washingtontimes--2020-07-12--California virus deaths top 7,000 as case numbers climb too

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - A heat wave brought crowds to California ’ s beaches , where people mostly heeded warnings to keep a safe distance from each other as the state grappled with a spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations .
“ It ’ s a busy day at the beach , but people are spread out , for the most part , ” said Chief Jason Young with Orange County Lifeguards .
Temperatures soared into the 90s ( above 33 Celsius ) in many areas from San Diego north to the San Francisco Bay Area .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recorded a high of 102 ( 39 Celsius ) , the National Weather Service said .
Young said lifeguards were educating the public on guidelines to stay about 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) apart to help curb the spread of the virus .
In Santa Monica , Mercedes Benns said she was relieved to see the majority of people wearing masks in the beachside city .
Benns and her family were visiting from Dallas and decided to take a dip in the ocean as temperatures climbed on Sunday .
“ People are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can , ” Benns said .
“ Everyone ’ s being respectful.
” For most people , COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .
In other news related to the coronavirus outbreak in California : - The statewide death toll increased by 71 to hit 7,107 , the California Department of Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have begun to increase after a month of spiking cases and hospitalizations .
There were more than 320,800 positive cases statewide .
- Two more inmates from San Quentin State Prison died Saturday at outside hospitals from complications related to COVID-19 , according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
San Quentin has 1,485 inmates who are actively positive for the virus , officials said .
- In Contra Costa County , officials issued a health order over the weekend that will prohibit indoor religious services beginning Monday morning .
Outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , will still be allowed as long as masks are worn and physical distancing rules are followed .
Officials said in a statement that more than 8 % of its COVID-19 tests are now coming back positive over the previous seven days , “ a sign that the virus is spreading rapidly in the county .
”

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A heat wave brought crowds to California’s beaches, where people mostly heeded warnings to keep a safe distance from each other as the state grappled with a spike in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.
“It’s a busy day at the beach, but people are spread out, for the most part,” said Chief Jason Young with Orange County Lifeguards.
Temperatures soared into the 90s (above 33 Celsius) in many areas from San Diego north to the San Francisco Bay Area. The rural community of Paicines inland from Monterey recorded a high of 102 (39 Celsius), the National Weather Service said.
Young said lifeguards were educating the public on guidelines to stay about 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart to help curb the spread of the virus.
In Santa Monica, Mercedes Benns said she was relieved to see the majority of people wearing masks in the beachside city. Benns and her family were visiting from Dallas and decided to take a dip in the ocean as temperatures climbed on Sunday.
“People are keeping away from each other as best they can,” Benns said. “Everyone’s being respectful.”
For most people, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
In other news related to the coronavirus outbreak in California:
- The statewide death toll increased by 71 to hit 7,107, the California Department of Public Health reported Sunday. Daily death totals have begun to increase after a month of spiking cases and hospitalizations. There were more than 320,800 positive cases statewide.
- Two more inmates from San Quentin State Prison died Saturday at outside hospitals from complications related to COVID-19, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. San Quentin has 1,485 inmates who are actively positive for the virus, officials said.
- In Contra Costa County, officials issued a health order over the weekend that will prohibit indoor religious services beginning Monday morning. Outdoor gatherings, including worship services and political protests, will still be allowed as long as masks are worn and physical distancing rules are followed. Officials said in a statement that more than 8% of its COVID-19 tests are now coming back positive over the previous seven days, “a sign that the virus is spreading rapidly in the county.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Deputies shoot, kill man, say he pulled gun during arrest

GREENVILLE , S.C. ( AP ) - South Carolina sheriff ’ s deputies shot and killed a 26-year-old man who pulled a gun during an attempt to arrest him for failing to stop when a police car turned on blue lights , Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said .
He said a number of deputies had been looking all day Saturday for Michael Joseph Culbertson of Greenville to serve the warrant , news outlets reported .
Culbertson came out of some woods that evening and pointed a handgun at several deputies , WYFF-TV reported .
“ We had about seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it looks like from the initial investigation they all really shot from the same place , ” Lewis told the station .
The deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to stop for blue lights , Lewis told The Greenville News .
The newspaper said court records show that in Greenville County , Culbertson was convicted in 2016 of assault and in 2018 of possessing marijuana , and pleaded guilty in October to stealing electricity in Anderson County .
“ We had dealt with him before and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , ‘ I ’ m not going to jail .
You ’ re gon na have to kill me ’ and all kinds of things , ” Lewis told the newspaper Saturday night .
However , he said , “ I don ’ t know that he ’ s ever been found to have a firearm ” until Saturday .
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday , WSPA-TV reported .

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 26-year-old man who pulled a gun during an attempt to arrest him for failing to stop when a police car turned on blue lights, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis said.
He said a number of deputies had been looking all day Saturday for Michael Joseph Culbertson of Greenville to serve the warrant, news outlets reported.
Culbertson came out of some woods that evening and pointed a handgun at several deputies, WYFF-TV reported.
“We had about seven or eight deputies who were out here, and it looks like from the initial investigation they all really shot from the same place,” Lewis told the station.
The deputies were trying to serve a warrant for failure to stop for blue lights, Lewis told The Greenville News.
The newspaper said court records show that in Greenville County, Culbertson was convicted in 2016 of assault and in 2018 of possessing marijuana, and pleaded guilty in October to stealing electricity in Anderson County.
“We had dealt with him before and he’s made a statement before that, you know, ‘I’m not going to jail. You’re gonna have to kill me’ and all kinds of things,” Lewis told the newspaper Saturday night. However, he said, “I don’t know that he’s ever been found to have a firearm” until Saturday.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday, WSPA-TV reported.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Prosecutors: 2 teens indicted in death of 17-year-old girl

FREDERICK , Md .
( AP ) - A grand jury in Maryland has indicted two teens in the shooting @ @ @ @ @ last month .
The Frederick County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office on Friday @ @ @ @ @ 16-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl include first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder , @ @ @ @ @ Both suspects are in custody after they were denied bail during a hearing earlier this @ @ @ @ @ the body of Tykerria Katherine Dawson , of Hagerstown , on June 27 in a @ @ @ @ @ trail in Frederick .
The newspaper reported detectives determined Dawson had been dating the male @ @ @ @ @ her death .
Records show both suspects are scheduled to appear in court Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ be reached by phone Sunday .

FREDERICK, Md. (AP) - A grand jury in Maryland has indicted two teens in the shooting death of a 17-year-old girl last month.
The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday announced the charges against the 16-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl include first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, the Frederick News-Post reported. Both suspects are in custody after they were denied bail during a hearing earlier this month.
A passerby found the body of Tykerria Katherine Dawson, of Hagerstown, on June 27 in a wooded area off a walking trail in Frederick.
The newspaper reported detectives determined Dawson had been dating the male suspect at the time of her death.
Records show both suspects are scheduled to appear in court Thursday. Their public defenders could not be reached by phone Sunday.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Authorities release names of 2 of 3 Wisconsin fire victims

MENOMONIE , Wis. ( AP ) - Authorities in western Wisconsin have released the names of two of three people @ @ @ @ @ fire on Friday night .
Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd on Sunday identified the two @ @ @ @ @ Merrill Tande and 49-year-old Christopher Rouse .
A 6-year-old girl also died , but her @ @ @ @ @ All of the victims were from rural Menomonie .
Two women were able to escape @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office said based on the initial investigation , the fire is not believed @ @ @ @

MENOMONIE, Wis. (AP) - Authorities in western Wisconsin have released the names of two of three people who died in a house fire on Friday night.
Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd on Sunday identified the two men who died as 76-year-old Merrill Tande and 49-year-old Christopher Rouse. A 6-year-old girl also died, but her name was not released. All of the victims were from rural Menomonie.
Two women were able to escape the blaze.
The sheriff’s office said based on the initial investigation, the fire is not believed to be suspicious.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Hawaii ocean swimming area closed by untreated sewage spill

KAILUA , HI ( AP ) - Officials closed a swimming area and part of a road after a rupture released untreated sewage on Hawaii island .
The sewer line break discharged about 20,000 gallons ( 76,000 liters ) of sewage onto a street in Kailua-Kona Saturday , West Hawaii Today reported .
Crews quickly diverted the sewage to a different pump station , Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Wastewater Division Superintendent Alika DeMello said .
Swimmers were told to leave the area of Niumalu Beach at Kailua Bay and signs were posted warning of contaminated water .
Officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the water .
Alii Drive was shut down for several hours Saturday as crews used a tank truck with a vacuum to suck up the waste and minimize the amount of sewage that entered a storm drain in front of the seawall .
Crews hosed down and sanitized the street before it was reopened .
The cast iron pipes , which are nearly 60 years old , were already slated to be replaced beginning next month .
Work is expected to begin Monday to repair the rupture , DeMello said .
Kailua Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state Department of Health deems the water is safe to enter .

KAILUA, HI (AP) - Officials closed a swimming area and part of a road after a rupture released untreated sewage on Hawaii island.
The sewer line break discharged about 20,000 gallons (76,000 liters) of sewage onto a street in Kailua-Kona Saturday, West Hawaii Today reported.
Crews quickly diverted the sewage to a different pump station, Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Wastewater Division Superintendent Alika DeMello said.
Swimmers were told to leave the area of Niumalu Beach at Kailua Bay and signs were posted warning of contaminated water.
Officials did not know how much sewage entered the water.
Alii Drive was shut down for several hours Saturday as crews used a tank truck with a vacuum to suck up the waste and minimize the amount of sewage that entered a storm drain in front of the seawall.
Crews hosed down and sanitized the street before it was reopened.
The cast iron pipes, which are nearly 60 years old, were already slated to be replaced beginning next month. Work is expected to begin Monday to repair the rupture, DeMello said.
Kailua Bay will remain closed to swimmers until the state Department of Health deems the water is safe to enter.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Hawaii V-J Day planners say virus has not derailed schedule

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Officials organizing events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Hawaii say the coronavirus has not derailed the plans .
Planners expect to follow though with the schedule of Victory over Japan Day , or V-J Day , events Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 as uncertainty remains about COVID-19 health restrictions , The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday .
The theme of the events is “ Salute Their Service , Honor Their Hope , ” and the schedule includes several warplane flyovers and a ceremony on or next to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepted Japan ’ s unconditional surrender Sept. 2 , 1945 .
Tony Vericella , executive director of the 75th World War II Commemoration Committee in Hawaii , said that as of last week more than 30 World War II veterans from outside Hawaii and their family members had committed to attending the events in Oahu .
Vericella said the participation of veterans and others from the continental U.S. relies on the state lifting a 14-day self-quarantine for out-of-state travelers , which would be replaced with a mandate for visitors to undergo COVID-19 screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City Council last week urged Hawaii ’ s governor to consider delaying the plan until the rate of new coronavirus cases on the U.S. mainland and in Hawaii drops significantly .
Delaying the events would be a disservice to veterans in the age group that has come to be known the “ Greatest Generation.
” If they can not attend in person , the commemoration can still be brought to them via live feeds , Vericella said .
A Washington , D.C. , event commemorating the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 8 was postponed due to the coronavirus .
More than 100 aircraft were expected to fly over the National Mall and National World War II Memorial , but the flyover was rescheduled for Sept. 25 .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

HONOLULU (AP) - Officials organizing events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Hawaii say the coronavirus has not derailed the plans.
Planners expect to follow though with the schedule of Victory over Japan Day, or V-J Day, events Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 as uncertainty remains about COVID-19 health restrictions, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday.
The theme of the events is “Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope,” and the schedule includes several warplane flyovers and a ceremony on or next to the battleship Missouri, on which the U.S. accepted Japan’s unconditional surrender Sept. 2, 1945.
Tony Vericella, executive director of the 75th World War II Commemoration Committee in Hawaii, said that as of last week more than 30 World War II veterans from outside Hawaii and their family members had committed to attending the events in Oahu.
Vericella said the participation of veterans and others from the continental U.S. relies on the state lifting a 14-day self-quarantine for out-of-state travelers, which would be replaced with a mandate for visitors to undergo COVID-19 screening tests prior to arriving.
The Honolulu City Council last week urged Hawaii’s governor to consider delaying the plan until the rate of new coronavirus cases on the U.S. mainland and in Hawaii drops significantly.
Delaying the events would be a disservice to veterans in the age group that has come to be known the “Greatest Generation.” If they cannot attend in person, the commemoration can still be brought to them via live feeds, Vericella said.
A Washington, D.C., event commemorating the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, or V-E Day, scheduled for May 8 was postponed due to the coronavirus.
More than 100 aircraft were expected to fly over the National Mall and National World War II Memorial, but the flyover was rescheduled for Sept. 25.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Moscow police detain people protesting ex-reporter's jailing

MOSCOW ( AP ) - Moscow police on Monday detained about a dozen journalists protesting the arrest and jailing of a former colleague on treason charges .
Police quickly rounded up the reporters who attempted to picket outside the Lefortovo pretrial detention facility where Ivan Safronov has been held since his arrest last Tuesday .
Safronov worked for a decade as a reporter covering military issues before becoming an adviser to the head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos .
He is accused of cooperating with Czech intelligence , allegations he has denied .
Safronov ’ s lawyers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( FSB ) accused Safronov of passing sensitive information to Czech intelligence about Russian arms sales to the Middle East and Africa in 2017 , when he worked as a correspondent for top Russian business newspaper Kommersant , Safronov could face up to 20 years in prison , if he is convicted of treason .
Safronov ’ s arrest sent shock waves through independent Russian media outlets , which dismissed the charges as absurd and mounted a campaign in his support .
Many former journalism colleagues alleged that the authorities may have wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporting that exposed Russian military incidents and opaque arms trade deals .
Last year , the FSB reportedly opened an inquiry following publication of an article by Safronov that claimed that Russia had signed a contract with Egypt for the delivery of sophisticated Su-35 fighter jets .
Kommersant later removed the report from its website , and no charges were filed .
Roscosmos has said that Safronov didn ’ t have access to state secrets and that the charges didn ’ t relate to his work for the space corporation , which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Safronov worked for Kommersant for nearly a decade and for a year for another business daily , Vedomosti .
Safronov ’ s father also worked for Kommersant and covered military issues after retiring from the Russian armed forces .
He died in 2007 after falling from a window of his apartment building in Moscow .
Investigators concluded that he killed himself , but some Russian media questioned the official version , pointing to his intent to publish a sensitive report about secret arms deliveries to Iran and Syria .

MOSCOW (AP) - Moscow police on Monday detained more than a dozen journalists protesting the arrest and jailing of a former colleague on treason charges.
Police quickly rounded up the reporters who attempted to picket outside the Lefortovo pretrial detention facility where Ivan Safronov has been held since his arrest last Tuesday.
Safronov worked for a decade as a reporter covering military issues before becoming an adviser to the head of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos. He is accused of cooperating with Czech intelligence, allegations he has denied.
Safronov’s lawyers said last week that the Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Safronov of passing sensitive information to Czech intelligence about Russian arms sales to the Middle East and Africa in 2017, when he worked as a correspondent for top Russian business newspaper Kommersant.
On Monday, the FSB leveled charges against Safronov in Lefortovo, his lawyer Ivan Pavlov told reporters. He said the accusations lacked specifics, such as exactly what information he passed to the Czechs and when it happened.
Safronov could face up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted of treason.
Safronov’s arrest sent shock waves through independent Russian media outlets, which dismissed the charges as absurd and mounted a campaign in his support.
Many former journalism colleagues alleged that the authorities may have wanted to take revenge for Safronov’s reporting that exposed Russian military incidents and opaque arms trade deals.
Last year, the FSB reportedly opened an inquiry following publication of an article by Safronov that claimed Russia had signed a contract with Egypt for the delivery of sophisticated Su-35 fighter jets. Kommersant later removed the report from its website, and no charges were filed.
Roscosmos has said that Safronov didn’t have access to state secrets and that the charges didn’t relate to his work for the space corporation, which he joined in May.
Prior to that, Safronov worked for Kommersant for nearly a decade and for a year for another business daily, Vedomosti.
Safronov’s father also worked for Kommersant and covered military issues after retiring from the Russian armed forces. He died in 2007 after falling from a window of his apartment building in Moscow.
Investigators concluded that he killed himself, but some Russian media questioned the official version, pointing to his intent to publish a sensitive report about secret arms deliveries to Iran and Syria.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Coronavirus hurting Alaska attempt to reduce tuberculosis

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - Alaska is on track to repeat last year ’ s mark of the nation ’ s highest rate of tuberculosis infections , health officials said .
There have been 38 reported cases of tuberculosis in the state so far this year , The Anchorage Daily News reported .
A federal report released in March said Alaska had 58 documented cases of the disease in 2019 .
COVID-19 has complicated the mission of eradicating tuberculosis in Alaska by reducing the public health resources that can be dedicated to fighting the illness caused by bacteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Our public health nurses are really the front line workers in the fight against TB , ” said Dr. Michelle Rothoff , an Alaska Division of Public Health medical epidemiologist .
“ And they ’ re obviously being pulled in many different directions right now , which makes it more challenging for them to do all the work they need to do , ” Rothoff said .
In Anchorage last week there were 15 cases of active tuberculosis and more than 300 cases of active COVID-19 .
The World Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected with tuberculosis , which kills more than a million people every year .
The majority of people with tuberculosis have its latent form and can go decades without symptoms , which is among the reasons “ we continue to kind of have this smoldering epidemic in parts of our state , ” Rothoff said .
Most of Alaska ’ s tuberculosis infections are concentrated in the Southwest and the Northern regions of the state , Rothoff said .
Rothoff hopes Alaska residents remain aware of tuberculosis threats , “ even during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain , ” she said .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska is on track to repeat last year’s mark of the nation’s highest rate of tuberculosis infections, health officials said.
There have been 38 reported cases of tuberculosis in the state so far this year, The Anchorage Daily News reported.
A federal report released in March said Alaska had 58 documented cases of the disease in 2019.
COVID-19 has complicated the mission of eradicating tuberculosis in Alaska by reducing the public health resources that can be dedicated to fighting the illness caused by bacteria that attack the lungs, health officials said.
“Our public health nurses are really the front line workers in the fight against TB,” said Dr. Michelle Rothoff, an Alaska Division of Public Health medical epidemiologist.
“And they’re obviously being pulled in many different directions right now, which makes it more challenging for them to do all the work they need to do,” Rothoff said.
In Anchorage last week there were 15 cases of active tuberculosis and more than 300 cases of active COVID-19.
The World Health Organization reported about 1.8 billion people are infected with tuberculosis, which kills more than a million people every year.
The majority of people with tuberculosis have its latent form and can go decades without symptoms, which is among the reasons “we continue to kind of have this smoldering epidemic in parts of our state,” Rothoff said.
Most of Alaska’s tuberculosis infections are concentrated in the Southwest and the Northern regions of the state, Rothoff said.
Rothoff hopes Alaska residents remain aware of tuberculosis threats, “even during this time when everybody has COVID on the brain,” she said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Strike at Navy shipbuilder enters a fourth week in Maine

BATH , Maine ( AP ) - A strike at Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works entered a fourth week on @ @ @ @ @ the company and the union representing 4,300 production workers .
Both the company and Machinists @ @ @ @ @ a federal mediator last week , but there has been no resumption of talks .
@ @ @ @ @ 22 after overwhelmingly rejecting a three-year contract proposal from the company .
The dispute isn @ @ @ @ @ The company offered annual 3 % raises but the union is focused on the hiring @ @ @ @ @ work rules and issues involving seniority .
The company has maintained that it has the @ @ @ @ @ wants to streamline the process to be competitive .

BATH, Maine (AP) - A strike at Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works entered a fourth week on Monday with no talks between the company and the union representing 4,300 production workers.
Both the company and Machinists Local S6 met separately with a federal mediator last week, but there has been no resumption of talks.
Shipbuilders went on strike June 22 after overwhelmingly rejecting a three-year contract proposal from the company.
The dispute isn’t over money. The company offered annual 3% raises but the union is focused on the hiring of subcontractors, changes in work rules and issues involving seniority.
The company has maintained that it has the right to hire subcontractors but wants to streamline the process to be competitive.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Infant killed in shooting during NYC cookout

NEW YORK ( AP ) - Authorities are investigating a shooting in New York City that left an infant dead @ @ @ @ @ Police said on Monday that the 1-year-old boy was shot at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday @ @ @ @ @ playground in Brooklyn .
Witnesses said two men jumped out of a car and fired @ @ @ @ @ before driving away .
Police said the infant was hit in the stomach while sitting @ @ @ @ @ at the hospital .
Three men were hospitalized with gunshot wounds but were expected to @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - Authorities are investigating a shooting in New York City that left an infant dead and injured three adults.
Police said on Monday that the 1-year-old boy was shot at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday during a cookout near a playground in Brooklyn. Witnesses said two men jumped out of a car and fired multiple shots at the group before driving away.
The killing comes amid a sharp spike in shootings around the city in recent weeks.
“This is not anything we can allow in our city,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday. “It’s heartbreaking.”
He added: “Every resource is going to be used to find this killer.”
Police said the infant was hit in the stomach while sitting in a stroller and died at the hospital. Three men were hospitalized with gunshot wounds but were expected to survive.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Ex-US diplomat Richardson to urge Maduro to free Americans

MIAMI ( AP ) - Former New Mexico Gov .
Bill Richardson plans to travel this week to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro to free several jailed Americans as a goodwill gesture aimed at easing tensions with the U.S .
The Richardson Center , which seeks freedom for Americans held by hostile foreign governments and criminal organizations , announced Monday the planned meeting with Maduro on social media .
Richardson didn ’ t say on whose behalf he was traveling to Caracas or what day he would meet with Maduro , who was recently indicted on U.S. drug trafficking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jailed in Venezuela are two former Green Berets - Luke Denman and Airan Berry - arrested in May while participating in a botched raid organized from neighboring Colombia to oust Maduro .
Also being held are six oil executives from Citgo - five Venezuelan-Americans and one a permanent U.S. resident - who were lured to Caracas for a meeting in late 2017 at the offices of the Houston-based company ’ s parent , state-run oil giant PDVSA , when masked security agents swarmed a boardroom and hauled them away .
While Richardson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he coordinated with the State Department and has kept U.S. officials briefed of his plans , according to someone familiar with the trip , on the condition of anonymity to discuss planning details .
The face-to-face diplomacy stands in contrast to U.S. policy of “ maximum pressure ” on a leader considered by Washington to be a dictator and drug kingpin .
The Trump administration closed the U.S. Embassy in Caracas in March 2019 after it recognized Juan Guaidó , the head of the opposition-controlled congress , as Venezuela ’ s rightful leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has shown signs of losing faith in Guaidó ’ s ability to remove Maduro , who has shown a surprising degree of resilience amid ever-tougher U.S. sanctions that have accelerated the OPEC nation ’ s economic collapse .
“ He seems to be losing a certain power , ” Trump said of Guaidó Friday in an interview with Telemundo .
“ We want somebody that has the support of the people .
I support the person that has the support of the people.
” Richardson , a former U.S. ambassador to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has opened diplomatic backchannels to several hostile governments , including Iran , Cuba and North Korea , to win the release of some 40 Americans .
They include former U.S. Navy veteran Michael White , who was released last month by Iran after two years in jail as s part of a deal that spared an American-Iranian physician any more time n jail in the U.S. His relationship with Maduro stretches back to when the Venezuelan would travel to the United Nations as Hugo Chávez ’ s foreign minister .
The two also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador .
Richardson also worked behind the scenes to bring home another American jailed in Caracas , former Mormon missionary Joshua Holt , who won his freedom in 2018 .
Maduro ’ s government last month released a video showing the six American oil executives in relatively good condition after their loved ones expressed fear about the men ’ s health amid the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Given limitations , our conditions here have been good , ” one of the men , former Citgo President José Pereira @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dressed in orange jail garb playing ping pong and lifting weights .
“ They treat us with respect regarding our human rights.
” Less is known about the condition of the former U.S. special forces soldiers .
The two appeared in videos shortly after their capture and said they had been hired by a Florida-based company run by a former special forces colleague , Jordan Goudreau , to train a volunteer army of Venezuelans to carry out an assault .
The Trump administration has said the United States had no involvement in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of lightly armed men who were easily subdued when they arrived to Venezuela ’ s coastline on a few skiff boats .

MIAMI (AP) - Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson plans to travel this week to Venezuela to urge President Nicolás Maduro to free several jailed Americans as a goodwill gesture aimed at easing tensions with the U.S.
The Richardson Center, which seeks freedom for Americans held by hostile foreign governments and criminal organizations, announced Monday the planned meeting with Maduro on social media.
Richardson didn’t say on whose behalf he was traveling to Caracas or what day he would meet with Maduro, who was recently indicted on U.S. drug trafficking charges.
But among the U.S. citizens jailed in Venezuela are two former Green Berets - Luke Denman and Airan Berry - arrested in May while participating in a botched raid organized from neighboring Colombia to oust Maduro.
Also being held are six oil executives from Citgo - five Venezuelan-Americans and one a permanent U.S. resident - who were lured to Caracas for a meeting in late 2017 at the offices of the Houston-based company’s parent, state-run oil giant PDVSA, when masked security agents swarmed a boardroom and hauled them away.
While Richardson’s visit is a private mission, he coordinated with the State Department and has kept U.S. officials briefed of his plans, according to someone familiar with the trip, on the condition of anonymity to discuss planning details.
The face-to-face diplomacy stands in contrast to U.S. policy of “maximum pressure” on a leader considered by Washington to be a dictator and drug kingpin. The Trump administration closed the U.S. Embassy in Caracas in March 2019 after it recognized Juan Guaidó, the head of the opposition-controlled congress, as Venezuela’s rightful leader.
Lately, however, President Donald Trump has shown signs of losing faith in Guaidó’s ability to remove Maduro, who has shown a surprising degree of resilience amid ever-tougher U.S. sanctions that have accelerated the OPEC nation’s economic collapse.
“He seems to be losing a certain power,” Trump said of Guaidó Friday in an interview with Telemundo. “We want somebody that has the support of the people. I support the person that has the support of the people.”
Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton presidency, has opened diplomatic backchannels to several hostile governments, including Iran, Cuba and North Korea, to win the release of some 40 Americans. They include former U.S. Navy veteran Michael White, who was released last month by Iran after two years in jail as s part of a deal that spared an American-Iranian physician any more time n jail in the U.S.
His relationship with Maduro stretches back to when the Venezuelan would travel to the United Nations as Hugo Chávez’s foreign minister. The two also crossed paths at the 2018 inauguration of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Richardson also worked behind the scenes to bring home another American jailed in Caracas, former Mormon missionary Joshua Holt, who won his freedom in 2018.
Maduro’s government last month released a video showing the six American oil executives in relatively good condition after their loved ones expressed fear about the men’s health amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“Given limitations, our conditions here have been good,” one of the men, former Citgo President José Pereira, said between clips of the men dressed in orange jail garb playing ping pong and lifting weights. “They treat us with respect regarding our human rights.”
Less is known about the condition of the former U.S. special forces soldiers. The two appeared in videos shortly after their capture and said they had been hired by a Florida-based company run by a former special forces colleague, Jordan Goudreau, to train a volunteer army of Venezuelans to carry out an assault.
The Trump administration has denied any involvement in the attack, which consisted of a small contingent of lightly armed men who were easily subdued when they arrived to Venezuela’s coastline on a few skiff boats.
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Joshua Goodman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APjoshgoodman


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Pro-Trump super PAC announces $23 million summer ad campaign

America First Action , a top super PAC supporting President Trump ’ s re-election , said on Monday the group @ @ @ @ @ 23 million ad campaign attacking likely Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden starting later this @ @ @ @ @ which includes broadcast and cable TV , digital ads , and other investments , includes @ @ @ @ @ in Pennsylvania , $ 5.6 million in Wisconsin , $ 5.6 million in Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina .
The campaign is slated to run from July 24 until Labor Day @ @ @ @ @ four states by narrow margins in 2016 .
Mr. Biden has been leading Mr. Trump @ @ @ @ @ public polling on the race , but the president ’ s team has said Mr. @ @ @ @ @ pit him against a “ defined ” Mr. Biden .

America First Action, a top super PAC supporting President Trump’s re-election, said on Monday the group plans to launch a $23 million ad campaign attacking likely Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden starting later this month.
The effort, which includes broadcast and cable TV, digital ads, and other investments, includes $7.5 million in spending in Pennsylvania, $5.6 million in Wisconsin, $5.6 million in Arizona, and $4.5 million in North Carolina.
The campaign is slated to run from July 24 until Labor Day.
Mr. Trump carried all four states by narrow margins in 2016.
Mr. Biden has been leading Mr. Trump in much of the recent public polling on the race, but the president’s team has said Mr. Trump remains competitive when surveys pit him against a “defined” Mr. Biden.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Man dead, woman injured in Manchester shooting

MANCHESTER , N.H. ( AP ) - A man died and a woman was injured in a shooting in Manchester @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no threat the public , police told WMUR-TV .
Police responded to @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
The woman , who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the leg , was @ @ @ @ @ police said .

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) - A man died and a woman was injured in a shooting in Manchester Saturday night, police said.
There is no threat the public, police told WMUR-TV.
Police responded to the shooting around 11:45 p.m. Saturday. The woman, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the leg, was recovering in the hospital, police said.
Police are investigating.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Man, 54, dies while hiking in Pisgah National Forest

ASHEVILLE , N.C. ( AP ) - A 54-year-old man has died while hiking in western North Carolina ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Transylvania County Sheriff ’ s Office said that Frye was hiking with a friend on @ @ @ @ @ and Nantahala national forests and a few miles below the Blue Ridge Parkway .
Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ that Frye “ had some medical issues and died of natural causes.
” Drawing about @ @ @ @ @ , a Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are said to be two of the busiest @ @ @ @ @ family of three recently went for a hike in Pisgah and had to spend a @ @ @ @ @ getting lost .

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - A 54-year-old man has died while hiking in western North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest.
The Asheville Citizen Times reports that Robert James Frye, died July 5.
The Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office said that Frye was hiking with a friend on the border of the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests and a few miles below the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Sheriff David Mahoney said it appeared that Frye “had some medical issues and died of natural causes.”
Frye was from Campobello, South Carolina.
Drawing about 5 million visitors a year, a Pisgah and Nantahala national forests are said to be two of the busiest in the country.
A family of three recently went for a hike in Pisgah and had to spend a night in the woods after getting lost.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Boris Johnson, British PM, backs mask-wearing in shops to limit COVID-19 spread

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday advocated for wearing masks in shops during the coronavirus pandemic and said his government will be weighing whether to make the practice mandatory in the coming days .
The United Kingdom , with a population of 66.65 million , reported 291,155 confirmed cases of COVID-19 , 44,904 deaths and 1,378 recoveries , according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker .
“ I do think that in shops , it is very important to wear a face covering , ” Mr. Johnson said , Reuters reported .
“ Yes — face coverings , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shops.
” He joins fellow European leaders in backing the call to wear masks in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 , the disease caused by the new coronavirus .
“ Masks have a great deal of value in confined places , ” the prime minister added , hinting at new data that shows how COVID-19 can spread indoors .
Last week , the WHO issued a new brief acknowledging that the coronavirus can spread via airborne transmission indoors , after previously emphasizing that droplets people forcefully expel through sneezing or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of how we do that , whether we make it mandatory or not , we will be looking at the guidance and will be saying a little bit more in the next few days .
”

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday advocated for wearing masks in shops during the coronavirus pandemic and said his government will be weighing whether to make the practice mandatory in the coming days.
The United Kingdom, with a population of 66.65 million, reported 291,155 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 44,904 deaths and 1,378 recoveries, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker.
“I do think that in shops, it is very important to wear a face covering,” Mr. Johnson said, Reuters reported. “Yes — face coverings, I think people should be wearing them in shops.”
He joins fellow European leaders in backing the call to wear masks in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
“Masks have a great deal of value in confined places,” the prime minister added, hinting at new data that shows how COVID-19 can spread indoors.
Last week, the WHO issued a new brief acknowledging that the coronavirus can spread via airborne transmission indoors, after previously emphasizing that droplets people forcefully expel through sneezing or coughing are prime spreaders.
“In terms of how we do that, whether we make it mandatory or not, we will be looking at the guidance and will be saying a little bit more in the next few days.”
• Lauren Toms can be reached at lmeier@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--North Macedonia reports third migrant car accident in week

SKOPJE , North Macedonia ( AP ) - Police in North Macedonia say 11 migrants have been seriously injured in @ @ @ @ @ central town of Shtip .
A car with local plates , packed with migrants , @ @ @ @ @ and another car late Sunday on a secondary road .
Ten Pakistanis and one Afghan @ @ @ @ @ , police said Monday .
The car driver , wanted on trafficking charges , fled @ @ @ @ @ the third serious road accident involving migrants reported by police in North Macedonia in the @ @ @ @ @ Balkans has become one of Europe ’ s most active migratory routes in recent months @ @ @ @ @ Union ’ s border protection agency , Frontex .

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) - Police in North Macedonia say 11 migrants have been seriously injured in a car accident near the central town of Shtip.
A car with local plates, packed with migrants, crashed into an oncoming truck and another car late Sunday on a secondary road. Ten Pakistanis and one Afghan were hospitalized with serious injuries, police said Monday.
The car driver, wanted on trafficking charges, fled the scene.
It was the third serious road accident involving migrants reported by police in North Macedonia in the past week.
The Western Balkans has become one of Europe’s most active migratory routes in recent months, according to the European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--The Latest: Swiss club Zurich to field under-21 team

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Swiss soccer club Zurich says @ @ @ @ @ team to try to save the season from being canceled because the first-team is isolating @ @ @ @ @ s game on Saturday was postponed because multiple players and staff tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ it will play Tuesday against third-place Basel by selecting young players from its backup roster @ @ @ @ @ play title contender Young Boys and St. Gallen and says it wanted to avoid the @ @ @ @ @ 10 teams are already playing in midweek and on weekends to finish the season on @ @ @ @ @ UEFA deadline for European competition entries .
It is unclear when Zurich can play a @ @ @ @ @ Zurich is in sixth place but in contention to earn a Europa League entry by @ @ @

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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Rugby players in Ireland earning more than 25,000 euros ($28,000) a year have agreed to reduce their salary by 10% and defer 10% more until 2021.
The Irish Rugby Football Union and Rugby Players Ireland agreed on the pay cut to run from July 1 to Dec. 31. They also agreed that 5% of the deferral will be subject to a retrospective salary reduction depending on the impact of the pandemic.
“The IRFU, the provinces and clubs remain in a highly precarious financial situation, making it critically important that an agreement was reached on this matter,” IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said.
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Southeastern Conference athletic directors met in person Monday at league headquarters in Alabama to discuss the prospects for a football season with COVID-19 cases spiking throughout much of the South.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement afterward that it’s “clear that current circumstances related to COVID-19 must improve.”
The Big Ten and Pac-12 have said they would only play conference schedules this fall in football and other sports. Sankey said SEC leaders “believe that late July will provide the best clarity for making the important decisions ahead of us.”
The group met in the large Kramer-Moore Conference room to allow for social distancing. Other groups and individuals participated by videoconference.
Among topics discussed were possible scheduling options for holding athletic competition this fall, along with game management at events.
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Kansas State had two student-athletes from unspecified sports still in quarantine as the football program resumed its summer access program Monday following a series of positive tests for the new coronavirus.
The Wildcats halted workouts on June 20 when 14 of 130 student-athletes tested positive. The football team’s return includes eight hours of weight training, conditioning and film work per week.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams along with soccer and volleyball teams continue their voluntary summer workouts.
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Some of the FC Dallas traveling party returned to Texas on Monday, a week after the team was withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament because 10 players tested positive for coronavirus.
The team didn’t give any specific numbers but said the group that returned home included individuals who had tested positive for coronavirus after the team arrived in Florida last month. They have since tested negative in multiple follow-up tests.
Those who recently tested positive remain isolated in their hotel rooms at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, where they will remain until cleared by medical officials to return to Texas.
FC Dallas previously revealed that all players and staff tested negative for the coronavirus before leaving Texas for the tournament on June 27. Two players tested positive upon arrival and subsequent tests found eight more infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.
The team plans to resume training at home later this week.
Nashville SC, which also withdrew from the tournament, said players who tested negative returned Monday. Team officials say those who tested positive remain in Orlando under supervision of medical and health authorities and will be returning later.
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The National Junior College Athletic Association says it will not have a fall season and will instead attempt to play football and other sports in the spring.
Men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball will also be moved to the spring. Winter sports, such as basketball, will be slated to start in January, with a majority of championship events moved from March to April.
Major college football programs frequently recruit players from the top junior colleges, but without a fall season it will be more complicated for coaches at four-year colleges to evaluate those players.
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North Carolina A&T says four student-athletes have tested positive for coronavirus since returning to campus on July 6. All four student-athletes are asymptomatic.
If student-athletes have university housing and have tested positive, they are being isolated in a designated area on campus.
N.C. A&T student-athletes who are living on campus live in groups of 8-10 people and also are conducting workouts in groups of that size.
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Kentucky says three of 42 student-athletes initially screened from men’s basketball, volleyball and women’s soccer tested positive for past coronavirus infection through antibody testing.
The school did not specify in a release which programs the positives came from. Those that tested positive were required to quarantine.
Men’s soccer players returned to campus last week and are undergoing initial screening before starting voluntary workouts.
The release added that Kentucky has implemented proactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic testing in response to evolving circumstances. Changing workouts have made social distancing and personal protective equipment more difficult to implement, the release said, forcing the change to also align with the campus plan released last month.
Forty-one student athletes and 21 staffers from those three programs participated in PCR testing. One student-athlete provided documentation of self-testing.
All 108 football players currently working out and 58 staff members participated in PCR testing last week with zero positives.
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One person has tested positive in the latest round of checks for COVID-19 on players and club staff in the English Premier League.
The league says a total of 2,071 people were tested last week.
The person has not been identified.
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The Chicago Marathon has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The race was scheduled for Oct. 11. Organizers say registered participants are eligible for a refund or can defer their place and entry fee to the Chicago Marathon in 2021, 2022 or 2023.
“Hope drives us as runners and as humans,” Carey Pinkowski, the executive race director of the Chicago Marathon, said in a release. “My hope was to see everyone on the start line on Sunday, October 11, but our highest priority has always been the safety of our participants and our volunteers.”
Organizers say they are working on plans for a virtual experience “to recognize the dedication and commitment of everyone who would have taken part in the 43rd running” of the marathon.
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The NHL says 43 players tested positive for the coronavirus from June 8 through the end of the league’s optional workouts.
That number announced Monday includes 30 who tested positive at team facilities and 13 the league is aware of who tested positive outside the league’s protocols for its Phase 2.
The NHL opened Phase 3 Monday with the start of training camps for the 24-team playoffs, scheduled to open in two hub Canadian cities - Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta - on Aug. 1. Players had until Monday evening to elect to opt out of competition without penalty.
All players who tested positive self-isolated. The NHL is not sharing names of the players who test positive or the teams involved.
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Los Angeles Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval is back with the team after contracting coronavirus last month.
Sandoval disclosed his positive test Monday from the Angels’ summer camp, calling the virus “unlike anything I’d ever felt before.” He says he tested positive on June 22.
Sandoval thinks he caught it while golfing with a friend,because he had been careful about being out in public for several weeks beforehand. He said he endured three days of body aches, chills and fever before his symptoms lessened. He rejoined the Angels last week.
Sandoval went 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA last season as a rookie with the Angels, making three starts. He is among several candidates for a spot in the back end of the Halos’ rotation.
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Chicago Cubs manager David Ross is skipping the team’s Monday morning workout because he is awaiting his completed result from his Saturday coronavirus test.
The team says five other Tier 1 individuals also missed the workout for the same reason. Tier 1, according to baseball’s 2020 operations manual, includes players and other on-field personnel.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we think it makes sense for the six of us to wait for clarity,” Ross said in a release. “Situations like this have not been a worrisome indicator of a positive test result to date.”
The Cubs say there should be “further clarity” later in the day.
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The Atlantic Coast Conference has postponed its virtual Football Kickoff media event.
The league says the event to preview each teams’ prospects heading into fall training camp is delayed until further notice. The three-day event was originally scheduled to be held beginning July 21.
The ACC says future decisions and announcements will take place “at the appropriate time.”
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The Patriot League has joined the Ivy League in canceling fall sports, including football, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Division I conference says it has still not determined whether winter and spring sports competition will be held and that it will consider holding fall sports in the second semester. The Ivy League made a similar announcement last week. The Patriot League is the first conference in the Football Championship Subdivision that competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision’s playoffs to suspend its season.
Army and Navy compete in the Patriot League in many sports, including basketball, but not in football. The Patriot League said Army and Navy are exempt from the fall sports cancellation, which also includes women’s soccer and volleyball.
Athletes will be permitted to practice and train with coaches and in team facilities “provided health and safety conditions support such activities,” the conference said.
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Swiss soccer club Zurich says it will field an under-21 team to try to save the season from being canceled because the first-team is isolating at home.
Zurich’s game on Saturday was postponed because multiple players and staff tested positive for the coronavirus.
The club says it will play Tuesday against third-place Basel by selecting young players from its backup roster.
Zurich also has to play title contender Young Boys and St. Gallen and says it wanted to avoid the league being annulled.
The 10 teams are already playing in midweek and on weekends to finish the season on Aug. 2 and meet a UEFA deadline for European competition entries. It is unclear when Zurich can play a re-scheduled game against Sion.
Zurich is in sixth place but in contention to earn a Europa League entry by finishing fourth.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Washington NFL team dropping 'Redskins' name after 87 years

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - The Washington Redskins are shedding that name effective immediately , a person with knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn @ @ @ @ @ change .
That announcement is expected later Monday morning .
A new name must still @ @ @ @ @ the oldest and most storied teams in the National Football League , and it was @ @ @ @ @ happen .
But for now , arguably the most polarizing name in North American professional @ @ @ @ @ time of reckoning over racial injustice , iconography and racism in the U.S .
The @ @ @ @ @ weeks after owner Dan Snyder , a boyhood fan of the team who once declared @ @ @ @ @ of the name , launched a “ thorough review ” amid pressure from sponsors .
@ @ @ @ @ and Bank of America all lined up against the name , which was given to @ @ @ @ @ the team was still based in Boston .

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington NFL franchise announced Monday it is dropping the “Redskins” name and Indian head logo, bowing to recent pressure from sponsors and decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans.
A new name must still be selected for one of the oldest and most storied teams in the National Football League, and it’s unclear how soon that will happen. But for now, arguably the most polarizing name in North American professional sports is gone at a time of reckoning over racial injustice, iconography and racism in the U.S.
The team said it is “retiring” the name and logo and that owner Dan Snyder and coach Ron Rivera are working closely to develop a new moniker and design. The announcement came on the old letterhead with the Redskins name because the team technically retains it until a new one is approved.
“As a kid who grew up in the (D.C. area), it’ll always be #HTTR (fight song ‘Hail to the Redskins’) but looking forward to the future,” starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins tweeted.
The “R” in “Hail to the Redskins” could soon be replaced by Redtails, Redwolves or Redhawks. Redtails or Red Tails - an homage to the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II - is the favorite on online sportsbook BetOnline, and the group said it “would be honored and pleased to work with the organization during and after the (name change) process, should this name be adopted.”
This will be the NFL’s first name change since the late 1990s when the Tennessee Oilers became the Titans two seasons after moving from Houston.
After President Donald Trump last week criticized the Redskins and Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians for considering name changes, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said the president “believes that the Native American community would be very angry at this and he does have polling to back him up.” She cited a 2016 Washington Post poll showing 90% of Native Americans aren’t offended by the name, a survey that has since been discredited by experts.
The announcement came less than two weeks after Snyder, a boyhood fan of the team who once declared he would never get rid of the name, launched a “thorough review” amid pressure from sponsors. FedEx, Nike, Pepsi and Bank of America all lined up against the name, which was given to the franchise in 1933 when the team was still based in Boston.
Native American advocates and experts have long criticized the name they call a “dictionary-defined racial slur.” Over a dozen Native leaders and organizations wrote to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week demanding an immediate end to Washington’s use of the name. Goodell, who has fielded questions on the topic for years, said he supported the review.
“The NFL and Dan Snyder, we have to commend them on making the right call to change the name,” said Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter, leader of the “Change the Mascot” campaign. “Dan Snyder won today because now he has a legacy that will be different from the racial slur that was the team name. I know that’s not an easy thing to do, but it was the right thing to do.”
Protests against the name predate Snyder buying the team in 1999, and, until now, he had shown no willingness to consider a change. Strong words from sponsors - including a company run by a minority stakeholder of the team - changed the equation.
FedEx earlier this month became the first sponsor to announce it had asked the organization to change the name, particularly important because CEO Frederick Smith owns part of the team. FedEx paid $205 million for the long-term naming rights to the team’s stadium in Landover, Maryland.
The lease at FedEx Field expires in 2027, and dropping the name keeps open various possibilities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington for the team’s new stadium and headquarters. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has said the name was an “obstacle” to Snyder building on the old RFK Stadium site, which is believed to be his preference.
Bowser said she welcomed the name change but there were still obstacles to overcome before the team’s return from suburban Maryland became a serious possibility.
“Yes, we want to change the name and change the location,” she said. “The Washington football team should be playing in Washington.”
At a Dick’s Sporting Goods store in the northeast part of the district, Redskins burgundy gear took up far less rack space Monday than that of the reigning MLB champion Nationals and about as much as the NHL’s Capitals. A store employee said the merchandise generally doesn’t sell very well, crediting that to a combination of the name, the move out of the district and years of professional mediocrity.
MLB’s Atlanta Braves and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks have said they have no inclination to make a change. Some advocates would like to see all Native American names, mascots and imagery out of sports.
“Our fight continues,” Crystal Echo Hawk of the Native American advocacy group IllumiNative said in a statement. “We will not rest until the offensive use of Native imagery, logos and names are eradicated from professional, collegiate and (other school) sports. The time is now to stand in solidarity and declare that racism will not be tolerated.”
Halbritter said it was important to note those other names are not a slur, but he hopes a “broader discussion” can be had. He pointed out that Florida State spoke with the Seminole tribe about its name, the same thing a minor league baseball team in Spokane, Washington, did with local Native Americans.
Long removed from the glory days of winning Super Bowl titles in the 1982, 1987 and 1991 seasons under coach Joe Gibbs, Washington’s NFL team has just five playoff appearances in 21 years and no postseason victories since 2005. The team has lacked a nationally marketable player since Robert Griffin III’s short-lived stardom, and the 2020 schedule features zero prime-time games for a franchise that used to be a draw.
Re-branding with a new name and logo - and perhaps the same burgundy and gold colors - coupled with turning football operations over to Rivera could be a boon for Snyder on and off the field. Even if a segment of the fan base opposes the change in the name of tradition, winning would more than make up for those losses.
Marty Conway, a Georgetown University adjunct professor of sports marketing and business, said that while the NFL and team could pay tens of millions of dollars to buy back old merchandise, the long-term benefits are more lucrative with a new stadium naming rights deal and other corporate sponsorships.
“It’s a huge opportunity, certainly long overdue in terms of the time frame,” Conway said. “But I think there’s sort of an immediate opportunity, which we’re seeing play out every day, which is to reposition the franchise and in a step-by-step way away from the roots of its past and consistent with the change in time and social climate.”
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Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Brother of Tottenham defender Aurier dies in France

LONDON ( AP ) - Tottenham have confirmed the death of defender Serge Aurier ’ s younger brother , who @ @ @ @ @ was fatally shot on Monday .
According to the French reports , 26-year-old Christopher Aurier @ @ @ @ @ at 5 a.m. ( 0300 GMT ) in the southern city of Toulouse and there @ @ @ @ @ Tottenham said on its website that it was “ deeply saddened to confirm media reports @ @ @ @ @ but did not give a cause .
“ We are supporting Serge at this difficult @ @ @ @ @ the privacy of the player and his family is respected , ” the Premier League @ @ @ @ @ at the club sends their sincerest condolences to Serge and his family .
Our thoughts @ @ @ @ @ Serge Aurier , a 27-year-old right back , previously played for Toulouse .
The Ivory @ @ @ @ @ the summer of 2017 from Paris Saint-Germain .
He represented his country at the 2014 @ @ @

LONDON (AP) - Tottenham have confirmed the death of defender Serge Aurier’s younger brother, who media reports in France say was fatally shot on Monday.
According to the French reports, 26-year-old Christopher Aurier was shot near a bar at 5 a.m. (0300 GMT) in the southern city of Toulouse and there have been no arrests.
Tottenham said on its website that it was “deeply saddened to confirm media reports” of the death, but did not give a cause.
“We are supporting Serge at this difficult time and we ask that the privacy of the player and his family is respected,” the Premier League team said. “Everybody at the club sends their sincerest condolences to Serge and his family. Our thoughts are with them all.”
Serge Aurier, a 27-year-old right back, previously played for Toulouse. The Ivory Coast international joined Tottenham in the summer of 2017 from Paris Saint-Germain.
He represented his country at the 2014 World Cup.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Sioux Falls schools develop plans for returning students

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - Sioux Falls schools are finalizing plans for returning students to their classrooms next month with modifications to prevent contracting the coronoavirus .
The Sioux Falls School Board is to consider the plan and other options at a meeting Monday .
Planners say classes are to begin Aug. 27 with the “ full intention ” of holding them in person .
The board is to hear about teaching plans , personal protective equipment guidelines and other changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Argus Leader reports planning members consulted teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sanford pediatric infectious disease doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Four different plans were developed based on the level resurgence of the coronavirus at the time .
The plans include traditional in-person learning and modified on-campus learning with students reporting to school one or two days a week .
Other options are remote learning due to a resurgence of the coronavirus and a virtual learning academy in which students who have concerns about returning to in-person classes can enroll in the academy , where all instruction is online @

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Sioux Falls schools are finalizing plans for returning students to their classrooms next month with modifications to prevent contracting the coronoavirus. The Sioux Falls School Board is to consider the plan and other options at a meeting Monday.
Planners say classes are to begin Aug. 27 with the “full intention” of holding them in person. The board is to hear about teaching plans, personal protective equipment guidelines and other changes in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Argus Leader reports planning members consulted teachers, parents, school administrators, Avera and Sanford pediatric infectious disease doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Four different plans were developed based on the level resurgence of the coronavirus at the time.
The plans include traditional in-person learning and modified on-campus learning with students reporting to school one or two days a week.
Other options are remote learning due to a resurgence of the coronavirus and a virtual learning academy in which students who have concerns about returning to in-person classes can enroll in the academy, where all instruction is online.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Germany arrests 2 Syrians over 2012 killing of army officer

BERLIN ( AP ) - Two Syrians accused of involvement in the killing of an army officer in their homeland @ @ @ @ @ Germany on Monday , prosecutors said .
Federal prosecutors said the pair , identified only @ @ @ @ @ A.S. in line with German privacy rules , were arrested in Naumburg , in eastern @ @ @ @ @ western city of Essen .
Their apartments were searched .
Khedr A.K .
is suspected @ @ @ @ @ Front , as al-Qaida ’ s affiliate in Syria was known at the time of @ @ @ @ @ the other man of supporting the group .
The pair are suspected of taking part @ @ @ @ @ captured lieutenant colonel in July 2012 , prosecutors said in a statement .
They said @ @ @ @ @ the man as he was brought to the execution site .
Sami A.S. is suspected @ @ @ @ @ s shooting and preparing the footage for use as propaganda .
The two men were @ @ @ @ @ possible formal charges .

BERLIN (AP) - Two Syrians accused of involvement in the killing of an army officer in their homeland in 2012 were arrested in Germany on Monday, prosecutors said.
Federal prosecutors said the pair, identified only as Khedr A.K and Sami A.S. in line with German privacy rules, were arrested in Naumburg, in eastern Germany, and in the western city of Essen. Their apartments were searched.
Khedr A.K. is suspected of membership in the Nusra Front, as al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria was known at the time of the alleged offenses, and the other man of supporting the group.
The pair are suspected of taking part in the killing of a captured lieutenant colonel in July 2012, prosecutors said in a statement. They said that Khedr A.K. guarded the man as he was brought to the execution site. Sami A.S. is suspected of filming the officer’s shooting and preparing the footage for use as propaganda.
The two men were ordered held in custody pending possible formal charges.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Francis Suarez, Miami mayor, considering new stay-at-home order

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on Monday said he ’ s looking at imposing another lockdown order amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Florida .
“ We definitely saw a significant flattening of the curve when we implemented a stay-at-home order in March , April , ” Mr. Suarez said on CNN .
“ If we get to a point where we don ’ t feel like we can care for the people that are getting sick , that ’ s something that we ’ re going to have to strongly look at.
” Florida on Sunday reported more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single-day record for any U.S. state .
“ We ’ re hoping the fact that we implemented a mask-in-public rule , the fact that we have rolled back some openings - that all those things together does start flattening the curve , ” Mr. Suarez said .
But he said a prevalence of people getting sick at home is complicating the issue .
“ So what happens is someone comes home sick - it takes a while for them to get tested and get their results and they get everyone else in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So that ’ s something that we are seeing and we ’ ve got to message that better as well .
”

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez on Monday said he’s looking at imposing another lockdown order amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases in Florida.
“We definitely saw a significant flattening of the curve when we implemented a stay-at-home order in March, April,” Mr. Suarez said on CNN. “If we get to a point where we don’t feel like we can care for the people that are getting sick, that’s something that we’re going to have to strongly look at.”
Florida on Sunday reported more than 15,000 new coronavirus cases, breaking a single-day record for any U.S. state.
“We’re hoping the fact that we implemented a mask-in-public rule, the fact that we have rolled back some openings - that all those things together does start flattening the curve,” Mr. Suarez said.
But he said a prevalence of people getting sick at home is complicating the issue.
“So what happens is someone comes home sick - it takes a while for them to get tested and get their results and they get everyone else in the household sick,” he said. “So that’s something that we are seeing and we’ve got to message that better as well.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--4 teens, 10-year-old boy wounded in Delaware shooting

WILMINGTON , Del .
( AP ) - Four teenagers and a 10-year-old boy were hospitalized for gunshot wounds after @ @ @ @ @ The five victims were taken to a hospital following the shooting in Wilmington Saturday night @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Wilmington Police told the news outlet the victims are all in stable condition @ @ @ @ @ the site of the shooting Sunday to denounce the violence and pray for the victims @ @ @ @ @ more details about the shooting .
They are asking individuals with information to contact Wilmington @ @

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Four teenagers and a 10-year-old boy were hospitalized for gunshot wounds after a shooting in Delaware.
The five victims were taken to a hospital following the shooting in Wilmington Saturday night, The Delaware News Journal reported. Wilmington Police told the news outlet the victims are all in stable condition.
Community members went to the site of the shooting Sunday to denounce the violence and pray for the victims.
Police did not provide more details about the shooting. They are asking individuals with information to contact Wilmington police.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Roger Stone in Sean Hannity interview says Mueller prosecutors pressed him to lie

Longtime GOP political operative Roger Stone Monday night accused prosecutors from ex-special counsel Robert Mueller of pressuring him to lie about his conversations with President Trump .
In an interview with Fox News ’ Sean Hannity , Stone claimed prosecutors offered him leniency and promised to keep him out of jail in the Russian collusion probe in exchange for information implicating Mr Trump .
“ They knew the Mueller report , particularly on Russia , was a dud .
It was a goose egg .
They had nothing.
” he said .
“ They were hoping I would recharacterize my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ absolutely not , ’ ” Stone continued .
“ There was no circumstance under which I would bear false witness against the president.
” Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen told federal investigators that he overheard a July 2016 phone call between Stone and then-candidate Trump in which Stone claimed to have spoken with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange .
Stone claimed the website planned to release a batch of information , according to Cohen ’ s testimony .
Rick Gates , a former Trump campaign official , offered similar testimony during Stone ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a batch of damaging emails stolen from Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign by Russian hackers ahead of the 2016 election .
Stone has denied claims that he sought advance knowledge of WikiLeaks ’ releases to benefit the Trump campaign .
In November 2019 , a federal jury convicted him of lying to Congress about his efforts to learn more about WikiLeaks ’ plans to release the hacked materials .
Stone dismissed allegations from both ex-Trump associates as “ plea-bargained induced claims ” that could not be collaborated .
Both Gates and Cohen pleaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s prosecutors .
Stone also denied allegations that he traded his silence for a commutation .
Mr. Trump on Friday issued a full-sentence commutation , sparing his longtime friend a 40-month prison term .
“ That is patently false , ” he said .
“ I would not lie against my friend of 40 years so they could use it for impeachment .
I simply refused to do it .
”

Longtime GOP political operative Roger Stone Monday night accused prosecutors from ex-special counsel Robert Mueller of pressuring him to lie about his conversations with President Trump.
In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Stone claimed prosecutors offered him leniency and promised to keep him out of jail in the Russian collusion probe in exchange for information implicating Mr Trump.
“They knew the Mueller report, particularly on Russia, was a dud. It was a goose egg. They had nothing.” he said. “They were hoping I would recharacterize my phone calls.”
“I said, ‘absolutely not,’” Stone continued. “There was no circumstance under which I would bear false witness against the president.”
Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen told federal investigators that he overheard a July 2016 phone call between Stone and then-candidate Trump in which Stone claimed to have spoken with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Stone claimed the website planned to release a batch of information, according to Cohen’s testimony.
Rick Gates, a former Trump campaign official, offered similar testimony during Stone’s November 2019 trial.
Assange released a batch of damaging emails stolen from Hillary Clinton’s campaign by Russian hackers ahead of the 2016 election.
Stone has denied claims that he sought advance knowledge of WikiLeaks’ releases to benefit the Trump campaign. In November 2019, a federal jury convicted him of lying to Congress about his efforts to learn more about WikiLeaks’ plans to release the hacked materials.
Stone dismissed allegations from both ex-Trump associates as “plea-bargained induced claims” that could not be collaborated.
Both Gates and Cohen pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s prosecutors.
Stone also denied allegations that he traded his silence for a commutation. Mr. Trump on Friday issued a full-sentence commutation, sparing his longtime friend a 40-month prison term.
“That is patently false,” he said. “I would not lie against my friend of 40 years so they could use it for impeachment. I simply refused to do it.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Number of disappeared in Mexico rises to over 73,000

MEXICO CITY ( AP ) - The number of missing and disappeared in Mexico has risen to 73,201 , and the vast majority - 71,678 - have gone missing since drug gang violence began increasing in 2006 .
The government reported Monday that the other 1,523 disappeared during counterinsurgency and other actions between 1964 and 2005 .
The number was up by about 10,000 from the last report by the country ’ s National Search Commission in January .
According to the commission ’ s figures , 27,871 people have disappeared since the current administration took office in December 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported missing in the first six months of 2020 , down 36.6 % from the 3,679 who went missing in the same period of 2019 .
Since the current administration took office in December 2018 , one state - Jalisco - has accounted for almost 29 % of the 1,682 bodies found in over 1,100 pits nationwide .
Such pits - often found in rural areas , but sometimes in suburbs of major cities - are frequently used by drug and kidnapping gangs to dispose of the bodies of rivals or victims .

MEXICO CITY (AP) - The number of missing and disappeared in Mexico has risen to 73,201, and the vast majority - 71,678 - have gone missing since drug gang violence began increasing in 2006. The government reported Monday that the other 1,523 disappeared during counterinsurgency and other actions between 1964 and 2005.
The number was up by about 10,000 from the last report by the country’s National Search Commission in January.
According to the commission’s figures, 27,871 people have disappeared since the current administration took office in December 2018. The commission said 2,332 people were reported missing in the first six months of 2020, down 36.6% from the 3,679 who went missing in the same period of 2019.
Since the current administration took office in December 2018, one state - Jalisco - has accounted for almost 29% of the 1,682 bodies found in over 1,100 pits nationwide.
Such pits - often found in rural areas, but sometimes in suburbs of major cities - are frequently used by drug and kidnapping gangs to dispose of the bodies of rivals or victims.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--USS Bonhome Richard Navy ship fire continues to rage in San Diego

Smoke and flames poured into the sky for a second day from the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego Monday , but Navy officials were upbeat about battling the blaze , the cause of which remains under investigation .
More than 24 hours after an explosion rocked the amphibious assault ship , the commander of the U.S. Navy ’ s Expeditionary Strike Group 3 evoked the famous naval battle cry from the War of 1812 : “ Don ’ t Give Up the Ship.
” At a press conference at U.S .
Naval Base San Diego , where the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also told reporters that he was “ absolutely hopeful ” teamwork from the sailors and local firefighters would save the Bonhomme Richard .
“ They are aboard the ship and they are not stopping , ” the rear admiral said .
“ We ’ ve been at this for more than 24 hours and we ’ re going to get at it until it ’ s done.
” His comments came after the U.S. Pacific Fleet had tweeted early Monday morning that “ 57 personnel ” — including 34 Navy sailors and 23 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries , such as smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion , caused by the fire .
Adm. Mike Gilday , the Chief of Naval Operations , said in a statement that the crew of the Bonhomme Richard had all been accounted for .
“ We are grateful for the quick and immediate response of local , base and shipboard firefighters , ” he said .
“ Our thoughts and prayers are with our sailors , their families and our emergency responders who continue to fight the fire .
Godspeed.
” The cause of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained a mystery Monday afternoon , as flames continued to rip through several sections , with smoke erupting from the “ island , ” the elevated section on the deck containing the command-and-control areas .
The Bonhomme Richard has a crew of roughly 1,000 and officials said about 160 were on board when the fire broke out on the ship in San Diego , where it was docked receiving routine maintenance .
The fire was first reported Sunday in a lower cargo hold where equipment is stored belonging to the ship ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they don ’ t anticipate determining the cause until the flames are fully extinguished .
The ship has a fire suppression system to extinguish a blaze using halon gas , but Rear Adm. Sobeck said it had been disabled because of maintenance work being done aboard the ship .
He also said Sunday ’ s explosion may have been the result of a backdraft caused by over-pressurization in one of the ship ’ s compartments .
“ There ’ s a heat source and we ’ re trying to get to it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But , there is a lot of scaffolding and debris in the way.
” U.S. Navy sailors are taught firefighting tactics in basic training because when at sea their ships are beyond the range of assistance .
Dozens began fighting the flames Sunday , but the blaze spread quickly .
“ The fire had a vote .
It expanded , ” Rear Adm. Sobeck said .
“ It expanded beyond their capabilities.
” A pair of helicopters from the Navy ’ s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 spent several hours Monday dousing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Navy officials said they were cognizant of environmental concerns tied to the fire but don ’ t see a health hazard to people in the area .
Navy ships have been the scene of devastating fires in the past .
In January 1969 , 27 sailors were killed after an explosion aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S .
Enterprise .
Two years earlier , 134 sailors were killed from a chain-reaction of explosions and fire aboard the U.S.S .
Forrestal .
In both cases , the fires were blamed on ordnance problems .
Rear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inquiry and opportunity to learn any lessons from the fire aboard the Bonhomme Richard .
“ Right now , the priority is to fight the fire and get it out , ” he said .

Smoke and flames poured into the sky for a second day from the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego Monday, but Navy officials were upbeat about battling the blaze, the cause of which remains under investigation.
More than 24 hours after an explosion rocked the amphibious assault ship, the commander of the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group 3 evoked the famous naval battle cry from the War of 1812: “Don’t Give Up the Ship.”
At a press conference at U.S. Naval Base San Diego, where the ship is docked, Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck also told reporters that he was “absolutely hopeful” teamwork from the sailors and local firefighters would save the Bonhomme Richard.
“They are aboard the ship and they are not stopping,” the rear admiral said. “We’ve been at this for more than 24 hours and we’re going to get at it until it’s done.”
His comments came after the U.S. Pacific Fleet had tweeted early Monday morning that “57 personnel” — including 34 Navy sailors and 23 civilians — had been treated for minor injuries, such as smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion, caused by the fire.
Adm. Mike Gilday, the Chief of Naval Operations, said in a statement that the crew of the Bonhomme Richard had all been accounted for. “We are grateful for the quick and immediate response of local, base and shipboard firefighters,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our sailors, their families and our emergency responders who continue to fight the fire. Godspeed.”
The cause of the blaze aboard the nearly 850-foot-long Bonhomme Richard remained a mystery Monday afternoon, as flames continued to rip through several sections, with smoke erupting from the “island,” the elevated section on the deck containing the command-and-control areas.
The Bonhomme Richard has a crew of roughly 1,000 and officials said about 160 were on board when the fire broke out on the ship in San Diego, where it was docked receiving routine maintenance.
The fire was first reported Sunday in a lower cargo hold where equipment is stored belonging to the ship’s complement of U.S. Marines. Navy officials said they don’t anticipate determining the cause until the flames are fully extinguished. The ship has a fire suppression system to extinguish a blaze using halon gas, but Rear Adm. Sobeck said it had been disabled because of maintenance work being done aboard the ship.
He also said Sunday’s explosion may have been the result of a backdraft caused by over-pressurization in one of the ship’s compartments. “There’s a heat source and we’re trying to get to it as well,” he said. “But, there is a lot of scaffolding and debris in the way.”
U.S. Navy sailors are taught firefighting tactics in basic training because when at sea their ships are beyond the range of assistance. Dozens began fighting the flames Sunday, but the blaze spread quickly. “The fire had a vote. It expanded,” Rear Adm. Sobeck said. “It expanded beyond their capabilities.”
A pair of helicopters from the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 spent several hours Monday dousing the ship with giant water-filled buckets. Navy officials said they were cognizant of environmental concerns tied to the fire but don’t see a health hazard to people in the area.
Navy ships have been the scene of devastating fires in the past. In January 1969, 27 sailors were killed after an explosion aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise. Two years earlier, 134 sailors were killed from a chain-reaction of explosions and fire aboard the U.S.S. Forrestal. In both cases, the fires were blamed on ordnance problems.
Rear Adm. Sobeck said there will be an inquiry and opportunity to learn any lessons from the fire aboard the Bonhomme Richard. “Right now, the priority is to fight the fire and get it out,” he said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Another California prisoner dies from COVID-19 complications

AVENAL , Calif. ( AP ) - Another California state prison inmate has died from what appears to be complications @ @ @ @ @ officials said Monday .
The inmate from Avenal State Prison in Central California died Monday @ @ @ @ @ the facility but no other information was being disclosed , the state Department of Corrections @ @ @ @ @ statement .
There have now been 35 deaths from COVID-19 in California ’ s prison @ @ @ @ @ figures .
More than 2,400 inmates are listed as actively having the infection , along @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people .
@ @ @ @ @ older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness @ @ @ @ @ death .

AVENAL, Calif. (AP) - Another California state prison inmate has died from what appears to be complications of the coronavirus, corrections officials said Monday.
The inmate from Avenal State Prison in Central California died Monday at a hospital outside of the facility but no other information was being disclosed, the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said in a statement.
There have now been 35 deaths from COVID-19 in California’s prison system, according to state figures. More than 2,400 inmates are listed as actively having the infection, along with 755 employees.
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough for most people. But for some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Two guards stabbed at California high-security prison

FOLSOM , Calif. ( AP ) - A convicted killer stabbed two guards at a high-security California prison Monday but both were expected to survive , officials said .
Correctional officers were releasing inmates into a yard Monday morning at California State Prison , Sacramento in Folsom when a prisoner who was being scanned with a metal detector pulled a 7-inch-long homemade weapon and stabbed a guard in the head and neck , according to a statement from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
A second officer was stabbed in the right arm and a third officer received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subdued , authorities said .
One officer was treated at a hospital and released .
There was no immediate word on the conditions of the other officers but their injuries weren ’ t believed to be life-threatening , corrections officials said .
The attacker was identified as Michael Harris , who had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital , corrections officials said .
He was to be kept in segregated housing while the attack is investigated .
Harris began serving a life sentence without possibility of parole in 2009 for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of first-degree murder , attempted murder and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death , corrections officials said .
The prison east of Sacramento houses more than 2,300 inmates .

FOLSOM, Calif. (AP) - A convicted killer stabbed two guards at a high-security California prison Monday but both were expected to survive, officials said.
Correctional officers were releasing inmates into a yard Monday morning at California State Prison, Sacramento in Folsom when a prisoner who was being scanned with a metal detector pulled a 7-inch-long homemade weapon and stabbed a guard in the head and neck, according to a statement from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
A second officer was stabbed in the right arm and a third officer received a hand injury before the inmate was subdued, authorities said.
One officer was treated at a hospital and released. There was no immediate word on the conditions of the other officers but their injuries weren’t believed to be life-threatening, corrections officials said.
The attacker was identified as Michael Harris, who had minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, corrections officials said. He was to be kept in segregated housing while the attack is investigated.
Harris began serving a life sentence without possibility of parole in 2009 for a Los Angeles County shooting. He was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury or death, corrections officials said.
The prison east of Sacramento houses more than 2,300 inmates.


washingtontimes--2020-07-13--Angela Davis to vote for Joe Biden, 'candidate who can be most effectively pressured' by left

Famed Marxist intellectual and activist Angela Davis trended Monday on social media after throwing her support behind Joe Biden for president , calling it crucial to back the candidate “ who can be most effectively pressured ” by the left .
“ I don ’ t see this election as being about choosing a candidate who will be able to lead us in the right direction , ” said Ms. Davis , University of California Santa Cruz professor emeritus , in a video clip .
“ It will be about choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement.
” Her statement came in a June 15 interview with RT , or Russia Today , an outlet funded by the Russian government .
Her comments trended on Twitter as an apparent vehicle for drumming up leftist support for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden , the putative Democratic presidential nominee .
“ Biden is very problematic in many ways , not only in terms of his past and the role that he played in pushing toward mass incarceration , but he has indicated that he is opposed to disbanding the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need , ” said Ms. Davis .
She then added : “ But , I say but , Biden is far more likely to take mass demands seriously , ” more so than President Trump .
“ Far more likely than the current occupant of the White House , so that this coming November , the election will ask us not so much to vote for the best candidate , but to vote for or against ourselves , ” continued Ms. Davis .
“ And to vote for ourselves I think means that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for Biden.
” Mr. Biden was viewed as the most moderate of the top 2020 Democratic presidential primary contenders , leading to concerns in Democratic circles that he might struggle to motivate the party ’ s rising leftist wing .
The video clip prompted a back-and-forth over whether Ms. Davis ’ s support was enough to convince leftists to support the Biden candidacy .
“ Angela Davis explained all sides of why we are voting Biden in November so well , ” said an account called Beyonce of Marketing with 12,800 followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t always your favorite , & that ’ s life .
The stakes are high.
” British journalist Mehdi Hasan noted that a slew of prominent left-wingers are supporting Mr. Biden , including author Noam Chomsky , Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , and asked , “ Are they all ‘ liberal sellouts ?
’ Are they Establishment Stooges ?
Seriously ?
” Meanwhile , critics on the right asked why a far-left figure ’ s support for Mr. Biden on RT should be viewed as an electoral plus .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known Marxist , is on Russian propaganda news channel RT telling Americans to vote for Joe Biden even if they think he is a bad choice because he can be manipulated , ” tweeted media critic Stephen L. Miller .
“ This seems pretty damn suspicious to me .
Who agrees ?
” Ms. Davis said in 2016 that she would vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , calling it a vote against Mr. Trump .

Famed Marxist intellectual and activist Angela Davis trended Monday on social media after throwing her support behind Joe Biden for president, calling it crucial to back the candidate “who can be most effectively pressured” by the left.
“I don’t see this election as being about choosing a candidate who will be able to lead us in the right direction,” said Ms. Davis, University of California Santa Cruz professor emeritus, in a video clip. “It will be about choosing a candidate who can be most effectively pressured into allowing more space for the evolving anti-racist movement.”
Her statement came in a June 15 interview with RT, or Russia Today, an outlet funded by the Russian government. Her comments trended on Twitter as an apparent vehicle for drumming up leftist support for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, the putative Democratic presidential nominee.
“Biden is very problematic in many ways, not only in terms of his past and the role that he played in pushing toward mass incarceration, but he has indicated that he is opposed to disbanding the police, and this is definitely what we need,” said Ms. Davis.
She then added: “But, I say but, Biden is far more likely to take mass demands seriously,” more so than President Trump.
“Far more likely than the current occupant of the White House, so that this coming November, the election will ask us not so much to vote for the best candidate, but to vote for or against ourselves,” continued Ms. Davis. “And to vote for ourselves I think means that we will have to campaign for and vote for Biden.”
Unnecessary translation: Biden ain’t shit and we gone swarm dude if he’s elected. But Biden is way less likely to kill us all. I trust Angela Davis and Josie Duffy and Camonghne Felix about all things political far more than I trust myself. https://t.co/reErHhZpw3 — Kiese (@KieseLaymon) July 13, 2020
Mr. Biden was viewed as the most moderate of the top 2020 Democratic presidential primary contenders, leading to concerns in Democratic circles that he might struggle to motivate the party’s rising leftist wing.
The video clip prompted a back-and-forth over whether Ms. Davis’s support was enough to convince leftists to support the Biden candidacy.
“Angela Davis explained all sides of why we are voting Biden in November so well,” said an account called Beyonce of Marketing with 12,800 followers. “The best choice isn’t always your favorite,& that’s life. The stakes are high.”
British journalist Mehdi Hasan noted that a slew of prominent left-wingers are supporting Mr. Biden, including author Noam Chomsky, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and asked, “Are they all ‘liberal sellouts?’ Are they Establishment Stooges? Seriously?”
Meanwhile, critics on the right asked why a far-left figure’s support for Mr. Biden on RT should be viewed as an electoral plus.
“It looks like Angela Davis, a known Marxist, is on Russian propaganda news channel RT telling Americans to vote for Joe Biden even if they think he is a bad choice because he can be manipulated,” tweeted media critic Stephen L. Miller. “This seems pretty damn suspicious to me. Who agrees?”
Ms. Davis said in 2016 that she would vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, calling it a vote against Mr. Trump.
Interesting that Angela Davis is trending for saying she’ll vote for Joe Biden, and not that she said this while appearing on RT. — Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) July 13, 2020
Pretty sure Angela Davis wouldn’t appreciate you weaponizing her personal decision in order to shame people who won’t vote for Biden. What you’re doing is antithetical to her work. https://t.co/G4ZXUEH7GY — TheAngrySociologist (@SankofaBrown) July 13, 2020
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.