washingtontimes--2020-06-24--IMF downgrades outlook for global economy in face of virus

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The International Monetary Fund has sharply lowered its forecast for global growth this year because it envisions far more severe economic damage from the coronavirus than it did just two months ago .
The IMF predicts that the global economy will shrink 4.9 % this year , significantly worse than the 3 % drop it had estimated in its previous report in April .
It would be the worst annual contraction since immediately after World War II .
For the United States , the IMF predicts that the nation ’ s gross domestic product - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ produced in the United States - will plummet 8 % this year , even more than its April estimate of a 5.9 % drop .
This , too , would be the worst such annual decline since the U.S. economy demobilized in the aftermath of World War II .
The IMF issued its bleaker forecasts Wednesday in an update to the World Economic Outlook it released in April .
The update is generally in line with other recent major forecasts .
Earlier this month , for example , the World Bank projected that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
The IMF noted that the pandemic was disproportionately hurting low-income households , “ imperiling the significant progress made in reducing extreme poverty in the world since 1990.
” In recent years , the proportion of the world ’ s population living in extreme poverty - equivalent to less than $ 1.90 a day - had fallen below 10 % from more than 35 % in 1990 .
But the IMF said the COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse this progress .
It forecast that more than 90 % of developing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per-capita income growth this year .
For 2021 , the IMF envisions a rebound in growth , so long as the viral pandemic doesn ’ t erupt in a second major wave .
It expects the global economy to expand 5.4 % next year , 0.4 percentage point less than it did in April .
For the United States , the IMF predicts growth of 4.5 % next year , 0.2 percentage point weaker than in its April forecast .
But that gain wouldn ’ t be enough to restore the U.S. economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The association of economists who officially date recessions in the United States determined that the economy entered a recession in February , with tens of millions of people thrown out of work from the shutdowns that were imposed to contain the virus .
The U.S. government has estimated that the nation ’ s GDP shrank at a 5 % annual rate in the January-March quarter , and it is widely expected to plunge at a 30 % rate or worse in the current April-June period .
In its updated forecast , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For the 19 European nations that use the euro currency , it envisions a decline in growth this year of 10.7 % - more than the 8 % drop it predicted in April - followed by a rebound to growth of 6 % in 2021 .
In China , the world ’ s second-largest economy , growth this year is projected at 1 % .
India ’ s economy is expected to shrink 4.5 % after a longer period of lockdown and a slower recovery than was envisioned in April .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still struggling to contain infections , the two largest economies , Brazil and Mexico , are projected to shrink 9.1 % and 10.5 % , respectively .
A steep fall in oil prices has triggered deep recessions in oil-producing countries , with the Russian economy expected to contract 6.6 % this year and Saudi Arabia ’ s 6.8 % .
The IMF cautioned that downside risks to the forecast remain significant .
It said the virus could surge back , forcing renewed shutdowns and possibly renewed turmoil in financial markets similar to what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IMF warned that such financial turbulence could tip vulnerable countries into debt crises that would further hamper efforts to recover .
Its updated forecast included a downside scenario that envisions a second major outbreak occurring in early 2021 .
Under this scenario , the global economy would contract again next year by 4.9 % , it estimates .

WASHINGTON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund has sharply lowered its forecast for global growth this year because it envisions far more severe economic damage from the coronavirus than it did just two months ago.
The IMF predicts that the global economy will shrink 4.9% this year, significantly worse than the 3% drop it had estimated in its previous report in April. It would be the worst annual contraction since immediately after World War II.
For the United States, the IMF predicts that the nation’s gross domestic product - the value of all goods and services produced in the United States - will plummet 8% this year, even more than its April estimate of a 5.9% drop. This, too, would be the worst such annual decline since the U.S. economy demobilized in the aftermath of World War II.
The IMF issued its bleaker forecasts Wednesday in an update to the World Economic Outlook it released in April. The update is generally in line with other recent major forecasts. Earlier this month, for example, the World Bank projected that the global economy would shrink 5.2% this year.
The IMF noted that the pandemic was disproportionately hurting low-income households, “imperiling the significant progress made in reducing extreme poverty in the world since 1990.”
In recent years, the proportion of the world’s population living in extreme poverty - equivalent to less than $1.90 a day - had fallen below 10% from more than 35% in 1990. But the IMF said the COVID-19 crisis threatens to reverse this progress. It forecast that more than 90% of developing and emerging market economies will suffer declines in per-capita income growth this year.
For 2021, the IMF envisions a rebound in growth, so long as the viral pandemic doesn’t erupt in a second major wave. It expects the global economy to expand 5.4% next year, 0.4 percentage point less than it did in April.
For the United States, the IMF predicts growth of 4.5% next year, 0.2 percentage point weaker than in its April forecast. But that gain wouldn’t be enough to restore the U.S. economy to its level before the pandemic struck. The association of economists who officially date recessions in the United States determined that the economy entered a recession in February, with tens of millions of people thrown out of work from the shutdowns that were imposed to contain the virus.
The U.S. government has estimated that the nation’s GDP shrank at a 5% annual rate in the January-March quarter, and it is widely expected to plunge at a 30% rate or worse in the current April-June period.
In its updated forecast, the IMF downgraded growth for all major countries. For the 19 European nations that use the euro currency, it envisions a decline in growth this year of 10.7% — more than the 8% drop it predicted in April — followed by a rebound to growth of 6% in 2021.
In China, the world’s second-largest economy, growth this year is projected at 1%. India’s economy is expected to shrink 4.5% after a longer period of lockdown and a slower recovery than was envisioned in April.
In Latin America, where most countries are still struggling to contain infections, the two largest economies, Brazil and Mexico, are projected to shrink 9.1% and 10.5%, respectively.
A steep fall in oil prices has triggered deep recessions in oil-producing countries, with the Russian economy expected to contract 6.6% this year and Saudi Arabia’s 6.8%.
The IMF cautioned that downside risks to the forecast remain significant. It said the virus could surge back, forcing renewed shutdowns and possibly renewed turmoil in financial markets similar to what occurred in January through March. The IMF warned that such financial turbulence could tip vulnerable countries into debt crises that would further hamper efforts to recover.
Its updated forecast included a downside scenario that envisions a second major outbreak occurring in early 2021. Under this scenario, the global economy would contract again next year by 4.9%, it estimates.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--'World's Toughest Race' in Fiji to debut Aug. 14 on Amazon

LONDON ( AP ) - Bear Grylls said he was brought to tears by the determination of competitors on “ World ’ s Toughest Race : Eco-Challenge Fiji ” as they raced through jungles and over mountains to the point of exhaustion and pain .
The series ’ new 10-episode season , hosted by Grylls and with 66 teams from 30 countries , will debut Aug. 14 on Amazon Prime Video , it was announced Wednesday .
The episodes were taped last fall , before the coronavirus pandemic hit .
The nonstop race with 330 competitors was held for 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was difficult to see racers drop out after spending so much time and energy in preparation , Grylls said .
“ But at the same time , those that endured , whether or not they won , it wasn ’ t really about the winning , ” he said .
“ This is an expedition with a stopwatch , is how I always kind of see this , and just to complete it is a huge achievement.
” “ I unashamedly wept at times , seeing the effort and what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grylls , an adventurer who starred in the survival series ” Man vs. Wild.
” Grylls noted the field ’ s diversity , including the first fully African American team competing internationally .
Another American squad includes Mark Macy , a past Eco-Challenge competitor who has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer ’ s , and his son , Travis .
“ That was a very emotional journey for them to race together , for the son to want to be alongside his dad , ” Grylls said .

LONDON (AP) - Bear Grylls said he was brought to tears by the determination of competitors on “World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji” as they raced through jungles and over mountains to the point of exhaustion and pain.
The series’ new 10-episode season, hosted by Grylls and with 66 teams from 30 countries, will debut Aug. 14 on Amazon Prime Video, it was announced Wednesday. The episodes were taped last fall, before the coronavirus pandemic hit.
The nonstop race with 330 competitors was held for 11 days and across more than 400 miles. It was difficult to see racers drop out after spending so much time and energy in preparation, Grylls said.
“But at the same time, those that endured, whether or not they won, it wasn’t really about the winning,” he said. “This is an expedition with a stopwatch, is how I always kind of see this, and just to complete it is a huge achievement.”
“I unashamedly wept at times, seeing the effort and what it meant to these people,” said Grylls, an adventurer who starred in the survival series ”Man vs. Wild.”
Grylls noted the field’s diversity, including the first fully African American team competing internationally. Another American squad includes Mark Macy, a past Eco-Challenge competitor who has since been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and his son, Travis.
“That was a very emotional journey for them to race together, for the son to want to be alongside his dad,” Grylls said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Florida enacts heat stroke protections for student athletes

TALLAHASSEE , Fla. ( AP ) - A grieving mother ’ s plea to Florida lawmakers was fulfilled when Gov .
Ron DeSantis signed a measure requiring schools to do more to protect student athletes from heat strokes , including having water-filled tubs at games and practices to rapidly cool the body .
Laurie Giordano had lobbied the Florida Legislature to approve legislation that would require high schools to act more quickly when student athletes show signs of heat stroke and other heat-related stresses .
The new law , known as the Zachary Martin Act , was among 23 bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislation is named after Giordano ’ s 16-year-old son , a strapping 300- pound ( 136-kilogram ) , 6-foot-4 ( 193-centimeter ) offensive gridiron lineman who collapsed during practice three years ago .
He had just finished running sprints with his teammates in the sweltering South Florida heat .
After some confusion on the sidelines , he was rushed to the hospital , where he died 11 days later .
After her son ’ s death , Giordano created a foundation in his name that has donated dozens of cooling tubs to schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s signature , public schools will be required to have a tub or other large container filled with cold water at the sidelines during all games and practices .
Schools also will be required to have defibrillators to resuscitate stricken athletes .
The new law also requires schools to train personnel on how to recognize signs of heat-related ailments , including potentially deadly heat strokes , and to take life-saving actions .
The law will go into effect July 1 , but because of the coronavirus pandemic it is still uncertain whether Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fall , and if they do , whether sports programs will resume .
Even if heat stroke does not lead to death , it can can cause severe damage to the brain or other internal organs .
Florida ’ s scorching summer temperatures and intense humidity have contributed to hundreds of cases of heat-related injuries .
According to a legislative analysis produced for the bill , Florida led the country in heat-related deaths among student athletes , with at least four since 2011 .
More than 460 student athletes in Florida were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017-18 school year .
The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research said 47 high school football players died from heat stroke or related complications between 1995 and 2019 .
Nearly all of those deaths happened during routine practices , according the center .

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A grieving mother’s plea to Florida lawmakers was fulfilled when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure requiring schools to do more to protect student athletes from heat strokes, including having water-filled tubs at games and practices to rapidly cool the body.
Laurie Giordano had lobbied the Florida Legislature to approve legislation that would require high schools to act more quickly when student athletes show signs of heat stroke and other heat-related stresses.
“Pushing for measures to protect other students has been my way of keeping his legacy going, so the protections my son should have gotten will be in place now,” said Giordano, who awoke Wednesday - her birthday - to the news of the bill signing.
“I can’t think of a better gift to receive this morning,” she said.
The new law, known as the Zachary Martin Act, was among 23 bills signed by DeSantis late Tuesday, including measures that make it illegal to falsely claim the need of a support animal, provide protections for pregnant women in state prisons, increase penalties for “unlawful exposure of sex organs,” and require schools to teach about the Election Day massacre of African Americans in Ocoee a century ago.
The Ocoee measure, part of a broader bill that also brings attention to the atrocities of the Holocaust, requires the Department of Education’s African American History Task Force to examine ways the Ocoee Election Day Riots could be incorporated into the state’s Black history curriculum. It also directs the Department of State to find ways to promote the massacre in the state’s history museum and other museums across the state.
The massacre of as many as 60 Black people happened in 1920. The mob that carried out the killings then set fire to all Black homes in Ocoee, as well as two churches and a meeting hall.
DeSantis also signed a bill that requires landlords to allow tenants to keep emotional support animals, but creates penalties for people, including fines and jail time, for those who falsely claim the need for such an animal to avoid pet restrictions.
Another new law will ensure pregnant women in prisons aren’t held in restrictive housing. The bill was a response to a recent case in which a woman gave birth while alone in a Broward County jail cell.
The governor also signed a bill that increases penalties for the “unlawful exposure of sex organs” and makes it easier for police to make arrests in those cases. The new law also clarifies that being naked in places designated for that activity isn’t illegal.
The athlete safety bill is named after Giordano’s 16-year-old son, a strapping 300-pound (136-kilogram), 6-foot-4 (193-centimeter) offensive gridiron lineman who collapsed during practice three years ago. He had just finished running sprints with his teammates in the sweltering South Florida heat.
After some confusion on the sidelines, he was rushed to the hospital, where he died 11 days later.
After her son’s death, Giordano created a foundation in his name that has donated dozens of cooling tubs to schools across Florida.
With the governor’s signature, public schools will be required to have a tub or other large container filled with cold water at the sidelines during all games and practices. Schools also will be required to have defibrillators to resuscitate stricken athletes. The new law also requires schools to train personnel on how to recognize signs of heat-related ailments, including potentially deadly heat strokes, and to take life-saving actions.
The law will go into effect July 1, but because of the coronavirus pandemic it is still uncertain whether some sports programs will resume when Florida’s public schools reopen in August. Some schools have been allowed to begin some training, but must comply with social distancing and sanitation guidelines to keep the virus from further spreading.
Even if heat stroke does not lead to death, it can can cause severe damage to the brain or other internal organs. Florida’s scorching summer temperatures and intense humidity have contributed to hundreds of cases of heat-related injuries.
In recent years, school districts across the country have begun taking steps to better protect their student athletes but many still have much to do, according to a recent study by the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut.
According to a legislative analysis produced for the bill, Florida led the country in heat-related deaths among student athletes, with at least four since 2011. More than 460 student athletes in Florida were treated for exertional heat stroke during the 2017-18 school year.
The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research said 47 high school football players died from heat stroke or related complications between 1995 and 2019. Nearly all of those deaths happened during routine practices, according the center.
With Florida’s law soon to be in place, Giardano said she wants to push for a federal law that would expand protections across the country.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Teen killed when car crashes into tree, state police say

DENMARK , Maine ( AP ) - A teenager was killed when the car he was driving skidded and crashed @ @ @ @ @ road in the town of Denmark , Maine State Police said .
The impact was @ @ @ @ @ side and Isaac Rawson , 17 , of Sebago , died at the scene Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ Speed and driver inexperience are likely causes of the crash , troopers said .
Rawson @ @ @ @ @ of the crash .

DENMARK, Maine (AP) - A teenager was killed when the car he was driving skidded and crashed into a tree alongside the road in the town of Denmark, Maine State Police said.
The impact was on the driver’s side and Isaac Rawson, 17, of Sebago, died at the scene Tuesday afternoon, troopers said.
Speed and driver inexperience are likely causes of the crash, troopers said. Rawson was alone at the time of the crash.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--2 arrested as opposing protest groups clash in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A physical confrontation involving two groups of opposing protesters in Philadelphia ended with at least @ @ @ @ @ according to media reports , but no serious injuries were reported .
The Philadelphia Inquirer @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday night , when about 50 protesters who had walked south from an earlier protest @ @ @ @ @ by more than 100 men who had gathered wielding baseball bats and hammers .
The @ @ @ @ @ protesters arrived , and the groups exchanged harsh words .
Several members of each group @ @ @ @ @ , and at least one man was punched in the face , according to the @ @ @ @ @ one from each group - were detained by police , but their names were not @ @ @ @ @ say what charges they may be facing .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -
The district attorney of Philadelphia announced assault and related charges against one man stemming from one of a number of protests of a now-covered Columbus statue in south Philadelphia while suggesting “unequal application of the law” by police during the demonstrations.
The city, meanwhile announced plans to seek removal of the statue, citing the clashes.
District Attorney Larry Krasner alleged that 58-year-old John Mooney repeatedly told a Black man who is a professional photographer “Get out of here, boy,” before punching him in the face Tuesday evening at Marconi Plaza. Mooney was charged with misdemeanor counts of ethnic intimidation, simple assault, reckless endangering and harassment.
Krasner said such incidents “continue to raise serious questions about policing and unequal application of the law” in the city. For the past month, he said, thousands have taken to the streets to demand equal justice and accountability for police and other institutions “and have done so without wielding bats, hammers, firearms, or racial epithets.”
However, Krasner said, during altercations at the plaza and surrounding neighborhood “anti-racism protesters and journalists have been verbally and physically assaulted, in direct view of law enforcement officers who have – by the numbers – made far more arrests of protesters and journalists than they have of these bat-wielding, assaultive, and threatening individuals.”
The police department declined comment Wednesday. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Mooney had an attorney.
The city last week built a wooden box around the Columbus statue following clashes between protesters and residents as Mayor Jim Kenney announced a process to decide its future. On Wednesday, the city said in a statement that it would ask the Philadelphia Art Commission on July 22 to approve removal of the statue.
“In recent weeks, clashes between those individuals who support the statue of Christopher Columbus in Marconi Plaza and those who are distressed by its existence have deteriorated to a concerning public safety situation,” the city said. “It is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.”
Officials said they hoped to find a way to allow residents “to celebrate their heritage and culture, while respecting the histories and circumstances of others that come from different backgrounds.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that about 50 protesters who had walked south from an earlier protest over police funding were engaged by more than 100 men who had gathered wielding baseball bats and hammers. The men dropped the bats when protesters arrived, and the groups exchanged harsh words. Several members of each group soon began shoving each other, and at least one man was punched in the face, and two men - one from each group - were detained by police, the paper said.
Earlier Tuesday, police said 26 people were arrested and issued summary violations for failure to disperse in a demonstration at the city’s Municipal Services Building near City Hall. A journalist was detained but later released and wasn’t charged.
Kenney said in a Twitter post that he was “extremely disturbed” by video of the reporter’s detention, which he said “may violate the law and (police) policy.” He said that would be “fully investigated and addressed” and police said the entire incident was being investigated by Internal Affairs.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Housing industry experts warn evictions could spike

CONCORD , N.H. ( AP ) - Housing industry experts in New Hampshire are warning that evictions could spike later this summer when tenant protections and enhanced unemployment benefits resulting from the coronavirus pandemic lapse .
New Hampshire ’ s eviction moratorium expires July 1 and the federal eviction ban under the CARES Act stops on July 25 .
The extra $ 600 in weekly unemployment benefits under the CARES Act ends July 31 .
That poses challenges for tenants , the Caledonian-Record reports .
Many have lost jobs during the pandemic and relied on state and federal assistance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a position of waiting for the other shoe to drop , ” said Ben Frost of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority during a call on housing needs led by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan on Monday .
“ It seems like August is when we ’ re likely to see this perfect storm come together .
You can see the radar , you can see it coming.
” Nearly half of the renters in New Hampshire were spending 50 percent or more of their income on housing before the outbreak .
New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CARES Act funds for housing relief , half the “ conservative estimate ” that the state Housing Finance Authority recommended .
As of Tuesday , 5,571 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus , an increase of 15 .
Four new deaths were reported , fora total of 343 people who have died from the coronavirus .
For most people , the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms .
For some , especially older adults and the infirm , it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death @

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A bill supported by a group of U.S. senators, including Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, would help electricians, HVAC technicians, and other workers in the energy efficiency contractor industry during and after the coronavirus pandemic.
The bill would help the energy efficiency sector retain jobs and invest in training to create new opportunities in the workforce, Shaheen, a Democrat, said in a statement Wednesday. It would make available grants to allow businesses to rehire and reinvest in their employees. It also would create rebates for homeowners to invest in energy efficiency improvements.
It’s called the “Hope for Homes Act of 2020.”
Shaheen noted the energy efficiency industry – which prior to the pandemic employed more than 2.3 million Americans – has been hit hard by the pandemic, shedding more than 400,000 jobs.
Other coronavirus-related developments in New Hampshire:
NO FAIR
The Deerfield Fair said Wednesday it is canceling this year’s festivities because of the coronavirus.
The 144th fair had been scheduled for Oct. 1-4.
“The health and wellbeing of our Members, community, vendors, exhibitors, and staff is important to us, “the organization said in a statement.
Next year’s fair has been scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
___
CROTCHED MOUNTAIN
Crotched Mountain, which serves people with disabilities, said it is closing its Greenfield campus after suffering financial hardships due to the coronavirus.
By Nov. 1, “we plan to have no more residents on our campus, nor in our off campus staffed adult group homes,” Ned Olney, president and CEO of the Crotched Mountain Foundation said a letter to the community Tuesday.
He said other programs would continue, such as Ready Set Connect Autism Centers, and Crotched Mountain Accessible Recreation and Sports.
Crotched Mountain first opened a rehabilitation center in 1953 to support people with polio.
___
HOUSING CONCERNS
Housing industry experts in New Hampshire are warning that evictions could spike later this summer when tenant protections and enhanced unemployment benefits resulting from the coronavirus pandemic lapse.
New Hampshire’s eviction moratorium expires July 1 and the federal eviction ban under the CARES Act stops on July 25. The extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits under the CARES Act ends July 31.
That poses challenges for tenants, the Caledonian-Record reports. Many have lost jobs during the pandemic and relied on state and federal assistance.
“We’re very much in a position of waiting for the other shoe to drop,” said Ben Frost of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority during a call on housing needs led by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan on Monday. “It seems like August is when we’re likely to see this perfect storm come together. You can see the radar, you can see it coming.”
Nearly half of the renters in New Hampshire were spending 50% or more of their income on housing before the outbreak.
New Hampshire plans to distribute $35 million in CARES Act funds for housing relief, half the “conservative estimate” that the state Housing Finance Authority recommended.
___
THE NUMBERS
As of Wednesday, 5,598 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus, an increase of 27. Four new deaths were reported, for a total of 347 people who have died from the coronavirus.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Police academy spells out new rules after high-profile abuse

PORTLAND , Maine ( AP ) - Maine police officers must intervene when they see colleagues using unreasonable force , and also must report it to their superiors , according to standards adopted by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy ’ s board .
Those standards also spell out that chokeholds are banned except in rare instances when deadly force is authorized .
The board ’ s updated “ use of force ” standards were adopted last week after several high-profile abuses triggered national protests .
The updated protocols became public ahead of a meeting of the Legislature ’ s Criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police was particularly galling , Rick Desjardins , the academy ’ s director , told The Associated Press .
The officer had his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly 8 minutes even as the man said , “ I can ’ t breathe.
” “ A lot people were mortified that we didn ’ t have a person intervening and were questioning whether it was an appropriate use of a technique that is not really a technique at all , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the criminal justice academy , he added .
Maine law enforcement agencies are required to have written policies and procedures that conform with standards adopted by the academy ’ s 18-member Board of Trustees , Desjardins said .
Some departments may already address issues raised in the updated policies , but he said it was important to put them in writing to ensure all state agencies are on the same page .
Other policies include requiring officers to use de-escalation techniques whenever possible .
They must monitor people in their custody for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and must recognize the causes of delirium and the dangers of asphyxia .
A summary of the board ’ s actions was signed by Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck and the presidents of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association and the Maine Sheriffs Association to present a united front when it comes to the polices .
They wrote that they remain committed to being transparent “ and eliminating police cultures that condone any social injustices.
” “ We will continue to enhance our training to include important topics , such as implicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a system that guarantees equal justice under the law to every Maine resident , ” they wrote .
Departments must affirm each year that their policies comply with state minimum standards .

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine police officers must intervene when they see colleagues using unreasonable force, and also must report it to their superiors, according to standards adopted by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s board.
Those standards also spell out that chokeholds are banned except in rare instances when deadly force is authorized.
The board’s updated “use of force” standards were adopted last week after several high-profile abuses triggered national protests. The updated protocols became public ahead of a meeting of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee on Wednesday.
The May 25 killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police was particularly galling, Rick Desjardins, the academy’s director, told The Associated Press. The officer had his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly 8 minutes even as the man said, “I can’t breathe.”
“A lot people were mortified that we didn’t have a person intervening and were questioning whether it was an appropriate use of a technique that is not really a technique at all,” Desjardins said. Chokeholds are not taught at the criminal justice academy, he added.
Maine law enforcement agencies are required to have written policies and procedures that conform with standards adopted by the academy’s 18-member Board of Trustees, Desjardins said.
Some departments may already address issues raised in the updated policies, but he said it was important to put them in writing to ensure all state agencies are on the same page.
Other policies include requiring officers to use de-escalation techniques whenever possible. They must monitor people in their custody for evidence of injury or medical distress, and must recognize the causes of delirium and the dangers of asphyxia. A summary of the board’s actions was signed by Maine Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck and the presidents of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association and the Maine Sheriffs Association to present a united front when it comes to the polices.
They wrote that they remain committed to being transparent “and eliminating police cultures that condone any social injustices.”
“We will continue to enhance our training to include important topics, such as implicit bias, to ensure that we support a system that guarantees equal justice under the law to every Maine resident,” they wrote.
Departments must affirm each year that their policies comply with state minimum standards.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Madison Cawthorn, 24, says Donald Trump called him after primary runoff win in N.C.

Madison Cawthorn , a 24-year-old motivational speaker who won a GOP congressional primary runoff in North Carolina on Tuesday , said Wednesday he got a congratulatory call from President Trump even though Mr. Trump had endorsed his opponent .
“ It was an honor getting a call from Air Force One , ” Mr. Cawthorn said on MSNBC ’ s “ Morning Joe.
” “ He was talking about how amazing a victory it was — he defined it as beautiful , ” he said .
“ The president recognized that we ran a campaign that was very difficult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting , Mr. Cawthorn had a 66 % to 34 % lead over Lynda Bennett , who was favored by both Mr. Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows .
Mr. Meadows vacated the seat to take his current job .
Mr. Cawthorn had said on Tuesday evening that he didn ’ t see the race as a referendum on Mr. Trump and that he supports the president .
“ The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning .
You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Mr. Cawthorn , who turns 25 in August , will likely be the next member of Congress to represent the Republican-leaning 11th Congressional District , which touches the western border of the state .
Mr. Cawthorn , the head of a real estate investment company , was partially paralyzed in a 2014 car crash .
If elected , he would be the youngest member of Congress , edging out 30-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , New York Democrat .

Madison Cawthorn, a 24-year-old motivational speaker who won a GOP congressional primary runoff in North Carolina on Tuesday, said Wednesday he got a congratulatory call from President Trump even though Mr. Trump had endorsed his opponent.
“It was an honor getting a call from Air Force One,” Mr. Cawthorn said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“He was talking about how amazing a victory it was — he defined it as beautiful,” he said. “The president recognized that we ran a campaign that was very difficult to beat.”
With 100% of precincts reporting, Mr. Cawthorn had a 66% to 34% lead over Lynda Bennett, who was favored by both Mr. Trump and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
Mr. Meadows vacated the seat to take his current job.
Mr. Cawthorn had said on Tuesday evening that he didn’t see the race as a referendum on Mr. Trump and that he supports the president.
“The people of western North Carolina are wise and discerning. You observed both candidates and simply made the choice you believed is best for our district,” he said.
Mr. Cawthorn, who turns 25 in August, will likely be the next member of Congress to represent the Republican-leaning 11th Congressional District, which touches the western border of the state.
Mr. Cawthorn, the head of a real estate investment company, was partially paralyzed in a 2014 car crash.
If elected, he would be the youngest member of Congress, edging out 30-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Woman charged in death of foster child released

WORCESTER , Mass .
( AP ) - A Massachusetts woman charged in connection with the 2015 death of a 2-year-old foster child in her care and injuries to a second toddler in her custody has been released on personal recognizance .
Kimberly Malpass , 39 , of Auburn , was released after her remotely-held arraignment Tuesday on the conditions that she have no contact with the surviving child or unsupervised contact with any child under 16 .
Not guilty pleas to charges of reckless endangerment of a child and misleading a police investigation were entered on her behalf .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ home on Aug. 15 , 2015 , according to a statement from the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr .
They were taken to the hospital with symptoms of heat stroke where Avalena Conway-Coxon was pronounced dead .
They had been left in a room unsupervised for about 12 hours , the prosecutor said in court .
The second child , who was 22 months old , was in a coma for several weeks and suffered lifelong injuries , according to prosecutors .
The state medical examiner was unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
Defense lawyer Peter Lacy said there were no prior allegations that his client was a negligent parent .
He called the death tragic .

WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts woman charged in connection with the 2015 death of a 2-year-old foster child in her care and injuries to a second toddler in her custody has been released on personal recognizance.
Kimberly Malpass, 39, of Auburn, was released after her remotely-held arraignment Tuesday on the conditions that she have no contact with the surviving child or unsupervised contact with any child under 16.
Not guilty pleas to charges of reckless endangerment of a child and misleading a police investigation were entered on her behalf.
Both children were found unresponsive in Malpass’ home on Aug. 15, 2015, according to a statement from the office of Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.
They were taken to the hospital with symptoms of heat stroke where Avalena Conway-Coxon was pronounced dead. They had been left in a room unsupervised for about 12 hours, the prosecutor said in court.
The second child, who was 22 months old, was in a coma for several weeks and suffered lifelong injuries, according to prosecutors.
The state medical examiner was unable to determine the cause of Avalena’s death.
Defense lawyer Peter Lacy said there were no prior allegations that his client was a negligent parent. He called the death tragic.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--CHOP lawsuit: Businesses, residents sue Seattle

SEATTLE — A collection of Seattle businesses , property owners and residents sued the city Wednesday over its tolerance of an “ occupied ” protest zone , saying officials have been complicit in depriving them of their rights to their property .
The plaintiffs - including a tattoo parlor , auto repair shop and property management firm - emphasized in the lawsuit that they were not trying to undermine the anti-police-brutality or Black Lives Matter messaging of the “ Capitol Hill Occupied Protest.
” “ Rather , this lawsuit is about the constitutional and other legal rights of plaintiffs - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and around CHOP - which have been overrun by the city of Seattle ’ s unprecedented decision to abandon and close off an entire city neighborhood , leaving it unchecked by the police , unserved by fire and emergency health services , and inaccessible to the public at large , ” the lawsuit said .
The Seattle City Attorney ’ s Office said it had not yet seen the lawsuit but would review it .
The “ occupation ” began June 8 when the Seattle Police Department , following days of intense clashes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floyd ’ s killing by Minneapolis police , abandoned its East Precinct building in the densely populated Capitol Hill neighborhood .
Protesters moved police barricades to block traffic , and scores camped in a nearby park .
The protest has drawn the scorn of President Donald Trump , who asserted it was being run by anarchists .
A festive atmosphere has prevailed for much of the time since then , with participants painting a large Black Lives Matter mural on the street and volunteers handing out free food .
But openly armed “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the atmosphere has sometimes been more menacing at night .
Police said typical response times to emergency calls in the area , which stretched several blocks , had tripled .
Mayor Jenny Durkan has expressed support for the protest , calling it “ a peaceful expression of our community ’ s collective grief and their desire to build a better world , ” and the city has helped it by providing different barricades to better protect participants from vehicles .
But following three shootings in the area on consecutive nights beginning last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city would wind down the protest zone , at first by encouraging demonstrators to leave voluntarily , and that police would return to the precinct .
But neither she nor Police Chief Carmen Best gave a specific timeline for when that would happen .
Durkan ’ s office did not immediately comment in response to an email from The Associated Press .
Patty Eakes , an attorney for the plaintiffs , separately told Durkan in a letter Wednesday that she wanted the mayor ’ s office to provide a timeline by Friday for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or the plaintiffs would ask the court for an immediate order that full public access be restored .
In the class-action lawsuit , filed in U.S. District Court , about a dozen businesses , residents and property owners said they had sometimes been threatened for photographing protesters in public areas or for cleaning graffiti off their storefronts .
The owner of the auto shop Car Tender said a burglar broke in the night of June 14 , started a fire using hand sanitizer as an accelerant , and then attacked his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner and his son managed to put out the fire and detain the burglar , the complaint said , but police never responded to their 911 calls .
A large crowd of “ CHOP participants ” then came to the scene and forced the owner to release the arsonist , it said .
Other businesses , including the family-run label manufacturing company Richmark Label , said they had been unable to send or receive packages because delivery companies won ’ t go near the protest zone or because access to their loading dock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sky , the proprietor of Tattoos and Fortune , said in the complaint she is a supporter of Black Lives Matter but that her business was down severely due to the protest .
A physical therapist and wine shop also said clients or customers had been afraid to enter the area .
The complaint said that the city ’ s decision to turn over the blocks and a nearby park to the demonstrators deprived them of their property rights without due process and amounted to an illegal gift of public property to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lost business , property damage and deprivation of their property rights as well as the restoration of full public access .

SEATTLE — A collection of Seattle businesses, property owners and residents sued the city Wednesday over its tolerance of an “occupied” protest zone, saying officials have been complicit in depriving them of their rights to their property.
The plaintiffs - including a tattoo parlor, auto repair shop and property management firm - emphasized in the lawsuit that they were not trying to undermine the anti-police-brutality or Black Lives Matter messaging of the “Capitol Hill Occupied Protest.”
“Rather, this lawsuit is about the constitutional and other legal rights of plaintiffs - businesses, employees, and residents in and around CHOP - which have been overrun by the city of Seattle’s unprecedented decision to abandon and close off an entire city neighborhood, leaving it unchecked by the police, unserved by fire and emergency health services, and inaccessible to the public at large,” the lawsuit said.
The Seattle City Attorney’s Office said it had not yet seen the lawsuit but would review it.
The “occupation” began June 8 when the Seattle Police Department, following days of intense clashes with demonstrators in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police, abandoned its East Precinct building in the densely populated Capitol Hill neighborhood. Protesters moved police barricades to block traffic, and scores camped in a nearby park.
The protest has drawn the scorn of President Donald Trump, who asserted it was being run by anarchists.
A festive atmosphere has prevailed for much of the time since then, with participants painting a large Black Lives Matter mural on the street and volunteers handing out free food. But openly armed “sentinels” have also kept watch, and the atmosphere has sometimes been more menacing at night. Police said typical response times to emergency calls in the area, which stretched several blocks, had tripled.
Mayor Jenny Durkan has expressed support for the protest, calling it “a peaceful expression of our community’s collective grief and their desire to build a better world,” and the city has helped it by providing different barricades to better protect participants from vehicles.
But following three shootings in the area on consecutive nights beginning last weekend, Durkan said this week the city would wind down the protest zone, at first by encouraging demonstrators to leave voluntarily, and that police would return to the precinct. But neither she nor Police Chief Carmen Best gave a specific timeline for when that would happen.
Patty Eakes, an attorney for the plaintiffs, separately told Durkan in a letter Wednesday that she wanted the mayor’s office to provide a timeline by Friday for clearing out the protest and returning police, or the plaintiffs would ask the court for an immediate order that full public access be restored.
“City leadership have been on the ground daily having discussions with demonstrators, residents and businesses and trusted community-based, Black-led organizations to determine a path forward that protects the right to peacefully protest and keeps people safe,” the mayor’s office said in a written statement.
In the class-action lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, about a dozen businesses, residents and property owners said they had sometimes been threatened for photographing protesters in public areas or for cleaning graffiti off their storefronts. The owner of the auto shop Car Tender said a burglar broke in the night of June 14, started a fire using hand sanitizer as an accelerant, and then attacked his son with a knife when confronted.
The owner and his son managed to put out the fire and detain the burglar, the complaint said, but police never responded to their 911 calls. A large crowd of “CHOP participants” then came to the scene and forced the owner to release the arsonist, it said.
Other businesses, including the family-run label manufacturing company Richmark Label, said they had been unable to send or receive packages because delivery companies won’t go near the protest zone or because access to their loading dock had been blocked by barricades.
Magdalena Sky, the proprietor of Tattoos and Fortune, said in the complaint she is a supporter of Black Lives Matter but that her business was down severely due to the protest. A physical therapist and wine shop also said clients or customers had been afraid to enter the area.
The complaint said that the city’s decision to turn over the blocks and a nearby park to the demonstrators deprived them of their property rights without due process and amounted to an illegal gift of public property to the protesters.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages for lost business, property damage and deprivation of their property rights as well as the restoration of full public access.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Australia's Qantas airline to cut 6,000 jobs as virus hits

WELLINGTON , New Zealand ( AP ) - Qantas plans to cut at least 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 more workers on extended furloughs as Australia ’ s largest airline tries to survive the coronavirus pandemic .
Qantas announced a plan Thursday to reduce costs by billions of dollars and raise fresh capital .
The plan includes grounding 100 planes for a year or more and immediately retiring its six remaining Boeing 747 planes .
Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline has to become smaller as it braces for several years of much lower revenues .
He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their airline careers .
“ The actions that we ’ re taking will have a huge impact on thousands of our people .
This is something that weighs very heavily on all of us , ” Joyce told reporters .
“ This is something that we don ’ t make a decision on very easily .
But the collapse of billions of dollars in revenue leaves us with little choice if we are to save as many jobs as possible longer term.
” Joyce said the airline entered the crisis in a better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the future .
“ This crisis has still hit us very , very hard and the impact will be felt for a long time , ” Joyce said .
In a plan filed with the Australian stock exchange , Qantas said it would reduce costs by 15 billion Australian dollars ( $ 10 billion ) over three years and raise new equity of A $ 1.9 billion to help accelerate the airline ’ s recovery and position it for new opportunities .
Qantas employs about 29,000 people .
Joyce said he expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working by next month , and 15,000 by the end of the year .
He said that as international routes opened back up over the next two years , he hoped the workforce would increase again to 21,000 .
He said the airline planned to be back to 40 % of its pre-crisis domestic flying by July , but that international routes would take much longer to return .
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it wanted to help former Qantas employees suffering from the “ terrible job losses ” to find new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he retained hope for the Australian economy , especially after the International Monetary Fund pointed out it was navigating the financial crisis better than most other developed economies .
“ And that ’ s where the hope comes from , ” Morrison told reporters in Sydney .
“ Because the hope says that we ’ re on our way back .
And as hard as these days are , there are better days ahead .
”

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Qantas plans to cut at least 6,000 jobs and keep 15,000 more workers on extended furloughs as Australia’s largest airline tries to survive the coronavirus pandemic.
Qantas announced a plan Thursday to reduce costs by billions of dollars and raise fresh capital. The plan includes grounding 100 planes for a year or more and immediately retiring its six remaining Boeing 747 planes.
Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline has to become smaller as it braces for several years of much lower revenues. He said the furloughed workers faced a long interruption to their airline careers.
“The actions that we’re taking will have a huge impact on thousands of our people. This is something that weighs very heavily on all of us,” Joyce told reporters. “This is something that we don’t make a decision on very easily. But the collapse of billions of dollars in revenue leaves us with little choice if we are to save as many jobs as possible longer term.”
Joyce said the airline entered the crisis in a better position than most airlines and remained optimistic about the future.
“This crisis has still hit us very, very hard and the impact will be felt for a long time,” Joyce said.
In a plan filed with the Australian stock exchange, Qantas said it would reduce costs by 15 billion Australian dollars ($10 billion) over three years and raise new equity of A$1.9 billion to help accelerate the airline’s recovery and position it for new opportunities.
Qantas employs about 29,000 people. Joyce said he expected only about 8,000 of them would be working by next month, and 15,000 by the end of the year. He said that as international routes opened back up over the next two years, he hoped the workforce would increase again to 21,000.
He said the airline planned to be back to 40% of its pre-crisis domestic flying by July, but that international routes would take much longer to return.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it wanted to help former Qantas employees suffering from the “terrible job losses” to find new work in other parts of the economy.
He said he remained optimistic about the Australian economy, especially after the International Monetary Fund pointed out it was navigating the financial crisis better than most other developed nations.
“And that’s where the hope comes from,” Morrison told reporters in Sydney. “Because the hope says that we’re on our way back. And as hard as these days are, there are better days ahead.”
Qantas shares were placed into a trading halt ahead of the announcement. The airline’s shares are down just over 40% this year, but have recovered somewhat from March when they were down by as much as 70%.
Qantas said the job losses would include at least: 1,450 from mostly corporate roles; 1,500 in ground operations including baggage handling; 1050 cabin crew; 630 in engineering; and 220 pilots. Some contractors, particularly in information technology, would also be out of work.


washingtontimes--2020-06-24--Hawaii to waive quarantine for negative COVID-19 tests

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Hawaii Gov .
David Ige on Wednesday said that starting Aug. 1 , travelers arriving from out of state may bypass a 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19 .
Since late March , Hawaii has been requiring travelers from outside the islands to stay in their hotel rooms or homes for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The move has helped keep disease numbers down , but has also contributed to the collapse of the tourism industry and sent unemployment soaring .
The plan is modeled after Alaska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid quarantine if they take a test within 72 hours before arrival and test negative .
If the test result is not available by the time a traveler lands , they must stay in quarantine until the result comes in .
Ige hasn ’ t yet set a time limit for when the tests will need to be done , but he said 72 hours was reasonable .
The governor said the tests , along with screening passengers for high temperatures and virus symptoms when they arrive , were part of a multi-layered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread .
“ People do need to get back to work , but it must be done in a manner that protects the health of our community , ” Ige said at a news conference .
The number of travelers to the islands began to decline sharply in early March as the disease spread across the world .
But the tourist count shriveled to just a few hundred per day after the governor imposed the quarantine requirement on March 26 .
In April , 4,564 travelers arrived in Hawaii by plane , down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
Hotels across the state have temporarily closed , laying off housekeepers and bellhops .
Hawaii ’ s unemployment rate hit 22.6 % in May , second only to Nevada .
The quarantine has helped control the disease , giving Hawaii the lowest per capita infection rate of any state .
As of Wednesday , the islands have had 835 cases and 17 deaths since the start of the outbreak .

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Wednesday said that starting Aug. 1, travelers arriving from out of state may bypass a 14-day quarantine requirement if they test negative for COVID-19.
Since late March, Hawaii has been requiring travelers from outside the islands to stay in their hotel rooms or homes for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The move has helped keep disease numbers down, but has also contributed to the collapse of the tourism industry and sent unemployment soaring.
The plan is modeled after Alaska’s, which allows travelers to avoid quarantine if they take a test within 72 hours before arrival and test negative. If the test result is not available by the time a traveler lands, they must stay in quarantine until the result comes in.
Ige hasn’t yet set a time limit for when the tests will need to be done, but he said 72 hours was reasonable.
The governor said the tests, along with screening passengers for high temperatures and virus symptoms when they arrive, were part of a multi-layered approach to preventing the disease’s spread.
“People do need to get back to work, but it must be done in a manner that protects the health of our community,” Ige said at a news conference.
Ige said he expected the number of coronavirus cases to increase, but that Hawaii has boosted its testing and contact tracing capacity to enable it to respond. He said the state may have to reinstate the 14-day quarantine requirement for all arriving travelers if Hawaii were to experience a doubling of new cases each week for a four week period.
Ige said Hawaii continues to discuss establishing “travel bubbles” with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand that would open up travel between the islands and these countries that all have low infection rates. One of the challenges of doing so, he said, was that the virus continues to increase virtually uncontrolled in other parts of the United States. Ige said Hawaii would have to get the countries to view Hawaii differently from other states in the U.S. to be able to set up these travel bubbles. He said Hawaii has initiated discussions with the State Department and these other countries.
The number of travelers to the islands began to decline sharply in early March as the disease spread across the world. But the tourist count shriveled to just a few hundred per day after the governor imposed the quarantine requirement on March 26.
In April, 4,564 travelers arrived in Hawaii by plane, down from 856,250 during the same month last year. Hotels across the state have temporarily closed, laying off housekeepers and bellhops. Hawaii’s unemployment rate hit 22.6% in May, second only to Nevada.
The quarantine has helped control the disease, giving Hawaii the lowest per capita infection rate of any state. As of Wednesday, the islands have had 835 cases and 17 deaths since the start of the outbreak.


Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Pennsylvania ’ s newspapers : A vocal contingent of Spring Grove Area residents is urging that public schools reopen in a business-as-usual format this fall , regardless of coronavirus-related health concerns .
No masks for students or teachers .
No social distancing .
No kidding .
Schooling is , indeed , badly needed in the district - for these tragically misinformed residents .
Among the lessons : The coronavirus is not a political ideology ; refusing to take precautions is not an exercise of rights ; and not being afraid of contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d likewise benefit from a few lessons in consideration for others .
Same goes for a couple of Spring Grove school board members , including Douglas White , who could also use a remedial course in civility .
Willful ignorance is infuriating enough when it comes to climate change .
Claiming to “ not believe in ” the preponderance of evidence that human-generated greenhouse gases are causing the planet ’ s temperatures to spike is a convenient excuse for inactivity .
It ’ s also an embarrassing admission of foolishness .
For all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing hundreds of Americans every day .
COVID-19 is .
And yet , at Monday ’ s Spring Grove school board meeting , you ’ d think the virus that has claimed more than 120,000 American lives was little more than a liberal fantasy .
Fake news .
“ A crock of s– , ” as White so inarticulately put it .
Yes , that ’ s how an elected member of a board overseeing the education of children characterized the pandemic .
Never mind Pennsylvania ’ s 82,000-plus cases and nearly 6,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing a political battle over state health guidelines intended to protect him , his neighbors and students in the district he ’ s supposed to be leading .
“ Sometimes you have to say to the government , ‘ F you , ’ ” he stated , offering a civics lesson any educator would be proud of .
He had plenty of support among those attending the meeting , where several residents argued that no one is afraid of the virus ( as if that should have any bearing on public health policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the last thing on their minds .
They cited a 400-signature petition in support of reopening the district ’ s schools without following any state or federal health guidelines .
Some dismissed social distancing while others denounced wearing face-coverings - a key component to stemming the spread of the coronavirus - because they might frighten students .
Better that elementary school kids risk contracting a life-threatening illness , apparently .
This is madness .
A majority of Americans are worried about opening school at all this fall , let alone without safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything else under sun , from the increasingly sizzling planet to the efficacy of vaccinations , the coronavirus has become a political issue .
President Donald Trump has led the charge , finding it easier to point fingers than oversee a response .
His self-serving decision to return to mass indoor campaign rallies absent masks and social distancing is a rebuke of his own government ’ s guidelines and a dereliction of his office .
His politicizing of the issue by targeting Democratic governors ’ responses egged on protesters who used public-health guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And his suggestion that face-coverings are not only a sign of weakness but a political statement against him are beyond irresponsible .
But in the words of Spring Grove social studies teacher Josh Newark , an oasis of sanity at Monday ’ s school board meeting , “ This is not a political issue .
It is a public health issue .
Wearing a mask does not make me weak .
It does not infringe upon my freedoms.
” The school board is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the district ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will determine the use of masks , social distancing and other safety measures .
A final vote is planned for July 13 .
That discussion - and that vote - must center on one thing : the health and safety of the district ’ s students and employees .
Any suggestion that safety guidelines aren ’ t needed , or that scoring political points is more important than public health , or that the virus won ’ t infect those who aren ’ t afraid of it , are , to paraphrase White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The federal stimulus package needs better oversight There ’ s a lot of federal stimulus money - $ 2.6 billion - targeted to provide relief for Pennsylvania ’ s nursing homes , small businesses and local governments .
What there isn ’ t at the moment is much oversight as to how the money is to be spent and accounted for .
The state agencies responsible for overseeing the programs that will distribute the money need to provide clear rules upfront in an effort to stave off fraud and waste .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who received funding and for what purpose .
The money is part of the state ’ s $ 3.6 billion share from the federal Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security ( CARES ) Act approved in March .
The remaining $ 1 billion has yet to be allocated .
Spotlight PA , an independent newsroom of which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is a partner , reported that a federal oversight committee created by the CARES Act warned that the money , intended to be distributed quickly to those in need , also carries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the funds and other criminal conduct.
” Among the programs that lack specific regulation are an ambitious initiative to increase COVID-19 testing capacity at nursing homes and improve their infection control practices .
The state has allocated $ 175 million for the program , but critics say it is unknown where the money will go and how it will be used .
The state Department of Human Services , which will oversee the program , is also in charge of another initiative that would provide millions of dollars for one-time payments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adult day care centers and home health care providers .
Recipients will have broad discretion in how to use the money because the law says it “ may only be used to cover necessary COVID-19 related costs.
” The department is waiting on more federal guidance regarding any reporting or auditing requirements .
There are similar issues with a $ 225 million allocation for small-business assistance ; state lawmakers have yet to craft legislation detailing its distribution .
And counties that receive some of the $ 625 million in grant money can decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes toward the cost of responding to the outbreak , aid for local municipalities , behavioral health and substance abuse treatment , or grants for small businesses and nonprofits .
The unknown is how and in what detail the spending will be documented .
The federal stimulus money is intended to be put to use quickly for those most in need .
That doesn ’ t , however , eliminate the need for transparency in detailing where the money went and for what purpose .
Covid-19 and cost of doing business A price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a piece of paper .
The cost of an item on a menu isn ’ t pulled out of a hat .
At least , it isn ’ t if a business wants to stay in business .
It ’ s a complicated dance of expenses and projected revenues , all designed to keep the doors open .
Let ’ s look at a simple sandwich .
There is the cost of the bread and the cheese and the meat .
Add the lettuce and tomato , a little mustard inside and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You could buy those pieces for - let ’ s ballpark it at $ 2 .
So why does it cost $ 8 on the menu ?
Because the price also includes rent , electricity , the gas that fires up the grill , business licenses and insurance , and that ’ s before we mention even one employee and , oh yeah , like six different kinds of taxes .
The ham in your ham sandwich is probably the smallest part of that cost .
That is why covid-19 surcharges are fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere , but they aren ’ t being received well when they do .
But if more customers appreciated what restaurant operators are facing , they might be more understanding .
Since coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and quarantine measures started in March , the story of impact on business has been second only to the coverage of the health hit of the disease .
Restaurants - one of the most common types of small business in America - are among the most hard-hit by the pandemic .
Some estimates say one in five could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high as 75 % .
The truth is we just won ’ t know until the dust settles and the disease is under control .
What we do know is the cost of doing business is higher than it used to be .
Today , that sandwich has to make up for all the other things that aren ’ t being sold the way they were a few months ago , including the bar business and upsells like appetizers and dessert that have higher margins .
The rent , the utilities , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be paid .
The price of the food went up .
But on top of that , there are the costs of take-out containers , the fees to participate in delivery services like DoorDash or GrubHub or the cost of in-house delivery staff and vehicles .
If a restaurant is reopening its dining room as the state transitions to fewer restrictions , there are the costs of disposable menus , masks for the staff , intense and frequent cleaning and sometimes physical boundaries like plexiglass .
All of that is on top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate at only 50 % capacity in order to accommodate social distancing .
And that ’ s assuming nothing else happens .
When restaurants have someone test positive , there is a new wrench thrown in the works .
Closed doors .
More deep cleaning .
Waiting to see if anyone else is affected before trying it all again .
That ’ s a lot of pressure to put on an $ 8 sandwich .
A specified surcharge may be the more open way to address the situation .
Not every restaurant - @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparent about their costs .
There is an unfortunate but refreshing honesty to a small disclaimer that tells people up front , “ We didn ’ t want to charge more .
We wish we weren ’ t being hit with extra costs , too .
But this is what is happening , and we just want you to know because our customers are important to us.
” Because the costs will have to be absorbed somewhere .
Maybe the sandwich becomes $ 9 .
Maybe there are fewer employees .
Maybe costs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doors costs more money than it used to , the only way for the doors to stay open is to pass that fee along .
But sometimes that ’ s just the cost of doing business .
In the midst of multiple crises , bad time for City Council to take a summer break In the midst of a pandemic that has killed 1,563 people since March , and protests and outcries to upend policing as we know it , Philadelphia City Council is taking their yearly summer break .
After Thursday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not scheduled to meet as a body .
That means no oversight functions , no hearings , bills or resolutions , no deliberations , and no public input .
Philadelphia ’ s City Council summer recess is among the longest in the country , according to a Pew study from 2011 .
Almost every year , the break prompts editorials decrying the practice — and annual arguments from Council that they are not at the beach but hard at work in their districts .
But a city facing multiple crises , and where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poverty don ’ t take breaks needs all hands on deck .
There is much at stake .
Nearly every land use decision in the city requires legislation .
The next few months will hopefully begin an economic recovery .
With so many Philadelphians unemployed , it is unconscionable that potential new jobs could be delayed because Council can not issue approvals for the disposition of public land , zoning remappings , or the permits that some businesses need to survive .
That ’ s not even considering the slowdown that COVID 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the past 15 weeks , City Council has held their weekly meetings eight times .
Two of these meetings lasted about 10 minutes .
Multiple critical information committee hearings also didn ’ t take place , despite being authorized by Council .
Those includes a hearing on the city ’ s preparedness for the pandemic that was authorized before the first COVID-19 case in Philadelphia was reported — and multiple other hearings about the pandemic ’ s impact .
Another hearing that didn ’ t take place : one on safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which Council authorized in May .
Small businesses along commercial corridors are opening as Philadelphia transitions to yellow and green , without City Council ’ s — or the public ’ s — input .
A hearing about the process of vote by mail in the recent primary will also need to wait for the fall , providing little time to make changes before the November election .
A common defense of the summer recess is that Councilmembers use it for constituent services .
Leading up to summer , many members have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , showing support for food banks , and assisting with testing capacity .
But the power of Council is in its deliberation , law-making and providing opportunities for the public to have input .
Largely , Philadelphia residents did not have that power at its full disposal for the past three months— and it won ’ t until September .
The city is facing a continued public health threat of the pandemic , economic recession , a school district that needs support while trying to open a school year in uncharted waters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evaluation , just to name a few .
According to Council President Darrell Clarke , Council will meet at some point during the summer , particularly to allocate anticipated federal and state funds .
There is no justification for Council not to meet every single week this summer .
Council members and the public should demand it .
State should examine the death of prison inmate Shaheen Mackey The Luzerne County Council ’ s approval of a $ 3 million settlement with the family of county prison inmate Shaheen Mackey , who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , should not be the end of this horrific case .
The suit filed by Mackey ’ s estate makes harrowing allegations of negligence and brutality , including a disregard of Mackey ’ s medical condition and multiple use of tasers after he was restrained .
The prison video of the incident , which has not been made public , was apparently so shocking that two council members advocated firing county Manager David Pedri and county Director of Corrections Mark Rockovich .
In court documents , the county has denied most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the acceptance of a settlement of this size by the county and its insurance carrier , which will assume most of the cost , indicates this was a case neither was eager to take to trial .
The settlement likely means the county will admit no wrongdoing and Mackey ’ s family will agree to forgo any additional litigation and reserve further comment on the case .
Those are standard elements of such settlements .
But as citizens and taxpayers of Luzerne County , we can not settle and accept that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A 41-year-old man detained under a protection-from-abuse order who suffered from seizures died after alleged mistreatment by corrections officers who work for us .
Mackey ’ s death raises grave questions about the procedures in the county prison and whether there are adequate safeguards for inmate safety and sufficient control of the prison staff .
Less than six months after Mackey ’ s death , the Luzerne County District Attorney ’ s Office found there was no wrongdoing by the corrections officers who restrained him , a ruling that in light of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is common practice for District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis to recuse herself from cases involving allegations against police officers or departments within her jurisdiction and forward them to state prosecutors .
She should have done so in this case .
But it is not too late for the state Office of the Attorney General to intervene .
It should ask for court approval to launch its own independent investigation and a review of procedures and training at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility .
Two years after his death , it ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ @

Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Pennsylvania’s newspapers:
Protect the students of Spring Grove
The York Dispatch
June 24
A vocal contingent of Spring Grove Area residents is urging that public schools reopen in a business-as-usual format this fall, regardless of coronavirus-related health concerns.
No masks for students or teachers. No social distancing. No kidding.
Schooling is, indeed, badly needed in the district - for these tragically misinformed residents.
Among the lessons: The coronavirus is not a political ideology; refusing to take precautions is not an exercise of rights; and not being afraid of contracting the virus is inconsequential.
They’d likewise benefit from a few lessons in consideration for others. Same goes for a couple of Spring Grove school board members, including Douglas White, who could also use a remedial course in civility.
Willful ignorance is infuriating enough when it comes to climate change. Claiming to “not believe in” the preponderance of evidence that human-generated greenhouse gases are causing the planet’s temperatures to spike is a convenient excuse for inactivity. It’s also an embarrassing admission of foolishness.
For all that, climate change is not directly killing hundreds of Americans every day. COVID-19 is.
And yet, at Monday’s Spring Grove school board meeting, you’d think the virus that has claimed more than 120,000 American lives was little more than a liberal fantasy. Fake news. “A crock of s—-,” as White so inarticulately put it.
Yes, that’s how an elected member of a board overseeing the education of children characterized the pandemic. Never mind Pennsylvania’s 82,000-plus cases and nearly 6,500 fatalities. Douglas is more interested in manufacturing a political battle over state health guidelines intended to protect him, his neighbors and students in the district he’s supposed to be leading.
“Sometimes you have to say to the government, ‘F you,’” he stated, offering a civics lesson any educator would be proud of.
He had plenty of support among those attending the meeting, where several residents argued that no one is afraid of the virus (as if that should have any bearing on public health policies). But then, public health is the last thing on their minds. They cited a 400-signature petition in support of reopening the district’s schools without following any state or federal health guidelines.
Some dismissed social distancing while others denounced wearing face-coverings - a key component to stemming the spread of the coronavirus - because they might frighten students. Better that elementary school kids risk contracting a life-threatening illness, apparently.
This is madness. A majority of Americans are worried about opening school at all this fall, let alone without safety measures.
We get it: Like everything else under sun, from the increasingly sizzling planet to the efficacy of vaccinations, the coronavirus has become a political issue. President Donald Trump has led the charge, finding it easier to point fingers than oversee a response.
His self-serving decision to return to mass indoor campaign rallies absent masks and social distancing is a rebuke of his own government’s guidelines and a dereliction of his office. His politicizing of the issue by targeting Democratic governors’ responses egged on protesters who used public-health guidelines as an excuse to air partisan grievances. And his suggestion that face-coverings are not only a sign of weakness but a political statement against him are beyond irresponsible.
But in the words of Spring Grove social studies teacher Josh Newark, an oasis of sanity at Monday’s school board meeting, “This is not a political issue. It is a public health issue. Wearing a mask does not make me weak. It does not infringe upon my freedoms.”
The school board is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the district’s health and safety plan, which will determine the use of masks, social distancing and other safety measures. A final vote is planned for July 13.
That discussion - and that vote - must center on one thing: the health and safety of the district’s students and employees. Any suggestion that safety guidelines aren’t needed, or that scoring political points is more important than public health, or that the virus won’t infect those who aren’t afraid of it, are, to paraphrase White, a crock.
Online: https://bit.ly/2YwzTX5
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Tracking the money: The federal stimulus package needs better oversight
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 24
There’s a lot of federal stimulus money - $2.6 billion - targeted to provide relief for Pennsylvania’s nursing homes, small businesses and local governments. What there isn’t at the moment is much oversight as to how the money is to be spent and accounted for.
The state agencies responsible for overseeing the programs that will distribute the money need to provide clear rules upfront in an effort to stave off fraud and waste. And there needs to be transparency in detailing who received funding and for what purpose.
The money is part of the state’s $3.6 billion share from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act approved in March. The remaining $1 billion has yet to be allocated.
Spotlight PA, an independent newsroom of which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is a partner, reported that a federal oversight committee created by the CARES Act warned that the money, intended to be distributed quickly to those in need, also carries “unmatched prospects for fraud, misuse of the funds and other criminal conduct.”
Among the programs that lack specific regulation are an ambitious initiative to increase COVID-19 testing capacity at nursing homes and improve their infection control practices. The state has allocated $175 million for the program, but critics say it is unknown where the money will go and how it will be used.
The state Department of Human Services, which will oversee the program, is also in charge of another initiative that would provide millions of dollars for one-time payments to all nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, adult day care centers and home health care providers. Recipients will have broad discretion in how to use the money because the law says it “may only be used to cover necessary COVID-19 related costs.” The department is waiting on more federal guidance regarding any reporting or auditing requirements.
There are similar issues with a $225 million allocation for small-business assistance; state lawmakers have yet to craft legislation detailing its distribution.
And counties that receive some of the $625 million in grant money can decide how to spend it as long it goes toward the cost of responding to the outbreak, aid for local municipalities, behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, or grants for small businesses and nonprofits. The unknown is how and in what detail the spending will be documented.
The federal stimulus money is intended to be put to use quickly for those most in need. That doesn’t, however, eliminate the need for transparency in detailing where the money went and for what purpose.
Online: https://bit.ly/3dDIHPj
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Covid-19 and cost of doing business
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 23
A price tag is more than just a number on a piece of paper. The cost of an item on a menu isn’t pulled out of a hat.
At least, it isn’t if a business wants to stay in business. It’s a complicated dance of expenses and projected revenues, all designed to keep the doors open.
Let’s look at a simple sandwich. There is the cost of the bread and the cheese and the meat. Add the lettuce and tomato, a little mustard inside and a little butter to grill it. You could buy those pieces for - let’s ballpark it at $2.
So why does it cost $8 on the menu?
Because the price also includes rent, electricity, the gas that fires up the grill, business licenses and insurance, and that’s before we mention even one employee and, oh yeah, like six different kinds of taxes. The ham in your ham sandwich is probably the smallest part of that cost.
That is why covid-19 surcharges are fairly unsurprising. They aren’t happening everywhere, but they aren’t being received well when they do. But if more customers appreciated what restaurant operators are facing, they might be more understanding.
Since coronavirus pandemic lockdowns and quarantine measures started in March, the story of impact on business has been second only to the coverage of the health hit of the disease.
Restaurants - one of the most common types of small business in America - are among the most hard-hit by the pandemic. Some estimates say one in five could close permanently. Others have gone as high as 75%. The truth is we just won’t know until the dust settles and the disease is under control.
What we do know is the cost of doing business is higher than it used to be.
Today, that sandwich has to make up for all the other things that aren’t being sold the way they were a few months ago, including the bar business and upsells like appetizers and dessert that have higher margins.
The rent, the utilities, the insurance and taxes? All still have to be paid. The price of the food went up. But on top of that, there are the costs of take-out containers, the fees to participate in delivery services like DoorDash or GrubHub or the cost of in-house delivery staff and vehicles.
If a restaurant is reopening its dining room as the state transitions to fewer restrictions, there are the costs of disposable menus, masks for the staff, intense and frequent cleaning and sometimes physical boundaries like plexiglass. All of that is on top of the state’s mandate restaurants operate at only 50% capacity in order to accommodate social distancing.
And that’s assuming nothing else happens. When restaurants have someone test positive, there is a new wrench thrown in the works. Closed doors. More deep cleaning. Waiting to see if anyone else is affected before trying it all again.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on an $8 sandwich.
A specified surcharge may be the more open way to address the situation. Not every restaurant - or other business - is being so transparent about their costs. There is an unfortunate but refreshing honesty to a small disclaimer that tells people up front, “We didn’t want to charge more. We wish we weren’t being hit with extra costs, too. But this is what is happening, and we just want you to know because our customers are important to us.”
Because the costs will have to be absorbed somewhere. Maybe the sandwich becomes $9. Maybe there are fewer employees. Maybe costs are cut elsewhere. But if opening the doors costs more money than it used to, the only way for the doors to stay open is to pass that fee along.
But sometimes that’s just the cost of doing business.
Online: https://bit.ly/2Vhjl3g
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In the midst of multiple crises, bad time for City Council to take a summer break
The Philadelphia Inquirer
June 24
In the midst of a pandemic that has killed 1,563 people since March, and protests and outcries to upend policing as we know it, Philadelphia City Council is taking their yearly summer break. After Thursday, for 11 weeks, Council is not scheduled to meet as a body. That means no oversight functions, no hearings, bills or resolutions, no deliberations, and no public input.
Philadelphia’s City Council summer recess is among the longest in the country, according to a Pew study from 2011. Almost every year, the break prompts editorials decrying the practice — and annual arguments from Council that they are not at the beach but hard at work in their districts. But a city facing multiple crises, and where gun violence, overdose deaths, and poverty don’t take breaks needs all hands on deck.
There is much at stake. Nearly every land use decision in the city requires legislation. The next few months will hopefully begin an economic recovery. With so many Philadelphians unemployed, it is unconscionable that potential new jobs could be delayed because Council cannot issue approvals for the disposition of public land, zoning remappings, or the permits that some businesses need to survive.
That’s not even considering the slowdown that COVID 19 imposed on the business of the city. In the past 15 weeks, City Council has held their weekly meetings eight times. Two of these meetings lasted about 10 minutes.
Multiple critical information committee hearings also didn’t take place, despite being authorized by Council. Those includes a hearing on the city’s preparedness for the pandemic that was authorized before the first COVID-19 case in Philadelphia was reported — and multiple other hearings about the pandemic’s impact. Another hearing that didn’t take place: one on safe reopenings for small businesses along commercial corridors, which Council authorized in May. Small businesses along commercial corridors are opening as Philadelphia transitions to yellow and green, without City Council’s — or the public’s — input.
A hearing about the process of vote by mail in the recent primary will also need to wait for the fall, providing little time to make changes before the November election.
A common defense of the summer recess is that Councilmembers use it for constituent services. Leading up to summer, many members have been active — handing out protective gear, showing support for food banks, and assisting with testing capacity.
But the power of Council is in its deliberation, law-making and providing opportunities for the public to have input. Largely, Philadelphia residents did not have that power at its full disposal for the past three months— and it won’t until September.
The city is facing a continued public health threat of the pandemic, economic recession, a school district that needs support while trying to open a school year in uncharted waters, police response to protests that demands public evaluation, just to name a few. According to Council President Darrell Clarke, Council will meet at some point during the summer, particularly to allocate anticipated federal and state funds. There is no justification for Council not to meet every single week this summer. Council members and the public should demand it.
Online: https://bit.ly/2Z6kdZt
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State should examine the death of prison inmate Shaheen Mackey
The Citizen’s Voice
June 24
The Luzerne County Council’s approval of a $3 million settlement with the family of county prison inmate Shaheen Mackey, who died after being forcibly restrained by corrections officers in 2018, should not be the end of this horrific case.
The suit filed by Mackey’s estate makes harrowing allegations of negligence and brutality, including a disregard of Mackey’s medical condition and multiple use of tasers after he was restrained.
The prison video of the incident, which has not been made public, was apparently so shocking that two council members advocated firing county Manager David Pedri and county Director of Corrections Mark Rockovich.
In court documents, the county has denied most of the suit’s allegations, but the acceptance of a settlement of this size by the county and its insurance carrier, which will assume most of the cost, indicates this was a case neither was eager to take to trial.
The settlement likely means the county will admit no wrongdoing and Mackey’s family will agree to forgo any additional litigation and reserve further comment on the case. Those are standard elements of such settlements.
But as citizens and taxpayers of Luzerne County, we cannot settle and accept that the details of this case will remain hidden. A 41-year-old man detained under a protection-from-abuse order who suffered from seizures died after alleged mistreatment by corrections officers who work for us.
Mackey’s death raises grave questions about the procedures in the county prison and whether there are adequate safeguards for inmate safety and sufficient control of the prison staff.
Less than six months after Mackey’s death, the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office found there was no wrongdoing by the corrections officers who restrained him, a ruling that in light of the lawsuit and settlement seems questionable.
It is common practice for District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis to recuse herself from cases involving allegations against police officers or departments within her jurisdiction and forward them to state prosecutors. She should have done so in this case.
But it is not too late for the state Office of the Attorney General to intervene. It should ask for court approval to launch its own independent investigation and a review of procedures and training at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
Two years after his death, it’s time for justice for Shaheen Mackey.
Online: https://bit.ly/37Woov9
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washingtontimes--2020-06-24--6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals grants Gretchen Whitmer emergency stay, keeps Michigan gyms closed

LANSING , Mich. — A federal appeals court late Wednesday halted a lower judge ’ s order and kept closed @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer closed months ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 to grant an emergency stay sought by the governor .
@ @ @ @ @ in Kalamazoo said last week that gyms could reopen at 12:01 a.m. Thursday .
Whitmer @ @ @ @ @ , movie theaters and bowling alleys by July 4 if coronavirus case trends remain favorable @ @ @ @ @ , gyms and fitness centers got the green light on June 10 if they reduced @ @ @ @ @ changes .

LANSING, Mich. — A federal appeals court late Wednesday halted a lower judge’s order and kept closed gyms and fitness centers that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer closed months ago to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 3-0 to grant an emergency stay sought by the governor. U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo said last week that gyms could reopen at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Whitmer had planned to reopen gyms, movie theaters and bowling alleys by July 4 if coronavirus case trends remain favorable.
In less-populous northern Michigan, gyms and fitness centers got the green light on June 10 if they reduced class sizes and made other changes.