washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Infant, her mother killed in 4-vehicle crash on interstate

MONROE TOWNSHIP , Ohio ( AP ) - A four-vehicle crash on an interstate highway in southwestern Ohio has left a woman and her infant daughter dead and three others injured .
The crash on westbound Interstate 70 in Monroe Township occurred around 6:40 p.m. Thursday , according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol .
Two semitrailers and a pickup truck were traveling in the left lane , while an SUV was in the right lane .
As the vehicles approached a construction area , three slowed down but one of the semitrailers rear-ended the pickup truck .
The impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other semitrailer , which then struck the back of the SUV .
Tonya Beachy , 25 , of Homeworth , who was a passenger in the pickup , was pronounced dead at the scene .
Her 7-month-old daughter , Ellie Beachy , was taken to to a hospital but died there a short time later .
The pickup ’ s driver , Erik Beachy , and the two semitrailer drivers - James Gobble , 49 , of Lexington , Ohio , and Dorcella Washington , 60 , of Columbus - were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life-threatening .
The SUV driver , Hugo Barth IV , 54 , of New Providence , New Jersey was not injured .
The cause of the crash remains under investigation .

MONROE TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) - A four-vehicle crash on an interstate highway in southwestern Ohio has left a woman and her infant daughter dead and three others injured.
The crash on westbound Interstate 70 in Monroe Township occurred around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Two semitrailers and a pickup truck were traveling in the left lane, while an SUV was in the right lane. As the vehicles approached a construction area, three slowed down but one of the semitrailers rear-ended the pickup truck.
The impact pushed the pickup into the back of the other semitrailer, which then struck the back of the SUV.
Tonya Beachy, 25, of Homeworth, who was a passenger in the pickup, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her 7-month-old daughter, Ellie Beachy, was taken to to a hospital but died there a short time later.
The pickup’s driver, Erik Beachy, and the two semitrailer drivers - James Gobble, 49, of Lexington, Ohio, and Dorcella Washington, 60, of Columbus - were being treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The SUV driver, Hugo Barth IV, 54, of New Providence, New Jersey was not injured.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Man held in Aug. 1 shooting death of Kansas City man

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month .
Thorne McKendrick , 19 , is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder , two counts of armed criminal action and a weapons count in the Aug. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown , the Kansas City Star reported .
Police found Brown in the street with a gunshot wound on the night of Aug. 1 , investigators said .
Brown was rushed to a hospital , where he died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security video shows McKendrick ride up to the area on a bicycle , and Brown coming out of his house .
The video then shows Brown grab McKendrick from behind and the two men grappling outside a vehicle before the shooting , police said .
Witnesses told police that witness told detectives that Brown and McKendrick were once neighbors and that Brown had tried to mentor McKendrick , according to court documents .
McKendrick is being held in lieu of $ 250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27 @

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police have arrested a man suspected in the shooting death of another man in Kansas City earlier this month.
Thorne McKendrick, 19, is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and a weapons count in the Aug. 1 shooting death of 33-year-old Michael Brown, the Kansas City Star reported.
Police found Brown in the street with a gunshot wound on the night of Aug. 1, investigators said. Brown was rushed to a hospital, where he died.
Detectives said in court records that security video shows McKendrick ride up to the area on a bicycle, and Brown coming out of his house. The video then shows Brown grab McKendrick from behind and the two men grappling outside a vehicle before the shooting, police said.
Witnesses, including Brown’s father, identified McKendrick to police from the security video, according to court documents. The father told police “he recognized McKendrick due to them being neighbors in the past and further advised that he tried to mentor McKendrick in the past as well,” according to the documents.
McKendrick is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 27.
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This story was first published on Aug. 21, 2020. It was updated on Aug. 22, 2020, to correct who had been neighbors with the suspect. The documents indicate the victim’s father, not the victim, and the suspect may have once been neighbors.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--'Utility accountability' centerpiece of clean-energy outline

SPRINGFIELD , Ill. ( AP ) - Gov .
J.B. Pritzker on Friday provided a substantive look at how he wants to make Illinois a completely renewable-energy state by 2050 with tighter controls on utility companies amid an influence-peddling scheme involving ComEd .
“ Real accountability measures for utilities ” is emphasized in the extensive , eight-part plan along with goals for providing a remedy for potentially disastrous climate change and pollution .
It also aims to create sustainable jobs and a new age of 750,000 electric vehicles within the next decade .
The plan is not complete , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue , Deputy Gov .
Christian Mitchell said Thursday .
But given the federal government ’ s announcement last month that ComEd had entered into a deferred prosecution agreement to assist in a Statehouse bribery investigation , Mitchell said the administration is seeking public support before pushing ahead .
“ We wanted to make sure that whatever we do to get 100 % clean , renewable energy … we were going to do so with utility accountability at the center , so the public has some trust in the process , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability of utilities to adjust rates outside of those set by regulators for purposes such as infrastructure improvements ; prohibit utilities from recouping from ratepayers the “ charitable contributions ” through which they can curry political favors ; and allow the Illinois Commerce Commission to implement a process to review utilities ’ performance compared with rates .
ComEd spokeswoman Shannon Breymaier said the utility agrees with Pritzker that “ the need for comprehensive energy reform has never been greater ; we share the state ’ s commitment to clean energy , sustainability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the company has implemented ethics reforms to prevent future conduct revealed in the federal investigation while taking on the “ challenge of rebuilding the trust of the public , regulators and elected officials ” and working with them on the state ’ s clean-energy goals .
A spokeswoman for power company Ameren Illinois did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
In addition to creating a longer regulatory arm , the plan would increase protections for consumers .
It would increase shareholder contributions from Exelon , ComEd ’ s parent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catch up on bills affordably .
It would double to a combined $ 67 million ComEd ’ s and Ameren ’ s commitment to low-income energy-efficiency programs .
For low-income customers , there would no longer be a deposit charge , late fees or fees to pay bills online .
Natural gas companies would be barred from automatically adding a monthly surcharge for infrastructure improvement .
Much of the remainder of the outline depends on providing incentives for investment in renewable energy .
To put 750,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 70 million in the Democratic governor ’ s “ Rebuild Illinois ” infrastructure program for installing more charging stations , which are relatively scarce now .
Standardized zoning and siting regulations for wind and solar energy projects would speed development sometimes stymied by varied county ordinances .
Existing business-development incentives offered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would be expanded to include solar and energy-storage projects .
“ If you ’ re an electric-vehicle company that is looking to expand production somewhere , we are making it clear that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the charging infrastructure and the incentives to make your life easier , ” Mitchell said .
“ We ’ re sending a market signal to bring in private investment .
The working group will continue developing the plan and Mitchell promised there would be extensive public discussion about it before any portions of it are presented to the General Assembly .

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday provided a substantive look at how he wants to make Illinois a completely renewable-energy state by 2050 with tighter controls on utility companies amid an influence-peddling scheme involving ComEd.
“Real accountability measures for utilities” is emphasized in the extensive, eight-part plan along with goals for providing a remedy for potentially disastrous climate change and pollution. It also aims to create sustainable jobs and a new age of 750,000 electric vehicles within the next decade.
The plan is not complete, and a working group that created the outline will continue, Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell said Thursday. But given the federal government’s announcement last month that ComEd had entered into a deferred prosecution agreement to assist in a Statehouse bribery investigation, Mitchell said the administration is seeking public support before pushing ahead.
“We wanted to make sure that whatever we do to get 100% clean, renewable energy … we were going to do so with utility accountability at the center, so the public has some trust in the process,” Mitchell said.
The plan would end the ability of utilities to adjust rates outside of those set by regulators for purposes such as infrastructure improvements; prohibit utilities from recouping from ratepayers the “charitable contributions” through which they can curry political favors; and allow the Illinois Commerce Commission to implement a process to review utilities’ performance compared with rates.
ComEd spokeswoman Shannon Breymaier said the utility agrees with Pritzker that “the need for comprehensive energy reform has never been greater; we share the state’s commitment to clean energy, sustainability, utility affordability and transparency.”
Breymaier said the company has implemented ethics reforms to prevent future conduct revealed in the federal investigation while taking on the “challenge of rebuilding the trust of the public, regulators and elected officials” and working with them on the state’s clean-energy goals.
A spokeswoman for power company Ameren Illinois did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In addition to creating a longer regulatory arm, the plan would increase protections for consumers. It would increase shareholder contributions from Exelon, ComEd’s parent, to a program that helps consumers catch up on bills affordably. It would double to a combined $67 million ComEd’s and Ameren’s commitment to low-income energy-efficiency programs. For low-income customers, there would no longer be a deposit charge, late fees or fees to pay bills online. Natural gas companies would be barred from automatically adding a monthly surcharge for infrastructure improvement.
Much of the remainder of the outline depends on providing incentives for investment in renewable energy. To put 750,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030, for example, there’s about $70 million in the Democratic governor’s “Rebuild Illinois” infrastructure program for installing more charging stations, which are relatively scarce now.
Standardized zoning and siting regulations for wind and solar energy projects would speed development sometimes stymied by varied county ordinances. Existing business-development incentives offered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would be expanded to include solar and energy-storage projects.
“If you’re an electric-vehicle company that is looking to expand production somewhere, we are making it clear that we’re both going to put in the charging infrastructure and the incentives to make your life easier,” Mitchell said. “We’re sending a market signal to bring in private investment.
The working group will continue developing the plan and Mitchell promised there would be extensive public discussion about it before any portions of it are presented to the General Assembly.
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Illinois renewable energy outline: https://bit.ly/31fZ8yg
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Follow Political Writer John O’Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Man with religious objection to filing tax returns sentenced

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - A judge Thursday sentenced a northwestern Oregon man to probation for four counts of willfully failing to file tax returns after the court last year threw out his religious objection as a viable defense in an unusual second trial with no jury or witnesses .
Michael Bowman , of Columbia City , Oregon , said the case has destroyed him financially and he accused the judge of causing him a “ grave injustice ” by rejecting his defense that he didn ’ t want to fund abortion , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m doing this on principle , ” Bowman , 56 , said .
He declined to pay taxes because he said he believed the government owed him an accommodation based on his reading of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Oregon Constitution .
The case first resulted in a mistrial in August 2019 when a jury couldn ’ t reach consensus .
Bowman told the jury he objected to funding Planned Parenthood and paying for abortion and withheld his taxes on religious grounds .
The jury was stuck on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to follow the law .
U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman later told the lawyers that he had erred in allowing Bowman to explain his religious objection to filing tax returns during the trial and that his instructions to jurors were poor .
At a second trial before only the judge , Mosman said he wouldn ’ t allow Bowman to raise what ’ s called a “ good faith ” defense that he believed the government owed him an accommodation .
Before sentencing Thursday , Mosman said he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid his tax obligation but that there was a sincere belief behind it .
Mosman said that informed his decision to place Bowman on probation for refusing to pay taxes from 2011 through 2014 .
Mosman also ordered Bowman to pay $ 138,026 in restitution , file tax returns by April 15 each year and provide probation officers with access to his financial information .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A judge Thursday sentenced a northwestern Oregon man to probation for four counts of willfully failing to file tax returns after the court last year threw out his religious objection as a viable defense in an unusual second trial with no jury or witnesses.
Michael Bowman, of Columbia City, Oregon, said the case has destroyed him financially and he accused the judge of causing him a “grave injustice” by rejecting his defense that he didn’t want to fund abortion, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
“I”m down to nothing and I’m doing this on principle,” Bowman, 56, said.
He declined to pay taxes because he said he believed the government owed him an accommodation based on his reading of the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Oregon Constitution.
The case first resulted in a mistrial in August 2019 when a jury couldn’t reach consensus. Bowman told the jury he objected to funding Planned Parenthood and paying for abortion and withheld his taxes on religious grounds.
The jury was stuck on the key question of whether Bowman intentionally failed to follow the law.
U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman later told the lawyers that he had erred in allowing Bowman to explain his religious objection to filing tax returns during the trial and that his instructions to jurors were poor.
At a second trial before only the judge, Mosman said he wouldn’t allow Bowman to raise what’s called a “good faith” defense that he believed the government owed him an accommodation.
Before sentencing Thursday, Mosman said he didn’t believe Bowman was a con man trying to avoid his tax obligation but that there was a sincere belief behind it.
Mosman said that informed his decision to place Bowman on probation for refusing to pay taxes from 2011 through 2014. Mosman also ordered Bowman to pay $138,026 in restitution, file tax returns by April 15 each year and provide probation officers with access to his financial information.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--House Democrats: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy went through 'irregular' vetting process

House Democrats on Thursday claimed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was put through a different vetting system before being tapped for the job .
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Katie Porter of California , both members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform , said Mr. DeJoy was not on the list of candidates initially vetted by a national search firm .
Instead , his name was put forward by John Barger , a member of the Postal Service ’ s Board of Governors .
“ It would have been irregular for a member of the USPS Board of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend Mr. DeJoy without the consultation , research , or support of the contracted hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates , ” they wrote in a letter to Mr. Berger on Thursday .
The letter came the same day David Williams , a former Postal Service inspector general , alleged that the Trump administration was trying to politicize the mail agency .
Mr. Williams resigned in April and said Wednesday that he did so because the Postal Service was no longer “ independent.
” “ By statute , the Treasury was made responsible for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of credit , ” Mr. Williams said at a forum hosted by the Congressional Progressive Caucus .
“ The Treasury was using that responsibility to make demands that I believed would turn the Postal Service into a political tool , ending its long history as an apolitical public infrastructure.
” He went on to claim that Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin was directly involved in the board ’ s activity and required GOP appointees to “ kiss the ring ” before they were confirmed .
In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major role in how Mr. DeJoy was picked for the role .
Mr. DeJoy has recently come under fire from Democrats on Capitol Hill , who are concerned that his recent policy changes to the USPS are intended to undermine the Postal Service ’ s ability to function right before an election .
In response to the public backlash , Mr. DeJoy announced earlier this week he would be suspending these policy changes until after the election .
He vowed that there will be no changes to retail hours at post offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in place , and overtime will be approved for employees .
Though , his critics are still skeptical .
The postmaster general will have his first of two public meetings with lawmakers on Friday , in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee .
On Monday , he ’ ll testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform .

House Democrats on Thursday claimed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was put through a different vetting system before being tapped for the job.
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois and Katie Porter of California, both members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said Mr. DeJoy was not on the list of candidates initially vetted by a national search firm.
Instead, his name was put forward by John Barger, a member of the Postal Service’s Board of Governors.
“It would have been irregular for a member of the USPS Board of Governors, such as yourself, to recommend Mr. DeJoy without the consultation, research, or support of the contracted hiring firm Russell Reynolds Associates,” they wrote in a letter to Mr. Berger on Thursday.
The letter came the same day David Williams, a former Postal Service inspector general, alleged that the Trump administration was trying to politicize the mail agency. Mr. Williams resigned in April and said Wednesday that he did so because the Postal Service was no longer “independent.”
“By statute, the Treasury was made responsible for providing the Postal Service with a line of credit,” Mr. Williams said at a forum hosted by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “The Treasury was using that responsibility to make demands that I believed would turn the Postal Service into a political tool, ending its long history as an apolitical public infrastructure.”
He went on to claim that Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin was directly involved in the board’s activity and required GOP appointees to “kiss the ring” before they were confirmed.
In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Mr. Mnuchin denies having a major role in how Mr. DeJoy was picked for the role.
Mr. DeJoy has recently come under fire from Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are concerned that his recent policy changes to the USPS are intended to undermine the Postal Service’s ability to function right before an election.
In response to the public backlash, Mr. DeJoy announced earlier this week he would be suspending these policy changes until after the election. He vowed that there will be no changes to retail hours at post offices, processing equipment and collection boxes will remain in place, and overtime will be approved for employees.
Though, his critics are still skeptical.
The postmaster general will have his first of two public meetings with lawmakers on Friday, in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
On Monday, he’ll testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Panel grills commerce chief over Line 3 oil pipeline appeal

MINNEAPOLIS ( AP ) - A member of Gov .
Tim Walz ’ s Cabinet faced sharp questioning at a confirmation hearing Friday for approving an appeal over a controversial pipeline project in a dispute that could cost him his job .
Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley is under fire because his agency on Wednesday appealed a decision by the independent Public Utilities Commission to approve Enbridge Energy ’ s plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota .
It was the second time that the PUC had approved the project , and the agency ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that began more than five years ago .
The plan is popular among Republicans who control the Senate and construction unions that have previously backed the Democratic governor .
Environmental and tribal groups oppose the project , citing climate change and spill risks .
Senate Republicans essentially fired Labor and Industry Commissioner Nancy Leppink last week amid a dispute over how Walz uses emergency powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic , and they ’ re threatening the same fate for Kelley over Line 3 .
Other potential targets are Minnesota Pollution Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get a hearing on Monday , and PUC Commissioner Joe Sullivan , who noted at his hearing Tuesday that he voted for Line 3 .
The commerce committee chairman , GOP Sen. Gary Dahms , of Redwood Falls , noted that the senators couldn ’ t vote on Kelley on Friday because the Legislature isn ’ t in session .
But he predicted that if they could have voted , they would have forwarded his nomination without a recommendation , a potentially ominous sign .
Kelley defended the appeal , saying that as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce statues that the Legislature has passed .
He reiterated that the department does not believe Enbridge met a statutory requirement for producing a long-range oil demand forecast - a complex legal issue that remains in dispute - to help determine if a project is needed .
“ Forces in society have lined things up , regrettably , so that this comes across as a conflict between environmental advocates and working people who are looking for jobs , ” Kelley testified .
“ The statute does not take that side - either side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re looking at is not related to the environment and it ’ s not related to jobs.
” The PUC concluded both times when it approved the project that Calgary , Alberta-based Enbridge met all the legal requirements .
Republican Sen. David Osmek , of Mound , argued that the PUC got it right .
He said Kelley ’ s position “ bother ’ s me to no end , and it makes me question whether you are in a position that you should be within the administration.
” Democratic Sen. Scott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ an amazing , incredibly qualified commissioner.
” He denounced the proceedings as a “ kangaroo hearing ” with “ curated questions ” and little chance for Democrats to weigh in .
“ If his confirmation doesn ’ t stand , we ’ ll know that this decision was made somewhere else for other reasons , ” Dibble said .
Republican senators also questioned Kelley about his department ’ s implementation of recent state laws governing pharmacy benefit managers and workers compensation for essential workers who contract COVID-19 , and how it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state on claims arising from the unrest that followed George Floyd ’ s death .
They could use those issues to frame a broader case against Kelley based on his job performance .
The Senate can ’ t vote on Kelley ’ s or additional confirmations unless Walz calls the Legislature back for another special session .
The governor has called one each time he has extended his emergency powers for the pandemic by 30-day increments , so the next chance would come in mid-September .
Up until now , he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency powers statute as requiring a special session to give lawmakers a chance to rescind his orders .
But Walz has raised the possibility - most recently right after Leppink ’ s ouster - that he might not really need to keep calling lawmakers back .
He said there ’ s “ very much a gray area ” in the law .
That could shield his appointees from being picked off one by one until next year - when Walz and other Democrats hope to control the Senate .

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A member of Gov. Tim Walz’s Cabinet faced sharp questioning at a confirmation hearing Friday for approving an appeal over a controversial pipeline project in a dispute that could cost him his job.
Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley is under fire because his agency on Wednesday appealed a decision by the independent Public Utilities Commission to approve Enbridge Energy’s plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota. It was the second time that the PUC had approved the project, and the agency’s third appeal in an approval process that began more than five years ago.
The plan is popular among Republicans who control the Senate and construction unions that have previously backed the Democratic governor. Environmental and tribal groups oppose the project, citing climate change and spill risks.
Senate Republicans essentially fired Labor and Industry Commissioner Nancy Leppink last week amid a dispute over how Walz uses emergency powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, and they’re threatening the same fate for Kelley over Line 3. Other potential targets are Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Commissioner Laura Bishop, who will get a hearing on Monday, and PUC Commissioner Joe Sullivan, who noted at his hearing Tuesday that he voted for Line 3.
The commerce committee chairman, GOP Sen. Gary Dahms, of Redwood Falls, noted that the senators couldn’t vote on Kelley on Friday because the Legislature isn’t in session. But he predicted that if they could have voted, they would have forwarded his nomination without a recommendation, a potentially ominous sign.
Kelley defended the appeal, saying that as commerce commissioner he’s obligated to enforce statues that the Legislature has passed. He reiterated that the department does not believe Enbridge met a statutory requirement for producing a long-range oil demand forecast - a complex legal issue that remains in dispute - to help determine if a project is needed.
“Forces in society have lined things up, regrettably, so that this comes across as a conflict between environmental advocates and working people who are looking for jobs,” Kelley testified. “The statute does not take that side - either side of that. The statute that we’re looking at is not related to the environment and it’s not related to jobs.”
The PUC concluded both times when it approved the project that Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge met all the legal requirements. Republican Sen. David Osmek, of Mound, argued that the PUC got it right. He said Kelley’s position “bother’s me to no end, and it makes me question whether you are in a position that you should be within the administration.”
Democratic Sen. Scott Dibble, of Minneapolis, defended Kelley as “an amazing, incredibly qualified commissioner.” He denounced the proceedings as a “kangaroo hearing” with “curated questions” and little chance for Democrats to weigh in.
“If his confirmation doesn’t stand, we’ll know that this decision was made somewhere else for other reasons,” Dibble said.
Republican senators also questioned Kelley about his department’s implementation of recent state laws governing pharmacy benefit managers and workers compensation for essential workers who contract COVID-19, and how it has required insurance companies to report to the state on claims arising from the unrest that followed George Floyd’s death. They could use those issues to frame a broader case against Kelley based on his job performance.
The Senate can’t vote on Kelley’s or additional confirmations unless Walz calls the Legislature back for another special session. The governor has called one each time he has extended his emergency powers for the pandemic by 30-day increments, so the next chance would come in mid-September. Up until now, he has chosen to interpret the state’s emergency powers statute as requiring a special session to give lawmakers a chance to rescind his orders.
But Walz has raised the possibility - most recently right after Leppink’s ouster - that he might not really need to keep calling lawmakers back. He said there’s “very much a gray area” in the law. That could shield his appointees from being picked off one by one until next year - when Walz and other Democrats hope to control the Senate.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Omaha-area teacher faces more sex assault, abuse charges

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - An Omaha-area high school English teacher arrested this week on suspicion of molesting a teen in 2008 now faces a slew of other sex assault and child abuse charges .
Andrew McGreevy , 40 , was booked Thursday on suspicion of additional counts , police said , after two more women and a teen came forward to accuse his of sexual assault .
Omaha police said the new cases include a 31-year-old woman who told investigators McGreevy sexually assaulted her at his home in 2009 , when she was 20 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36-year-old woman also told police McGreevy assaulted her in 2010 .
A 17-year-old girl reported that McGreevy had repeatedly assaulted her from 2013 to 2016 , when she would have been 11 to 14 years old .
McGreevy was booked Thursday on suspicion of three counts of first-degree sexual assault , two counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of child abuse .
McGreevy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault after another woman reported that McGreevy had molested her backstage at a a Benson theater in 2008 .
McGreevy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Millard Public Schools for four years .
He was placed on leave this summer when the initial complaint against him surfaced .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - An Omaha-area high school English teacher arrested this week on suspicion of molesting a teen in 2008 now faces a slew of other sex assault and child abuse charges.
Andrew McGreevy, 40, was booked Thursday on suspicion of additional counts, police said, after two more women and a teen came forward to accuse his of sexual assault.
Omaha police said the new cases include a 31-year-old woman who told investigators McGreevy sexually assaulted her at his home in 2009, when she was 20, after she had possibly been drugged. A 36-year-old woman also told police McGreevy assaulted her in 2010.
A 17-year-old girl reported that McGreevy had repeatedly assaulted her from 2013 to 2016, when she would have been 11 to 14 years old. McGreevy was booked Thursday on suspicion of three counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of child abuse.
McGreevy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault after another woman reported that McGreevy had molested her backstage at a a Benson theater in 2008.
McGreevy has been a high school English teacher in the Millard Public Schools for four years. He was placed on leave this summer when the initial complaint against him surfaced.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Delta bans purported bin Laden killer for not wearing a mask

ATLANTA ( AP ) - A former Navy SEAL from Montana who has said he killed Osama bin Laden has been banned by Delta Air Lines after removing his face mask during a flight .
Robert O ’ Neill tweeted about his ban on Thursday , and the airline confirmed the action .
“ Part of every customer ’ s commitment prior to traveling on Delta is the requirement to acknowledge our updated travel policies , which includes wearing a mask , ” the airline said in a statement .
“ Failure to comply with our mask-wearing mandate can result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the future.
” All major U.S. airlines require passengers to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Delta says it has banned more than 100 passengers for violating the rule .
O ’ Neill posted a selfie showing himself , with no mask , on a Delta Connection flight Wednesday from Minneapolis to Newark , New Jersey .
Other passengers in the photo , including a man across the aisle who was wearing a Marine Corps hat , were wearing masks .
The tweet was later deleted .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ Thank God it wasn ’ t @ Delta flying us in when we killed bin Laden… we weren ’ t wearing masks… ” O ’ Neill , a native of Butte , Montana , first said in 2014 that he fired the shots that killed bin Laden during a 2011 raid on the terrorist ’ s compound in Pakistan .
The U.S. government has neither confirmed nor denied the account .
O ’ Neill later wrote a book about his time in the SEALs .
He has 375,000 followers on @ @

ATLANTA (AP) - A former Navy SEAL from Montana who has said he killed Osama bin Laden has been banned by Delta Air Lines after removing his face mask during a flight.
Robert O’Neill tweeted about his ban on Thursday, and the airline confirmed the action.
“Part of every customer’s commitment prior to traveling on Delta is the requirement to acknowledge our updated travel policies, which includes wearing a mask,” the airline said in a statement. “Failure to comply with our mask-wearing mandate can result in losing the ability to fly Delta in the future.”
All major U.S. airlines require passengers to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Delta says it has banned more than 100 passengers for violating the rule.
O’Neill posted a selfie showing himself, with no mask, on a Delta Connection flight Wednesday from Minneapolis to Newark, New Jersey. Other passengers in the photo, including a man across the aisle who was wearing a Marine Corps hat, were wearing masks. The tweet was later deleted.
In another tweet Thursday, O’Neill said, “Thank God it wasn’t @Delta flying us in when we killed bin Laden… we weren’t wearing masks…”
O’Neill, a native of Butte, Montana, first said in 2014 that he fired the shots that killed bin Laden during a 2011 raid on the terrorist’s compound in Pakistan. The U.S. government has neither confirmed nor denied the account. O’Neill later wrote a book about his time in the SEALs. He has 375,000 followers on Twitter.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Montana ballot certified without Green Party candidates

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - Montana ’ s 2020 general election ballot has been certified without Green Party candidates , for now .
Secretary of State Corey Stapleton ’ s certification , sent to counties late Thursday , includes an asterisk .
It says the secretary and other parties are challenging a Montana Supreme Court decision affirming a lower court ruling that removed Green Party candidates from the ballot .
The certification says if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consider the case and stays the Montana Supreme Court order before the ballots are printed and mailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the Green Party candidates on the ballot .
Stapleton , a Republican , announced the appeal Thursday , saying the Green Party ’ s removal was aimed at eliminating political competition for Democrats .
The Montana Republican Party paid $ 100,000 to gather signatures to get the Green Party on the ballot .
The backing wasn ’ t revealed until after the Green Party qualified for the primary ballot .
More than 560 people who signed the Green Party qualification petition then asked to have their names removed .
Stapleton rejected those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deadline .
District Judge James Reynolds granted the signature removal requests , saying there was no such deadline in state law .
The Montana Supreme Court upheld Reynolds ’ ruling Wednesday .

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana’s 2020 general election ballot has been certified without Green Party candidates, for now.
Secretary of State Corey Stapleton’s certification, sent to counties late Thursday, includes an asterisk. It says the secretary and other parties are challenging a Montana Supreme Court decision affirming a lower court ruling that removed Green Party candidates from the ballot.
The certification says if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consider the case and stays the Montana Supreme Court order before the ballots are printed and mailed, the secretary will be allowed to include the Green Party candidates on the ballot.
Stapleton, a Republican, announced the appeal Thursday, saying the Green Party’s removal was aimed at eliminating political competition for Democrats.
The Montana Republican Party paid $100,000 to gather signatures to get the Green Party on the ballot. The backing wasn’t revealed until after the Green Party qualified for the primary ballot.
More than 560 people who signed the Green Party qualification petition then asked to have their names removed.
Stapleton rejected those requests, saying they were filed after a deadline. District Judge James Reynolds granted the signature removal requests, saying there was no such deadline in state law. The Montana Supreme Court upheld Reynolds’ ruling Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Arizona reports 619 additional COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Arizona health officials on Friday reported 619 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths , increasing the state ’ s totals to 196,899 cases and 4,688 deaths .
COVID-19-related hospitalization metrics posted by the Department of Health Services continued to trend downward and were at levels last seen in early June before Arizona became a national hot spot .
Case and death reports have dropped sharply in the past month .
Seven-day rolling averages of cases and deaths in Arizona continued to decline over the past two weeks , according to Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The rolling average of new daily cases dropped from 1,836 on Aug. 6 to 784 on Aug. 20 , and the rolling average of deaths per day dropped from 64 on Aug. 6 to 43 on Aug. 20 .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested .
Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .
In other developments Friday , a chain of fitness centers that has been battling with Gov .
Doug Ducey over his orders forcing gyms , bars and theaters to close announced it would reopen next week .
Mountainside Fitness announced on Twitter that it would reopen its metro Phoenix locations even though its application with the Department of Health Services has not been approved .
The announcement said “ it is vital to us that all MSF members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as access to childcare , and all MSF employees have their jobs.
” The health department has received applications from more than 1,000 businesses seeking to reopen , and it approved 47 through Thursday .
They include six bars serving food , 37 gyms and four theaters , while 200 other applications were denied and the rest were pending .
Mountainside owner Tom Hatten sued Ducey and won an order requiring the governor to provide a way for closed businesses to apply for reopening .
The state unveiled a plan Aug. 10 allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited capacity and with health precautions once the spread of the virus within their county is downgraded to moderate or minimal .

PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona health officials on Friday reported 619 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and four additional deaths, increasing the state’s totals to 196,899 cases and 4,688 deaths.
COVID-19-related hospitalization metrics posted by the Department of Health Services continued to trend downward and were at levels last seen in early June before Arizona became a national hot spot. Case and death reports have dropped sharply in the past month.
Seven-day rolling averages of cases and deaths in Arizona continued to decline over the past two weeks, according to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press.
The rolling average of new daily cases dropped from 1,836 on Aug. 6 to 784 on Aug. 20, and the rolling average of deaths per day dropped from 64 on Aug. 6 to 43 on Aug. 20.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested. Studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms 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 developments Friday, a chain of fitness centers that has been battling with Gov. Doug Ducey over his orders forcing gyms, bars and theaters to close announced it would reopen next week.
Mountainside Fitness announced on Twitter that it would reopen its metro Phoenix locations even though its application with the Department of Health Services has not been approved. The announcement said “it is vital to us that all MSF members have the ability to workout as well as access to childcare, and all MSF employees have their jobs.”
The governor’s office didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment.
The health department has received applications from more than 1,000 businesses seeking to reopen, and it approved 47 through Thursday. They include six bars serving food, 37 gyms and four theaters, while 200 other applications were denied and the rest were pending.
Mountainside owner Tom Hatten sued Ducey and won an order requiring the governor to provide a way for closed businesses to apply for reopening. The state unveiled a plan Aug. 10 allowing gyms to apply to reopen at a limited capacity and with health precautions once the spread of the virus within their county is downgraded to moderate or minimal.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Gary Sinise group donates washing machines to firefighters

BOSTON ( AP ) — The California-based foundation of actor Gary Sinise donated over $ 380,000 to a Boston nonprofit to install industrial washer and dryer equipment in Boston fire departments to clean the firefighters ’ gear .
The new equipment helps protect firefighters from burns and from exposure to chemicals that cause cancer , the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation , whose mission is to offer support to burn victims , said on Thursday .
The donation from the Gary Sinise Foundation will cover the cost of purchasing and installing 10 washing machines and 32 drying cabinets in fire houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Currently , an outside cleaning company picks up and cleans the suits that firefighters wear to protect themselves when responding to a call .
It can take days for a suit to be returned , meaning firefighters wear spare or dirty equipment , the newspaper reported .
With the new equipment , multiple suits can be washed and dried on site within hours , Phillip Skrabut , a firefighter and treasurer of the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation , told the newspaper .
Sinise is a philanthropist and actor best known for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ Forrest Gump .
”

BOSTON (AP) — The California-based foundation of actor Gary Sinise donated over $380,000 to a Boston nonprofit to install industrial washer and dryer equipment in Boston fire departments to clean the firefighters’ gear.
The new equipment helps protect firefighters from burns and from exposure to chemicals that cause cancer, the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation, whose mission is to offer support to burn victims, said on Thursday.
The donation from the Gary Sinise Foundation will cover the cost of purchasing and installing 10 washing machines and 32 drying cabinets in fire houses around Boston, the Boston Globe reported.
Currently, an outside cleaning company picks up and cleans the suits that firefighters wear to protect themselves when responding to a call.
It can take days for a suit to be returned, meaning firefighters wear spare or dirty equipment, the newspaper reported.
With the new equipment, multiple suits can be washed and dried on site within hours, Phillip Skrabut, a firefighter and treasurer of the Boston Firefighters Burn Foundation, told the newspaper.
Sinise is a philanthropist and actor best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance as Lt. Dan Taylor in “Forrest Gump.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Kanye West fails to qualify on Ohio ballot in November

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - Kanye West won ’ t appear on Ohio ’ s ballot as an unaffiliated presidential candidate this November because of mismatched information on the rapper ’ s signature-gathering documents , Ohio ’ s elections chief said Friday .
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose rejected the nearly 15,000 signatures and other paperwork West submitted earlier this month in an attempt to run for president , an effort that Democrats say some Republicans support because they think it could draw votes from Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
LaRose ’ s announcement was among a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Also Friday , the state elections board in Illinois said West hadn ’ t submitted enough petition signatures and wouldn ’ t be on the ballot .
On Thursday , Wisconsin election officials decided to keep West off the battleground state ’ s presidential ballot because his campaign turned his nomination papers moments after the deadline , while officials in Montana also said he fell short of petitions .
Earlier this month , West without explanation withdrew his petition to appear as a presidential candidate on New Jersey ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was rejected in numerous others states this summer , including California , Florida and Pennsylvania .
States where he ’ s on the ballot include Arkansas , Colorado , Oklahoma , Utah and Vermont .
West publicly supported Republican President Donald Trump before announcing his own presidential bid on July 4 .
Trump ’ s reelection campaign has denied involvement , but GOP lawyers and activists have helped West qualify for presidential ballots in several key states , including Utah , Wisconsin and Colorado , adding to the suspicions that he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats , braced for a close race , are anxious about any third-party candidate drawing voters .
But the status of West ’ s presidential campaign and whether he is truly seeking the White House still remains unclear less than three months from election day .
Kim Kardashian West asked for empathy for her husband and said he is bipolar after West delivered an unconventional campaign introduction speech in South Carolina , proposing a $ 1 million payout to mothers and decrying Harriet Tubman for her work on the Underground Railroad .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ report .
Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Kanye West won’t appear on Ohio’s ballot as an unaffiliated presidential candidate this November because of mismatched information on the rapper’s signature-gathering documents, Ohio’s elections chief said Friday.
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose rejected the nearly 15,000 signatures and other paperwork West submitted earlier this month in an attempt to run for president, an effort that Democrats say some Republicans support because they think it could draw votes from Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
LaRose’s announcement was among a number setbacks for West’s campaign this week. Also Friday, the state elections board in Illinois said West hadn’t submitted enough petition signatures and wouldn’t be on the ballot. On Thursday, Wisconsin election officials decided to keep West off the battleground state’s presidential ballot because his campaign turned his nomination papers moments after the deadline, while officials in Montana also said he fell short of petitions.
Earlier this month, West without explanation withdrew his petition to appear as a presidential candidate on New Jersey’s ballot. He also missed deadlines or was rejected in numerous others states this summer, including California, Florida and Pennsylvania.
States where he’s on the ballot include Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and Vermont.
West publicly supported Republican President Donald Trump before announcing his own presidential bid on July 4.
A message was left with a West representative Friday seeking comment.
Trump’s reelection campaign has denied involvement, but GOP lawyers and activists have helped West qualify for presidential ballots in several key states, including Utah, Wisconsin and Colorado, adding to the suspicions that he’s trying to siphon support away from Biden.
Democrats, braced for a close race, are anxious about any third-party candidate drawing voters.
But the status of West’s presidential campaign and whether he is truly seeking the White House still remains unclear less than three months from election day.
Kim Kardashian West asked for empathy for her husband and said he is bipolar after West delivered an unconventional campaign introduction speech in South Carolina, proposing a $1 million payout to mothers and decrying Harriet Tubman for her work on the Underground Railroad.
___
Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus contributed to this report. Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Coronavirus testing expanded to assisted-living facilities

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - Staff members at all Ohio assisted living facilities must undergo coronavirus testing under @ @ @ @ @ Friday that expands testing already being done in nursing homes .
The order , signed @ @ @ @ @ Himes , requires staff in such facilities to be tested and any residents who wish @ @ @ @ @ assisted living facilities statewide .
The pandemic has struck the elderly living in Ohio ’ @ @ @ @ @ hard .
More than 2,500 residents in such settings have died from the coronavirus in @ @ @ @ @ six of every 10 deaths statewide .
DeWine was also expected to issue an order @ @ @ @ @ arts facilities .
Also Friday , the state reported Ohio ’ s unemployment rate fell @ @ @ @ @ , down from 11 % in June , as the economic shock of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unemployment rate stood at 4.2 % in July 2019 in pre-pandemic days .
@ @ @ @ @ rate is lower than the national unemployment rate of 10.2 % .

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Staff members at all Ohio assisted living facilities must undergo coronavirus testing under a public health order issued Friday that expands testing already being done in nursing homes.
The order, signed by interim Health Director Lance Himes, requires staff in such facilities to be tested and any residents who wish it. Ohio licences 771 assisted living facilities statewide.
The pandemic has struck the elderly living in Ohio’s long-term care facilities especially hard. More than 2,500 residents in such settings have died from the coronavirus in Ohio, or more than six of every 10 deaths statewide.
DeWine was also expected to issue an order Friday on guidelines for performing arts facilities.
Also Friday, the state reported Ohio’s unemployment rate fell to 8.9% in July, down from 11% in June, as the economic shock of the pandemic continues to ease. Ohio’s unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in July 2019 in pre-pandemic days.
Ohio’s current July rate is lower than the national unemployment rate of 10.2%.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Prosecutors accuse Reccless Tigers gang members of murder

FALLS CHURCH , Va. ( AP ) - Brandon White was given a choice , prosecutors say : If he opted not to testify against a member of the Reccless Tigers street gang who had assaulted him , a gang member would pay him $ 8,000 for his injuries .
But if he testified , he ’ d be killed .
White testified .
Less than three months later , he was dead , his body left in the Virginia woods .
Now federal prosecutors have charged multiple members of the Reccless Tigers with murder in a sweeping new indictment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with two deaths , multiple fire bombings and a sophisticated bi-coastal drug operation that supplied marijuana-laced vape pens to kids throughout the region ’ s school systems .
The new indictment handed up Thursday night by a federal grand jury in Alexandria charges seven alleged gang members with racketeering , drug conspiracy and other charges .
Three of the seven - Peter Le , Young Yoo and Joseph Lamborn - are explicitly charged with White ’ s murder in February 2019 .
One of the seven is the gang ’ s founder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lawyer for Le , declined comment on the specific allegations but cautioned against a rush to judgment .
“ Trial is likely a long way off , and we look forward to mounting a defense as to all of the charges against Mr.
Le , ” she said .
Alan Yamamoto , a lawyer for Lamborn , declined comment .
Yoo ’ s lawyer did not return a call and email .
The indictment also blames unspecified gang members with the April 2016 stabbing death of Ho Lee at a house party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lee died a few hours after getting into a fight with gang members who punched and stabbed him .
Nearly 20 other gang members and associates have already pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and other charges , but Thursday ’ s indictment is the first to include murder charges .
In court papers , the government says Le and another individual founded Reccless Tigers in 2011 out of other predominantly Asian gangs operating in the Centreville area .
The indictment says the gang “ became well known throughout secondary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of marijuana , vape pens containing THC , and other drugs.
” In charges filed last year against a Hayfork , California farm owner .
Joshua Miliaresis , the FBI alleged the gang would induce drug dealers to take on debt when buying drugs from the gang , and then pressure them to work off the debt at Miliaresis ’ marijuana farm , which had extensive ties to the gang .
The farm was raided in July 2019 .
An FBI affidavit says the gang conducted at least a dozen fire bombings targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the indictment , White was among the dealers in debt to Reccless Tigers .
Prosecutors say gang members assaulted White in the summer of 2018 over the debt , putting him in the hospital and resulting in local charges against White ’ s attacker .
In the weeks leading up to the attacker ’ s preliminary hearing , gang members approached White and offered to forgive his debt and pay him $ 8,000 for his injuries if he refused to testify .
They also made threats to harm him and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
White did testify at the preliminary hearing .
A few months later , White was lured from his grandmother ’ s home in Falls Church to help broker another drug deal , according to the indictment , when he was kidnapped and driven to the Richmond area .
It was there that gang members fatally shot and stabbed him , according to the indictment .
The U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia , which is prosecuting the case , has made gang cases a priority , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one have involved the MS-13 street gang .
Prosecutors are pursuing a death penalty against an MS-13 gang member in one case , and earlier this year used terrorism statutes for the first time against another alleged MS-13 member .

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) - Brandon White was given a choice, prosecutors say: If he opted not to testify against a member of the Reccless Tigers street gang who had assaulted him, a gang member would pay him $8,000 for his injuries. But if he testified, he’d be killed.
White testified. Less than three months later, he was dead, his body left in the Virginia woods.
Now federal prosecutors have charged multiple members of the Reccless Tigers with murder in a sweeping new indictment that blames the northern Virginia street gang with two deaths, multiple fire bombings and a sophisticated bi-coastal drug operation that supplied marijuana-laced vape pens to kids throughout the region’s school systems.
The new indictment handed up Thursday night by a federal grand jury in Alexandria charges seven alleged gang members with racketeering, drug conspiracy and other charges. Three of the seven - Peter Le, Young Yoo and Joseph Lamborn - are explicitly charged with White’s murder in February 2019. One of the seven is the gang’s founder, Tony Minh Le.
Lana Manitta, a lawyer for Le, declined comment on the specific allegations but cautioned against a rush to judgment. “Trial is likely a long way off, and we look forward to mounting a defense as to all of the charges against Mr. Le,” she said.
Alan Yamamoto, a lawyer for Lamborn, declined comment. Yoo’s lawyer did not return a call and email.
The indictment also blames unspecified gang members with the April 2016 stabbing death of Ho Lee at a house party in Herndon. According to the indictment, Lee died a few hours after getting into a fight with gang members who punched and stabbed him.
Nearly 20 other gang members and associates have already pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and other charges, but Thursday’s indictment is the first to include murder charges.
In court papers, the government says Le and another individual founded Reccless Tigers in 2011 out of other predominantly Asian gangs operating in the Centreville area. The indictment says the gang “became well known throughout secondary schools in Northern Virginia as a source of marijuana, vape pens containing THC, and other drugs.”
In charges filed last year against a Hayfork, California farm owner. Joshua Miliaresis, the FBI alleged the gang would induce drug dealers to take on debt when buying drugs from the gang, and then pressure them to work off the debt at Miliaresis’ marijuana farm, which had extensive ties to the gang. The farm was raided in July 2019.
An FBI affidavit says the gang conducted at least a dozen fire bombings targeting people who owed money to the gang.
According to the indictment, White was among the dealers in debt to Reccless Tigers. Prosecutors say gang members assaulted White in the summer of 2018 over the debt, putting him in the hospital and resulting in local charges against White’s attacker.
In the weeks leading up to the attacker’s preliminary hearing, gang members approached White and offered to forgive his debt and pay him $8,000 for his injuries if he refused to testify. They also made threats to harm him and his grandmother if the case went forward.
White did testify at the preliminary hearing. A few months later, White was lured from his grandmother’s home in Falls Church to help broker another drug deal, according to the indictment, when he was kidnapped and driven to the Richmond area.
It was there that gang members fatally shot and stabbed him, according to the indictment.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, which is prosecuting the case, has made gang cases a priority, though most of the high-profile cases before this one have involved the MS-13 street gang. Prosecutors are pursuing a death penalty against an MS-13 gang member in one case, and earlier this year used terrorism statutes for the first time against another alleged MS-13 member.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Former Milwaukee chief seeking damages after demotion

MILWAUKEE ( AP ) - Milwaukee ’ s former police chief is seeking damages of $ 625,000 from the city following his recent demotion , a reduction in rank he did not accept .
Alfonso Morales filed a damage claim against the city Thursday for breach of contract , denial of due process and loss of reputation .
The Fire and Police Commission demoted Morales to captain on Aug. 6 , about two weeks after giving him a long list of directives with the threat of discipline or termination if he failed to complete them .
Commissioners criticized how Morales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown .
They were also critical of his decision to use tear gas and pepper spray against protesters who demonstrated after George Floyd ’ s death May 25 in Minneapolis .
The seven-member civilian commission voted unanimously for Morales ‘ demotion .
Morales filed for retirement the following week .
His attorney , Franklyn Gimbel , says Morales will also seek a judicial review of the commission ’ s actions , the Journal Sentinel reported .
Gimbel said Friday that Morales is awaiting a transcript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before proceeding .
After Morales ’ demotion , the commission named Michael Brunson Sr. , as acting chief .
It ’ s conducting a nationwide search for police chief , with an application deadline of Sept. 11 .

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Milwaukee’s former police chief is seeking damages of $625,000 from the city following his recent demotion, a reduction in rank he did not accept.
Alfonso Morales filed a damage claim against the city Thursday for breach of contract, denial of due process and loss of reputation.
The Fire and Police Commission demoted Morales to captain on Aug. 6, about two weeks after giving him a long list of directives with the threat of discipline or termination if he failed to complete them.
Commissioners criticized how Morales handled multiple incidents involving Black people, including the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown. They were also critical of his decision to use tear gas and pepper spray against protesters who demonstrated after George Floyd’s death May 25 in Minneapolis.
The seven-member civilian commission voted unanimously for Morales’ demotion. Morales filed for retirement the following week.
His attorney, Franklyn Gimbel, says Morales will also seek a judicial review of the commission’s actions, the Journal Sentinel reported. Gimbel said Friday that Morales is awaiting a transcript of the commission meeting and its order before proceeding.
After Morales’ demotion, the commission named Michael Brunson Sr., as acting chief. It’s conducting a nationwide search for police chief, with an application deadline of Sept. 11.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Coalition seeks policy change with foster school children

CHARLESTON , W.Va. ( AP ) - A coalition representing several groups has asked West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice to change a policy that doesn ’ t allow foster parents to decide how children attend school during the coronavirus pandemic .
The WV United Coalition wrote to Justice this week about the policy , the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported .
The coalition includes the West Virginia Foster , Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network , the NAACP ’ s Charleston branch and the state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers .
the newspaper reported .
“ Because the foster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they are the one that should be able to make this decision and , if they need help , they can reach out for it , ” said Marissa Sanders , director of the Foster , Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network .
Current policy calls for a multidisciplinary team that includes case workers , foster parents and sometimes biological parents to meet and make the decision , the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said .
“ Several families have indicated that if a decision is made that they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to request removal of the foster children in their homes and permanently stop fostering , ” the coalition wrote .
Health and Human Resources spokeswoman Allison Adler said in emails that “ though the foster/kinship parents ’ input is vitally important in the decision making process , the other members of the MDT meeting are also necessary in order to make a decision that is in the best interest of child .
”

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A coalition representing several groups has asked West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to change a policy that doesn’t allow foster parents to decide how children attend school during the coronavirus pandemic.
The WV United Coalition wrote to Justice this week about the policy, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported. The coalition includes the West Virginia Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network, the NAACP’s Charleston branch and the state chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. the newspaper reported.
“Because the foster family is putting their family at risk, they are the one that should be able to make this decision and, if they need help, they can reach out for it,” said Marissa Sanders, director of the Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents Network.
Current policy calls for a multidisciplinary team that includes case workers, foster parents and sometimes biological parents to meet and make the decision, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources said.
“Several families have indicated that if a decision is made that they do not support, they may be forced to request removal of the foster children in their homes and permanently stop fostering,” the coalition wrote.
Health and Human Resources spokeswoman Allison Adler said in emails that “though the foster/kinship parents’ input is vitally important in the decision making process, the other members of the MDT meeting are also necessary in order to make a decision that is in the best interest of child.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Nebraska unemployment falls to nation's second-lowest rate

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - Nebraska ’ s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in July compared to the previous month , but it was still higher than it was in July of last year .
The state ’ s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8 % last month , compared to 5.5 % in June , according to the Nebraska Department of Labor .
The rate was 3.1 % in July 2019 .
Nebraska , which had the third-lowest rate of any state in June , now has the nation ’ s second-lowest unemployment rate , behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The national unemployment rate in July was 10.2 % .
Unemployment claims surged in Nebraska and nationally as the coronavirus pandemic led to widespread social-distancing measures that forced businesses to close or scale back their operations .
Nebraska had 986,510 nonfarm jobs in July , an increase of 6,427 over the previous month but 40,112 less over the year .
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor John Albin said the state saw a significant increase in non-farm-related employment from June to July , including in the health care , leisure and hospitality industries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was 5.9 % , which was down from June ’ s 6.9 % , the report said .
The Lincoln-area preliminary rate declined to 5 % from 5.7 % in that time frame , and the Grand Island-area rate dropped to 5.4 % from 6.2 % in June .
Unemployment rates for Grand Island , Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted and can not be directly compared with the state unemployment rate .
Nebraska ’ s unemployment in June was originally reported at 6.7 % , but that percentage was later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusts the data .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in July compared to the previous month, but it was still higher than it was in July of last year.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.8% last month, compared to 5.5% in June, according to the Nebraska Department of Labor. The rate was 3.1% in July 2019.
Nebraska, which had the third-lowest rate of any state in June, now has the nation’s second-lowest unemployment rate, behind Utah, which reported 4.5% unemployment. The national unemployment rate in July was 10.2%.
Unemployment claims surged in Nebraska and nationally as the coronavirus pandemic led to widespread social-distancing measures that forced businesses to close or scale back their operations.
Nebraska had 986,510 nonfarm jobs in July, an increase of 6,427 over the previous month but 40,112 less over the year.
Nebraska Commissioner of Labor John Albin said the state saw a significant increase in non-farm-related employment from June to July, including in the health care, leisure and hospitality industries.
The preliminary Omaha-area unemployment rate for July was 5.9%, which was down from June’s 6.9%, the report said. The Lincoln-area preliminary rate declined to 5% from 5.7% in that time frame, and the Grand Island-area rate dropped to 5.4% from 6.2% in June.
Unemployment rates for Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted and cannot be directly compared with the state unemployment rate.
Nebraska’s unemployment in June was originally reported at 6.7%, but that percentage was later revised to 5.5% because of changes in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusts the data.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Ex-CIA chief Brennan faces interview in Russia probe review

WASHINGTON ( AP ) - Former CIA Director John Brennan was interviewed Friday by U.S. Attorney John Durham ’ s team as part of its inquiry into the investigators and intelligence officials behind the 2016 Russia election interference probe .
The interview took place at CIA headquarters and lasted for eight hours , said Nick Shapiro , Brennan ’ s former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser .
“ Brennan was informed by Mr. Durham that he is not a subject or a target of a criminal investigation and that he is only a witness to events that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
Brennan led the CIA under the Obama administration as it and other intelligence agencies arrived at the conclusion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump .
Durham ’ s interest in speaking with him underscores the extent to which he and his team are examining how the CIA reached that assessment , which Trump has long resisted .
Brennan appeared voluntarily for the interview and has previously said he welcomed the chance to be questioned and felt he had nothing to hide .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the truth is going to come out and the individuals who have mischaracterized what has happened in the past will be shown to have deceived the American people , ” Brennan said in a May interview on MSNBC .
During the interview , Brennan offered details on the efforts made by the intelligence community to “ understand and disrupt ” Russia ’ s efforts to interfere in the election and answered questions related to a “ wide range of intelligence activities ” undertaken by the CIA in the run-up to November 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr last year appointed Durham , the U.S. attorney for Connecticut , to examine the decisions that were made by government officials as they investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia .
Exhaustive reports by former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee have detailed extensive ties between Russians and Trump associates , but Barr has challenged the idea that the FBI had sufficient basis to open its counterintelligence investigation and gave Durham a mandate that allows him to look into the actions of other agencies too .
Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tradecraft are now being scrutinized by the Justice Department given that the Mueller report and the bipartisan Senate report validated the conclusions of Russian interference , Shapiro said .
“ Brennan also told Mr. Durham that the repeated efforts of Donald Trump and William Barr to politicize Mr. Durham ’ s work have been appalling and have tarnished the independence and integrity of the Department of Justice , making it very difficult for Department of Justice professionals to carry out their responsibilities , ” according to Shapiro ’ s statement .
Brennan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critic of Trump , testified before Congress in 2017 that he had personally warned Russia against interfering in the election and that he was so concerned about Russia ’ s contacts with people involved in Trump ’ s campaign that he convened top counterintelligence officials to focus on the issue .
He told the House intelligence committee at that hearing that it “ should be clear to everyone that Russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 present election process , ” though he said he didn ’ t have enough information to know whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But , ” he said , “ I know there was a basis to have individuals pull those threads.
” Mueller ’ s investigation found that the Trump campaign embraced Russia ’ s help and expected to benefit from it , though he did not allege a criminal conspiracy between the two .
Durham brought his first criminal charge last week against a former FBI lawyer accused of altering an email related to the secret surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page .
The attorney , Kevin Clinesmith , pleaded guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former CIA Director John Brennan was interviewed Friday by U.S. Attorney John Durham’s team as part of its inquiry into the investigators and intelligence officials behind the 2016 Russia election interference probe.
The interview took place at CIA headquarters and lasted for eight hours, said Nick Shapiro, Brennan’s former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser.
“Brennan was informed by Mr. Durham that he is not a subject or a target of a criminal investigation and that he is only a witness to events that are under review,” Shapiro said in a statement.
Brennan led the CIA under the Obama administration as it and other intelligence agencies arrived at the conclusion that Russia had interfered in the 2016 election to benefit Donald Trump. Durham’s interest in speaking with Brennan underscores the extent to which he and his team are continuing to examine how U.S. intelligence officials reached that assessment, which Trump has long resisted.
Brennan appeared voluntarily for the interview and has previously said he welcomed the chance to be questioned and felt he had nothing to hide.
“And so I look forward to the day when the truth is going to come out and the individuals who have mischaracterized what has happened in the past will be shown to have deceived the American people,” Brennan said in a May interview on MSNBC.
During the interview, Brennan offered details on the efforts made by the intelligence community to “understand and disrupt” Russia’s efforts to interfere in the election, and answered questions related to a “wide range of intelligence activities” undertaken by the CIA in the run-up to November 2016, Shapiro said. He also answered questions about the January 2017 intelligence community assessment that blamed Russia for the interference.
A spokesman for Durham declined to comment Friday.
Attorney General William Barr last year appointed Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, to examine the decisions that were made by government officials as they investigated ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Exhaustive reports by former special counsel Robert Mueller and the Republican-led Senate intelligence committee have detailed extensive ties between Russians and Trump associates during the 2016 campaign, but Barr has challenged the idea that the FBI had sufficient basis to open its counterintelligence investigation and gave Durham a mandate that empowered him to look into the actions of other agencies too.
Brennan questioned why the CIA’s findings and tradecraft were now being scrutinized by the Justice Department given that the Mueller report and the bipartisan Senate report validated the conclusions of Russian interference, Shapiro said.
“Brennan also told Mr. Durham that the repeated efforts of Donald Trump and William Barr to politicize Mr. Durham’s work have been appalling and have tarnished the independence and integrity of the Department of Justice, making it very difficult for Department of Justice professionals to carry out their responsibilities,” according to Shapiro’s statement.
A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment.
Brennan, who has emerged as a vocal critic of Trump, testified before Congress in 2017 that he had personally warned Russia against interfering in the election and that he was so concerned about Russia’s contacts with people involved in Trump’s campaign that he convened top counterintelligence officials to focus on the issue.
He told the House intelligence committee at that hearing that it “should be clear to everyone that Russia brazenly interfered in our 2016 present election process,” though he said he didn’t have enough information to know whether it was colluding with the campaign.
“But,” he said, “I know there was a basis to have individuals pull those threads.”
Mueller’s investigation found that the Trump campaign embraced Russia’s help and expected to benefit from it, though he did not allege a criminal conspiracy between the two.
Durham brought his first criminal charge last week against a former FBI lawyer accused of altering an email related to the secret surveillance of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. The attorney, Kevin Clinesmith, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a false statement charge.
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Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Man's death investigated as suspicious in southeast Kansas

EUREKA , Kan. ( AP ) - Authorities are investigating a man ’ s death in his southeast Kansas home @ @ @ @ @ Bureau of Investigation said Greenwood County deputies were called Wednesday night to do a welfare @ @ @ @ @ Eureka .
They found 78-year-old Danny Shue inside .
He was pronounced dead at the @ @ @ @ @ been released about how he died .

EUREKA, Kan. (AP) - Authorities are investigating a man’s death in his southeast Kansas home as suspicious.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Greenwood County deputies were called Wednesday night to do a welfare check at a home in Eureka. They found 78-year-old Danny Shue inside. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
No information has been released about how he died.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Deputy pleads not guilty in fatal traffic stop shooting

CARROLLTON , Ohio ( AP ) - An Ohio sheriff ’ s deputy who fatally shot a man following a @ @ @ @ @ pleaded not guilty to voluntary manslaughter .
Carroll County deputy Jacob Baker , 29 , @ @ @ @ @ a brief court appearance .
He was released on a personal recognizance bond , and @ @ @ @ @ ’ s confident a review will show Baker acted reasonably and legally to protect himself @ @ @ @ @ Sikon III , 41 , of Carrollton , on Nov. 16 .
The vehicle was @ @ @ @ @ s fiancee , who has said the two men “ tussled ” before Sikon ran @ @ @ @ @ back .
Authorities have said an arrest warrant had been issued in September 2019 for @ @ @ @ @ of failing to pay child support .
Baker faces three to 11 years in prison @ @ @ @ @ been on paid administrative leave following the incident , but his status with the sheriff @ @ @ @ @ Friday .

CARROLLTON, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot a man following a traffic stop last year has pleaded not guilty to voluntary manslaughter.
Carroll County deputy Jacob Baker, 29, entered his plea Thursday during a brief court appearance. He was released on a personal recognizance bond, and his attorney has said she’s confident a review will show Baker acted reasonably and legally to protect himself.
Baker fatally shot Robert Sikon III, 41, of Carrollton, on Nov. 16. The vehicle was being driven by Sikon’s fiancee, who has said the two men “tussled” before Sikon ran and was shot in the back.
Authorities have said an arrest warrant had been issued in September 2019 for Sikon, who was accused of failing to pay child support.
Baker faces three to 11 years in prison if convicted. He had been on paid administrative leave following the incident, but his status with the sheriff’s department was unclear Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Coronavirus testing plan developed for Oklahoma teachers

OKLAHOMA CITY ( AP ) - Oklahoma ’ s departments of health and education announced a plan Friday that would allow public school teachers to be voluntarily tested for the coronavirus .
The plan provides all teachers and school support staff free coronavirus testing in their areas , according to a news release .
“ Testing plays a key role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our schools , ” interim Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said in the statement .
Students , staff and their families must be safe in order for students to learn , schools Superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 testing program is an important component of a layered approach to in-person instruction that will help mitigate risk of coronavirus exposure to everyone in the school community , ” Hofmeister said .
Gov .
Kevin Stitt in July issued an executive order for the state health and education departments to develop a plan for teachers to be tested monthly for the virus .
The health department on Friday reported 51,746 coronavirus cases and 715 deaths due to COVID-19 , the disease caused by the virus , increases of 1,077 cases and six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia and death .

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma’s departments of health and education announced a plan Friday that would allow public school teachers to be voluntarily tested for the coronavirus.
The plan provides all teachers and school support staff free coronavirus testing in their areas, according to a news release.
“Testing plays a key role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in our schools,” interim Health Commissioner Dr. Lance Frye said in the statement.
Students, staff and their families must be safe in order for students to learn, schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said.
“This voluntary COVID-19 testing program is an important component of a layered approach to in-person instruction that will help mitigate risk of coronavirus exposure to everyone in the school community,” Hofmeister said.
Gov. Kevin Stitt in July issued an executive order for the state health and education departments to develop a plan for teachers to be tested monthly for the virus.
The health department on Friday reported 51,746 coronavirus cases and 715 deaths due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, increases of 1,077 cases and six deaths from Thursday.
The true number of cases in Oklahoma is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.


washingtontimes--2020-08-21--Watchdog: Census lacks door knockers needed for 2020 count

ORLANDO , Fla. ( AP ) - The U.S. Census Bureau is short by more than 25 % of the door knockers needed for the 2020 census , according to its watchdog agency , and it ’ s about to let go of its least productive census takers .
Both developments highlight persistent questions about whether the bureau has enough manpower to get a complete and accurate head count under an accelerated time frame preferred by the Trump administration .
Bureau officials , though , say they are pleased with the progress made by census takers and are on pace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Inspector General ’ s alert this week says it ’ s concerned about the bureau ’ s ability to hire and retain workers , with six weeks left in the count that helps determine the distribution of $ 1.5 trillion in federal spending and how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets .
The bureau needed more than 300,000 census takers by the end of August but by mid-month , just 220,000 census takers were trained and ready to start knocking on the doors of households that haven ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thirty-seven of the nation ’ s 248 census offices aren ’ t even halfway toward reaching their hiring goals , the office said .
“ Without taking timely action , the bureau is at risk of not conducting a complete and accurate 2020 Census , ” the memorandum from the Office of Inspector General said .
The bureau acknowledges that more than a third of people hired to be census takers aren ’ t showing up for either training or their assignments .
Despite the greater-than-expected attrition , the bureau said it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fill the slots of no-shows .
The statistical agency is still recruiting and hiring census takers to fill the jobs of people who have dropped out over coronavirus fears or other concerns , and it ’ s giving cash awards to the most experienced census takers .
Census takers have been given face masks and hand sanitizers , and they ’ re instructed to maintain at least six feet of distance while asking households in-person questions about their race , sex , Hispanic origin and relationships to each other .
“ Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completing more cases than we had planned , ” the bureau said in statement .
The census taker shortfall is coming as the bureau ’ s operational plan calls for it to let go of less productive door knockers and transfer their caseloads to higher performers so that the most experienced census takers can work on the hardest-to-reach households .
The low-performing census takers will stop working before the census ends on September 30 , according a review of operational plans , interviews and bureau emails obtained by The Associated Press .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your work is over , ’ ” said John Thompson , a former bureau director in the Obama administration .
“ If the person is doing a bunch of work and not getting completed cases then … at that point , you are better off without them.
” The 2020 census has been hampered by the pandemic and a shortened schedule caused by congressional inaction .
Starting later than planned because of the pandemic , the door-knocking phase of the 2020 census began in some areas in July , but widespread door-knocking didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it was expected to last through October .
However , that planning was contingent on Congress extending bureau deadlines for turning over figures used for the redrawing of congressional and legislative districts into next year .
The requested extensions passed the Democratic-controlled House , but the Republican-controlled Senate hasn ’ t acted on it .
Without them , the bureau earlier this month announced the census would stop at the end of September instead of the end of October .
That decision is being challenged in court .
By not extending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used for redrawing congressional districts will have to be turned in by Dec. 31 , while Trump is still in office , even if the Republican president loses the November election .
The Senate ’ s inaction coincides with a memorandum President Donald Trump issued last month trying to exclude people living in the U.S. illegally from being counted for reapportionment .
More than a half dozen lawsuits have been filed , challenging Trump ’ s memorandum .
In a court filing for one of the lawsuits , Al Fontenot , an associate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s order has had no impact on field operations for the census , and that the agency remains committed to counting each person in the U.S. “ The Census Bureau intends to meet a similar level of household responses as collected in prior censuses , including outreach to hard-to-count communities , ” Fontenot said .
As of this week , 64 % of households have self-responded to the questionnaire either online , by telephone or through the mail .
Census takers have gotten responses from another 8.7 % of households .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ get harder with each passing week , since the households most likely to answer the questions are visited first during the door-knocking phase , said Terri Ann Lowenthal , a former congressional staffer who specialized in census issues .
Census takers typically will try to visit non-responding households six times .
After three failed attempts , a census taker can use neighbors or landlords as proxies to get answers about a household .
If there are sufficient administrative records about a household , the census taker may only need to visit once .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they keep saying we have plenty of workers and not to worry because we can do this faster with plenty of enumerators , ” said Lowenthal , who is now a census consultant .
“ But that is not what we are hearing from the field and now the Inspector General report is confirming that .
”

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - The U.S. Census Bureau is short by more than 25% of the door knockers needed for the 2020 census, according to its watchdog agency, and it’s about to let go of its least productive census takers.
Both developments highlight persistent questions about whether the bureau has enough manpower to get a complete and accurate head count under an accelerated time frame preferred by the Trump administration. Bureau officials, though, say they are pleased with the progress made by census takers and are on pace to finish the job.
The Office of Inspector General’s alert this week says it’s concerned about the bureau’s ability to hire and retain workers, with six weeks left in the count that helps determine the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal spending and how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets.
The bureau needed more than 300,000 census takers by the end of August but by mid-month, just 220,000 census takers were trained and ready to start knocking on the doors of households that haven’t yet responded to the census. Thirty-seven of the nation’s 248 census offices aren’t even halfway toward reaching their hiring goals, the office said.
“Without taking timely action, the bureau is at risk of not conducting a complete and accurate 2020 Census,” the memorandum from the Office of Inspector General said.
The bureau acknowledges that more than a third of people hired to be census takers aren’t showing up for either training or their assignments.
Despite the greater-than-expected attrition, the bureau said it has increased productivity while aggressively training new workers to fill the slots of no-shows.
The statistical agency is still recruiting and hiring census takers to fill the jobs of people who have dropped out over coronavirus fears or other concerns, and it’s giving cash awards to the most experienced census takers.
Census takers have been given face masks and hand sanitizers, and they’re instructed to maintain at least six feet of distance while asking households in-person questions about their race, sex, Hispanic origin and relationships to each other.
“Our census takers are working more hours and completing more cases than we had planned,” the bureau said in statement.
The census taker shortfall is coming as the bureau’s operational plan calls for it to let go of less productive door knockers and transfer their caseloads to higher performers so that the most experienced census takers can work on the hardest-to-reach households.
The low-performing census takers will stop working before the census ends on September 30, according a review of operational plans, interviews and bureau emails obtained by The Associated Press.
“They say, ‘Thank you. Your work is over,’” said John Thompson, a former bureau director in the Obama administration. “If the person is doing a bunch of work and not getting completed cases then … at that point, you are better off without them.”
The 2020 census has been hampered by the pandemic and a shortened schedule caused by congressional inaction.
Starting later than planned because of the pandemic, the door-knocking phase of the 2020 census began in some areas in July, but widespread door-knocking didn’t begin until earlier this month, and it was expected to last through October.
However, that planning was contingent on Congress extending bureau deadlines for turning over figures used for the redrawing of congressional and legislative districts into next year.
The requested extensions passed the Democratic-controlled House, but the Republican-controlled Senate hasn’t acted on it. Without them, the bureau earlier this month announced the census would stop at the end of September instead of the end of October. That decision is being challenged in court.
By not extending the apportionment deadline, the final numbers used for redrawing congressional districts will have to be turned in by Dec. 31, while Trump is still in office, even if the Republican president loses the November election.
The Senate’s inaction coincides with a memorandum President Donald Trump issued last month trying to exclude people living in the U.S. illegally from being counted for reapportionment. More than a half dozen lawsuits have been filed, challenging Trump’s memorandum.
In a court filing for one of the lawsuits, Al Fontenot, an associate director at the bureau, said the president’s order has had no impact on field operations for the census, and that the agency remains committed to counting each person in the U.S.
“The Census Bureau intends to meet a similar level of household responses as collected in prior censuses, including outreach to hard-to-count communities,” Fontenot said.
As of this week, 64% of households have self-responded to the questionnaire either online, by telephone or through the mail. Census takers have gotten responses from another 8.7% of households. But the census takers’ jobs will get harder with each passing week, since the households most likely to answer the questions are visited first during the door-knocking phase, said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who specialized in census issues.
Census takers typically will try to visit non-responding households six times. After three failed attempts, a census taker can use neighbors or landlords as proxies to get answers about a household. If there are sufficient administrative records about a household, the census taker may only need to visit once.
The bureau is “still recruiting, and they keep saying we have plenty of workers and not to worry because we can do this faster with plenty of enumerators,” said Lowenthal, who is now a census consultant. “But that is not what we are hearing from the field and now the Inspector General report is confirming that.”
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Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP