washingtontimes--2020-05-26--Age discrimination laws, CDC coronavirus guidance create dilemma for employers

Employers reopening businesses face a dilemma with older workers : follow health guidance against using employees at high risk for COVID-19 , or heed age discrimination laws .
It ’ s a Catch-22 that has lawyers ready to pounce .
“ We may be looking at a wave of age discrimination lawsuits because some employers might treat those categories differently , ” said David Barron , a labor and employment lawyer in Texas .
AARP , the powerful lobby for Americans 50 and older , also is sounding an alarm .
“ All employers should be advised that age discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for business , ” said Susan Weinstock , vice president of financial resilience programming at AARP .
Employees must be evaluated based on their skills , not age , regardless of the coronavirus , she said .
“ COVID-19 is having devastating impacts on people regardless of age or any other characteristic , ” she said .
“ Employers need to think about the health and safety of workers , managers and customers alike .
Social distancing , more regular deep cleaning of workplaces , telework and the like can all help.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The agency lists people 65 and older among the most vulnerable for COVID-19 .
The list also includes people with preexisting conditions such as obesity , diabetes and asthma .
The CDC ’ s “ Opening up America Again ” guidelines say workers who fall into vulnerable categories shouldn ’ t return to work until states enter phase three .
Phase three is the final stage of reopening , when the country returns to normalcy after an extended downward trend in new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the dominant distinguishing characteristic in deaths from COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus .
In New York , which ranks as the hardest-hit state with more than 23,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 , the state Health Department reports that people 60 and older account for 85 % of the fatalities .
In Maryland , where more than 2,000 deaths are linked to COVID-19 , people 60 and older account for 92 % of the deaths , according to state data .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package of liability protection for businesses sued by people claiming they contracted COVID-19 at places of business .
The threat of lawsuits , Republicans say , creates a huge hurdle for reopening businesses .
“ Our legislation is going to create a legal safe harbor for businesses , nonprofits , governments and workers and schools who are following public health guidelines to the best of their ability , ” Mr. McConnell said .
His office would not confirm whether the proposed protections would cover age discrimination lawsuits .
“ Especially now , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our patients in all of this , ” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , California Democrat .
“ So we would not be inclined to be supporting any immunity from liability.
” Still , as more states ease stay-at-home orders , businesses will have to consider how quickly to bring back at-risk employees and how to protect them when they do .
President Trump has suggested that older teachers should not return to school campuses in the fall .
“ I don ’ t think that you should have 70-year-old teachers back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is gone , ” Mr. Trump said at a Rose Garden press conference .
“ I don ’ t think you should have a professor who is 65 and has diabetes or has a bad heart back necessarily or someone who is older than that.
” The American Federation of Teachers , which is rarely on the same page as Mr. Trump , made a similar recommendation to keep at-risk teachers out of schools when they reopen .
“ COVID-19 disproportionately affects people 65 and older and those with underlying chronic health conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers with the option to deliver instruction remotely while students are in the building , with students under the supervision of qualified staff , ” the union said in its 21-page plan for reopening schools .
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that employers make accommodations in the workplace for employees with some preexisting conditions .
It has no equivalent mandate for seniors .
Many workplaces , including retailers and most businesses in the service industry , can not offer work-from-home options .
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is not modifying its mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for age when workers are older than 40 , or for color , religion , sex , national origin or disability .
“ The EEOC wouldn ’ t handle age discrimination suits in the COVID-19 era any differently than other litigation , ” EEOC spokeswoman Christine Saah Nazer said .
Mr. Barron , the employment lawyer , said he is watching how employers handle requests for accommodations from elderly workers who might be fearful of travel or are required to wear masks .
Some elderly may wish to return to work despite attempts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warnings on increased hospitalizations and death rates from COVID-19 .
“ What I am telling employers is : Be very , very flexible and cognizant that this is a very new area of the law and we don ’ t know how it is all going to shake out , ” Mr. Barron said .

Employers reopening businesses face a dilemma with older workers: Follow health guidance against using employees at high risk for COVID-19, or heed age discrimination laws.
It’s a Catch-22 that has lawyers ready to pounce.
“We may be looking at a wave of age discrimination lawsuits because some employers might treat those categories differently,” said David Barron, a labor and employment lawyer in Texas.
AARP, the powerful lobby for Americans 50 and older, also is sounding an alarm.
“All employers should be advised that age discrimination is not only illegal but also bad for business,” said Susan Weinstock, vice president of financial resilience programming at AARP.
Employees must be evaluated based on their skills, not age, regardless of the coronavirus, she said.
“COVID-19 is having devastating impacts on people regardless of age or any other characteristic,” she said. “Employers need to think about the health and safety of workers, managers and customers alike. Social distancing, more regular deep cleaning of workplaces, telework and the like can all help.”
That advice doesn’t dovetail neatly with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency lists people 65 and older among the most vulnerable for COVID-19. The list also includes people with preexisting conditions such as obesity, diabetes and asthma.
The CDC’s “Opening up America Again” guidelines say workers who fall into vulnerable categories shouldn’t return to work until states enter phase three.
Phase three is the final stage of reopening, when the country returns to normalcy after an extended downward trend in new cases and hospitalizations.
Advanced age has been the dominant distinguishing characteristic in deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
In New York, which ranks as the hardest-hit state with more than 23,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, the state Health Department reports that people 60 and older account for 85% of the fatalities.
In Maryland, where more than 2,000 deaths are linked to COVID-19, people 60 and older account for 92% of the deaths, according to state data.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, is working on a major package of liability protection for businesses sued by people claiming they contracted COVID-19 at places of business.
The threat of lawsuits, Republicans say, creates a huge hurdle for reopening businesses.
“Our legislation is going to create a legal safe harbor for businesses, nonprofits, governments and workers and schools who are following public health guidelines to the best of their ability,” Mr. McConnell said.
His office would not confirm whether the proposed protections would cover age discrimination lawsuits.
Congressional Democrats oppose coronavirus liability protections.
“Especially now, we have every reason to protect our workers and our patients in all of this,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. “So we would not be inclined to be supporting any immunity from liability.”
Still, as more states ease stay-at-home orders, businesses will have to consider how quickly to bring back at-risk employees and how to protect them when they do.
President Trump has suggested that older teachers should not return to school campuses in the fall.
“I don’t think that you should have 70-year-old teachers back yet. They should wait until everything is gone,” Mr. Trump said at a Rose Garden press conference. “I don’t think you should have a professor who is 65 and has diabetes or has a bad heart back necessarily or someone who is older than that.”
The American Federation of Teachers, which is rarely on the same page as Mr. Trump, made a similar recommendation to keep at-risk teachers out of schools when they reopen.
“COVID-19 disproportionately affects people 65 and older and those with underlying chronic health conditions. Reopening plans should consider providing these workers with the option to deliver instruction remotely while students are in the building, with students under the supervision of qualified staff,” the union said in its 21-page plan for reopening schools.
The Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that employers make accommodations in the workplace for employees with some preexisting conditions. It has no equivalent mandate for seniors.
Many workplaces, including retailers and most businesses in the service industry, cannot offer work-from-home options.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is not modifying its mission to enforce employment laws that prohibit discrimination for age when workers are older than 40, or for color, religion, sex, national origin or disability.
“The EEOC wouldn’t handle age discrimination suits in the COVID-19 era any differently than other litigation,” EEOC spokeswoman Christine Saah Nazer said.
Mr. Barron, the employment lawyer, said he is watching how employers handle requests for accommodations from elderly workers who might be fearful of travel or are required to wear masks.
Some elderly may wish to return to work despite attempts to keep them home based on CDC warnings on increased hospitalizations and death rates from COVID-19.
“What I am telling employers is: Be very, very flexible and cognizant that this is a very new area of the law and we don’t know how it is all going to shake out,” Mr. Barron said.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com. • Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-26--Health organization urges Nicaragua to take action

MIAMI ( AP ) - The Pan-American Health Organization called on Nicaragua ’ s government Tuesday to urgently take steps to control the spread of the novel coronavirus in a country that so far has minimized its threat .
“ The protection of life and health can not wait , ” said Ciro Ugarte , the regional organization ’ s director of health emergencies .
“ We call on all public and private entities in Nicaragua to implement immediately all of the recommendations.
” The administration of President Daniel Ortega has reported few deaths , but growing public clamor about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the government ’ s assertions hard to believe .
Unlike its neighbors , the country has not taken social distancing measures and has continued to promote mass gatherings .
Schools have remained open and only recently was the baseball season temporarily suspended until June 5 .
Last weekend , the government organized some 2,500 open air events in towns across the country .
Nicaragua ’ s Health Ministry said Tuesday the death toll had doubled to 35 since last week and the number of confirmed infections had grown to 759 .
Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people that have been under monitoring , but did not say how many .
A parallel citizen effort to track infections and deaths called the Citizen Observatory has reported more than 2,300 infections and 465 deaths .
Ugarte said that for the first time the government last week provided information that allowed the organization to confirm there is local spread of the disease .
He said they had offered the assistance of international experts , but so far Ortega ’ s government has refused .
“ In this phase , to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is essential to be transparent with the numbers , inform reliably about the situation and with total transparency , ” Ugarte said .
“ It is necessary to reduce the local spread , protect health workers and also implement measures to allow essential services to the community.
” AP writer Gabriela Selser in Managua , Nicaragua contributed to this report .

MIAMI (AP) - The Pan-American Health Organization called on Nicaragua’s government Tuesday to urgently take steps to control the spread of the novel coronavirus in a country that so far has minimized its threat.
“The protection of life and health cannot wait,” said Ciro Ugarte, the regional organization’s director of health emergencies. “We call on all public and private entities in Nicaragua to implement immediately all of the recommendations.”
The administration of President Daniel Ortega has reported few deaths, but growing public clamor about infections and “express burials” have made the government’s assertions hard to believe. Unlike its neighbors, the country has not taken social distancing measures and has continued to promote mass gatherings. Schools have remained open and only recently was the baseball season temporarily suspended until June 5.
Last weekend, the government organized some 2,500 open air events in towns across the country.
Nicaragua’s Health Ministry said Tuesday the death toll had doubled to 35 since last week and the number of confirmed infections had grown to 759.
Health Minister Carlos Sáenz also reported other deaths of people that have been under monitoring, but did not say how many.
A parallel citizen effort to track infections and deaths called the Citizen Observatory has reported more than 2,300 infections and 465 deaths.
Ugarte said that for the first time the government last week provided information that allowed the organization to confirm there is local spread of the disease. He said they had offered the assistance of international experts, but so far Ortega’s government has refused.
“In this phase, to save lives and reduce the impact on society, it is essential to be transparent with the numbers, inform reliably about the situation and with total transparency,” Ugarte said. “It is necessary to reduce the local spread, protect health workers and also implement measures to allow essential services to the community.”
__
AP writer Gabriela Selser in Managua, Nicaragua contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-26--Judge: Health Dept. must respond to public records request

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - A Mississippi judge ruled Tuesday that the state Health Department must respond to a newspaper ’ s public records request about long-term care facilities where outbreaks of the new coronavirus have occurred .
Hinds County Chancery Judge Tiffany Grove granted an emergency injunction in favor of Hattiesburg Publishing Inc. , which owns the Pine Belt News .
Grove wrote that the Health Department has seven days to either provide information what the newspaper is requesting or cite a specific exemption in the state Public Records Act for denying the information .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is served by maintaining transparency and public access to public information when the appropriate requests for such information are made.
” The publishing company filed a lawsuit May 12 against the Health Department , saying that the department had improperly denied the newspaper ’ s request for the names of Forrest County nursing homes where at least one case of COVID-19 had been found .
The lawsuit said the department spokeswoman did not provide a specific reason for not releasing the information and said her action violated the state ’ s public records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the names of nursing homes where coronavirus cases have been found .
The state health officer , Dr. Thomas Dobbs , said in response to questions at a May 13 news conference that the Health Department will not release the names of long-term care facilities where residents or employees test positive for COVID-19 , just as it does not release the names of facilities where other diseases such as tuberculosis are found .
“ Ever since I ’ ve been at the Department of Health , we ’ ve recognized the real potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Dobbs said .
“ In other states , we ’ ve seen adverse events where people are identified and stigmatized and even the centers were stigmatized .
If a center gets stigmatized , there ’ s difficulty finding staff , and then there is a possibility of undermining the integrity of the care.
” “ Unfortunately , we live in a day and age when secrecy in government generates suspicion and mistrust on the part of our citizenry and I ’ m proud to lead a news organization that isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seek the answers that our readers deserve , ” Gustafson said .
The Health Department said Tuesday that at least 1,727 cases of the virus have been confirmed in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes , with at least 332 virus-related deaths in those facilities .
Dobbs also said Tuesday that the department has completed coronavirus testing on about 60 % of residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the state , with a goal of testing all of them within days .
For most people , the coronavirus causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fever and cough .
For others , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause severe symptoms and be fatal .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Mississippi judge ruled Tuesday that the state Health Department must respond to a newspaper’s public records request about long-term care facilities where outbreaks of the new coronavirus have occurred.
Hinds County Chancery Judge Tiffany Grove granted an emergency injunction in favor of Hattiesburg Publishing Inc., which owns the Pine Belt News.
Grove wrote that the Health Department has seven days to either provide information what the newspaper is requesting or cite a specific exemption in the state Public Records Act for denying the information.
The judge wrote that “the public interest is served by maintaining transparency and public access to public information when the appropriate requests for such information are made.”
The publishing company filed a lawsuit May 12 against the Health Department, saying that the department had improperly denied the newspaper’s request for the names of Forrest County nursing homes where at least one case of COVID-19 had been found. The lawsuit said the department spokeswoman did not provide a specific reason for not releasing the information and said her action violated the state’s public records law.
Other news organizations have sought the names of nursing homes where coronavirus cases have been found.
The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said in response to questions at a May 13 news conference that the Health Department will not release the names of long-term care facilities where residents or employees test positive for COVID-19, just as it does not release the names of facilities where other diseases such as tuberculosis are found.
“Ever since I’ve been at the Department of Health, we’ve recognized the real potential danger of identifying nursing homes in outbreaks,” Dobbs said. “In other states, we’ve seen adverse events where people are identified and stigmatized and even the centers were stigmatized. If a center gets stigmatized, there’s difficulty finding staff, and then there is a possibility of undermining the integrity of the care.”
In a news release Tuesday, Pine Belt News publisher David Gustafson praised Grove’s ruling.
“Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when secrecy in government generates suspicion and mistrust on the part of our citizenry and I’m proud to lead a news organization that isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions and seek the answers that our readers deserve,” Gustafson said.
The Health Department said Tuesday that at least 1,727 cases of the virus have been confirmed in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, with at least 332 virus-related deaths in those facilities.
Dobbs also said Tuesday that the department has completed coronavirus testing on about 60% of residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the state, with a goal of testing all of them within days.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause severe symptoms and be fatal.
____
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-05-26--Afghanistan peace talks see life with Taliban prisoner release

The U.S.-backed Afghan government ’ s decision to free hundreds of Taliban prisoners this week has breathed new life into hopes for substantive peace talks with the militants , ending months of infighting as U.S. forces continued preparations to go home .
The release Tuesday of as many as 900 Taliban prisoners signaled a potentially major breakthrough in relations between the Taliban and the government in Kabul , which continued to trade violent blows after the Trump administration and Taliban leaders announced a deal in February .
After a three-day cease-fire to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government ’ s round of prisoner releases was a sign that the peace process may be back on track .
Such confidence-building exchanges would be “ incredibly encouraging ” and significant steps on the road for reconciliation , chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said Tuesday .
“ The future of Afghanistan is going to be best suited for peace when there is agreement between the inter-Afghan parties , ” Mr. Hoffman told reporters at the Pentagon .
“ The best path to lasting peace is a political settlement.
” A senior Taliban official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extension of the three-day Eid cease-fire .
“ If these developments … continue , it is possible to move forward with decisions like extending the brief cease-fire and to move in a positive direction with some minor issues , ” the official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity .
Officials in the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Kabul was also willing to extend the cease-fire .
While past Afghan talks have faltered and jihadi groups such as the Islamic State remain potent threats inside the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signaled a marked turnaround from just weeks ago , when bombings and other attacks by the Taliban and an extremist Islamic State branch threw the peace process into question .
Under an agreement with special U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Feb. 29 , the Taliban vowed to block ISIS and other outside terrorist groups and begin talks with Kabul in exchange for a Trump administration commitment to draw down the 13,000 American troops to about 8,600 over the coming months .
But the deal was also contingent on peace negotiations between the Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to have started quickly with a major prisoner swap as a confidence-building measure .
The Afghan government , which was often sidelined by Mr. Khalilzad ’ s diplomacy , is to eventually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners .
The Taliban are to free 1,000 captives , mostly Afghan government officials and Afghan security forces .
But the swap and the negotiations remained stalled through much of March and April .
The lack of progress was blamed in part on continuing Taliban violence and in part on internal bickering between Mr. Ghani and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both men claimed to be the country ’ s rightful president after a troubled national election last fall .
They also disagreed on the best approach to the Taliban , which provided a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks and oversaw a grinding insurgency against the Kabul government after they were ousted from power in an invasion by U.S. and allied forces in late 2001 .
The Ghani-Abdullah infighting became so bad in late March that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced plans to cut $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t “ get their act together.
” The pressure from Mr. Pompeo , backed by Mr. Khalilzad ’ s shuttle diplomacy , appears to be having its intended effect .
Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani settled their internal political fight early this month and agreed to a power-sharing arrangement that appears to give Mr. Abdullah a lead role in initial talks with the Taliban .
Taliban prisoners were being released Tuesday from Bagram prison north of Kabul , where the U.S. maintains a major military base , and from Pul-e-Charkhi prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capital .
By late afternoon , according to The Associated Press , scores of men were pouring out of the Bagram compound .
It wasn ’ t immediately possible to verify their numbers or whether they were all Taliban members .
They were transported on six buses parked outside the prison .
An official at Bagram told AP that 525 men were to be released from Bagram .
No number was given for prisoner releases from Pul-e-Charkhi .
In a tweet late Tuesday , Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen in Doha said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarkable number ” of Afghan government prisoners to make “ good progress.
” But uncertainty continues to swirl around the wider peace process and President Trump ’ s hope to fulfill a campaign promise of bringing American troops home from a U.S. occupation that began nearly two decades ago .
Once the prisoner swaps are complete , intra-Afghan talks are is slated to begin .
U.S. officials said they hope the delicate negotiations will lead to a political settlement while U.S. troops leave Afghanistan .
There are big questions about how the process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Taliban , which already control vast territory around the Afghan countryside , may return to violence against the Kabul government once U.S. forces depart .
There are also concerns that a political solution will be reached in a way that benefits only warlords and corrupt political elites while leaving common Afghans without a viable and functioning state .
Many Afghans , who have known only conflict in their homeland for several decades , are expressing frustration at the lack of progress in the peace and negotiations process .
“ If both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the negotiating table … maybe my youngest children will experience a good life , which we never experienced , ” said Sayed Agha , a truck driver from eastern Logar province .
Mr. Agha , 45 , was wounded in April , caught in crossfire during a battle between the Taliban and Afghan soldiers .
“ I have spent my whole life in war , ” he said .
Some analysts say the whole Afghan government will need structural reforms to succeed .
Hadia Haqparast , a democracy and governance expert and Fulbright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a “ decentralization ” of power in order for Afghan government to succeed in the future .
In an analysis published this week by The Diplomat , Ms. Haqparast wrote that the current government structure “ has led to a fight for power among the elites and influential leaders , increased corruption and violence , and brought about a culture of impunity among various political players .
“ Given the diverse ethnic make-up of Afghanistan , the only reasonable form of government capable of providing security and development is a federal government.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ article , which is based in part on wire service reports .

The U.S.-backed Afghan government’s decision to free hundreds of Taliban prisoners this week has breathed new life into hopes for substantive peace talks with the militants, ending months of infighting as U.S. forces continued preparations to go home.
The release Tuesday of as many as 900 Taliban prisoners signaled a potentially major breakthrough in relations between the Taliban and the government in Kabul, which continued to trade violent blows after the Trump administration and Taliban leaders announced a deal in February.
After a three-day cease-fire to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, Taliban and U.S. officials suggested that the government’s round of prisoner releases was a sign that the peace process may be back on track.
Such confidence-building exchanges would be “incredibly encouraging” and significant steps on the road for reconciliation, chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said Tuesday.
“The future of Afghanistan is going to be best suited for peace when there is agreement between the inter-Afghan parties,” Mr. Hoffman told reporters at the Pentagon. “The best path to lasting peace is a political settlement.”
A senior Taliban official said the prisoner release could lead to an extension of the three-day Eid cease-fire.
SEE ALSO: U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan ahead of schedule: Report
“If these developments … continue, it is possible to move forward with decisions like extending the brief cease-fire and to move in a positive direction with some minor issues,” the official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.
Officials in the government of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Kabul was also willing to extend the cease-fire.
While past Afghan talks have faltered and jihadi groups such as the Islamic State remain potent threats inside the country, the events of the past few days signaled a marked turnaround from just weeks ago, when bombings and other attacks by the Taliban and an extremist Islamic State branch threw the peace process into question.
Under an agreement with special U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Feb. 29, the Taliban vowed to block ISIS and other outside terrorist groups and begin talks with Kabul in exchange for a Trump administration commitment to draw down the 13,000 American troops to about 8,600 over the coming months.
But the deal was also contingent on peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government, which were supposed to have started quickly with a major prisoner swap as a confidence-building measure.
The Afghan government, which was often sidelined by Mr. Khalilzad’s diplomacy, is to eventually release 5,000 Taliban prisoners. The Taliban are to free 1,000 captives, mostly Afghan government officials and Afghan security forces.
But the swap and the negotiations remained stalled through much of March and April. The lack of progress was blamed in part on continuing Taliban violence and in part on internal bickering between Mr. Ghani and his chief political rival, Abdullah Abdullah.
Both men claimed to be the country’s rightful president after a troubled national election last fall. They also disagreed on the best approach to the Taliban, which provided a sanctuary for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda before the 9/11 attacks and oversaw a grinding insurgency against the Kabul government after they were ousted from power in an invasion by U.S. and allied forces in late 2001.
The Ghani-Abdullah infighting became so bad in late March that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced plans to cut $1 billion in U.S. assistance if the two didn’t “get their act together.”
The pressure from Mr. Pompeo, backed by Mr. Khalilzad’s shuttle diplomacy, appears to be having its intended effect.
Mr. Abdullah and Mr. Ghani settled their internal political fight early this month and agreed to a power-sharing arrangement that appears to give Mr. Abdullah a lead role in initial talks with the Taliban.
Long-awaited swap
Taliban prisoners were being released Tuesday from Bagram prison north of Kabul, where the U.S. maintains a major military base, and from Pul-e-Charkhi prison on the eastern edge of the Afghan capital.
By late afternoon, according to The Associated Press, scores of men were pouring out of the Bagram compound. It wasn’t immediately possible to verify their numbers or whether they were all Taliban members. They were transported on six buses parked outside the prison.
An official at Bagram told AP that 525 men were to be released from Bagram. No number was given for prisoner releases from Pul-e-Charkhi.
In a tweet late Tuesday, Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen in Doha said the militant group would be releasing “a remarkable number” of Afghan government prisoners to make “good progress.”
But uncertainty continues to swirl around the wider peace process and President Trump’s hope to fulfill a campaign promise of bringing American troops home from a U.S. occupation that began nearly two decades ago.
Once the prisoner swaps are complete, intra-Afghan talks are is slated to begin. U.S. officials said they hope the delicate negotiations will lead to a political settlement while U.S. troops leave Afghanistan.
There are big questions about how the process may unfold. Analysts have expressed concern that the Taliban, which already control vast territory around the Afghan countryside, may return to violence against the Kabul government once U.S. forces depart.
There are also concerns that a political solution will be reached in a way that benefits only warlords and corrupt political elites while leaving common Afghans without a viable and functioning state.
Many Afghans, who have known only conflict in their homeland for several decades, are expressing frustration at the lack of progress in the peace and negotiations process.
“If both sides stop this war and sit at the negotiating table … maybe my youngest children will experience a good life, which we never experienced,” said Sayed Agha, a truck driver from eastern Logar province.
Mr. Agha, 45, was wounded in April, caught in crossfire during a battle between the Taliban and Afghan soldiers. “I have spent my whole life in war,” he said.
Some analysts say the whole Afghan government will need structural reforms to succeed.
Hadia Haqparast, a democracy and governance expert and Fulbright scholar, argues that there needs to be a “decentralization” of power in order for the Afghan government to succeed in the future.
In an analysis published this week by The Diplomat, Ms. Haqparast wrote that the current government structure “has led to a fight for power among the elites and influential leaders, increased corruption and violence, and brought about a culture of impunity among various political players.
“Given the diverse ethnic make-up of Afghanistan, the only reasonable form of government capable of providing security and development is a federal government.”
• Mike Glenn contributed to this article, which is based in part on wire service reports.
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-26--Woman found dead on freeway in Buckeye likely hit by vehicle

BUCKEYE , Ariz. ( AP ) - A woman found dead on Interstate 10 last week likely was struck by @ @ @ @ @ said Tuesday .
They said an autopsy performed by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner ’ @ @ @ @ @ cause of death to be high velocity impact .
Police and Arizona Department of Public @ @ @ @ @ call of a body found in the freeway median last Friday .
The body was @ @ @ @ @ and hasn ’ t been positively identified yet , according to police .
No other @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .

BUCKEYE, Ariz. (AP) - A woman found dead on Interstate 10 last week likely was struck by a vehicle, Buckeye police said Tuesday.
They said an autopsy performed by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the cause of death to be high velocity impact.
Police and Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers responded to a call of a body found in the freeway median last Friday.
The body was in various stages of decomposition and hasn’t been positively identified yet, according to police.
No other details were released by authorities Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Serbia bans Montenegro flights amid escalating tensions

BELGRADE , Serbia ( AP ) - Serbian authorities have banned Montenegro ’ s national carrier from operating flights out of Belgrade after the small nation ’ s government excluded Serbia from a list of countries with which Montenegro will reopen its borders after declaring an end to its coronavirus outbreak .
The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate said Montenegro Airlines planes can not land at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport as of Wednesday .
The aviation agency said unrestricted travel between the two countries has been “ seriously violated ” by Montenegro ’ s decision to ban Serbs from entering Montenegro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions between the former Balkan allies , which existed as one state before Montenegro split off through a 2006 referendum .
Montenegro Airlines planned to resume flights to the Serbian capital on June 1 .
Air Serbia , still has plans to fly to two destinations in Montenegro starting June 7 .
Montenegro declared itself “ coronavirus-free ” as the first country in Europe with no more active COVID-19 cases .
Before then , the country recorded a total of 324 confirmed virus cases and nine deaths .
Serbia has recorded over 11,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Montenegrin government announced Monday that as of June 1 it would permit entry to the nationals from nine European countries .
It said the selection criteria was having no more than 25 active coronavirus-infected patients per 100.000 inhabitants .
The list includes Croatia , Slovenia , Austria , Germany , Poland , the Czech Republic , Hungary , Albania and Greece , but does not include neighboring Serbia or Bosnia .
Without saying that Serbia meets Montenegro ’ s entry criteria , Belgrade denounced the decision as political and hostile .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anger by saying the list of nationals who will be allowed to enter has not yet been finalized .
Populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday the flight ban is the “ most legal and polite ” response to the Montenegrin travel action , adding that Serbia won ’ t close its borders to Montenegro ’ s citizens as it would hurt Serbs who live there .
Tensions between Serbia and Montenegro have escalated since late last year , when the Montenegrin parliament adopted a religious law which the Serbian Orthodox Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Montenegro .
Montenegrin officials have denied the allegation .
The Serbian government has openly supported a series of protests by Serbs in Montenegro who want the law revoked .
Montenegrin officials have accused Belgrade and Moscow of trying to destabilize the nation ’ s pro-Western government by launching a major propaganda campaign that fueled the protests .
Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 despite strong opposition from another historic Slavic ally , Russia .
Both Belgrade and Moscow have repeatedly denied meddling in Montenegro ’ s internal affairs .

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbian authorities have banned Montenegro’s national carrier from operating flights out of Belgrade after the small nation’s government excluded Serbia from a list of countries with which Montenegro will reopen its borders after declaring an end to its coronavirus outbreak.
The Serbian Civil Aviation Directorate said Montenegro Airlines planes cannot land at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport as of Wednesday. The aviation agency said unrestricted travel between the two countries has been “seriously violated” by Montenegro’s decision to ban Serbs from entering Montenegro.
The flight and border entry bans come amid deepening tensions between the former Balkan allies, which existed as one state before Montenegro split off through a 2006 referendum.
Montenegro Airlines planned to resume flights to the Serbian capital on June 1. Air Serbia, still has plans to fly to two destinations in Montenegro starting June 7.
Montenegro declared itself “coronavirus-free” as the first country in Europe with no more active COVID-19 cases. Before then, the country recorded a total of 324 confirmed virus cases and nine deaths. Serbia has recorded over 11,000 confirmed cases, including nearly 240 deaths.
The Montenegrin government announced Monday that as of June 1 it would permit entry to the nationals from nine European countries. It said the selection criteria was having no more than 25 active coronavirus-infected patients per 100.000 inhabitants.
The list includes Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Albania and Greece, but does not include neighboring Serbia or Bosnia.
Without saying that Serbia meets Montenegro’s entry criteria, Belgrade denounced the decision as political and hostile. Montenegrin officials tried to dampen the Serb anger by saying the list of nationals who will be allowed to enter has not yet been finalized.
Populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday the flight ban is the “most legal and polite” response to the Montenegrin travel action, adding that Serbia won’t close its borders to Montenegro’s citizens as it would hurt Serbs who live there.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic responded by saying his government’s decision was not political, but based on health risks.
“We were not angry when Serbia closed the border with us, at the beginning of this outbreak. It was the first border they closed,” Markovic said.
Tensions between Serbia and Montenegro have escalated since late last year, when the Montenegrin parliament adopted a religious law which the Serbian Orthodox Church said would strip it of its property in Montenegro. Montenegrin officials have denied the allegation.
The Serbian government has openly supported a series of protests by Serbs in Montenegro who want the law revoked.
Montenegrin officials have accused Belgrade and Moscow of trying to destabilize the nation’s pro-Western government by launching a major propaganda campaign that fueled the protests. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 despite strong opposition from another historic Slavic ally, Russia.
Both Belgrade and Moscow have repeatedly denied meddling in Montenegro’s internal affairs.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Body of missing 5-year-old boy found in lake at campground

PEEBLES , Ohio ( AP ) - The body of a 5-year-old boy who went missing at a southern Ohio @ @ @ @ @ found in a lake there , authorities said .
Cameron Walters was last seen around @ @ @ @ @ Mineral Springs Lake Resort , a 350-acre campground in Peebles .
Emergency responders and volunteers @ @ @ @ @ for the boy , and his body was recovered around 6 p.m. Tuesday , near @ @ @ @ @ dock .
Although it ’ s not clear how the child ended up in the @ @ @ @ @ plays is not suspected .
Walters was at the campground with his family , who @ @ @ @ @ grounds , according to the Adams County Sheriff ’ s Office .

PEEBLES, Ohio (AP) - The body of a 5-year-old boy who went missing at a southern Ohio campground this week has been found in a lake there, authorities said.
Cameron Walters was last seen around 5 p.m. Monday at the Mineral Springs Lake Resort, a 350-acre campground in Peebles. Emergency responders and volunteers then began an intensive search for the boy, and his body was recovered around 6 p.m. Tuesday, near the campground’s boat dock.
Although it’s not clear how the child ended up in the lake, authorities said foul play is not suspected.
Cameron was at the campground with his family, who has a camper on the grounds, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Alliant Energy investing $900 million in solar power plants

MADISON , Wis. ( AP ) - Alliant Energy says it ’ s buying about $ 900 million worth of @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin , making the utility company the largest solar operator in Wisconsin .
The six @ @ @ @ @ Grant , Jefferson , Richland , Rock , Sheboygan and Wood counties .
Together they @ @ @ @ @ capacity , which is enough to power about 175,000 homes for a year .
The @ @ @ @ @ Alliant announced plans to retire the 35-year-old , 380-megawatt Edgewater plant in Sheboygan , the @ @ @ @ @ It marks another step in the utility ’ s plan to cut 80 % of @ @ @ @ @ .
Alliant plans to file applications Wednesday with the Public Service Commission for permission to @ @ @ @ @ The PSC is expected to make a decision by early next year .
If approved @ @ @ @ @ online by the end of 2023 .

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Alliant Energy says it’s buying about $900 million worth of new solar power plants in Wisconsin, making the utility company the largest solar operator in Wisconsin.
The six projects are under development in Grant, Jefferson, Richland, Rock, Sheboygan and Wood counties. Together they will have 675 megawatts of capacity, which is enough to power about 175,000 homes for a year.
The announcement comes just days after Alliant announced plans to retire the 35-year-old, 380-megawatt Edgewater plant in Sheboygan, the State Journa l reported. It marks another step in the utility’s plan to cut 80% of its carbon emissions by 2050.
Alliant plans to file applications Wednesday with the Public Service Commission for permission to purchase the solar projects. The PSC is expected to make a decision by early next year. If approved, the plants could come online by the end of 2023.
,


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--India, China in tense standoff at Himalayan frontier

SRINAGAR , India ( AP ) - Indian and Chinese soldiers are in a bitter standoff in the remote and picturesque Ladakh region , with the two countries amassing soldiers and machinery near the tense frontier , Indian officials said .
The standoff began in early May when large contingents of Chinese soldiers entered deep inside Indian-controlled territory at three places in Ladakh , erecting tents and posts , the officials said this week .
They said the soldiers ignored repeated verbal warnings , triggering a yelling match , stone-throwing and even fist fights in at least one place along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such confrontations in the past .
The five officials , including two military , two police and one civilian administrator , spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter .
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Wednesday that the situation on the China-India border was “ generally stable and controllable.
” The sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to “ properly resolve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation , ” Zhao said at a news conference in Beijing .
China is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sides and to “ maintaining peace and stability in the border area between China and India , ” Zhao said .
The Chinese and Indian soldiers also faced off along a frontier in India ’ s northeastern Sikkim state in early May .
Indian media quoted Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane , the country ’ s military chief , as saying the incidents in Ladakh and Sikkim had led to injuries caused by “ aggressive behavior on both sides.
” President Donald Trump said the U.S. was willing to act as a mediator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready , willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute , ” Trump tweeted Wednesday .
Though skirmishes aren ’ t new , the standoff has escalated in recent weeks at Ladakh ’ s Galwan Valley , where thousands of soldiers from the two countries have camped just a few hundred meters from each other , the Indian officials said .
India is building a strategic road through the Galway Valley connecting the region to an airstrip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,500 kilometers ( 2,175 miles ) of frontier that the two countries call the Line of Actual Control .
The countries fought a bitter war in 1962 that spilled into Ladakh .
The most serious dispute is over China ’ s claims that India ’ s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is part of Tibet , which India rejects .
China claims about 90,000 square kilometers ( 35,000 square miles ) of territory in India ’ s northeast , while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers ( 15,000 square miles ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Himalayas , a contiguous part of the Ladakh region .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting this week to assess the situation along the tense frontier .
India unilaterally declared Ladakh region a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019 .
China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move , raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council .
In the past , most disputes between China and India have been resolved quickly through meetings between local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention .
Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report .

SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Indian and Chinese soldiers are in a bitter standoff in the remote and picturesque Ladakh region, with the two countries amassing soldiers and machinery near the tense frontier, Indian officials said.
The standoff began in early May when large contingents of Chinese soldiers entered deep inside Indian-controlled territory at three places in Ladakh, erecting tents and posts, the officials said this week.
They said the soldiers ignored repeated verbal warnings, triggering a yelling match, stone-throwing and even fist fights in at least one place along Pangong Lake, the site of several such confrontations in the past.
The five officials, including two military, two police and one civilian administrator, spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Wednesday that the situation on the China-India border was “generally stable and controllable.”
The sides were communicating through both their front-line military units and their respective embassies to “properly resolve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation,” Zhao said at a news conference in Beijing.
China is committed to abiding by agreements signed by the sides and to “maintaining peace and stability in the border area between China and India,” Zhao said.
The Chinese and Indian soldiers also faced off along a frontier in India’s northeastern Sikkim state in early May.
Indian media quoted Gen. Manoj Mukund Naravane, the country’s military chief, as saying the incidents in Ladakh and Sikkim had led to injuries caused by “aggressive behavior on both sides.”
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was willing to act as a mediator between the two Asian giants.
“We have informed both India and China that the United States is ready, willing and able to mediate or arbitrate their now raging border dispute,” Trump tweeted Wednesday.
Though skirmishes aren’t new, the standoff has escalated in recent weeks at Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, where thousands of soldiers from the two countries have camped just a few hundred meters from each other, the Indian officials said.
India is building a strategic road through the Galway Valley connecting the region to an airstrip.
The China-India border dispute covers nearly 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles) of frontier that the two countries call the Line of Actual Control. The countries fought a bitter war in 1962 that spilled into Ladakh.
The most serious dispute is over China’s claims that India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is part of Tibet, which India rejects.
China claims about 90,000 square kilometers (35,000 square miles) of territory in India’s northeast, while India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometers (15,000 square miles) of its territory in the Aksai Chin plateau in the Himalayas, a contiguous part of the Ladakh region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level security meeting this week to assess the situation along the tense frontier.
India unilaterally declared Ladakh region a federal territory while separating it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019. China was among the handful of countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council.
In the past, most disputes between China and India have been resolved quickly through meetings between local military commanders, while some required diplomatic intervention.
____
Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--2 injured in crash involving Delaware State Police car

CLAYTON , Del .
( AP ) - A Delaware State Police trooper and another driver were injured in a @ @ @ @ @ the agency said .
A State Police trooper in a marked patrol vehicle and another @ @ @ @ @ were responding to a call in Clayton around 7 a.m. when a black Chevrolet Tahoe @ @ @ @ @ the unmarked vehicle , police said in a statement .
The marked patrol vehicle had @ @ @ @ @ driveway of a home and the unmarked vehicle was about to turn in behind it @ @ @ @ @ the turning car and struck the unmarked SUV head-on , authorities said .
The driver @ @ @ @ @ and was freed by firefighters , according to the Clayton Fire Company .
The trooper @ @ @ @ @ to a hospital with minor injuries and released .
Officials added that the State Police @ @ @ @ @ lights or sirens activated and conditions were foggy early Tuesday morning .

CLAYTON, Del. (AP) - A Delaware State Police trooper and another driver were injured in a crash on Tuesday morning, the agency said.
A State Police trooper in a marked patrol vehicle and another trooper in an unmarked SUV were responding to a call in Clayton around 7 a.m. when a black Chevrolet Tahoe without its headlights on hit the unmarked vehicle, police said in a statement.
The marked patrol vehicle had just turned left into the driveway of a home and the unmarked vehicle was about to turn in behind it when the Tahoe swerved around the turning car and struck the unmarked SUV head-on, authorities said.
The driver of the Tahoe became trapped and was freed by firefighters, according to the Clayton Fire Company. The trooper and the driver were taken to a hospital with minor injuries and released.
Officials added that the State Police cars did not have their lights or sirens activated and conditions were foggy early Tuesday morning.
The agency’s Collision Reconstruction Unit was investigating.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Trump: We will regulate or 'close down' social media platforms before they silence conservatives

President Trump on Wednesday threatened to “ strongly regulate ” or close down social media platforms if they silence conservative voices , stepping up his criticism after Twitter attached fact-checking context to Mr. Trump ’ s tweets for the first time on Tuesday .
“ Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices .
We will strongly regulate , or close them down , before we can ever allow this to happen , ” the president said on Twitter .
“ We saw what they attempted to do , and failed , in 2016 .
We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that…happen again , ” the president said .
Mr. Trump also continued his criticism of voting by mail , saying “ whoever cheated the most would win ” in a large scale vote by mail election .
“ Likewise , Social Media .
Clean up your act , NOW !
!
!
!
” he said .
Mr. Trump had said on Tuesday that Twitter is stifling free speech after it attached links to fact-checks on a pair of his tweets criticizing vote-by-mail efforts .
The company said they were trying to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has decided to let stand tweets in which Mr. Trump suggested MSNBC host Joe Scarborough murdered a former staffer .
Timothy Klausutis , the husband of the late Lori Kaye Klausutis , had written a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey last week asking the company to delete several of those tweets and calling Mr. Trump a conspiracy theorist for promoting a “ debunked falsehood.
” “ I ’ m sure that , ultimately , they want to get to the bottom of it , and it ’ s a very serious situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when asked if he had seen the letter .

President Trump on Wednesday threatened to punish social media platforms for anti-conservative bias after Twitter flagged several of his posts as potentially misleading.
Mr. Trump plans to sign an executive order Thursday “pertaining to social media,” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday evening, but had no details about the measure.
Mr. Trump, a prolific tweeter, accused Twitter on Wednesday of interfering in the election and stifling free speech.
“Republicans feel that Social Media Platforms totally silence conservatives voices. We will strongly regulate, or close them down, before we can ever allow this to happen,” he tweeted.
Mr. Trump’s threats came after Twitter, for the first time, flagged two of Mr. Trump’s tweets and included fact-checking links on posts tied to voting by mail.
The president has repeatedly said that large-scale voting by mail schemes are prone to fraud. A handful of states had already moved to universal vote-by-mail systems before the coronavirus pandemic took hold, with positive reviews.
Republicans rallied to Mr. Trump’s cause.
Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, called Twitter’s decision to single out the president “alarming.”
In a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Wednesday, Mr. Hawley asked whether the company plans to conduct similarly rigorous reviews of propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party or statements from likely Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden on its platform.
“Will Twitter editorialize regularly in response to his comments on social media? Or will Twitter only go after people its employees dislike?” Mr. Hawley asked.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said the president was making a point about social media platforms’ suppressing conservative voices.
“Using outlets that are you know decisively and proudly anti-Trump to fact check the president was maybe the richest piece of the whole thing,” she said.
The original tweets included the following:
“There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-In Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent. Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged & even illegally printed out & fraudulently signed. The Governor of California is sending Ballots to millions of people, anyone…living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one.”
“That will be followed up with professionals telling all of these people, many of whom have never even thought of voting before, how, and for whom, to vote. This will be a Rigged Election. No way!”
Twitter included links on the two tweets that directed users to sections citing experts who point out that mail-in voting is rarely linked to fraud and a statement that California was sending absentee ballots only to registered voters, not “anyone living in the state.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the move was necessary to protect public health during the pandemic. Several Republican groups have sued, saying Mr. Newsom overstepped his authority.
A Twitter spokesperson said the tweets contain “potentially misleading information” about voting processes and that they were labeled to provide additional context on mail-in ballots.
Some Democrats, including Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, have previously called on Twitter to suspend the president’s entire account.
Rep. Barbara Lee used the platform on Wednesday to say Mr. Trump’s tweets “put people in danger and undermine our democracy.”
“Fact checking his tweets is the least they can do,” she said.
The new fact-checking came as Twitter is also under pressure to remove several tweets from Mr. Trump in which the president suggested MSNBC host Joe Scarborough was involved in the death of a former staffer.
Lori Kaye Klausutis fainted and hit her head at one of Mr. Scarborough’s Florida offices when the staunch Trump critic was a GOP congressman.
Timothy Klausutis, her husband, had written a letter to Mr. Dorsey last week asking the company to delete several of the president’s tweets and calling Mr. Trump a conspiracy theorist for promoting a “debunked falsehood.”
“I’m sure that, ultimately, they want to get to the bottom of it, and it’s a very serious situation,” the president said this week.
A company spokesperson said they’re deeply sorry about the pain the statements are causing the family.
“We’ve been working to expand existing product features and policies so we can more effectively address things like this going forward, and we hope to have those changes in place shortly,” they said.
Several Republicans, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney, said Mr. Trump should cool it on that front.
“We’re in the middle of a pandemic,” Ms. Cheney, Wyoming Republican, said on Wednesday. “He’s the commander-in-chief of this nation and it’s causing great pain to the family of the young woman who died.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Japan OK's funds for $1.1 T stimulus to fight pandemic woes

TOKYO ( AP ) - Japan ’ s Cabinet approved a proposed 32 trillion-yen ( $ 296 billion ) supplementary budget Wednesday to help fund $ 1.1 trillion in measures to cushion the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic .
The extra funding under consideration includes support for small businesses , funding for improved medical systems and subsidies for local governments .
The budget also will pay for measures to help prepare for possible future waves of infections .
Japan ’ s economy , the world ’ s third largest , slipped into recession in the last quarter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit thanks to weakening global demand and consumer spending .
The combined stimulus enacted so far amounts to a total of more than 230 trillion yen ( $ 2.1 trillion ) , or about 40 % of Japan ’ s economy , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of officials on Wednesday .
“ I will defend the Japanese economy at any cost against this once-in-a-century crisis , ” Abe said .
A pandemic state of emergency still in effect for Tokyo and several other areas ended Tuesday as the government began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The government only imposed voluntary requests for people stay home , but the precautions hit consumer spending and other business activity .
The virtual shutdown of tourism has also taken a huge toll , while the global economic fallout from the pandemic is hammering businesses everywhere .
Japanese are still being asked to take care to avoid spreading the coronavirus , which has infected more than 16,650 people in Japan and killed 858 .
The finance minister , Taro Aso , said quick action was needed , noting that it would likely take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to normal .
“ Under such conditions , we need to firmly protect businesses that are continuing to operate , and employment , and to be fully prepared for any so-called ‘ second wave , ’ ” he said .

TOKYO (AP) - Japan’s Cabinet approved a proposed 32 trillion yen ($296 billion) supplementary budget on Wednesday to help fund $1.1 trillion in measures to cushion the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic.
The extra funding under consideration includes support for small businesses, funding for improved medical systems and subsidies for local governments. The budget also will pay for measures to help prepare for possible future waves of infections, including development of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19.
Japan’s economy, the world’s third largest, slipped into recession in the last quarter and was already slowing before the pandemic hit because of weakening consumer spending and global demand.
The combined stimulus compiled so far totals more than 230 trillion yen ($2.1 trillion), or about 40% of Japan’s economy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a meeting of officials on Wednesday.
“I will defend the Japanese economy at any cost against this once-in-a-century crisis,” Abe said.
A pandemic state of emergency still in effect for Tokyo and several other areas ended Monday as the government began trying to get back to business.
The government only made voluntary requests for people to stay home, but the precautions hit consumer spending and other business activity. A virtual shutdown of tourism also has taken a huge toll, while the global economic fallout from the pandemic is hammering businesses everywhere.
Japanese are still being asked to take care to avoid spreading the coronavirus, which has infected more than 16,650 people in Japan and killed 858.
The finance minister, Taro Aso, said quick action was needed, noting that it would likely take a long time for things to get back to normal.
“Under such conditions, we need to firmly protect businesses that are continuing to operate, and employment, and to be fully prepared for any so-called ‘second wave,’” he said.
___
This story has been corrected to show that the state of emergency ended on Monday, not Tuesday.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Wildlife officials: 2 men stole 93 sea turtle eggs

WEST PALM BEACH , Fla. ( AP ) - Two men were arrested after authorities found them with a bag of sea turtle eggs in Palm Beach County over Memorial Day weekend , wildlife officials said .
Both men have had previous encounters with the law for mishandling sea turtle eggs , the Palm Beach Post reported .
Bruce Bivins , 63 , was spotted putting objects he dug out of the sand into a dark bag as he walked on Singer Island , a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission affidavit said .
An officer later stopped Bivins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carl Cobb , 63 , the affidavit said .
Officers found 93 sea turtle eggs in a bag , the report said .
Bivins and Cobb were each charged with unlawful possession of more than 11 sea turtle eggs , which is a third-degree felony .
Jail records didn ’ t list an attorney for either man .
In 2018 , Cobb was sentenced to seven months in prison after a conviction on two counts of transporting sea turtle eggs , the newspaper reported .
Bivins was sentenced to 90 days in jail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1997 .
He was arrested in 2009 after he was found carrying a bag of 119 turtle eggs .
The state didn ’ t pursue charges in the case , the Post reported .

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Two men were arrested after authorities found them with a bag of sea turtle eggs in Palm Beach County over Memorial Day weekend, wildlife officials said.
Both men have had previous encounters with the law for mishandling sea turtle eggs, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Bruce Bivins, 63, was spotted putting objects he dug out of the sand into a dark bag as he walked on Singer Island, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission affidavit said. An officer later stopped Bivins, who was in a truck driven by Carl Cobb, 63, the affidavit said.
Officers found 93 sea turtle eggs in a bag, the report said.
Bivins and Cobb were each charged with unlawful possession of more than 11 sea turtle eggs, which is a third-degree felony.
Jail records didn’t list an attorney for either man.
In 2018, Cobb was sentenced to seven months in prison after a conviction on two counts of transporting sea turtle eggs, the newspaper reported.
Bivins was sentenced to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor possession of marine turtle eggs in 1997. He was arrested in 2009 after he was found carrying a bag of 119 turtle eggs. The state didn’t pursue charges in the case, the Post reported.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--Authorities probing 2 triple shootings in New Jersey city

PATERSON , N.J. ( AP ) - Two triple shootings that occurred within two days in a northern New Jersey @ @ @ @ @ be connected , authorities said .
The first shooting in Paterson occurred late Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ a 15-year-old - were wounded on a city street , according to the Passaic County @ @ @ @ @ The second occurred around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday , when three men - ages 18 , @ @ @ @ @ shot .
All six victims were treated at hospitals and are expected to recover , @ @ @ @ @ have not been released , and further details on the shootings were not disclosed .
@ @ @ @ @ under investigation .

PATERSON, N.J. (AP) - Two triple shootings that occurred within two days in a northern New Jersey community do not appear to be connected, authorities said.
The first shooting in Paterson occurred late Sunday, when three people - including a 15-year-old - were wounded on a city street, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. The second occurred around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, when three men - ages 18, 22 and 24 - were shot.
All six victims were treated at hospitals and are expected to recover, authorities said. Their names have not been released, and further details on the shootings were not disclosed.
Motives for both shootings remain under investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--St. Cloud diocese to pay abuse victims  $22.5 million

ST .
CLOUD , Minn. ( AP ) - The Diocese of St .
Cloud will pay sexual abuse victims $ 22.5 million and file for bankruptcy , according to a settlement agreement .
Terms of the agreement were announced Tuesday .
Some 70 victims say they were abused by 41 priests in cases that date back to the 1950s .
Attorney Jeff Anderson negotiated the settlement agreement and said it gives validation to the victims , some of whom Anderson first represented in lawsuits filed in the 1980s , the Star Tribune reported .
“ Every single survivor with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of recovery of power by having come forward to share secrets , ” said Anderson .
“ We believe they have made the community safer because of it , and they have been a part of a massive cleanup of a massive coverup in the Diocese of St .
Cloud .
It has been a journey born of great tribulation.
” St .
Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler said in a statement that he apologized on “ behalf of the Church for the harm they ( victims ) suffered .
Kettler said he hoped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abuse .
If the bankruptcy plan is approved , the St .
Cloud Diocese will become the fifth of Minnesota ’ s six dioceses to settle its clergy abuse claims and declare bankruptcy .

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud in Minnesota will pay sexual abuse victims $22.5 million and file for bankruptcy, according to a settlement agreement.
Some 70 people say they were abused by 41 priests in cases that date back to the 1950s. If the bankruptcy plan is approved, the diocese will become the fifth of Minnesota’s six dioceses to settle its clergy abuse claims and declare bankruptcy.
Attorney Jeff Anderson negotiated the settlement agreement and terms were announced Tuesday. He said it gives validation to the victims, some of whom Anderson first represented in lawsuits filed in the 1980s, the Star Tribune reported.
“Every single survivor with whom we worked has felt some measure of recovery of power by having come forward to share secrets,” Anderson said. “We believe they have made the community safer because of it, and they have been a part of a massive cleanup of a massive coverup in the Diocese of St. Cloud. It has been a journey born of great tribulation.”
St. Cloud Bishop Donald Kettler said in a statement that he apologized on “behalf of the Church for the harm” that victims suffered. Kettler said he hoped the settlement will help heal the victims of abuse.
The Diocese of Saint Cloud includes 16 central Minnesota counties, including some of the state’s most rural areas.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--James Dickey, Texas GOP chairman: We'd be happy to have RNC in Texas

James Dickey , who chairs the Republican Party of Texas , on Wednesday said his state would be happy to @ @ @ @ @ this summer if the current plans to hold the event in North Carolina fall through @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Convention and Committee would like to be in North Carolina , but if @ @ @ @ @ more than happy to have them in Texas , ” Mr. Dickey said on “ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on Tuesday called on North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper , a Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ whether the state will allow the convention to take place in Charlotte as scheduled in @ @ @ @ @ capacity arena .
Mr. Cooper said he wants to be sure officials are following public @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
After Mr. Trump threatened to take the convention elsewhere , some @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Brian Kemp and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis have said they would welcome @ @ @ @ @ states .

James Dickey, who chairs the Republican Party of Texas, on Wednesday said his state would be happy to host the Republican National Convention this summer if the current plans to hold the event in North Carolina fall through.
“I know the Republican National Convention and Committee would like to be in North Carolina, but if not we’d be more than happy to have them in Texas,” Mr. Dickey said on “Fox & Friends.”
President Trump on Tuesday called on North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, to decide within a week whether the state will allow the convention to take place in Charlotte as scheduled in late August with a full capacity arena.
Mr. Cooper said he wants to be sure officials are following public health and safety guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.
After Mr. Trump threatened to take the convention elsewhere, some Republican governors such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have said they would welcome the RNC to their respective states.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--UK lawmakers set to quiz Johnson amid pressure to fire aide

LONDON ( AP ) - Senior British lawmakers are set to question Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday amid growing pressure to fire his closest adviser for allegedly flouting COVID-19 lockdown rules .
The parliamentary committee will quiz Johnson on the decision of his top aide , Dominic Cummings , to drive 250 miles ( 400 kilometers ) from London to his parents ’ house in northeast England while he was falling ill with suspected COVID-19 - despite stay-at-home rules that the government had imposed on the rest of the country .
After days of public outrage over double standards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the subject .
“ Now , I think , is the time for us all to move on , ” Housing and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick told the BBC .
“ That ’ s not to say this isn ’ t an important issue or that people don ’ t care about it , but I think there ’ s a lot more that we need to focus on now.
” Cummings says he traveled to the family farm so that his nieces could care for his 4-year-old son if he and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explanation has prompted fury with many Britons , who say they were unable to attend funerals and visit elderly relatives , among other struggles , in order to follow government advice at the time to “ Stay Home … Save Lives.
” Johnson , who was himself hospitalized with COVID-19 last month , said Cummings “ followed the instincts of every father and every parent.
” At least 30 lawmakers in Johnson ’ s Conservative Party have called on Cummings to resign , citing an outpouring of fury from their constituents .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen as instrumental to his rise to power - even if it erodes public trust in Britain ’ s response to the pandemic .
The scandal is particularly damaging because it comes as Britain is slowly beginning to lift lockdown restrictions .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed there could be “ local lockdowns ” in the future as part of systems being put in place to test and trace coronavirus hot spots .
Johnson ’ s virtual appearance before the Commons Liaison committee has been shadowed by controversy because of a 20-minute time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affair .
The overall session is set to last 90 minutes .
But the hearing is likely to be tense , as even fellow Conservatives on the panel have expressed dismay over Cummings ‘ actions .
One senior lawmaker on the panel , former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has already said Cummings broke the rules .
Another , Women and Equalities Committee chairwoman Caroline Nokes , said “ there can not be one rule for most of us and wriggle room for others .
”

LONDON (AP) - After two months of lockdown and more than 37,000 coronavirus deaths, Britain on Wednesday finally rolled out a countrywide “test and trace” program — an enormous undertaking meant to help isolate the virus and return the country to some sense of normality.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson also hopes the program, which starts in England on Thursday, will shift the nation’s attention away from a furor over allegations his t op aide flouted the government’s own lockdown rules with a cross-country trip.
The test and trace project involves 50,000 workers, including 25,000 contact-tracers hired to track down the contacts of anyone who tests positive for COVID-19. The goal is to isolate the infected before they spread the virus. Similar programs are being introduced in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Johnson said test and trace could “unlock the prison” of lockdown.
He acknowledged that Britain was unprepared to mount such an operation when the outbreak first hit. Britain’s official coronavirus death toll stands at 37,460, the highest total in the world after the United States.
“To be absolutely blunt, we didn’t have the enzymes, we didn’t have the test kits, we just didn’t have the volume, nor did we have enough experienced trackers ready to mount the kind of operation they did in some other East Asian countries, for instance,” Johnson told a committee of lawmakers.
“And I think the brutal reality is this country didn’t learn the lessons of (previous outbreaks of) SARS or MERS, and we didn’t have a test operation ready to go on the scale that we needed.”
Britain has had small tracking and testing programs for diseases such as tuberculosis, but the sheer scale of this project is a challenge. Anyone with symptoms will be told to get a test, which they can order by phone or online. If they test positive their close contacts will be traced and told to isolate for 14 days, even if they have no symptoms.
“It requires all of us to do our civic duty,’’ said Dido Harding, the former telecoms executive appointed to head the test and trace program.
“Instead of 60 million people being in national lockdown, a much smaller number of us will be told that we need to stay at home,’’ Harding said.
While people could potentially be fined for noncompliance, Harding said she hoped that would not be needed. But the appeal to Britons’ sense of civic duty could not have come at a worse time for the government.
Though the public has responded better than politicians expected to the directives to stay home, a scandal involving Johnson’s top aide has prompted fury among people who have already sacrificed personal freedom for the public good.
Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings drove 250 miles (400 kilometers) from London to his parents’ house in northeast England while he was falling ill with suspected COVID-19 - despite stay-at-home rules that the government had imposed on the rest of the country.
Cummings says he traveled to the family farm so that his nieces could care for his 4-year-old son if he and his wife both became sick. But that explanation has prompted fury with many Britons, who say they were unable to attend funerals and visit elderly relatives, among other struggles, in order to follow government rules.
Anger has gone well beyond partisan politics. At least 30 lawmakers in Johnson’s Conservative Party have called on Cummings to resign, citing an outpouring of fury from their constituents.
But Johnson appears determined to retain the aide seen as instrumental to his rise to power - even if it erodes public trust in Britain’s response to the pandemic. The prime minister refused Wednesday to hold an official inquiry into Cummings’ actions.
Facing questioning by Parliament’s Liaison Committee of senior lawmakers, Johnson said an inquiry wouldn’t be “a very good use of official time.”
“I totally understand public indignation, I totally understand that, but I do think that … it would be much better if we could now move on and focus on the next steps,” he said - like the test and trace program.
James Naismith, professor of structural biology at the University of Oxford, said the test and trace program was “welcome news.”
“The challenges of operating such a system must not be underestimated, however, and there are bound to (be) teething problems,” he said.
One thing missing so far is a mobile phone app meant to complement the tracing work. A pilot project began earlier this month but government officials have refused to say when it will be released - or what is holding up the project, though some lawmakers have challenged it on privacy grounds.
Harding said that the app would be up and running “soon,” but did not give a date.
“I view the app as the cherry on the cake, not as the cake itself,” she said.
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Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--5 things to know today - that aren't about the virus

Your daily look at late-breaking news , upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today : 1 .
‘ THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL ’ Four officers were fired a day after George Floyd ’ s death , a stunning and swift move by the Minneapolis chief with the mayor ’ s full backing .
2 .
PROTESTERS MASS IN HONG KONG Thousands of demonstrators are shouting pro-democracy slogans and insults at police before lawmakers debate a bill criminalizing abuse of the Chinese national anthem .
3 .
LETTER DOESN ’ T EXPLAIN WHY TRUMP FIRED WATCHDOGS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was dissatisfied with the White House ’ s explanation for the recent upheaval of the inspector general community .
4 .
CALIFORNIA SUES ‘ CRIMINAL MINDS ’ MAKERS The lawsuit against CBS , Disney and producers of the long-running series alleges that the show ’ s cinematographer engaged in rampant sexual misconduct against crew members for years .
5 .
WOMAN AT CENTER OF VIRAL VIDEO FIRED The video of a verbal dispute between a white woman walking her dog off a leash and a black man bird watching in Central Park sparked @ @ @ @

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
1. ‘THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL’ Four officers were fired a day after George Floyd’s death, a stunning and swift move by the Minneapolis chief with the mayor’s full backing.
2. PROTESTERS MASS IN HONG KONG Thousands of demonstrators are shouting pro-democracy slogans and insults at police before lawmakers debate a bill criminalizing abuse of the Chinese national anthem.
3. LETTER DOESN’T EXPLAIN WHY TRUMP FIRED WATCHDOGS Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley made clear he was dissatisfied with the White House’s explanation for the recent upheaval of the inspector general community.
4. CALIFORNIA SUES ‘CRIMINAL MINDS’ MAKERS The lawsuit against CBS, Disney and producers of the long-running series alleges that the show’s cinematographer engaged in rampant sexual misconduct against crew members for years.
5. WOMAN AT CENTER OF VIRAL VIDEO FIRED The video of a verbal dispute between a white woman walking her dog off a leash and a black man bird watching in Central Park sparked accusations of racism.


washingtontimes--2020-05-27--The Latest: Premier league clubs vote for contact training

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : Premier League clubs have voted unanimously to resume contact training in the latest step toward restarting the soccer season amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The league says players are now able to train as a group and “ engage in tackling while minimizing any unnecessary close contact.
” Play has been suspended in the world ’ s richest league since March 13 .
The league says “ discussions are ongoing as work continues toward resuming the season.
” Players returned to training last week and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing maintained .
The final Asian qualifying place for the women ’ s soccer tournament at the Tokyo Olympics is set to be decided in February .
The Asian Football Confederation says the postponed two-leg series between China and South Korea will be played Feb. 19 and 24 .
No venues for the games were announced .
The games were previously postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed for one year .
The 12-team women ’ s tournament is scheduled to start in Japan ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 , 2021 .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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The NBA reminded its teams Wednesday that players who are currently outside the U.S. have been cleared to return, though quarantine rules may apply in some areas.
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf signed an order last week providing the exemption for professional athletes from rules put in place during the pandemic that would have otherwise barred their entry into the U.S.
Wolf says sports “provide much needed economic benefits, but equally important, they provide community pride and national unity. In today’s environment, Americans need their sports.”
A small number of NBA players from foreign countries left for home during the pandemic. Teams are expecting guidance, perhaps as soon as later this week, as to when they will be allowed to resume full-scale practicing in advance of a possible resumption of the NBA season later this summer.
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The NBA has been sued by the owners of the building that houses the NBA Store, who say the league owes more than $1.2 million after not paying rent in April or May.
The league responded by saying it doesn’t believe the suit has merit, because it was forced to close the New York store due to the coronavirus pandemic.
NBA Media Ventures, LLC is required to pay $625,000 of its $7.5 million annual fee on the first day of each month under teams of its lease with 535-545 FEE LLC, according to the suit filed Tuesday in New York.
The NBA entered into the lease agreement for the property at 545 Fifth Ave. in November 2014.
Counting other fees such as water, the owners of the building are seeking more than $1.25 million.
“Like other retail stores on Fifth Avenue in New York City, the NBA Store was required to close as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Under those circumstances, we don’t believe these claims have any merit,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said. “We have attempted, and will continue to attempt, to work directly with our landlord to resolve this matter in a manner that is fair to all parties.”
The NBA suspended play on March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic and faces hundreds of millions of dollars in losses this season, even as it works toward trying to resume play in July.
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Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones says it would be “very strange” to play in stadiums with no fans or a limited number of spectators this season if that becomes necessary for safety reasons.
“It would bring back kind of like a Little League feel when there’s nobody at the games except for your parents and things like that,” Jones said Wednesday during a Zoom session with reporters.
Jones said that “the fans are what make the game’’ and added that “they are what gets the players going.’’
Packers safety Adrian Amos said players would just have to get accustomed to performing at the same level without the energy that fans bring to a game.
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The athletic department at the University of Kansas has told donors it will make across-the-board pay cuts and furloughs as it faces a budget shortfall of up to 20%, even if full football and basketball seasons are played.
Jayhawks athletic director Jeff Long said in an email that employees making less than $50,000 will face a three-week furlough this summer; those making up to $149,000 can choose between a 10-day furlough or a pay cut of either 3.5% or 5% depending on their salary; those making up to $299,000 can choose a 10-day furlough or cut of either 7.5% and 10%; and those making $300,000 or more will take a 10% pay cut.
Long joined football coach Les Miles and basketball coach Bill Self in taking pay cuts in April. When those are combined with the latest cuts, Long said the athletic department would save about $1.15 million.
“We prolonged enacting measures that impact our people as long as we could,” Long said in the email, “but it has become clear that the across-the-board reductions were necessary for the short and long-term financial needs of this department.”
___ Professional sports can resume but without spectators in parts of Pennsylvania where the governor’s stay-at-home order to stem the spread of the coronavirus is no longer in force.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration said Wednesday that teams and competitors will be allowed to practice or play in counties where the Democratic governor’s yellow or green designation applies in his stoplight-colored, three-phase reopening plan.
To resume, a team or a league must develop a coronavirus safety plan that has been approved by the state Department of Health. It must include testing or screening and monitoring of all “on-venue” players and personnel.
Wolf is allowing overnight camps and organized youth sports to begin or resume in areas where the green phase is in effect.
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The NHL has advised its teams to prepare for a roster of 28 players and an unlimited amount of goaltenders for training camp and the playoffs if it can return this summer.
Several general managers on Wednesday said they were told that would be the anticipated roster limit. Each team is limited to 50 personnel of any kind in one of the two cities that would host games.
The league says training camp isn’t expected to begin before early July. If the NHL goes ahead with its 24-team playoff format, games could begin in late July or early August.
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Houston Texans superstar J.J. Watt hopes there are fans in the stands when the NFL season kicks off this fall.
“We love our fans and (having their) energy, the excitement, the adrenaline, it makes it what it is,” Watt said Wednesday.
But if fans aren’t allowed in stadiums because of the coronavirus pandemic, it won’t change anything about how the defensive end plays.
“As an athlete, as a competitor you can play in front of no fans,” Watt said. “We want to go out there and compete. It doesn’t matter if it’s a practice against another team, it doesn’t matter if it’s a practice against our own team, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the weight room against yourself, you’re always looking to compete.”
The NFL season is scheduled to open Sept. 10 when the Texans travel to face the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Watt said he doesn’t have any inside information as to whether the season will begin as planned amid the pandemic, but he’s working on the assumption that it will.
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The pause in the NHL season has allowed the hard-luck Columbus Blue Jackets to get healthy again.
The Blue Jackets had a group of veterans sidelined and were patching together lines with rookies when the season was halted in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Now with plans for the playoffs moving forward for this summer, Columbus is expected to be at near full strength, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said in a conference call Wednesday with reporters.
That includes star defenseman Seth Jones and the team’s leading scorer, Oliver Bjorkstrand, both of whom had broken a foot. And goalies Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins will be healthy simultaneously for the time since late December.
In the 24-team playoff plan announced by the NHL on Tuesday, the Blue Jackets will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in a best-of-five qualifying series.
“Now it’s time to put what we learned this year to good use and make sure it’s not wasted,” Columbus captain Nick Foligno said. “If we’re going to get healthier, then the bar gets raised.”
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The NHL’s Vancouver Canucks are considering moving training camp to the United States because of Canada’s 14-day mandatory quarantine requirement for those arriving in the country.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning says the team is still in the early stages of that possibility. He said he has talked to colleagues with other Canadian teams about the quarantine regulation and how it might put them at a competitive disadvantage.
The NHL on Tuesday unveiled a 24-team playoff format if it can return this summer but said camps aren’t expected to begin before July 1.
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Some assistant coaches and sports department support staff will lose their jobs as Youngstown State University eliminates 22 positions as part of budget cuts related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Athletic director Ron Stollo said about half of the 22 are coaching positions. The school has 21 intercollegiate sports, and none are being eliminated.
Strollo said as an enrollment-boosting measure the school had added men’s swimming and women’s lacrosse and doubled the size of the men’s and women’s cross-country teams before the pandemic and uncertainty about the future adversely affected revenue.
The personnel cuts and other moves in the sports department are expected to save $2 million, said Strollo, who along with coaches took pay cuts ranging from 6% to 10%.
New football coach Doug Phillips was in the process of hiring his coaching staff when the school was forced to shut down. Four positions in the football program will be eliminated, Strollo said, but they don’t include any on-field coaching personnel.
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The Premier League says four people from three clubs have tested positive for the coronavirus in the third round of testing in the last 10 days as teams return to training.
The league did not identify whether the people infected with COVID-19 are players or club staff. There were tests on 1,008 people.
English soccer was suspended in March and hopes to restart next month.
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A 16-player team tennis event featuring Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu will take part at the LTP Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina, next month.
The Credit One Bank Invitation will also include Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens and Madison Keys. It will be played from June 23-28.
Organizers say the event will be conducted without fans. The facility had been scheduled to host the Volvo Car Open this past April, but the tournament was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event will work with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to ensure safety and health protocols are adhered to. To minimize people necessary on site, players will call their own lines and get assistance from only one ball person and one official on court.
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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has announced a multimillion-dollar commitment through the team’s foundation to provide jobs and food during the coronavirus pandemic.
Starting Monday at the Dolphins’ stadium, the initiative will give out a minimum of 1,000 meals each weekday for up to 12 months. On Sundays, the Dolphins will work with churches and community groups to purchase food from restaurants to provide a minimum of 1,000 meals.
The team said Ross will invest at least $2 million, and with matching donations the goal is a $4 million total impact. The program will generate jobs and revenue for the restaurant industry, and employ guest services and security staff at the stadium, the Dolphins said.
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The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved Keeneland’s request for a five-day, spectator-free meet July 8-12 that will allow the running of marquee prep races for the rescheduled Kentucky Derby and Oaks.
Keeneland canceled its 16-day spring meet in March amid public health concerns because of the coronavirus outbreak. That initially eliminated the $600,000 Grade 2 Blue Grass and $400,000 Grade 1 Ashland, which award points toward the Derby and its sister race for fillies, Oaks. The track last week requested the special meet, which the KHRC granted after Ellis Park made the dates available.
The Ashland and Blue Grass are now back in play for the Oaks and Derby, which are set for Sept. 4-5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
“Keeneland appreciates the quick response of the Commission to our request, and we applaud all their work on behalf of Kentucky racing during these unprecedented times,” said Keeneland President/CEO Bill Thomason, who also thanked Ellis Park in a news release.
Added Ellis Park general manager Jeffrey Inman, “We are all in this together, and Ellis Park is pleased to work with Keeneland on a plan that benefits our horsemen and Kentucky racing.”
Keeneland plans to run at least nine races each day and will feature 10 graded stakes events.
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The Kontinental Hockey League says it plans to return on Sept. 2 to open the 2020-21 season.
The last KHL game was played on March 12. The season was then suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The KHL is widely considered to be the strongest hockey league outside the NHL. It ended its 2019-20 season part-way through the playoffs without declaring a champion.
The league says Sept. 2 is a preliminary date which could be subject to “necessary corrections” depending on how the coronavirus situation develops.
International travel restrictions became a problem for KHL teams. The league has teams in six countries but most are in Russia.
The projected Sept. 2 start date is broadly in line with other recent KHL seasons.
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