant hues of pink , red and navy .
Chilewich ’ s plaid , stripe and madras patterns in their signature woven placemats bridge contemporary and traditional style .
And in a collaboration with Williams-Sonoma , Aerin ’ s oilcloth tablecloths feature a variety of vintage floral prints .
Chrissy Teigen ’ s Cravings collection at Target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , batik-inspired pattern .
Also in the collection are mango-wood trays inlaid with metallic designs inspired by her Moroccan travels .
Sixteenth-century Turkish tile inspired a collection of dip bowls and platters at Williams-Sonoma .
Here too , a collection that references traditional Sicilian maiolica patterns .
Set up an appetizer zone with CB2 ’ s petrified wood or blackened teak serving boards , some of their Pebble gray melamine plates with a handmade , Japanese look , and a cheese knife set made of faceted brass that reverses to polished pyrite stone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using melamine plates like Sur La Table ’ s Rose Nuage , printed with soft pink blooms on a blue background , and Cabana , printed with beachy tropical leaves and flowers .
The Pique Nique design is printed with vibrant cherries .
At Anthropologie , find painterly renditions of papayas and lemons on a serveware collection made of bamboo and melamine .
At West Elm , you ’ ll find Toronto artist Xenia Taler ’ s geometric-patterned plates , made of bamboo and rice husks .
And at One King ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks just like rustic stoneware .
Instead of disposable paper napkins , consider tea towels .
They ’ re roomy enough to drape across a lap and provide a nice big surface on which to wipe fingers .
Flour-sack towels are soft , absorbent , lint-free and wash easily .
Heath Ceramics has a set of three , printed with type foundry House Industries ’ bold flatware graphics .
Sur La Table has playful plaid , gingham , strawberry , dog or cat prints .
The pandemic has made bandannas popular as face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ table runners with just a few quick stitches .
Or you can use them as napkins .
For retro style , CB2 ’ s Doris matte-finish aluminum tumblers in navy , copper , silver and soft mint green have a midcentury modern vibe .
And Sur La Table ’ s acrylic drinkware , in cherry red or clear , looks like vintage chunky cut glass .
In a new collaboration with the RV company Airstream , Pottery Barn has a collection that includes a drinks cooler shaped like the iconic trailer ; logo-embroidered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plates in a gray-and-white enamelware swirl pattern .
Kim Cook writes frequently about decor and design for The AP .
Follow her at : www.kimcookhome.com

Squeezing the most out of summer - especially this coronavirus summer - has often meant eating and entertaining outside, for those with the space to do it.
“The goal today is to lavish just as much love and attention on your outdoor setup as you do your indoor rooms. Even if it’s just a fire escape in the city,” says interior designer Elaine Griffin, based in St. Simons Island, Georgia.
SET THE STAGE
To elevate your al fresco entertaining, she advises, begin with the layout.
Set up the dining table close to your indoor kitchen: “The further it is, the more oversize trays you’ll need to carry stuff out.”
Place your seating toward the best view you’ve got. And kids’ play areas should be easily seen.
“Think of the outdoors like you would an open plan interior,” Griffin says.
Get a good light source, whether it’s sunlight for breakfast or lunch, or light strings for cocktails and dinner.
THE RIGHT PROPS
Griffin says wicker is having a moment this summer, indoors and out. “I love it because it’s affordable and virtually indestructible,” she says. She cites Amanda Lindroth’s tabletop accessories: “She’s like the Ralph Lauren of wicker: collectible, timelessly classic and insanely chic.”
Outdoor spaces reap drama from an oversize mirror, too. “They’re great on side or back walls to add depth and reflect light,” says Griffin.
Pillar candles in tall, clear, cylinder vases make inexpensive hurricanes. “Station these to illuminate the approach to your dining area for red carpet drama, flanking patio stairs and doors,” she says. Get a set of battery-operated ones with a remote control, and you won’t have to worry about wind or fire safety.
If you’re using a tablecloth, make sure you’ve got anchors and clips to hold it in place in a breeze. On Etsy.com, there are cast-resin and metallic weights shaped like flowers, birds and shells, as well as ones crafted of polished pebbles or sea glass. These make good hostess gifts, too.
Choose placemats or table coverings that can be wiped clean easily. If your decor style is modern, Ikea has square or round placemats with bold, pop-art graphic stripe or swirl patterns, or vibrant hues of pink, red and navy.
Chilewich’s plaid, stripe and madras patterns in their signature woven placemats bridge contemporary and traditional style. And in a collaboration with Williams-Sonoma, Aerin’s oilcloth tablecloths feature a variety of vintage floral prints.
NOW SERVING
Chrissy Teigen’s Cravings collection at Target includes melamine serving trays with a breezy, batik-inspired pattern. Also in the collection are mango-wood trays inlaid with metallic designs inspired by her Moroccan travels.
Sixteenth-century Turkish tile inspired a collection of dip bowls and platters at Williams-Sonoma. Here too, a collection that references traditional Sicilian maiolica patterns.
Set up an appetizer zone with CB2’s petrified wood or blackened teak serving boards, some of their Pebble gray melamine plates with a handmade, Japanese look, and a cheese knife set made of faceted brass that reverses to polished pyrite stone.
Celebrate summer flowers and fruits by using melamine plates like Sur La Table’s Rose Nuage, printed with soft pink blooms on a blue background, and Cabana, printed with beachy tropical leaves and flowers. The Pique Nique design is printed with vibrant cherries.
At Anthropologie, find painterly renditions of papayas and lemons on a serveware collection made of bamboo and melamine. At West Elm, you’ll find Toronto artist Xenia Taler’s geometric-patterned plates, made of bamboo and rice husks. And at One King’s Lane, Vietri’s melamine collection looks just like rustic stoneware.
Instead of disposable paper napkins, consider tea towels. They’re roomy enough to drape across a lap and provide a nice big surface on which to wipe fingers. Flour-sack towels are soft, absorbent, lint-free and wash easily. Heath Ceramics has a set of three, printed with type foundry House Industries’ bold flatware graphics. Sur La Table has playful plaid, gingham, strawberry, dog or cat prints.
The pandemic has made bandannas popular as face coverings, but they also make great table runners with just a few quick stitches. Or you can use them as napkins.
For retro style, CB2’s Doris matte-finish aluminum tumblers in navy, copper, silver and soft mint green have a midcentury modern vibe. And Sur La Table’s acrylic drinkware, in cherry red or clear, looks like vintage chunky cut glass.
In a new collaboration with the RV company Airstream, Pottery Barn has a collection that includes a drinks cooler shaped like the iconic trailer; logo-embroidered napkins and tumblers; and bowls and plates in a gray-and-white enamelware swirl pattern.
___
Kim Cook writes frequently about decor and design for The AP. Follow her at: www.kimcookhome.com


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo sees Q2 profits up on cost cuts

MILAN ( AP ) - Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo , fresh off its successful hostile takeover of a smaller rival to create Italy ’ s largest bank , on Tuesday posted a 16 % increase in second-quarter profits as it cut costs and increased loan loss provisions against possible future impact from the COVID-19 pandemic .
The bank reported 1.4 billion euros ( $ 1.7 billion ) in net income for the period , up from 1.2 billion euros a year ago .
Reflecting the difficult economic conditions , net interest income was flat at 1.7 billion while net fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The bank said revenues were sustained by the insurance business , while operating costs were down nearly 3 % due to cuts in personnel and administrative expenses .
Net income for the first six months of the year was up 13 % to 2.6 billion euros , representing the lion ’ s share of the 3 billion euros in net income forecast for the full year .
That takes into account 880 million euros set aside for future COVID-19 impact .
Intesa Sanpaolo last week completed the takeover of UBI Banca , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the target bank ’ s shareholders after a five-month struggle .
The move pushes ahead consolidation , which Italy ’ s central bank has advocated to improve efficiency in a sector long dominated by regional banks , and positions the new group for a larger role in Europe .
‘ ’ Together we are stronger and … have greater potential for growth , ’ ’ CEO Carlo Messina said in a statement .
He noted that the takeover makes the new bank the second biggest in the eurozone in terms of market capitalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for total assets .
A business plan will be outlined next year ‘ ’ as soon as the macroeconomic scenario becomes clearer , ’ ’ Messina said .

MILAN (AP) - Italian bank Intesa Sanpaolo, fresh off its successful hostile takeover of a smaller rival to create Italy’s largest bank, on Tuesday posted a 16% increase in second-quarter profits as it cut costs and increased loan loss provisions against possible future impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bank reported 1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion) in net income for the period, up from 1.2 billion euros a year ago. Reflecting the difficult economic conditions, net interest income was flat at 1.7 billion while net fees dropped 11% to 1.7 billion euros. The bank said revenues were sustained by the insurance business, while operating costs were down nearly 3% due to cuts in personnel and administrative expenses.
Net income for the first six months of the year was up 13% to 2.6 billion euros, representing the lion’s share of the 3 billion euros in net income forecast for the full year. That takes into account 880 million euros set aside for future COVID-19 impact.
Intesa Sanpaolo last week completed the takeover of UBI Banca, winning the support of 90.2% of the target bank’s shareholders after a five-month struggle. The move pushes ahead consolidation, which Italy’s central bank has advocated to improve efficiency in a sector long dominated by regional banks, and positions the new group for a larger role in Europe.
‘’Together we are stronger and … have greater potential for growth,’’ CEO Carlo Messina said in a statement.
He noted that the takeover makes the new bank the second biggest in the eurozone in terms of market capitalization, 6th for operating income and 8th for total assets. A business plan will be outlined next year ‘’as soon as the macroeconomic scenario becomes clearer,’’ Messina said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Nebraska sheriff's deputy acquitted of child abuse charge

HOLDREGE , Neb .
( AP ) - A south-central Nebraska sheriff ’ s deputy accused of giving a teenage girl a black eye has been acquitted of child abuse .
A six-person jury last week found Jamie Tilson , 32 , found not guilty of misdemeanor counts of child abuse and third-degree assault , the Lincoln Journal Star reported .
The charges stemmed from a Sept. 3 incident in Holdrege in which Tilson sought to take away the teenage relative ’ s phone .
Arresting officers said in an affidavit that the teen kicked a hole in a wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he “ went to slap ” the girl in the mouth , but hit her in the eye when she flinched , causing a black eye .
The teen took a photo of her black eye and shared it on social media .
She also missed two days of school .
Upon returning to school , a school aide asked about the swollen eye and the teen claimed to have fallen , court documents said .
A school nurse examined the eye , determined it was not caused by a fall and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child abuse hotline .

HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) - A south-central Nebraska sheriff’s deputy accused of giving a teenage girl a black eye has been acquitted of child abuse.
A six-person jury last week found Jamie Tilson, 32, found not guilty of misdemeanor counts of child abuse and third-degree assault, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.
The charges stemmed from a Sept. 3 incident in Holdrege in which Tilson sought to take away the teenage relative’s phone. Arresting officers said in an affidavit that the teen kicked a hole in a wall and talked back to Tilson, who said he “went to slap” the girl in the mouth, but hit her in the eye when she flinched, causing a black eye.
The teen took a photo of her black eye and shared it on social media. She also missed two days of school. Upon returning to school, a school aide asked about the swollen eye and the teen claimed to have fallen, court documents said. A school nurse examined the eye, determined it was not caused by a fall and school officials called the state’s child abuse hotline.
Tilson remains employed by the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Weak tornado confirmed in western Massachusetts

BOSTON ( AP ) - The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado touched down in western Massachusetts @ @ @ @ @ started in Sandisfield at about 7 p.m. Sunday , moved across a section of Tolland @ @ @ @ @ , according to a NWS survey team .
The EF0 tornado - the weakest of @ @ @ @ @ estimated maximum wind speeds of 80 mph , and a path that was about 100 @ @ @ @ @ miles long .
No injuries were reported , but it brought down trees along its @ @ @ @ @ outages and some minor home damage in Sandisfield .
There were reports of a home @ @ @ @ @ and shingles ripped off , the service said .
A fence was also blown down @

BOSTON (AP) - The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado touched down in western Massachusetts last weekend.
The tornado started in Sandisfield at about 7 p.m. Sunday, moved across a section of Tolland and into Blandford before lifting, according to a NWS survey team.
The EF0 tornado - the weakest of six tornado strengths - had estimated maximum wind speeds of 80 mph, and a path that was about 100 yards wide and nearly eight miles long.
No injuries were reported, but it brought down trees along its path, caused some power outages and some minor home damage in Sandisfield. There were reports of a home’s window blown in and shingles ripped off, the service said. A fence was also blown down.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Winfrey picks Isabel Wilkerson's 'Caste' for her book club

NEW YORK ( AP ) - If not for the coronavirus , Oprah Winfrey says , she would be out in the streets and marching with the Black Lives Matter protesters .
She has instead found other ways to add her voice .
She is working with Lionsgate on a multimedia adaptation of The New York Times ’ “ 1619 Project ” on the legacy of slavery .
She interviewed Stacey Abrams and Ava DuVernay among others during a two-night special on her OWN network about racism and how to address it .
The current issue of O : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Breonna Taylor , the 26-year-old Black emergency room technician killed by police in her home in Louisville , Kentucky .
It ’ s the first time in the publication ’ s 20-year history that Winfrey herself has not appeared on the front .
And on Tuesday , Winfrey announced she had chosen Isabel Wilkerson ’ s exploration of race and hierarchy in the U.S. , “ Caste : The Origins of Our Discontents , ” as her latest book club pick .
Wilkerson ’ s book , Winfrey said in a telephone interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see each other , how we see our humanity and the structure of our world.
” The 59-year-old Wilkerson is an author and journalist who won the National Book Critics Circle award in 2011 for her previous book , “ The Warmth of Other Suns , ” about the Black migration from the South in the early 20th century .
In “ Caste , ” she looks at American history and the treatment of Blacks and finds what she calls an enduring , unseen and unmentioned caste system - not unlike those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet to be fully confronted .
“ You can not solve a problem unless you identify it and define it , ” Wilkerson told The Associated Press , adding that Winfrey ’ s endorsement means “ many more people who have not learned about this will have the chance to read about something that deeply affects us all.
” “ Caste ” was published Tuesday and already has won praise , with the Times calling it an “ extraordinary document ” and “ almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June , listing it along with Robin DiAngelo ’ s “ White Fragility ” and Ibram X. Kendi ’ s “ How To Be An Antiracist ” as essential reads on racism .
“ Caste ” continues Winfrey ’ s book club partnership with Apple that began last fall and includes such previous picks as Ta-Nehisi Coates ’ novel “ The Water Dancer ” and the nonfiction “ Hidden Valley Road , ” by Robert Kolker .
Winfrey , who has self-quarantined at home in Santa Barbara , California , since March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of video conversations and podcasts with Wilkerson .
An interview with Wilkerson will air this fall on Apple TV Plus .
Winfrey said many details in “ Caste ” were revelatory for her , such as the Nazis ’ admiration for the Jim Crow system .
“ That was shocking to me , ” Winfrey said .
“ Hitler was using the racist South as a template for race purification in Germany.
” Winfrey has been a literary tastemaker for decades , in part because of her commitment to a given book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few months ago , before bound , printed copies were available .
Struggling with the digital edition Random House sent her , she asked for a physical version , however possible , and received from the publisher loose pages that she stapled together and placed in a three-ring binder .
She then bought 500 copies , which she plans to send to leaders in business , sports and politics , including all 50 state governors .
“ I am sending it to people I think will benefit from it and are open-minded enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Winfrey explained .
Asked if she would mail a copy to the White House , Winfrey sounded surprised and said she hadn ’ t planned on it .
“ Who ’ s going to read it there ?
” she wondered .
Winfrey has had an eventful 2020 from the start .
Her book club choice in January , Jeanine Cummins ’ novel “ American Dirt , ” set off a debate about the representation of Latinos in the literary world that also touched upon the relatively few Latino authors Winfrey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , she announced that O would become primarily a digital publication in 2021 , though she says the magazine remains profitable .
“ Like with all magazines , the ad sales numbers have gone down , but it was still making money , ” said Winfrey , who called the focus on digital a natural evolution and one that allows O to present work in a more timely way .
She still hopes to feature more works by Latinos in her club , but for now she wants to “ focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” her .
Winfrey said she was in tears when she called Wilkerson to tell her she had chosen “ Caste , ” and she became emotional during her interview as she discussed putting Taylor ’ s picture on the cover of O .
“ If I could , I would be in the streets , holding up her picture , ” she said .

NEW YORK (AP) - If not for the coronavirus, Oprah Winfrey says, she would be out in the streets and marching with the Black Lives Matter protesters.
She has instead found other ways to add her voice.
She is working with Lionsgate on a multimedia adaptation of The New York Times’ “1619 Project” on the legacy of slavery. She interviewed Stacey Abrams and Ava DuVernay among others during a two-night special on her OWN network about racism and how to address it . The current issue of O: The Oprah Magazine features a cover photo of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black emergency room technician killed by police in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s the first time in the publication’s 20-year history that Winfrey herself has not appeared on the front.
And on Tuesday, Winfrey announced she had chosen Isabel Wilkerson’s exploration of race and hierarchy in the U.S., “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” as her latest book club pick.
Wilkerson’s book, Winfrey said in a telephone interview, “could change the way we see each other, how we see our humanity and the structure of our world.”
The 59-year-old Wilkerson is an author and journalist who won the National Book Critics Circle award in 2011 for her previous book, “The Warmth of Other Suns,” about the Black migration from the South in the early 20th century. In “Caste,” she looks at American history and the treatment of Blacks and finds what she calls an enduring, unseen and unmentioned caste system - not unlike those in India or Nazi Germany - that has yet to be fully confronted.
“You cannot solve a problem unless you identify it and define it,” Wilkerson told The Associated Press, adding that Winfrey’s endorsement means “many more people who have not learned about this will have the chance to read about something that deeply affects us all.”
“Caste” was published Tuesday and already has won praise, with the Times calling it an “extraordinary document” and “almost certainly the keynote nonfiction book of the American century this far.” Winfrey cited the book in June, listing it along with Robin DiAngelo’s “White Fragility” and Ibram X. Kendi’s “How To Be An Antiracist” as essential reads on racism.
“Caste” continues Winfrey’s book club partnership with Apple that began last fall and includes such previous picks as Ta-Nehisi Coates’ novel “The Water Dancer” and the nonfiction “Hidden Valley Road,” by Robert Kolker. Winfrey, who has self-quarantined at home in Santa Barbara, California, since March, says she hopes to create a series of video conversations and podcasts with Wilkerson. An interview with Wilkerson will air this fall on Apple TV Plus.
Winfrey said many details in “Caste” were revelatory for her, such as the Nazis’ admiration for the Jim Crow system.
“That was shocking to me,” Winfrey said. “Hitler was using the racist South as a template for race purification in Germany.”
Winfrey has been a literary tastemaker for decades, in part because of her commitment to a given book. She read “Caste” a few months ago, before bound, printed copies were available. Struggling with the digital edition Random House sent her, she asked for a physical version, however possible, and received from the publisher loose pages that she stapled together and placed in a three-ring binder. She then bought 500 copies, which she plans to send to leaders in business, sports and politics, including all 50 state governors.
“I am sending it to people I think will benefit from it and are open-minded enough to receive (what it says),” Winfrey explained.
Asked if she would mail a copy to the White House, Winfrey sounded surprised and said she hadn’t planned on it.
“Who’s going to read it there?” she wondered.
Winfrey has had an eventful 2020 from the start. Her book club choice in January, Jeanine Cummins’ novel “American Dirt,” set off a debate about the representation of Latinos in the literary world that also touched upon the relatively few Latino authors Winfrey has selected for the club. Last week, she announced that O would become primarily a digital publication in 2021, though she says the magazine remains profitable.
“Like with all magazines, the ad sales numbers have gone down, but it was still making money,” said Winfrey, who called the focus on digital a natural evolution and one that allows O to present work in a more timely way.
She still hopes to feature more works by Latinos in her club, but for now she wants to “focus on social justice and see where that carries” her. Winfrey said she was in tears when she called Wilkerson to tell her she had chosen “Caste,” and she became emotional during her interview as she discussed putting Taylor’s picture on the cover of O.
“If I could, I would be in the streets, holding up her picture,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Helicopter crashes into Tennessee River; 1 dead, 3 saved

KNOXVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - One person was killed when a helicopter crashed into the Tennessee River on Monday night , authorities said .
Three others escaped the wreckage and were rescued by a pontoon boat that was on the river near Knoxville , TheKnoxville News Sentinel reported .
The survivors refused medical treatment , fire department spokesman D.J .
Corcoran said at a news conference late Monday .
Nearby residents called authorities after the crash happened around 7:40 p.m. , and the Knoxville Fire Department sent crews into the water to search for the missing victim using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the victim ’ s body was recovered within a few feet of the crash site around 9:45 p.m .
The victim was not immediately identified and it was not clear whether the victim was a pilot or a passenger , Corcoran said .
The other three people on board were also not identified .
It was not immediately known whether the aircraft , a Eurocopter EC-130 , was landing or taking off when it went down , officials said .
The National Transportation Safety Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A co-founder of Clayton Homes, a national home-building company, was killed when a helicopter crashed into the Tennessee River, relatives said Tuesday.
Three others escaped the wreckage and were rescued by a pontoon boat that was on the river near Knoxville on Monday night, TheKnoxville News Sentinel reported. The survivors refused medical treatment, fire department spokesman D.J. Corcoran said at a news conference late Monday.
Nearby residents called authorities after the crash happened around 7:40 p.m., and the Knoxville Fire Department sent crews into the water to search for the missing victim using underwater sonar devices, according to Corcoran.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the victim’s body was recovered within a few feet of the crash site around 9:45 p.m.
Jim Clayton, a founder of Maryville, Tennessee-based homebuilder Clayton Homes, and two others survived the crash. Jim Clayton said in a statement that Joe Clayton, who was his brother and business partner, was killed.
“I am devastated and completely heartbroken by the loss of my wonderful brother, Joe,” Jim Clayton said. “Joe and I were as close as two brothers can be, and, as only siblings, we have supported each other since growing up together on a farm in West Tennessee and as business partners for decades.”
For decades, Clayton Homes has built and sold traditional site-built homes, modular homes, manufactured homes, tiny homes, college dormitories, military barracks and apartments, the company’s website said.
Officials didn’t immediately say whether the aircraft, a Eurocopter EC-130, was landing or taking off when it went down.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Man charged with pointing laser pointer at police helicopter

TOWNSON , Md .
( AP ) - Police in Maryland said they arrested a man who shined a laser @ @ @ @ @ helicopters .
The alleged incident happened last month in Essex , Maryland as officers were @ @ @ @ @ unrelated investigation , Baltimore County police said in a news release Monday .
Police say @ @ @ @ @ stood on a road and shined a laser pointer through the cockpit .
He has @ @ @ @ @ laser pointer at an aircraft , the release said .
Dunevant has been booked into @ @ @ @ @ bail .
He could face up to three years in jail for the charge .
@ @ @ @ @ if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf .
Pointing a laser @ @ @ @ @ hazardous to the flight crew and other people on the ground , the release said @

TOWSON, Md. (AP) - Police in Maryland said they arrested a man who shined a laser pointer at one of their helicopters.
The alleged incident happened last month in Essex, Maryland as officers were flying the helicopter during an unrelated investigation, Baltimore County police said in a news release Monday.
Police say Brandon Dunevant, 31, stood on a road and shined a laser pointer through the cockpit. He has been charged with pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft, the release said.
Dunevant has been booked into a detention center with no bail. He could face up to three years in jail for the charge. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.
Pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft is hazardous to the flight crew and other people on the ground, the release said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Nevada lawmakers OK unemployment system updates

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to expand eligibility for unemployment benefits to workers who decide returning to their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic is too risky .
“ What this intends to do is to allow people to not have to choose between their jobs and their lives , ” said Francisco Morales , who presented the bill on behalf of Gov .
Steve Sisolak ’ s office .
Throughout the Legislature ’ s special session , both Republicans and Democrats have said fixing Nevada ’ s problem-ridden unemployment insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of growth , the pandemic propelled Nevada ’ s economy into a tailspin .
With businesses closed and visitor volume down in Las Vegas , unemployment shot up to a nation-topping 28.2 % in April .
The unemployment rate fell to 15 % in June .
Balky technology , jammed phone lines and confusion over eligibility have hamstrung the Department of Employment , Training and Rehabilitation in its efforts to distribute benefits to unemployed Nevada residents .
Unfulfilled claims and an interminable backlog have sparked outrage and left Nevada residents struggling to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re entitled to .
The 19-page bill was made public moments before it was first heard in the state Senate late on Sunday night , denying lawmakers time to review it before asking questions .
Most questions from Republican lawmakers revolved around fraud concerns , while Democrats focused primarily on how to expedite payouts on claims that have faced long delays .
As of July 25 , almost 600,000 laid off workers had filed for unemployment in Nevada since the onset of the pandemic , however administrators admit that anywhere from hundreds to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The state has paid a total of $ 6.2 billion in unemployment insurance and the federal government ’ s $ 600 pandemic supplement .
Administrators say the unemployment trust fund could be depleted as soon as September , forcing the state to borrow to continue to fulfill claims .
If signed into law , Senate Bill 3 will provide employment department administrators additional flexibility to create emergency regulations to help reduce the backlog and accelerate payouts .
It adapts rules that make people who deny offers to return to work without “ good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bill redefines “ good cause ” to include COVID-19 and , by doing so , allows immunocompromised individuals , parents without day care or people who live with high-risk family members to remain eligible for unemployment if they don ’ t return to work .
The bill lifts limits on yearly payouts , authorizing seven additional weeks of unemployment benefits for laid off workers .
It also allows part-time workers previously ineligible for unemployment to receive partial benefits .
Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton , D-Las Vegas , said allowing people to work part-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ component of the bill for workers in a city like Las Vegas , where less tourists mean less hours for workers .
“ We are not going to be going back to work full time .
We know it ’ s going to be awhile , and we can not allow people to be penalized .
They want to go to work , they would love to work , but those hours aren ’ t going to be there for them , ” Carlton said .
Sam Metz is a corps member for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to expand eligibility for unemployment benefits to workers who decide returning to their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic is too risky.
“What this intends to do is to allow people to not have to choose between their jobs and their lives,” said Francisco Morales, who presented the bill on behalf of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s office.
Throughout the Legislature’s special session, both Republicans and Democrats have said fixing Nevada’s problem-ridden unemployment insurance system is a top priority.
After years of growth, the pandemic propelled Nevada’s economy into a tailspin. With businesses closed and visitor volume down in Las Vegas, unemployment shot up to a nation-topping 28.2% in April. The unemployment rate fell to 15% in June.
Balky technology, jammed phone lines and confusion over eligibility have hamstrung the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation in its efforts to distribute benefits to unemployed Nevada residents. Unfulfilled claims and an interminable backlog have sparked outrage and left Nevada residents struggling to make ends meet without benefits they’re entitled to.
The 19-page bill was made public moments before it was first heard in the state Senate late on Sunday night, denying lawmakers time to review it before asking questions.
Most questions from Republican lawmakers revolved around fraud concerns, while Democrats focused primarily on how to expedite payouts on claims that have faced long delays.
As of July 25, almost 600,000 laid off workers had filed for unemployment in Nevada since the onset of the pandemic, however administrators admit that anywhere from hundreds to hundreds of thousands could be fraudulent. The state has paid a total of $6.2 billion in unemployment insurance and the federal government’s $600 pandemic supplement. Administrators say the unemployment trust fund could be depleted as soon as September, forcing the state to borrow to continue to fulfill claims.
If signed into law, Senate Bill 3 will provide employment department administrators additional flexibility to create emergency regulations to help reduce the backlog and accelerate payouts.
It adapts rules that make people who deny offers to return to work without “good cause” ineligible for unemployment benefits. The bill redefines “good cause” to include COVID-19 and, by doing so, allows immunocompromised individuals, parents without day care or people who live with high-risk family members to remain eligible for unemployment if they don’t return to work.
The bill lifts limits on yearly payouts, authorizing seven additional weeks of unemployment benefits for laid off workers. It also allows part-time workers previously ineligible for unemployment to receive partial benefits.
Assemblywoman Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, said allowing people to work part-time without forfeiting their eligibility was a key component of the bill for workers in a city like Las Vegas, where less tourists mean less hours for workers.
“We are not going to be going back to work full time. We know it’s going to be awhile, and we cannot allow people to be penalized. They want to go to work, they would love to work, but those hours aren’t going to be there for them,” Carlton said.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Roger Marshall wins in Kansas Senate Republican primary over Kris Kobach

TOPEKA , Kan. — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach , heeding the party establishment ’ s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP .
Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm , business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas .
Marshall overcame Kobach ’ s reputation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reputation as a conservative firebrand .
Many Republicans ’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $ 15 million , with most of the spending by political action committees .
Kobach , the former Kansas secretary of state , is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor ’ s race in 2018 .
The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts ’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn ’ t lost a Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states , including Arizona , Colorado and Maine .
Even with Marshall as the nominee , the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race .
The Democratic nominee , state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $ 8 million for her campaign , a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas , with donations flooding in from outside the state .
Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Marshall raised about $ 2.9 million and Kobach , a little more than $ 1 million .
Bob Hamilton , the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $ 3.5 million in personal loans .
Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary , which totaled more than $ 9 million .
Marshall , Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field , the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough , he might have won with only his solid base on the right .
Marshall and his allies made Kobach ’ s loss in the governor ’ s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ’ s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , a former Wichita-area congressman , but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest , he definitely declared himself out in January .
Kobach argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasized – particularly immigration – would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he ’ d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms .
Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce , the Kansas Farm Bureau , the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life , the state ’ s most influential anti-abortion group .
Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee .

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Republicans on Tuesday nominated Rep. Roger Marshall for the Senate instead of polarizing conservative Kris Kobach, heeding the party establishment’s advice for keeping a normally safe seat out of play in what could be a difficult year for the GOP.
Marshall prevailed in a crowded GOP primary field with the backing of major farm, business and anti-abortion groups but without an endorsement from President Donald Trump sought by Senate Majority Mitch McConnell and others for the two-term congressman for western and central Kansas. Marshall overcame Kobach’s reputation as both an informal adviser to Trump and reputation as a conservative firebrand.
Many Republicans’ fears about Kobach fueled ad campaigns that cost at least $15 million, with most of the spending by political action committees. Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, is nationally known for advocating restrictive immigration policies and alienated independent and moderate GOP voters in losing the Kansas governor’s race in 2018.
The race for retiring four-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts’ seat had national implications even though the GOP hasn’t lost a Senate contest in Kansas since 1932. Republicans are trying to keep their 53-47 Senate majority with competitive races in other states, including Arizona, Colorado and Maine.
Even with Marshall as the nominee, the GOP faces a potentially competitive Senate race. The Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier has raised more than $8 million for her campaign, a big sum in a low-cost media state like Kansas, with donations flooding in from outside the state. Bollier is a retired Kansas City-area anethesiologist and former moderate Republican who garnered national headlines by switching parties at the end of 2018.
Marshall raised about $2.9 million and Kobach, a little more than $1 million. Bob Hamilton, the founder of a Kansas City-area plumbing company largely self-funded a campaign heavy on television ads with $3.5 million in personal loans. Those figures were all dwarfed by PAC spending in the primary, which totaled more than $9 million.
Marshall, Kobach and Hamilton sat atop an 11-person field, the largest one for the GOP since the state began holding Senate primaries more than 100 years ago. Kansas has no runoff elections, so if the anti-Kobach vote had splintered enough, he might have won with only his solid base on the right.
Marshall and his allies made Kobach’s loss in the governor’s race a key issue and argued that he was the best alternative. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s first choice was U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Wichita-area congressman, but while Pompeo made multiple visits to Kansas suggesting interest, he definitely declared himself out in January.
Kobach argued that the issues he’s often emphasized — particularly immigration — would play better in a fall Senate campaign and said he’d benefit from a flood of pro-Trump voters going to the polls in November after skipping voting in the 2018 mid-terms.
Roberts declared his support for Marshall after the congressman had picked up endorsements from the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Farm Bureau, the National Right to Life Committee and Kansans for Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion group. Marshall also had the backing of 97-year-old political icon Bob Dole, the former U.S. Senate majority leader and 1996 GOP presidential nominee.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Hiroshima survivor recalls working on tram after A-bomb

HIROSHIMA , Japan ( AP ) - Tetsuko Shakuda was a frightened 14-year-old when she resumed her work as a conductor on a tram line in the devastated city of Hiroshima , just three days after the atomic bomb exploded 75 years ago , badly damaging the tracks and most of the trams .
Shakuda was one of a group of young women trained for such work as the war intensified and growing numbers of male workers were drafted to fight .
The bomb that exploded on Aug. 6 , 1945 , changed everything .
As that first tram on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passed huge piles of rubble and decomposing bodies .
“ Many different kinds of people , including the injured , were pushing to get onto the train , ” Shakuda , 89 , said in an interview with The Associated Press .
“ I remember thinking ‘ wow ’ about everything I saw.
” She recalls the time as the most harrowing of her life .
“ The ceiling of the tram was black with swarms of packed flies , ” Shakuda wrote in a memoir .
“ They buzzed around loudly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same flies had been eating those who died from the atomic bombing.
” Fares were free after the bombing , and survivors saw the train as a symbol of hope and continuity amid the devastation .
Shakuda considered her work on the tram part of a vital wartime mission for her country .
Her path to that work began when , hoping to become a teacher , Shakuda entered a home economics school for girls established by the Hiroshima Electric Railway Co. in April 1945 .
It was supposed to teach girls sewing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to work on city trains .
As battles with the United States got closer to mainland Japan , food was scarce , and Shakuda recalls working on the trams while exhausted and desperately hungry , struggling to stay awake .
When the atomic bomb destroyed most of Hiroshima , 185 employees and students who worked for the Hiroshima Electric Railway died and 266 were injured .
Tracks were severely damaged by debris .
Of the 123 trams , only three were operable .
Shakuda was having breakfast in her dorm ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.2 miles ) from the epicenter , when a bright flash filled the sky .
She crouched , thinking the ceiling was falling .
Silence followed , then waves of dust .
Classmates started crying out , “ Mom , help me !
” The survivors crawled out of the cafeteria .
“ People ’ s clothes were falling apart and their skin was drooping , ” Shakuda told AP .
She survived without any injuries - one of the few .
Over the following days , she helped nurse others .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , all she could do was weep as she picked maggots off gaping wounds using chopsticks .
Despite the damage , surviving train employees , residents and soldiers began rebuilding the tracks .
Yuta Azumi , from the train planning division of Hiroshima Electric Railway , said the city ’ s power plant was also bombed after the atomic attack .
But officials managed to pull electrical lines from another power plant to run the trains .
After Japan surrendered on Aug. 15 , Shakuda left her work on the trams and returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The only memories I have of that time are all painful , ” she said .
The role she and others played is now commemorated by Hiroshima Electric Railway and RCC Broadcasting Co. , which have set up a train from 1942 - Tram 653 - to show people the recovery efforts after the bombing .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic , no passengers are allowed on the train this year , but operators will make special runs of the train on Thursday , the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing , and on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombed .
Video journalist Emily Wang in Tokyo contributed to this story .

HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) - Tetsuko Shakuda was a frightened 14-year-old when she resumed her work as a conductor on a tram line in the devastated city of Hiroshima, just three days after the atomic bomb exploded 75 years ago, badly damaging the tracks and most of the trams.
Shakuda was one of a group of young women trained for such work as the war intensified and growing numbers of male workers were drafted to fight.
The bomb that exploded on Aug. 6, 1945, changed everything. As that first tram on Aug. 9 moved through Hiroshima, it passed huge piles of rubble and decomposing bodies.
“Many different kinds of people, including the injured, were pushing to get onto the train,” Shakuda, 89, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I remember thinking ‘wow’ about everything I saw.”
She recalls the time as the most harrowing of her life.
“The ceiling of the tram was black with swarms of packed flies,” Shakuda wrote in a memoir. “They buzzed around loudly. It felt creepy to think that these same flies had been eating those who died from the atomic bombing.”
Fares were free after the bombing, and survivors saw the train as a symbol of hope and continuity amid the devastation. Shakuda considered her work on the tram part of a vital wartime mission for her country.
Her path to that work began when, hoping to become a teacher, Shakuda entered a home economics school for girls established by the Hiroshima Electric Railway Co. in April 1945. It was supposed to teach girls sewing and teaching. Instead, they learned how to work on city trains.
As battles with the United States got closer to mainland Japan, food was scarce, and Shakuda recalls working on the trams while exhausted and desperately hungry, struggling to stay awake.
When the atomic bomb destroyed most of Hiroshima, 185 employees and students who worked for the Hiroshima Electric Railway died and 266 were injured. Tracks were severely damaged by debris. Of the 123 trams, only three were operable.
Shakuda was having breakfast in her dorm’s cafeteria, just over 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the epicenter, when a bright flash filled the sky. She crouched, thinking the ceiling was falling. Silence followed, then waves of dust. Classmates started crying out, “Mom, help me!” The survivors crawled out of the cafeteria.
“People’s clothes were falling apart and their skin was drooping,” Shakuda told AP.
She survived without any injuries - one of the few. Over the following days, she helped nurse others. But with no medication, supplies or doctors, all she could do was weep as she picked maggots off gaping wounds using chopsticks.
Despite the damage, surviving train employees, residents and soldiers began rebuilding the tracks.
Yuta Azumi, from the train planning division of Hiroshima Electric Railway, said the city’s power plant was also bombed after the atomic attack. But officials managed to pull electrical lines from another power plant to run the trains.
After Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, Shakuda left her work on the trams and returned to her home in Kumano. “The only memories I have of that time are all painful,” she said.
The role she and others played is now commemorated by Hiroshima Electric Railway and RCC Broadcasting Co., which have set up a train from 1942 - Tram 653 - to show people the recovery efforts after the bombing.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, no passengers are allowed on the train this year, but operators will make special runs of the train on Thursday, the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, and on Sunday to mark the day Nagasaki was bombed.
___
Video journalist Emily Wang in Tokyo contributed to this story.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--AP Explains: Kashmir on edge 1 year after major Indian shift

SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) - Indian-controlled Kashmir has remained on edge in the year since New Delhi scrapped the disputed region ’ s semi-autonomy and imposed a near-total clampdown .
While deeply unpopular in Muslim-majority Kashmir , the sudden move last August resonated in much of India , where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cheered by supporters for fulfilling a long-held Hindu nationalist pledge to scrap the restive region ’ s special privileges and assimilate Kashmir into the rest of the country .
Since then , the Indian government has imposed overarching restrictions , ranging from curfews to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have created a climate of fear .
Here is an overview : On Aug. 5 , 2019 , the Modi government passed legislation in Parliament that stripped Jammu and Kashmir ’ s statehood , scrapped its separate constitution and removed inherited protections on land and jobs .
The region was also split into two federal territories - Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir .
To forestall any public revolt , the region was flooded with soldiers manning roadblocks of razor wire .
Phone lines and internet connections were switched off and residents were under a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then an intermittent lockdown for months .
Indian authorities detained and arrested thousands of young people as well as pro-freedom Kashmir leaders and pro-India politicians .
Officials began the work of integrating Kashmir into the rest of India with a slew of administrative changes enacted without any public input .
Many Muslim ethnic Kashmiris viewed the changes as an annexation , while members of minority Hindu and Buddhist communities initially welcomed the move but later expressed fear of losing land and jobs in the pristine Himalayan region .
A domicile law rolled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian national who has lived in the region for at least 15 years or has studied for seven years and taken certain exams to become a permanent resident of Jammu-Kashmir .
New residency documents are required for all .
Many ethnic Kashmiris see the move as an attempt to use settlers to engineer a demographic change in India ’ s only Muslim-majority region .
In July , the government also eased rules for Indian soldiers to acquire land in Kashmir and build “ strategic ” settlements .
Pro-India Kashmiri political parties slammed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party deriding it as a “ major land grab ” to “ turn the entire region into a military establishment.
” India ’ s security restrictions choked business across the region .
With the addition of further nationwide restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic , many businesses have been abandoned .
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries estimated a $ 5.3 billion hit to the economy and about half a million jobs lost since last August .
A cutting of internet access followed by sharp limits on speed has affected education , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and scholars could not apply for exams and educational opportunities .
Students struggled to study online with slow internet connections , which often were cut completely during gunbattles between rebels and Indian soldiers .
As India partially lifted the restrictions , fighting between rebels and government forces intensified , especially during the coronavirus pandemic , as India stepped up counterinsurgency operations .
Militants also continued their attacks on government forces and alleged informants .
“ The sheer scale of daily violence goes contrary to the statements made by India ’ s prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kashmir , ” said Parvez Imroz , a local human rights lawyer .
In April , authorities introduced a new policy of not identifying militants killed in gunbattles and secretly burying their bodies far from their family homes to prevent typically large funerals .
India ’ s decision to take direct control over Ladakh , also claimed in part by China , may have exacerbated border tensions between the two countries .
Meanwhile , Pakistan has sharply criticized India ’ s unilateral actions in Kashmir , which it also claims , sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Given that Kashmir is surrounded by three nuclear weapon states with huge conventional capabilities , Indian unilateralism in Kashmir is creating a deadly situation , ” said U.S.-based Kashmiri political anthropologist Mohammed Junaid .
In a document issued ahead of the Aug. 5 anniversary , India ’ s government said the revocation of Kashmir ’ s special status has resulted in a wide range of accomplishments allowing the people of the region “ to realize their full developmental possibilities in peace and security.
” It said , without providing much detail , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduced unemployment , provided affordable health care , boosted agricultural revenues and accelerated infrastructural development .
The Modi government has maintained that the changes are for the public good and national security to stop threats from Pakistan and “ anti-national elements.
” In the last year , thousands of people have been detained and allegations of torture and ransom kidnappings have been rampant .
The Jammu-Kashmir High Court Bar Association said in a June 25 letter that out of 600 habeas corpus petitions - requests to courts to review whether a detention is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of such cases have been decided.
” With so many people locked up , Kashmir ’ s decades-long protests calling for independence from India have shifted from the streets to social media .
For months , authorities blocked popular social media sites such as YouTube and WhatsApp , and charged several people under India ’ s anti-terror law for social media posts .
Kashmir ’ s press has also faced major difficulties .
Many journalists in the region were intimated , harassed , summoned to police stations and sometimes arrested .
The administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks to control reporting .
The government says the new media policy is aimed at “ creating a sustained narrative on the functioning of the government in media ” and empowers the government to decide “ anti-national ” news .
The policy came into effect in June .
The changes have deepened anger and frustration among ordinary people , intensifying anti-India sentiment in the region .
They have also energized the Kashmiri diaspora around the world .
“ This has been the most hurtful and humiliating year in our lives , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outskirts of Kashmir ’ s main city , Srinagar .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Indian-controlled Kashmir has remained on edge in the year since New Delhi scrapped the disputed region’s semi-autonomy and imposed a near-total clampdown.
While deeply unpopular in Muslim-majority Kashmir, the sudden move last August resonated in much of India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was cheered by supporters for fulfilling a long-held Hindu nationalist pledge to scrap the restive region’s special privileges and assimilate Kashmir into the rest of the country.
Since then, the Indian government has imposed overarching restrictions, ranging from curfews to communication blackouts, and enacted new laws that have created a climate of fear.
Here is an overview:
___
WHAT HAPPENED
On Aug. 5, 2019, the Modi government passed legislation in Parliament that stripped Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, scrapped its separate constitution and removed inherited protections on land and jobs.
The region was also split into two federal territories - Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir. To forestall any public revolt, the region was flooded with soldiers manning roadblocks of razor wire. Phone lines and internet connections were switched off and residents were under a 24-hour curfew for several weeks, and then an intermittent lockdown for months.
Indian authorities detained and arrested thousands of young people as well as pro-freedom Kashmir leaders and pro-India politicians.
___
FORCED INTEGRATION
Officials began the work of integrating Kashmir into the rest of India with a slew of administrative changes enacted without any public input. Many Muslim ethnic Kashmiris viewed the changes as an annexation, while members of minority Hindu and Buddhist communities initially welcomed the move but later expressed fear of losing land and jobs in the pristine Himalayan region.
A domicile law rolled out in May makes it possible for any Indian national who has lived in the region for at least 15 years or has studied for seven years and taken certain exams to become a permanent resident of Jammu-Kashmir. New residency documents are required for all.
Many ethnic Kashmiris see the move as an attempt to use settlers to engineer a demographic change in India’s only Muslim-majority region.
In July, the government also eased rules for Indian soldiers to acquire land in Kashmir and build “strategic” settlements. Pro-India Kashmiri political parties slammed the move, with the mainstream National Conference party deriding it as a “major land grab” to “turn the entire region into a military establishment.”
___
ECONOMIC STRAINS
India’s security restrictions choked business across the region. With the addition of further nationwide restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic, many businesses have been abandoned. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries estimated a $5.3 billion hit to the economy and about half a million jobs lost since last August.
A cutting of internet access followed by sharp limits on speed has affected education, entrepreneurship and healthcare.
Thousands of students and scholars could not apply for exams and educational opportunities. Students struggled to study online with slow internet connections, which often were cut completely during gunbattles between rebels and Indian soldiers.
___
SECURITY AND GEOPOLITICS
As India partially lifted the restrictions, fighting between rebels and government forces intensified, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, as India stepped up counterinsurgency operations. Militants also continued their attacks on government forces and alleged informants.
“The sheer scale of daily violence goes contrary to the statements made by India’s prime minister that Aug. 5 changes will end militancy in Kashmir,” said Parvez Imroz, a local human rights lawyer.
In April, authorities introduced a new policy of not identifying militants killed in gunbattles and secretly burying their bodies far from their family homes to prevent typically large funerals.
India’s decision to take direct control over Ladakh, also claimed in part by China, may have exacerbated border tensions between the two countries. Meanwhile, Pakistan has sharply criticized India’s unilateral actions in Kashmir, which it also claims, sending their tortured relationship to new lows.
“Given that Kashmir is surrounded by three nuclear weapon states with huge conventional capabilities, Indian unilateralism in Kashmir is creating a deadly situation,” said U.S.-based Kashmiri political anthropologist Mohammed Junaid.
___
GOVERNMENT’S “DEVELOPMENTAL POSSIBILITIES”
In a document issued ahead of the Aug. 5 anniversary, India’s government said the revocation of Kashmir’s special status has resulted in a wide range of accomplishments allowing the people of the region “to realize their full developmental possibilities in peace and security.”
It said, without providing much detail, that it had rooted out corruption, reduced unemployment, provided affordable health care, boosted agricultural revenues and accelerated infrastructural development.
The Modi government has maintained that the changes are for the public good and national security to stop threats from Pakistan and “anti-national elements.”
___
SHIFTING BATTLEGROUND
In the last year, thousands of people have been detained and allegations of torture and ransom kidnappings have been rampant. The Jammu-Kashmir High Court Bar Association said in a June 25 letter that out of 600 habeas corpus petitions - requests to courts to review whether a detention is lawful - “not even 1% of such cases have been decided.”
With so many people locked up, Kashmir’s decades-long protests calling for independence from India have shifted from the streets to social media.
For months, authorities blocked popular social media sites such as YouTube and WhatsApp, and charged several people under India’s anti-terror law for social media posts.
Kashmir’s press has also faced major difficulties. Many journalists in the region were intimated, harassed, summoned to police stations and sometimes arrested. The administration also implemented a new media policy that seeks to control reporting.
The government says the new media policy is aimed at “creating a sustained narrative on the functioning of the government in media” and empowers the government to decide “anti-national” news. The policy came into effect in June.
The changes have deepened anger and frustration among ordinary people, intensifying anti-India sentiment in the region. They have also energized the Kashmiri diaspora around the world.
“This has been the most hurtful and humiliating year in our lives,” said Javaid Ahmed, a 50-year-old businessman from the outskirts of Kashmir’s main city, Srinagar.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Steve Daines, Cory Gardner cheer Trump Great American Outdoors Act

Sens .
Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana could not have picked a better moment — or a more unlikely one — for a historic bipartisan legislative victory on an issue crucial to their states .
The Senate Republicans stood Tuesday near President Trump in the East Room of the White House as he signed the Great American Outdoors Act , sending nearly $ 10 billion over five years to address the historically underfunded backlog of deferred maintenance work on the national parks and public lands .
“ Today we ’ re making the most significant investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legendary conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ This landmark legislation would not have been possible without the incredible leadership and hard work of two outstanding senators in particular , and two fine people , Cory Gardner and Steve Daines.
” Five months ago , the two senators met with Mr. Trump in the Roosevelt Room to seek his support for the bill .
They detailed the poor conditions of roads , bridges , trails and park facilities where repairs have been delayed for years , even decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This was going to be the greatest achievement in 50 years for conservation , in its broadest context , ” Mr. Daines said at the ceremony .
“ And you said to me , Mr. President — you said , ‘ You get this bill on my desk , and I ’ ll sign it.
’ Well , five months later , we ’ re here.
” The act creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to cover maintenance costs , using up to $ 1.9 billion per year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and provides $ 900 million annually from offshore oil and natural gas royalties for the Land and Water Conservation Fund , which buys and preserves land for public use .
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt waived entrance fees to parks Tuesday to celebrate the new law .
He called it “ the most consequential dedicated funding for national parks , wildlife refuges , public recreation facilities and American Indian school infrastructure in U.S. history.
” “ Today , more than 5,500 miles of road , 17,000 miles of trails and 24,000 buildings are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been for a long time , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ Many are closed , boarded up .
They thought it was less expensive to close them than it was to repair them.
” The national parks and other federally owned land have an estimated $ 20 billion backlog in maintenance that has piled up for decades .
It ’ s little wonder that Mr. Trump was easily persuaded .
The measure fits his plans to restore , repair and rehabilitate Superfund sites , dilapidated public works and other environmental hazards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change .
“ That was a meeting that took place , and within about a minute , I was convinced , ” Mr. Trump said .
“ And I wasn ’ t at all convinced before I walked in .
But when we saw what was going on and what could go on — and I know you ’ ll spend the money very wisely.
” Still , support for the Great American Outdoors Act was hardly unanimous .
Two House Democrats and 104 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were opposed to adding more land to the federal government ’ s vast holdings , and others to the use of energy royalties from Gulf states to fund Western projects .
Then there were objections to the timing , in the middle of the economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus shutdowns .
“ Quick , there ’ s a global pandemic , ” Rep. Garret Graves , Louisiana Republican , said in his July 22 floor remarks .
“ Let ’ s spend billions of dollars repairing fences , putting up new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refuges , parks and forests , said no one ever .
Ever.
” Mr. Trump agreed that the bill faced tough odds .
“ People thought you had zero chance of getting this one done .
This is big .
And they gave you zero chance , ” he said .
He recounted how Mr. Daines and Mr. Gardner pestered him to support the measure , saying , “ they would call me all the time.
” “ And I said , ‘ Can you guys stop calling me so much ?
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would call me all the time .
They wanted to get it done .
This was very important to them .
So I appreciate it , Steve and Cory .
Really , a great job.
” The signing also has political implications .
Both of the senators and the president are facing tough reelection battles in November .
An Emerson College poll released Monday found Mr. Daines leading Democratic Gov .
Steve Bullock 50 % to 44 % , tracking Mr. Trump , who also led by 6 percentage points in Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joseph R. Biden .
Mr. Gardner , the underdog in his reelection bid against former Colorado Gov .
John Hickenlooper , began running television ads last month that touted the Great American Outdoors Act and showed him and his three children loading up the SUV for a camping trip .
“ Coloradans live in national forests and parks , ” Mr. Gardner says in the ad .
“ For decades , Congress ignored the parks and stole the maintenance money .
I made it my job to stop it.
” Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campaigns in Colorado and Montana , predicted that the legislation would have a “ big impact ” on both Senate races .
“ The way Cory worked on this on a bipartisan basis to get it through the Senate , and the way he was able to influence a decision by President Trump to sign the bill , I think it ’ s just a victory all the way around for Cory , ” Mr. Wadhams said .
“ He ’ s got a really good record of accomplishment for Colorado , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think , of his first term.
” For Mr. Gardner , who has worked on the issue since he was elected to the Senate in 2014 , the act also hits Mr. Hickenlooper on his weak spot with the left — the environment , thanks to his support for hydraulic fracturing and the oil and gas industry .
More than 300 environmental groups backed the measure , but the Sierra Club made it clear that its alliance with Mr. Gardner would be short-lived by endorsing Mr. Hickenlooper on the same day the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senator who will prioritize public lands and conservation from day one , not just when it is politically convenient , ” tweeted the Sierra Club .
Even so , nothing could spoil the day for Mr. Gardner , who called it “ a remarkable opportunity to celebrate.
” “ In the midst of acrimony , in the midst of partisanship , in the midst of times when the American people probably look out and wonder if they can get anything done , Congress came together to pass the most significant bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over 50 years , ” Mr. Gardner said .
“ Thanks to you , Mr. President , for being willing to sign it .
”

Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Steve Daines of Montana could not have picked a better moment — or a more unlikely one — for a historic bipartisan legislative victory on an issue crucial to their states.
The Senate Republicans stood Tuesday near President Trump in the East Room of the White House as he signed the Great American Outdoors Act, sending nearly $10 billion over five years to address the historically underfunded backlog of deferred maintenance work on the national parks and public lands.
“Today we’re making the most significant investment in our parks since the administration of the legendary conservationist President Theodore Roosevelt,” Mr. Trump said. “This landmark legislation would not have been possible without the incredible leadership and hard work of two outstanding senators in particular, and two fine people, Cory Gardner and Steve Daines.”
Five months ago, the two senators met with Mr. Trump in the Roosevelt Room to seek his support for the bill. They detailed the poor conditions of roads, bridges, trails and park facilities where repairs have been delayed for years, even decades, as other projects took priority.
“This was going to be the greatest achievement in 50 years for conservation, in its broadest context,” Mr. Daines said at the ceremony. “And you said to me, Mr. President — you said, ‘You get this bill on my desk, and I’ll sign it.’ Well, five months later, we’re here.”
The act creates the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to cover maintenance costs, using up to $1.9 billion per year from energy development on public lands, and provides $900 million annually from offshore oil and natural gas royalties for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which buys and preserves land for public use.
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt waived entrance fees to parks Tuesday to celebrate the new law. He called it “the most consequential dedicated funding for national parks, wildlife refuges, public recreation facilities and American Indian school infrastructure in U.S. history.”
“Today, more than 5,500 miles of road, 17,000 miles of trails and 24,000 buildings are in critical need of repair. They have been for a long time,” Mr. Trump said. “Many are closed, boarded up. They thought it was less expensive to close them than it was to repair them.”
The national parks and other federally owned land have an estimated $20 billion backlog in maintenance that has piled up for decades.
It’s little wonder that Mr. Trump was easily persuaded. The measure fits his plans to restore, repair and rehabilitate Superfund sites, dilapidated public works and other environmental hazards. The Obama administration’s environmental focus was on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change.
“That was a meeting that took place, and within about a minute, I was convinced,” Mr. Trump said. “And I wasn’t at all convinced before I walked in. But when we saw what was going on and what could go on — and I know you’ll spend the money very wisely.”
Still, support for the Great American Outdoors Act was hardly unanimous. Two House Democrats and 104 House Republicans voted against it. Some were opposed to adding more land to the federal government’s vast holdings, and others to the use of energy royalties from Gulf states to fund Western projects.
Then there were objections to the timing, in the middle of the economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus shutdowns.
“Quick, there’s a global pandemic,” Rep. Garret Graves, Louisiana Republican, said in his July 22 floor remarks. “Let’s spend billions of dollars repairing fences, putting up new signs, fixing toilets at our wildlife refuges, parks and forests, said no one ever. Ever.”
Mr. Trump agreed that the bill faced tough odds. “People thought you had zero chance of getting this one done. This is big. And they gave you zero chance,” he said.
He recounted how Mr. Daines and Mr. Gardner pestered him to support the measure, saying, “they would call me all the time.”
“And I said, ‘Can you guys stop calling me so much?’” Mr. Trump said. “But they would call me all the time. They wanted to get it done. This was very important to them. So I appreciate it, Steve and Cory. Really, a great job.”
Bipartisanship amid acrimony
The signing also has political implications. Both of the senators and the president are facing tough reelection battles in November.
An Emerson College poll released Monday found Mr. Daines leading Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock 50% to 44%, tracking Mr. Trump, who also led by 6 percentage points in Montana over his presumptive Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden.
Mr. Gardner, the underdog in his reelection bid against former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, began running television ads last month that touted the Great American Outdoors Act and showed him and his three children loading up the SUV for a camping trip.
“Coloradans live in national forests and parks,” Mr. Gardner says in the ad. “For decades, Congress ignored the parks and stole the maintenance money. I made it my job to stop it.”
Republican strategist Dick Wadhams, who has worked on campaigns in Colorado and Montana, predicted that the legislation would have a “big impact” on both Senate races.
“The way Cory worked on this on a bipartisan basis to get it through the Senate, and the way he was able to influence a decision by President Trump to sign the bill, I think it’s just a victory all the way around for Cory,” Mr. Wadhams said. “He’s got a really good record of accomplishment for Colorado, but this one is the capstone, I think, of his first term.”
For Mr. Gardner, who has worked on the issue since he was elected to the Senate in 2014, the act also hits Mr. Hickenlooper on his weak spot with the left — the environment, thanks to his support for hydraulic fracturing and the oil and gas industry.
More than 300 environmental groups backed the measure, but the Sierra Club made it clear that its alliance with Mr. Gardner would be short-lived by endorsing Mr. Hickenlooper on the same day the bill was signed.
“Colorado deserves a senator who will prioritize public lands and conservation from day one, not just when it is politically convenient,” tweeted the Sierra Club.
Even so, nothing could spoil the day for Mr. Gardner, who called it “a remarkable opportunity to celebrate.”
“In the midst of acrimony, in the midst of partisanship, in the midst of times when the American people probably look out and wonder if they can get anything done, Congress came together to pass the most significant bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, in over 50 years,” Mr. Gardner said. “Thanks to you, Mr. President, for being willing to sign it.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Third-term Rep. Debbie Dingell wins Democratic primary

DEARBORN , Mich. ( AP ) - Third-term Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell has won the primary in Michigan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ 66-year-old Dingell , of Dearborn , defeated liberal challenger Solomon Rajput on Tuesday , all @ @ @ @ @ November to the seat that is heavily Democratic .
The 12th District stretches between Ann @ @ @ @ @ .
A Dingell has represented the area in Congress for 87 years .
In 2015 @ @ @ @ @ husband , John , the longest-serving member of Congress in history , who died in @ @ @ @ @ the House Energy and Natural Resources committees .

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - Third-term Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell has won the primary in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District.
The 66-year-old Dingell, of Dearborn, defeated liberal challenger Solomon Rajput on Tuesday, all but ensuring her re-election in November to the seat that is heavily Democratic. The 12th District stretches between Ann Arbor and the Detroit suburbs.
A Dingell has represented the area in Congress for 87 years. In 2015, she succeeded her retiring husband, John, the longest-serving member of Congress in history, who died in 2019. She sits on the House Energy and Natural Resources committees.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--State police to assist Benton Harbor cops to restore 'order'

BENTON HARBOR , Mich. ( AP ) - Michigan State Police will send six troopers to Benton Harbor to crack @ @ @ @ @ loud music and reckless drivers , behavior that has become a “ general menace , @ @ @ @ @ .
Benton Harbor reached out to state police in response to residents ’ pleas to @ @ @ @ @ .
Troopers will hit the streets for several weeks , starting Wednesday .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ public disorder in the form of large gatherings and incessant speeding and racing , ” @ @ @ @ @ of public safety .
People are racing on city streets with rental cars , he @ @ @ @ @ gather in large crowds all over the city , with groups sometimes into the hundreds @ @ @ @ @ “ They play loud music , twerk on top of cars , shoot guns in @ @ @ @ @ general menace to the peace and tranquility of the residential neighborhoods .
”

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Michigan State Police will send six troopers to Benton Harbor to crack down on large gatherings, loud music and reckless drivers, behavior that has become a “general menace,” the city said Tuesday.
Benton Harbor reached out to state police in response to residents’ pleas to restore “order and tranquility” in the city. Troopers will hit the streets for several weeks, starting Wednesday.
“There has been an influx of public disorder in the form of large gatherings and incessant speeding and racing,” said Daniel McGinnis, director of public safety.
People are racing on city streets with rental cars, he said.
“Young adults gather in large crowds all over the city, with groups sometimes into the hundreds,” McGinnis said. “They play loud music, twerk on top of cars, shoot guns in the air and are a general menace to the peace and tranquility of the residential neighborhoods.”
Benton Harbor, population 9,700, is in Berrien County in southwestern Michigan.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--Nevada search and rescue member dies in California fall

BISHOP , Calif. ( AP ) - A member of a Nevada search and rescure team fell to his death while climbing a mountain in California ’ s Sierra Nevada , authorities said Tuesday .
Paul Sheykhzadeh , 52 , of Reno was hiking Mount Humphreys on Sunday when he fell off of large boulders along the western slope of the nearly 14,000-foot ( 4,267-meter ) -high peak , the Fresno County Sheriff ’ s Office said .
“ A man with a different hiking group witnessed the fall and was able to scale the granite slope and determine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Office said in a Facebook post .
A Fresno County sheriff ’ s helicopter later spotted the man ’ s body .
On Monday , a California Air National Guard helicopter flew seven sheriff ’ s search and rescue members to the mountaintop and they rappelled 370 feet ( 113 meters ) down to recover Sheykhzadeh ’ s body , authorities said .
Sheykhzadeh was a physician and a volunteer search and rescue member for the Washoe County Sheriff ’ s Office in Nevada , the Fresno County Sheriff ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheykhzadeh ’ s service to Washoe County Search and Rescue , our team took an American flag with them and draped it over the victim at the recovery site , ” the Fresno County Sheriff ’ s Office post said .
Mount Humphreys sits on the border between Fresno and Inyo counties and above the Eastern Sierra community of Bishop .
The peak is a challenging climb with no easy way to the summit .
Although the least difficult route is not considered especially challenging , climbers often use a rope for safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deadly .
Sheykhzadeh ’ s death is at least the second on the mountain this year .
The body of Ray Warburton , an experienced climber and skier , was found in June after he apparently fell while descending in a steep snow chute , the Inyo County Sheriff ’ s Office said .

BISHOP, Calif. (AP) - A member of a Nevada search and rescure team fell to his death while climbing a mountain in California’s Sierra Nevada, authorities said Tuesday.
Paul Sheykhzadeh, 52, of Reno was hiking Mount Humphreys on Sunday when he fell off of large boulders along the western slope of the nearly 14,000-foot (4,267-meter)-high peak, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.
“A man with a different hiking group witnessed the fall and was able to scale the granite slope and determine the man was deceased,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
A Fresno County sheriff’s helicopter later spotted the man’s body. On Monday, a California Air National Guard helicopter flew seven sheriff’s search and rescue members to the mountaintop and they rappelled 370 feet (113 meters) down to recover Sheykhzadeh’s body, authorities said.
Sheykhzadeh was a physician and a volunteer search and rescue member for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in Nevada, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said.
“In honor of Sheykhzadeh’s service to Washoe County Search and Rescue, our team took an American flag with them and draped it over the victim at the recovery site,” the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office post said.
Mount Humphreys sits on the border between Fresno and Inyo counties and above the Eastern Sierra community of Bishop. The peak is a challenging climb with no easy way to the summit.
Although the least difficult route is not considered especially challenging, climbers often use a rope for safety on exposed sections where a fall would be deadly.
Sheykhzadeh’s death is at least the second on the mountain this year. The body of Ray Warburton, an experienced climber and skier, was found in June after he apparently fell while descending in a steep snow chute, the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--AP sources: MLB plans 28-man rosters through postseason

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Major League Baseball and the players ’ union plan to maintain 28-man rosters through @ @ @ @ @ amid continued challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic , two people familiar with the matter @ @ @ @ @ to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement had not @ @ @ @ @ is pending the approval of team owners in an upcoming vote .
Rosters are set @ @ @ @ @ 28 on Thursday , and the union has told players to expect them to remain @ @ @ @ @ of the World Series .
The sides had originally agreed to cut rosters to 26 @ @ @ @ @ Taxi squads will be expanded from three to five players , the people said .
@ @ @ @ @ spring training and prompted MLB to set a shortened 60-game schedule , the league and @ @ @ @ @ active rosters from 25 to 26 this season .
Tuesday ’ s agreement was first @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Major League Baseball and the players’ union plan to maintain 28-man rosters through the end of the postseason amid continued challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, two people familiar with the matter said.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the agreement had not been announced. The move is pending the approval of team owners in an upcoming vote.
Rosters are set to shrink from 30 to 28 on Thursday, and the union has told players to expect them to remain that size through the completion of the World Series. The sides had originally agreed to cut rosters to 26 players on Aug. 20.
Taxi squads will be expanded from three to five players, the people said.
Before the pandemic shut down spring training and prompted MLB to set a shortened 60-game schedule, the league and union had agreed to expand active rosters from 25 to 26 this season.
Tuesday’s agreement was first reported by The Athletic.
___
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___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--3 shot, 1 fatally in violence on fashionable Chicago street

CHICAGO ( AP ) - A shooting on one of Chicago ’ s most fashionable streets Tuesday left one person @ @ @ @ @ , according to authorities .
Two shooters jumped from separate vehicles and opened fire on @ @ @ @ @ outside shops on Oak Street , said Deputy Chief Daniel O ’ Shea .
A @ @ @ @ @ a nearby hospital , where he was pronounced dead .
Authorities say a 36-year-old man @ @ @ @ @ and a 28-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition .
O ’ Shea said it @ @ @ @ @ if anyone in the group returned fire .
The shooters fled the scene in the @ @ @ @ @ “ We don ’ t expect this type of activity in this neighborhood , ” @ @ @ @ @ “ This area is well policed , and this is something that was specifically targeted @ @ @ @ @ Street is known for its clothing boutiques and other high-end retail , including several jewelry @ @

CHICAGO (AP) - A shooting on one of Chicago’s most fashionable streets Tuesday left one person dead and two others injured, according to authorities.
Two shooters jumped from separate vehicles and opened fire on a group of people standing outside shops on Oak Street, said Deputy Chief Daniel O’Shea. A 26-year-old man was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities say a 36-year-old man was hospitalized in serious condition and a 28-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition.
O’Shea said it wasn’t immediately known if anyone in the group returned fire. The shooters fled the scene in the vehicles they arrived in.
“We don’t expect this type of activity in this neighborhood,” O’Shea said. “This area is well policed, and this is something that was specifically targeted for these individuals.”
Oak Street is known for its clothing boutiques and other high-end retail, including several jewelry stores.


washingtontimes--2020-08-04--AP PHOTOS: Kashmir schooling now more challenging with virus

SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) - Children in Indian-controlled Kashmir are no strangers to lockdowns .
Curfews , strikes and school shutdowns are all part of growing up in one of the world ’ s most militarized zones .
So when schools in the disputed region reopened after six months in late February , 9-year-old Jannat Tariq was overjoyed to see her friends and teachers .
She had spent months under a strict lockdown that began in August 2019 , when India scrapped the region ’ s semi-autonomous status , closed schools and colleges , and imposed harsh curbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shutdown of the internet .
In February , it finally was time to return to formal schooling .
But Jannat ’ s happiness was short-lived .
The following month , she was once again forbidden to go to school , but for a completely different reason : the coronavirus pandemic .
Decades of insurgency , protests and military crackdowns have constantly disrupted formal schooling in Indian-administered Kashmir , where rebels have fought for decades for independence or unification with Pakistan , which controls the other part of the Muslim-majority region .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upended , and empty classrooms are a familiar sight .
Over the years , volunteer-run community schools and makeshift classrooms have emerged to fill the gap when formal schools shut down , but large-scale troop deployments and restrictions on public movement mean they reach only a small proportion of students .
Now , the coronavirus lockdown is amplifying the problem .
Experts say lack of formal schooling during the lockdown could have a serious psychological and emotional impact on the children .
With no opportunity to be with friends , many homebound students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as parents take over the role of teachers .
Like elsewhere in the world , online classes could have bridged that gap .
But in Kashmir , it is a luxury students can ’ t afford .
A year after India ’ s sudden move to strip Kashmir ’ s semi-autonomy , high-speed internet remains restricted in the region .
India continues to defend the move by saying limited internet speed helps to head off anti-India protests that sometimes lead to clashes between demonstrators and Indian troops .
Confined to their homes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online with the painstakingly slow internet connections , which also faces outages following the frequent gunbattles between rebels and Indian soldiers .
“ We are not able to keep up with lessons online and we miss our regular school , ” said 11-year-old Mohsin Shafi .
With no high-speed internet , many educators are unable to upload video lectures and conduct online classes .
But some are making the best of limited resources .
When months went by without teaching , Muneer Alam , an engineer-turned-math teacher in Srinagar , the region ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community school in June in the form of an open-air classroom .
Alam said the driving force to start the open-air classes was seeing children all around him depressed and anxious .
The open-air classroom buzzes with students .
Some sit on chairs .
Others place themselves on rugged mats or on the ground .
Social distancing is maintained .
“ I wanted to give children an opportunity to attend a few classes with familiar faces around them , ” Alam said .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Children in Indian-controlled Kashmir are no strangers to lockdowns. Curfews, strikes and school shutdowns are all part of growing up in one of the world’s most militarized zones.
So when schools in the disputed region reopened after six months in late February, 9-year-old Jannat Tariq was overjoyed to see her friends and teachers.
She had spent months under a strict lockdown that began in August 2019, when India scrapped the region’s semi-autonomous status, closed schools and colleges, and imposed harsh curbs on civil rights and communications, including a shutdown of the internet.
In February, it finally was time to return to formal schooling. But Jannat’s happiness was short-lived.
The following month, she was once again forbidden to go to school, but for a completely different reason: the coronavirus pandemic.
Decades of insurgency, protests and military crackdowns have constantly disrupted formal schooling in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where rebels have fought for decades for independence or unification with Pakistan, which controls the other part of the Muslim-majority region. A generation of students have seen their education upended, and empty classrooms are a familiar sight.
Over the years, volunteer-run community schools and makeshift classrooms have emerged to fill the gap when formal schools shut, but large-scale troop deployments and restrictions on public movement mean they reach only a small proportion of students.
Now, the coronavirus lockdown is amplifying the problem.
Experts say lack of formal schooling during the lockdown could have a serious psychological and emotional impact on the children. With no opportunity to be with friends, many homebound students are struggling to reimagine the school experience as parents take over the role of teachers.
Like elsewhere in the world, online classes could have bridged that gap. But in Kashmir, it is a luxury students can’t afford.
A year after India’s sudden move to strip Kashmir’s semi-autonomy, high-speed internet remains restricted in the region. India continues to defend the move by saying limited internet speed helps to head off anti-India protests that sometimes lead to clashes between demonstrators and Indian troops.
Confined to their homes, students have found it challenging to study online with the painstakingly slow internet connections, which also faces outages following the frequent gunbattles between rebels and Indian soldiers.
“We are not able to keep up with lessons online and we miss our regular school,” said 11-year-old Mohsin Shafi.
With no high-speed internet, many educators are unable to upload video lectures and conduct online classes. But some are making the best of limited resources.
When months went by without teaching, Muneer Alam, an engineer-turned-math teacher in Srinagar, the region’s main city, started an informal community school in June in the form of an open-air classroom.
Alam said the driving force to start the open-air classes was seeing children all around him depressed and anxious.
It worked.
The open-air classroom buzzes with students. Some sit on chairs. Others place themselves on rugged mats or on the ground. Social distancing is maintained.
“I wanted to give children an opportunity to attend a few classes with familiar faces around them,” Alam said.