washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club to partially reopen this weekend

FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. ( AP ) — President Donald Trump ’ s Mar-a-Lago club will partially reopen to members this weekend as South Florida slowly reopens from the coronavirus lockdown .
An email sent Thursday to members says the Palm Beach resort ’ s Beach Club restaurant , its pool and its whirlpool will reopen Saturday after being closed two months , but its main building that includes hotel rooms , the main dining area and the president ’ s private residence will remain closed .
Members will have to practice social distancing and lounge chairs will be set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They will have to bring their own towels .
The email was first reported by The Washington Post .
The Trump Organization did not return a call seeking comment and a security guard who answered at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday afternoon said no administrators were available .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis , a close ally of the president , has been slowly allowing the state to reopen , with the hard-hit counties of South Florida trailing the rest of the state .
Restaurants in Palm Beach County , like most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capacity indoors and must maintain 6 feet ( 2 meters ) between tables outdoors .
DeSantis is expected to soon boost the capacity limit to 50 % .
Bars and nightclubs are closed .
Mar-a-Lago executives told Florida officials last month that it was temporarily laying off 153 workers because of the shutdown , a decision the president defended at the time .
“ You can ’ t have many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing , ” he said April 21 .
“ There ’ s no customer .
You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The federal government ’ s economic relief bill specifically bars Trump ’ s businesses , as well as those with ties to other top government officials and members of Congress and their immediate families , from receiving emergency loans and other benefits meant to help businesses retain workers during the pandemic .
Palm Beach County has had nearly 4,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases since early March and at least 263 deaths .
As of 2018 , Mar-a-Lago ’ s approximately 500 members paid $ 14,000 annual dues for access to the 17-acre ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying a $ 200,000 initiation fee that doubled after Trump ’ s 2016 election .
Members pay extra to dine and stay on the property .
Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago — “ the world ’ s most celebrated private club , ” according to its website — from the foundation of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1985 for $ 10 million and has invested tens of millions of dollars improving the property .
He opened it as a club in 1995 .
The property now boasts 58 bedrooms , 33 bathrooms , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and croquet courts and three bomb shelters .
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington , D.C. , contributed to this report .

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club will partially reopen to members this weekend as South Florida slowly reopens from the coronavirus lockdown.
An email sent Thursday to members says the Palm Beach resort’s Beach Club restaurant, its pool and its whirlpool will reopen Saturday after being closed two months, but its main building that includes hotel rooms, the main dining area and the president’s private residence will remain closed. Members will have to practice social distancing and lounge chairs will be set 6 feet (2 meters) apart.
They will have to bring their own towels.
The email was first reported by The Washington Post. The Trump Organization did not return a call seeking comment and a security guard who answered at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday afternoon said no administrators were available.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close ally of the president, has been slowly allowing the state to reopen, with the hard-hit counties of South Florida trailing the rest of the state. Restaurants in Palm Beach County, like most of the state, can operate at 25% capacity indoors and must maintain 6 feet (2 meters) between tables outdoors. DeSantis is expected to soon boost the capacity limit to 50%. Bars and nightclubs are closed.
Mar-a-Lago executives told Florida officials last month that it was temporarily laying off 153 workers because of the shutdown, a decision the president defended at the time.
“You can’t have many hundreds of employees standing around doing nothing,” he said April 21. “There’s no customer. You’re not allowed to have a customer.”
The federal government’s economic relief bill specifically bars Trump’s businesses, as well as those with ties to other top government officials and members of Congress and their immediate families, from receiving emergency loans and other benefits meant to help businesses retain workers during the pandemic.
Palm Beach County has had nearly 4,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases since early March and at least 263 deaths.
As of 2018, Mar-a-Lago’s approximately 500 members paid $14,000 annual dues for access to the 17-acre (6.9-hectare) estate, with new members paying a $200,000 initiation fee that doubled after Trump’s 2016 election. Members pay extra to dine and stay on the property.
Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago — “the world’s most celebrated private club,” according to its website — from the foundation of cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in 1985 for $10 million and has invested tens of millions of dollars improving the property. He opened it as a club in 1995.
The property now boasts 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-meter) ballroom, tennis and croquet courts and three bomb shelters.
___
Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Auto workers' tenuous return a ray of hope in jobs crisis

DETROIT ( AP ) — Defying a wave of layoffs that has sent the U.S. job market into its worst catastrophe on record , at least one major industry is making a comeback : Tens of thousands of auto workers are returning to factories that have been shuttered since mid-March due to fears of spreading the coronavirus .
Until now , it was mostly hair salons , restaurants , tattoo parlors and other small businesses reopening in some parts of the country .
The auto industry is among the first major sectors of the economy to restart its engine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the industry ’ s workforce before the pandemic — are expected to pour back into assembly plants that will open in the coming week , according to estimates by The Associated Press .
In addition , parts-making companies began cranking this week to get components flowing , adding thousands more workers .
Looming in the background is an economy decimated by the pandemic .
Nearly 3 million laid-off U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week , raising the total seeking aid in the past two months to about 36 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let selected businesses reopen , workers are still reporting difficulty getting unemployment benefits .
Freelance , gig and self-employed workers are struggling .
Even the auto sector won ’ t see a full return to normal yet , and if people don ’ t start buying vehicles again , workers could be sent home .
Yet automakers say there ’ s enough pent-up demand , especially for pickup trucks , to get factories humming again .
That could help states slow the drain on their unemployment benefit funds .
In Michigan , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits , the fund fell from $ 4.6 billion before the pandemic to $ 4.1 billion on April 30 , said Jeff Donofrio , director of the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity .
Some returning auto employees could work part-time and get still some unemployment benefits , but federal programs could cover part of their payments , he said .
At Ford , where about 47,000 U.S. factory workers will return by next week , there ’ s optimism that consumer demand will accompany them .
Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from new Ford models from the past two years , is seeing sales recover .
In Europe , China and the U.S. , Ford has found a correlation between the number of trips people take and auto sales , with trips increasing as restrictions eased .
“ We started to see in early April a change where people started to take more trips , ” Farley said Thursday .
“ The ( sales ) decline stopped and our retail sales improved a lot.
” Auto sales in China , where the virus peaked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harbinger of things to come .
China sales fell just 2.6 % in April from a year earlier , compared with a 48 % free-fall in March .
Production at many plants is nearly back to normal after being shut down in January and February .
Volkswagen , Honda , Mercedes and Ford reported no virus cases among employees since reopening .
Fiat Chrysler had two , but said the workers never entered factories .
Things are worse in Europe , where sales plummeted 55 % in March and some factories are running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pandemic has affected over 1.1 million European auto industry workers , almost half the sector ’ s manufacturing jobs .
Most are getting paid through government support .
A survey of auto parts suppliers shows that a third of executives believe it will take at least two years for the industry to recover .
U.S. sales fell 46 % in April as the virus took hold , but analysts are forecasting a smaller decline of 30 % in May .
Sales have been juiced by huge incentives , with some automakers offering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven years .
Pickup trucks are giving automakers the most hope , said Jeff Schuster , senior vice president at LMC Automotive , a consulting firm .
Through April , total auto sales were down 21 % , but pickups were only off 4 % , he said .
Yet Schuster says automakers could be a little too optimistic about sales overall .
“ Those consumers who are still unemployed are not likely to be making auto purchases , ” he said .
Some U.S. automakers , like General Motors , are restarting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one shift in factories , some of which ran around the clock before the pandemic .
Others , like Subaru in Indiana , have a full complement of employees .
Although companies are taking precautions , one big virus outbreak at an auto plant could send the industry back into hibernation .
And the industry could face parts supply interruptions from Mexico , where the government wants to reopen factories despite rising virus cases .
Automakers in the U.S. are requiring employees to fill out questionnaires daily to see if they have symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers enter buildings , and requiring gloves , masks and face shields .
They ’ ve also tried to keep at least six feet between workers , staggered time between shifts so workers don ’ t interact , and put up plexiglas barriers when possible .
All the steps were tested on U.S. workers who volunteered to make protective gear and breathing machines while they were laid off .
Automakers say they know of no virus cases among workers in the effort .
But Phil Cuthbertson a worker at GM ’ s transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will return Monday , said he has mixed feelings .
“ I just don ’ t want the whole thing to be pushed on us to go back if it ’ s not safe , ” he said .
Cindy Estrada , United Auto Workers vice president for Fiat Chrysler , said she ’ s been impressed by the companies ’ safety commitment .
But she ’ s sure some workers , especially in the hard-hit Detroit area , will be fearful because family members or co-workers have had COVID-19 .
At least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died from the virus , although no one is sure if they caught it at a factory .
The union will be watching in case workers get infected , though there ’ s no magic number for when it will try to close a factory , Estrada said .
“ If something looks like it ’ s becoming a hot spot , then we need to act quickly and make adjustments , ” she said .
“ No one wants to see that happen.
” AP reporters Joe McDonald in Beijing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Nashville , Tenn. ; John Seewer in Toledo , Ohio ; Mike Householder in Ypsilanti Township , Michigan ; David Eggert in Lansing , Michigan ; and Mary Esch in Albany , N.Y. ; contributed to this report .

DETROIT (AP) — Defying a wave of layoffs that has sent the U.S. job market into its worst catastrophe on record, at least one major industry is making a comeback: Tens of thousands of auto workers are returning to factories that have been shuttered since mid-March due to fears of spreading the coronavirus.
Until now, it was mostly hair salons, restaurants, tattoo parlors and other small businesses reopening in some parts of the country. The auto industry is among the first major sectors of the economy to restart its engine.
About 133,000 U.S. workers — just over half of the industry’s workforce before the pandemic — are expected to pour back into assembly plants that will open in the coming week, according to estimates by The Associated Press. In addition, parts-making companies began cranking this week to get components flowing, adding thousands more workers.
Looming in the background is an economy decimated by the pandemic. Nearly 3 million laid-off U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, raising the total seeking aid in the past two months to about 36 million. Although some states have begun to let selected businesses reopen, workers are still reporting difficulty getting unemployment benefits. Freelance, gig and self-employed workers are struggling.
Even the auto sector won’t see a full return to normal yet, and if people don’t start buying vehicles again, workers could be sent home. Yet automakers say there’s enough pent-up demand, especially for pickup trucks, to get factories humming again.
That could help states slow the drain on their unemployment benefit funds. In Michigan, where over one-third of the labor force sought benefits, the fund fell from $4.6 billion before the pandemic to $4.1 billion on April 30, said Jeff Donofrio, director of the state Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Some returning auto employees could work part-time and get still some unemployment benefits, but federal programs could cover part of their payments, he said.
At Ford, where about 47,000 U.S. factory workers will return by next week, there’s optimism that consumer demand will accompany them. Chief Operating Officer Jim Farley said the company, using data collected from new Ford models from the past two years, is seeing sales recover.
In Europe, China and the U.S., Ford has found a correlation between the number of trips people take and auto sales, with trips increasing as restrictions eased.
“We started to see in early April a change where people started to take more trips,” Farley said Thursday. “The (sales) decline stopped and our retail sales improved a lot.”
Auto sales in China, where the virus peaked before the U.S., could be a harbinger of things to come. China sales fell just 2.6% in April from a year earlier, compared with a 48% free-fall in March. Production at many plants is nearly back to normal after being shut down in January and February. Volkswagen, Honda, Mercedes and Ford reported no virus cases among employees since reopening. Fiat Chrysler had two, but said the workers never entered factories.
Things are worse in Europe, where sales plummeted 55% in March and some factories are running at only 40% of capacity. The pandemic has affected over 1.1 million European auto industry workers, almost half the sector’s manufacturing jobs. Most are getting paid through government support. A survey of auto parts suppliers shows that a third of executives believe it will take at least two years for the industry to recover.
U.S. sales fell 46% in April as the virus took hold, but analysts are forecasting a smaller decline of 30% in May. Sales have been juiced by huge incentives, with some automakers offering 0% financing for as long as seven years.
Pickup trucks are giving automakers the most hope, said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president at LMC Automotive, a consulting firm. Through April, total auto sales were down 21%, but pickups were only off 4%, he said.
Yet Schuster says automakers could be a little too optimistic about sales overall. “Those consumers who are still unemployed are not likely to be making auto purchases,” he said.
Some U.S. automakers, like General Motors, are restarting slowly, only bringing back workers on one shift in factories, some of which ran around the clock before the pandemic. Others, like Subaru in Indiana, have a full complement of employees.
Although companies are taking precautions, one big virus outbreak at an auto plant could send the industry back into hibernation. And the industry could face parts supply interruptions from Mexico, where the government wants to reopen factories despite rising virus cases.
Automakers in the U.S. are requiring employees to fill out questionnaires daily to see if they have symptoms, taking temperatures with no-touch thermometers before workers enter buildings, and requiring gloves, masks and face shields. They’ve also tried to keep at least six feet between workers, staggered time between shifts so workers don’t interact, and put up plexiglas barriers when possible.
All the steps were tested on U.S. workers who volunteered to make protective gear and breathing machines while they were laid off. Automakers say they know of no virus cases among workers in the effort.
But Phil Cuthbertson a worker at GM’s transmission plant in Toledo, Ohio, who will return Monday, said he has mixed feelings.
“I just don’t want the whole thing to be pushed on us to go back if it’s not safe,” he said.
Cindy Estrada, United Auto Workers vice president for Fiat Chrysler, said she’s been impressed by the companies’ safety commitment. But she’s sure some workers, especially in the hard-hit Detroit area, will be fearful because family members or co-workers have had COVID-19. At least 25 UAW members employed by Detroit automakers have died from the virus, although no one is sure if they caught it at a factory.
The union will be watching in case workers get infected, though there’s no magic number for when it will try to close a factory, Estrada said.
“If something looks like it’s becoming a hot spot, then we need to act quickly and make adjustments,” she said. “No one wants to see that happen.”
____
AP reporters Joe McDonald in Beijing, Carlo Piovano in London, Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tenn.; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Mike Householder in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; and Mary Esch in Albany, N.Y.; contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--US pilot jailed in Singapore for breaking quarantine order

SINGAPORE ( AP ) - An American cargo pilot who admitted to “ poor judgment ” in breaking a quarantine order to buy medical supplies became the first foreigner imprisoned in Singapore for breaching its restrictions meant to curb the coronavirus , his lawyer said Friday .
FedEx pilot Brian Dugan Yeargan , 44 , of Alaska , was sentenced to four weeks Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to leaving his hotel room for three hours to buy masks and a thermometer , defense lawyer Ronnie Tan said .
Singapore has one of the largest outbreaks in Asia , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those infected are foreign workers living in crowded dormitories , while the government recently began easing restrictions for the local population .
The tiny city-state has strict penalties for those who breach quarantine rules , don ’ t wear masks in public or fail to adhere to social distancing measures .
Quarantine violators face up to six months in jail , a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ( $ 7,000 ) or both .
Tan said Yeargan and his two co-pilots were taken to an airport hotel to serve 14-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
It was required because they stated in their health declarations they had visited China , Hong Kong , Macau , Japan and the United States in the two-week period before their arrival , Tan said .
Health officials checking on Yeargan found him missing from his room on April 5 .
Yeargan told the court he took the metro downtown to buy a thermometer and a few boxes of masks before he was to fly home on April 6 .
Tan said Yeargan needed the items because they were in short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been ill. Yeargan ’ s wife had breathing difficulties but tested negative for the coronavirus in March , he said .
Tan said Yeargan lost his daughter in a tragic incident four years ago and the possibility of another death frightened him .
Yeargan told the court his two co-pilots had flown out on April 6 as scheduled but he had been held back in his room .
He also said he had to give up an assignment to fly a humanitarian aid mission to COVID-19-hit countries for the U.S. Air Force due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his address in court , Yeargan said he was sorry , he made a poor judgment and that he shouldn ’ t have gone out , ” Tan said .
The American also said he has “ the highest regard for the Singapore people and its laws , ” Tan added .
The court said in its ruling that Yeargan should have asked someone to obtain the items for him .
Tan said Yeargan was relieved because prosecutors had sought a sentence of up to eight weeks .
He said he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which could see the American being released in three weeks .
The Anchorage Daily News reported Yeargan is from the Eagle River community and serves with the Alaska Air National Guard .
It said he last spoke to his parents on Mother ’ s Day .
“ He ’ s taking care of himself , ” Jim Yeargan was quoted as saying .
FedEx spokeswoman Davina Cole told the newspaper the company adhered to all regulations from government authorities related to containing the virus .
Yeargan was the first foreigner sentenced for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been jailed for between five and six weeks for leaving their homes .
Singapore imposed a partial lockdown on April 7 and loosened restrictions Tuesday , with food manufacturers , barbers and laundry shops opening doors three weeks before the lockdown ends June 1 .

SINGAPORE (AP) - An American cargo pilot who admitted to “poor judgment” in breaking a quarantine order to buy medical supplies became the first foreigner imprisoned in Singapore for breaching its restrictions meant to curb the coronavirus, his lawyer said Friday.
FedEx pilot Brian Dugan Yeargan, 44, of Alaska, was sentenced to four weeks Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to leaving his hotel room for three hours to buy masks and a thermometer, defense lawyer Ronnie Tan said.
Singapore has one of the largest outbreaks in Asia, with 26,000 cases. More than 90% of those infected are foreign workers living in crowded dormitories, while the government recently began easing restrictions for the local population.
The tiny city-state has strict penalties for those who breach quarantine rules, don’t wear masks in public or fail to adhere to social distancing measures. Quarantine violators face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars ($7,000) or both.
Tan said Yeargan and his two co-pilots were taken to an airport hotel to serve 14-day quarantines upon arriving from Sydney on April 3. It was required because they stated in their health declarations they had visited China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and the United States in the two-week period before their arrival, Tan said.
Health officials checking on Yeargan found him missing from his room on April 5. Yeargan told the court he took the metro downtown to buy a thermometer and a few boxes of masks before he was to fly home on April 6.
Tan said Yeargan needed the items because they were in short supply back home and his wife has been ill. Yeargan’s wife had breathing difficulties but tested negative for the coronavirus in March, he said.
Tan said Yeargan lost his daughter in a tragic incident four years ago and the possibility of another death frightened him. Yeargan told the court his two co-pilots had flown out on April 6 as scheduled but he had been held back in his room. He also said he had to give up an assignment to fly a humanitarian aid mission to COVID-19-hit countries for the U.S. Air Force due to his blunder in Singapore.
“In his address in court, Yeargan said he was sorry, he made a poor judgment and that he shouldn’t have gone out,” Tan said. The American also said he has “the highest regard for the Singapore people and its laws,” Tan added.
The court said in its ruling that Yeargan should have asked someone to obtain the items for him.
Tan said Yeargan was relieved because prosecutors had sought a sentence of up to eight weeks. He said he will apply for a remission for good behavior, which could see the American being released in three weeks.
The Anchorage Daily News reported Yeargan is from the Eagle River community and serves with the Alaska Air National Guard. It said he last spoke to his parents on Mother’s Day. “He’s taking care of himself,” Jim Yeargan was quoted as saying.
FedEx spokeswoman Davina Cole told the newspaper the company adhered to all regulations from government authorities related to containing the virus.
Yeargan was the first foreigner sentenced for violating quarantine orders, but several Singaporeans have been jailed for between five and six weeks for leaving their homes.
Singapore imposed a partial lockdown on April 7 and loosened restrictions Tuesday, with food manufacturers, barbers and laundry shops opening doors three weeks before the lockdown ends June 1.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--`Eurovision that never was' has fans pining for golden times

BRUSSELS ( AP ) - Over its many years , the Eurovision Song Contest has come to be a sign of the times .
So it is perhaps fitting that , in coronavirus times , nothing will be happening on Saturday at the scheduled venue of the Ahoy Hall in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam .
In 1974 , it was ABBA that ushered in a new era for the once-staid and conservative song contest ; in 2020 , it is another acronym , COVID-19 , and everyone hopes its reign will be brief .
Despite the cancellation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Europe and beyond , the evening of Saturday ’ s finale will bring some respite for diehards , with a remote television show bringing to over 40 nations many of the artists who normally would have been vying for a career-changing victory .
“ We ’ re , like , 41 people that are all in some kind of weird little club that didn ’ t , like - the Eurovision that never was , ” said British entry James Newman .
Belgian Eurovision expert Peter Van de Veire feels particularly sorry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his quirky and danceable “ Think About Things.
” “ Iceland had a top song and it could well have won , had the contest gone ahead .
They might have had something of a global hit .
That won ’ t be so now , ” he said .
The satisfaction now , is all internet driven , and Freyr should still have lots of it .
“ I never expected that it would be as much as it is .
Like , now on TikTok , there are , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
TikTok is a far cry from 1956 , when Eurovision set up the first contest in which countries from across Europe - and a few from beyond it - compete for the continent ’ s musical crown , seeking votes from all participating countries .
The contest started in the black-and-white era of television , in real , chandelier-hung palaces , and reflected all too long its staid origins with sugary-sweet ballads or corny upbeat songs .
Meanwhile , outside its bubble , Woodstock , the Rolling Stones and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yore .
Then came 1974 , and with it a sea change .
Almost half a century later , you may cringe at the glittery outfits if you want , but never underestimate the impact it had .
The ABBA song “ Waterloo ” proved to be anything but a crushing defeat for the competition itself .
It launched the Swedish foursome as a superband of the seventies , and allowed people to dream that at Eurovision , anything could happen .
And really it did .
Somehow , it became a vector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acts can be expected to be in such addictively bad taste , nowadays almost 200 million viewers tune in for the finale .
The concept of “ guilty pleasure ” could have been invented for Eurovision .
Even more surprising than ABBA ’ s victory , if not quite as artistic , was the win in 2006 for Lordi , a Finnish heavy metal band that will always be remembered for its monster masks and post-apocalyptic outfits .
The Eurovision contest became much more than that , though , and has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a cesspool of politics .
It has increasingly developed a gay following , especially after the breakthrough victory of transgender Israeli singer Dana International in 1998 .
It also has its conservative critics , and rarely more so than when bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014 .
“ There are al lot of extrovert and colorful figures that compete and that has been embraced by a part of the LGBT community .
But it has been a lot more important that people like Dana International and Conchita Wurst have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Van de Veire .
Politics has also butted in .
Sometimes the voting is perceived to push for or deny victory to certain nations , always grist for the rumor mill , but never proven .
It took a much more serious turn when Ukrainian singer Jamala won the 2016 edition with “ 1944 , ” about the deportation of Crimean Tatars under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin , which could also be interpreted as an allusion to the situation in Russia-annexed Crimea under Vladimir Putin .
There won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Eurovision broadcast will seek to honor each and all of the competitors , and still keep a surprise element .
British entry Newman will be there - in front of his television set , in true lockdown style .
“ Still going to have a Eurovision party at home - just me and my wife , ” he said .

BRUSSELS (AP) - Over its many years, the Eurovision Song Contest has come to be a sign of the times. So it is perhaps fitting that, in coronavirus times, nothing will be happening on Saturday at the scheduled venue of the Ahoy Hall in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.
In 1974, it was ABBA that ushered in a new era for the once-staid and conservative song contest; in 2020, it is another acronym, COVID-19, and everyone hopes its reign will be brief.
Despite the cancellation of the contest that’s wildly popular in Europe and beyond, the evening of Saturday’s finale will bring some respite for diehards, with a remote television show bringing to over 40 nations many of the artists who normally would have been vying for a career-changing victory.
“We’re, like, 41 people that are all in some kind of weird little club that didn’t, like - the Eurovision that never was,” said British entry James Newman.
Belgian Eurovision expert Peter Van de Veire feels particularly sorry for Iceland’s Dadi Freyr, and his quirky and danceable “Think About Things.”
“Iceland had a top song and it could well have won, had the contest gone ahead. They might have had something of a global hit. That won’t be so now,” he said.
The satisfaction now, is all internet driven, and Freyr should still have lots of it.
“I never expected that it would be as much as it is. Like, now on TikTok, there are, like, 44,000 videos using the song,” he said.
TikTok is a far cry from 1956, when Eurovision set up the first contest in which countries from across Europe - and a few from beyond it - compete for the continent’s musical crown, seeking votes from all participating countries.
The contest started in the black-and-white era of television, in real, chandelier-hung palaces, and reflected all too long its staid origins with sugary-sweet ballads or corny upbeat songs. Meanwhile, outside its bubble, Woodstock, the Rolling Stones and The Doors were titillating the youth of yore.
Then came 1974, and with it a sea change. Almost half a century later, you may cringe at the glittery outfits if you want, but never underestimate the impact it had. The ABBA song “Waterloo” proved to be anything but a crushing defeat for the competition itself.
It launched the Swedish foursome as a superband of the seventies, and allowed people to dream that at Eurovision, anything could happen.
And really it did. Somehow, it became a vector of camp and kitsch. Perhaps because acts can be expected to be in such addictively bad taste, nowadays almost 200 million viewers tune in for the finale. The concept of “guilty pleasure” could have been invented for Eurovision.
Even more surprising than ABBA’s victory, if not quite as artistic, was the win in 2006 for Lordi, a Finnish heavy metal band that will always be remembered for its monster masks and post-apocalyptic outfits.
The Eurovision contest became much more than that, though, and has become a symbol for sexual rights and, sometimes, a cesspool of politics.
It has increasingly developed a gay following, especially after the breakthrough victory of transgender Israeli singer Dana International in 1998. It also has its conservative critics, and rarely more so than when bearded Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014.
“There are al lot of extrovert and colorful figures that compete and that has been embraced by a part of the LGBT community. But it has been a lot more important that people like Dana International and Conchita Wurst have been able to make clear statements,” said Van de Veire.
Politics has also butted in. Sometimes the voting is perceived to push for or deny victory to certain nations, always grist for the rumor mill, but never proven.
It took a much more serious turn when Ukrainian singer Jamala won the 2016 edition with “1944,” about the deportation of Crimean Tatars under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, which could also be interpreted as an allusion to the situation in Russia-annexed Crimea under Vladimir Putin.
There won’t be any such issues this Saturday, when the Eurovision broadcast will seek to honor each and all of the competitors, and still keep a surprise element.
British entry Newman will be there - in front of his television set, in true lockdown style.
“Still going to have a Eurovision party at home - just me and my wife,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--New York tourist arrested after posting Hawaii beach photos

HONOLULU ( AP ) - A tourist from New York was arrested for allegedly violating Hawaii ’ s traveler quarantine after he posted on Instagram photos of himself sunbathing and carrying a surfboard , state officials said .
Hawaii authorities have been cracking down on travelers who defy a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the islands , a rule put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
As of Friday , Hawaii reported one new case of COVI-19 , bringing the statewide total 638 cases and 17 deaths .
Some tourists have been arrested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 , of the Bronx , arrived in Honolulu on Monday , said a news release from the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center .
“ He allegedly left his hotel room the day he arrived and traveled many places using public transportation , ” the release said .
“ Authorities became aware of his social media posts from citizens who saw posts of him - on the beach with a surfboard , sunbathing , and walking around Waikiki at night.
” Agents from the state attorney general ’ s office arrested him Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they saw Peters leave his room and the hotel numerous times .
Travelers in quarantine aren ’ t allowed to leave hotel rooms or residences for any reason except medical emergencies .
Hotel guests don ’ t receive housekeeping services and must arrange for food to be delivered to them .
Peters was booked , and his bail was set at $ 4,000 .
He couldn ’ t immediately be reached for comment Friday .
He didn ’ t immediately respond to messages on an Instagram account with the handle @ tariquepeters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the location “ Honolulu - Waikiki Beach ” shows him carrying a surfboard on a beach .
A photo from May 4 shows him wearing a mask in New York City ’ s Bryant Park .
Lawmakers have been struggling with how to enhance enforcement of the quarantine as people keep arriving to Hawaii .
On Thursday , 252 visitors and 318 residents arrived , according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority .
During the same time last year , nearly 30,000 passenger arrived in the tourism-dependent state daily .

HONOLULU (AP) - A tourist from New York was arrested for allegedly violating Hawaii’s traveler quarantine after he posted on Instagram photos of himself sunbathing and carrying a surfboard, state officials said.
Hawaii authorities have been cracking down on travelers who defy a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving in the islands, a rule put in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Friday, Hawaii reported one new case of COVI-19, bringing the statewide total 638 cases and 17 deaths.
Some tourists have been arrested for defying the quarantine.
Tarique Peters, 23, of the Bronx, arrived in Honolulu on Monday, said a news release from the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center.
“He allegedly left his hotel room the day he arrived and traveled many places using public transportation,” the release said. “Authorities became aware of his social media posts from citizens who saw posts of him - on the beach with a surfboard, sunbathing, and walking around Waikiki at night.”
Agents from the state attorney general’s office arrested him Friday morning. Hotel staff told the agents they saw Peters leave his room and the hotel numerous times.
Travelers in quarantine aren’t allowed to leave hotel rooms or residences for any reason except medical emergencies. Hotel guests don’t receive housekeeping services and must arrange for food to be delivered to them.
Peters was booked, and his bail was set at $4,000.
He couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Friday. He didn’t immediately respond to messages on an Instagram account with the handle @tariquepeters.
A photo from two days ago with the location “Honolulu - Waikiki Beach” shows him carrying a surfboard on a beach. A photo from May 4 shows him wearing a mask in New York City’s Bryant Park.
Lawmakers have been struggling with how to enhance enforcement of the quarantine as people keep arriving to Hawaii. On Thursday, 252 visitors and 318 residents arrived, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. During the same time last year, nearly 30,000 passengers arrived in the tourism-dependent state daily.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Peter Navarro blames China for U.S. coronavirus deaths from 'biological Chernobyl'

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Friday that the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for U.S. coronavirus deaths , calling the devastating pandemic a “ biological Chernobyl that they ’ ve unleashed on the world.
” Mr. Navarro made his comments in response to reports in Chinese media about possible “ countermeasures ” in response to the Trump administration ’ s plan to block shipments of semiconductors to the Chinese telecom firm Huawei .
He described the reports as a distraction .
“ Here ’ s the thing , Martha , ” said Mr. Navarro on Fox ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They ’ re talking about stuff here , like it ’ s about this big compared to the pandemic that the Chinese Communist Party has foisted on the world.
” He continued : “ They ’ ve already cost us $ 10 trillion in monetary and fiscal stimulus , they ’ ve killed over 80,000 Americans and 100,000 people worldwide.
” The CCP-controlled Global Times , which Mr. Navarro dismissed as one of China ’ s “ propaganda rags , ” reported Friday that China is planning to take “ a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countermeasures against U.S. individuals.
” “ When I hear about an angry China and these kinds of retaliations , I think it ’ s important to put it in this broader context of the biological Chernobyl that they ’ ve unleashed on the world , ” Mr. Navarro said .
“ I think that ’ s what we should focus on.
” Mr. Navarro also defended the administration ’ s decision to target Huawei ’ s acquisition of semiconductors , saying that “ there isn ’ t a more dangerous company on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic future than Huawei.
” “ President Donald J. Trump has drawn a firm line in the sand with Huawei and our policy has been consistent on that , ” he said .
The novel coronavirus , which originated in Wuhan , China , has resulted in 87,493 U.S. deaths and 307,108 deaths worldwide , according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Friday that the Chinese Communist Party is responsible for U.S. coronavirus deaths, calling the devastating pandemic a “biological Chernobyl that they’ve unleashed on the world.”
Mr. Navarro made his comments in response to reports in Chinese media about possible “countermeasures” in response to the Trump administration’s plan to block shipments of semiconductors to the Chinese telecom firm Huawei.
He described the reports as a distraction. “Here’s the thing, Martha,” said Mr. Navarro on Fox’s “The Story With Martha MacCallum.” “They’re talking about stuff here, like it’s about this big compared to the pandemic that the Chinese Communist Party has foisted on the world.”
He continued: “They’ve already cost us $10 trillion in monetary and fiscal stimulus, they’ve killed over 80,000 Americans and 100,000 people worldwide.”
The CCP-controlled Global Times, which Mr. Navarro dismissed as one of China’s “propaganda rags,” reported Friday that China is planning to take “a series of countermeasures,” including “punitive countermeasures against U.S. individuals.”
“When I hear about an angry China and these kinds of retaliations, I think it’s important to put it in this broader context of the biological Chernobyl that they’ve unleashed on the world,” Mr. Navarro said. “I think that’s what we should focus on.”
Mr. Navarro also defended the administration’s decision to target Huawei’s acquisition of semiconductors, saying that “there isn’t a more dangerous company on the planet to the American people and our economic future than Huawei.”
“President Donald J. Trump has drawn a firm line in the sand with Huawei and our policy has been consistent on that,” he said.
The novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has resulted in 87,493 U.S. deaths and 307,108 deaths worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Dems narrowly defeat GOP motion to bar undocumented immigrants from receiving coronavirus payments

House Democrats on Friday narrowly rejected a GOP-led motion to prevent illegal immigrants from getting coronavirus stimulus checks .
The @ @ @ @ @ motion to recommit , failed on a 198-209 basis , and 13 Democrats joined Republicans @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans said this particular portion of the bill , as written , would allow @ @ @ @ @ the $ 1,200 stimulus checks they were excluded from in the $ 2.2 trillion CARES @ @ @ @ @ passed , it could have endangered the final passage of the $ 3 trillion coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ the immigration issue was to Democrats , particularly the large progressive block .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ for payments to go through the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number , which many illegal immigrants @ @ @ @ @ or at least to mixed-status families .
Motions to recommit typically are doomed to fail @ @ @ @ @ several victories against the “ big tent ” Democrats by splintering off vulnerable Democrats from @ @ @

House Democrats on Friday narrowly rejected a GOP-led motion to prevent illegal immigrants from getting coronavirus stimulus checks.
The provision, known as a motion to recommit, failed on a 198-209 basis, and 13 Democrats joined Republicans to try and pass it.
Republicans said this particular portion of the bill, as written, would allow these immigrants to retroactively receive the $1,200 stimulus checks they were excluded from in the $2.2 trillion CARES package.
Had the motion passed, it could have endangered the final passage of the $3 trillion coronavirus bill, given how important the immigration issue was to Democrats, particularly the large progressive block.
Earlier this month, they had called for payments to go through the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which many illegal immigrants use to file taxes, or at least to mixed-status families.
Motions to recommit typically are doomed to fail, but Republicans have scored several victories against the “big tent” Democrats by splintering off vulnerable Democrats from conservative-leaning districts.
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Chicago mayor delays demolition at coal plant amid concerns

CHICAGO ( AP ) - Chicago ’ s mayor halted a demolition planned at a coal plant amid concern that another dust cloud could cover parts of a neighborhood as it did after an implosion at the site in April .
Community leaders protested outside Mayor Lori Lightfoot ’ s Logan Square home on Thursday following an announcement that the city would authorize demolition of a structure at the plant because “ the building is structurally unsound and must be dismantled.
” “ The health and safety of Chicago ’ s residents remains the top priority of this Administration , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of community members regarding the demolition of a small building on the former Crawford Generating Station site , ” Lightfoot said in a statement .
Aldermen George Cardenas and .
Mike Rodriguez , who represent parts of the Little Village neighborhood , said they did not support a demolition .
Pilsen Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez joined protesters in criticizing Lightfoot ’ s plan .
The demolition in April put all residents ’ health at risk , Cardenas said in a statement imploring Lightfoot ’ s administration not to go through with the demolition .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : We are fighting a respiratory pandemic .
Our most vulnerable residents live in Little Village.
” Lightfoot said she is delaying the demolition to discuss the “ structurally dangerous condition of that small building ” with the community .
Earlier this month , the Illinois attorney general ’ s office filed a lawsuit against Hilco Redevelopment Partners and its general contractors , MCM Management and Controlled Demolition Inc. for the release of contaminants during last month ’ s demolition .
Hilco acknowledged not following a dust mitigation plan it gave the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago’s mayor halted a demolition planned at a coal plant amid concern that another dust cloud could cover parts of a neighborhood as it did after an implosion at the site in April.
Community leaders protested outside Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Logan Square home on Thursday following an announcement that the city would authorize demolition of a structure at the plant because “the building is structurally unsound and must be dismantled.”
“The health and safety of Chicago’s residents remains the top priority of this Administration, and today I have heard the concerns of community members regarding the demolition of a small building on the former Crawford Generating Station site,” Lightfoot said in a statement.
Aldermen George Cardenas and. Mike Rodriguez, who represent parts of the Little Village neighborhood, said they did not support a demolition. Pilsen Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez joined protesters in criticizing Lightfoot’s plan.
The demolition in April put all residents’ health at risk, Cardenas said in a statement imploring Lightfoot’s administration not to go through with the demolition. “I cannot stress this enough: We are fighting a respiratory pandemic. Our most vulnerable residents live in Little Village.”
Lightfoot said she is delaying the demolition to discuss the “structurally dangerous condition of that small building” with the community.
Earlier this month, the Illinois attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against Hilco Redevelopment Partners and its general contractors, MCM Management and Controlled Demolition Inc. for the release of contaminants during last month’s demolition.
Hilco acknowledged not following a dust mitigation plan it gave the city. The company was fined $68,000.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Lawmaker called 'domestic terrorist' won't seek reelection

SPOKANE , Wash. ( AP ) - A Washington state lawmaker whose actions surrounding an armed standoff with federal agents were dubbed “ domestic terrorism ” will not seek reelection .
The Spokesman-Review reports that Matt Shea did not file a petition of candidacy for his state House seat on Friday , the last day available for people seeking offices in the 2020 election .
Shea , a Republican , is from Spokane Valley .
A staunch conservative Christian and a fiery orator , Shea is a favorite among gun rights groups .
Shea is a co-founder of the Coalition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of politicians and anti-government and militia supporters throughout the U.S. West .
Its goal is to “ stop unconstitutional actions against United States citizens , ″ according to the December report into Shea ’ s activities , paid for by the Washington state House .
The report , by a Seattle-based private investigation agency , found Shea helped plan , engaged in or promoted three armed conflicts against the U.S. government in recent years .
And it called his actions in one - the 2016 standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge - an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States.
” Following the report , Shea was removed from the House Republican Caucus .
Most recently he was billed $ 4,700 for the cleanup of olive oil he intentionally poured on the steps of the state Capitol in March following an earlier demonstration by Satanists who had marched around the building .
Shea rarely speaks to the news media .
A phone call to his legislative office went unanswered .
Shea declined to be interviewed or participate in the report and called its findings a “ lie ” in a recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely accused of being a ‘ domestic terrorist ’ by a private investigator who never spoke to the principals involved in the incidents she described and relied instead on anonymous sources , ” he wrote .

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - A Washington state lawmaker whose actions surrounding an armed standoff with federal agents were dubbed “domestic terrorism” will not seek reelection.
The Spokesman-Review reports that Matt Shea did not file a petition of candidacy for his state House seat on Friday, the last day available for people seeking offices in the 2020 election. Shea, a Republican, is from Spokane Valley.
A staunch conservative Christian and a fiery orator, Shea is a favorite among gun rights groups.
Shea is a co-founder of the Coalition of Western States, a loose federation of politicians and anti-government and militia supporters throughout the U.S. West. Its goal is to “stop unconstitutional actions against United States citizens,″ according to the December report into Shea’s activities, paid for by the Washington state House.
The report, by a Seattle-based private investigation agency, found Shea helped plan, engaged in or promoted three armed conflicts against the U.S. government in recent years. And it called his actions in one - the 2016 standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge - an “act of domestic terrorism against the United States.”
Following the report, Shea was removed from the House Republican Caucus. Most recently he was billed $4,700 for the cleanup of olive oil he intentionally poured on the steps of the state Capitol in March following an earlier demonstration by Satanists who had marched around the building.
Shea rarely speaks to the news media. A phone call to his legislative office went unanswered. Shea declined to be interviewed or participate in the report and called its findings a “lie” in a recent Facebook post.
“I have been falsely accused of being a ‘domestic terrorist’ by a private investigator who never spoke to the principals involved in the incidents she described and relied instead on anonymous sources,” he wrote.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Federal judge orders thousands of LA homeless relocated

Associated Press ( AP ) - A federal judge on Friday order Los Angeles city and county to move thousands of homeless people who are living near freeways , saying their health is at risk from pollution and the coronavirus .
Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges .
The order would take effect on May 22 .
“ Without adequate access to shelter , hygiene products , and sanitation facilities , individuals experiencing homelessness face a greater risk of contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the homeless community would threaten the general public as well , ” Carter said in the ruling .
He also said those living near freeways are exposed to pollution , including lead , that can shorten their live expectancy by decades .
Carter also said the location also means the homeless face a greater danger of being struck by a car or injured during an accident or earthquake .
The injunction was issue in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights that accused officials in greater Los Angeles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The city will continue to collaborate with the other parties and the court to do all we can to provide needed shelter and services to our homeless population , and ensure our public spaces are safe and accessible for everyone , ” Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement .

Associated Press (AP) - The city of Los Angeles and LA County must find shelter for thousands of homeless people who are living near freeways, a federal judge ordered Friday, saying their health is at risk from pollution, earthquakes and the coronavirus.
U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter issued a preliminary injunction requiring relocation of an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people camping near freeway ramps and under overpasses and bridges. He gave officials one week - until May 22 - to come up with a plan for providing “humane” housing.
“Without adequate access to shelter, hygiene products, and sanitation facilities, individuals experiencing homelessness face a greater risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, and an outbreak in the homeless community would threaten the general public as well,” Carter wrote.
He said those living near freeways are exposed to pollution, including lead, that can shorten their life expectancy by decades. Carter also said the location means the homeless face a greater danger of being struck by a car or injured during an accident or earthquake.
Carter said alternatives to shelters could include “safe parking sites” to camp or hotel and motel rooms that the county is renting under Project Roomkey, a state program established during the pandemic to get thousands of homeless off the streets temporarily to avoid transmission of COVID-19.
The injunction was issued in a lawsuit filed by the LA Alliance for Human Rights, which accused officials in greater Los Angeles of failing to comprehensively address the homelessness crisis.
“It seems like this order was meant to galvanize action and really compel all parties to start thinking these challenges in a new and innovative way,” said Daniel Conway, policy adviser for the alliance. “The judge has, frankly, issued a challenge: Let’s make this work and let’s start saving lives.”
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti expressed hope for an agreement by the deadline.
“The judge has asked us to work with him to prioritize folks that are there, living under and over freeway overpasses, and we hope in the coming week that we can come to some common agreements with all the parties in the court case,” he said.
The lawsuit, filed in March, asked the judge to set a “legally enforceable mandate” to establish homeless services and enough beds for anyone who needs one on any given night.
Residents are confronted daily with public health risks, blocked sidewalks, untreated mental illness and addiction, environmental hazards and increased crime, according to the filing.
While once largely confined to the notorious Skid Row neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles, encampments have spread countywide. Freeway overpasses are lined with tents, and it’s a common sight to see someone pushing a shopping cart filled with belongings through even suburban neighborhoods.
A 2019 count by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority reported that there were close to 60,000 homeless people living in LA County, including 36,000 within the city limits. Both figures were up more than 10% from the previous year.
Project Roomkey was created in April by Gov. Gavin Newsom and uses mainly federal money to acquire hotel and motel rooms for the homeless to shield them from the virus. Los Angeles County has by far the largest number of homeless in California - about 60,000 - and officials there set a goal of obtaining 15,000 rooms through the program.
But so far only about 2,200 rooms have been leased in the county and homeless advocates have criticized the slow pace. There are 2,067 people sheltered with another 375 rooms available, said Christopher Yee, spokesman for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.
There are hundreds of other rooms under contract but they haven’t yet been certified as ready to receive people.
Some Project Roomkey rooms would conceivably be available to house some homeless people covered by the judge’s order, although Yee noted that the rooms are specifically reserved for those considered most vulnerable to the virus: those 65 and older and those with underlying health conditions.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Hawaii setting aside virus relief funds for unemployment

HONOLULU ( AP ) - Hawaii lawmakers plan to set aside more than half of the money the state received in federal coronavirus relief money to bolster the state ’ s unemployment insurance fund .
The House Finance Committee on Friday approved legislation sending $ 635 million , out of $ 1.25 billion allocated by the U.S. Congress to Hawaii , to the state ’ s rainy day fund for this purpose .
The bill next goes to the House floor for a vote .
Committee Chairwoman Rep. Sylvia Luke said this money is needed because the surge in jobless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has severely depleted the unemployment insurance fund .
It held $ 550 million before the pandemic hit , but the state has already distributed $ 200 million of this as claims have jumped , she said .
At the current rate , the money will be depleted by the end of next month .
The state Department of Labor said more than 220,000 people have filed for unemployment since early March .
Hawaii ’ s jobless rate is estimated to be between 25 percent and 35 percent .
The department is scheduled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
Normally , the fund accumulates money from an assessment placed on employers .
But Luke said lawmakers can ’ t do that now .
Gov .
David Ige ’ s administration has also asked for money to bolster the fund .
House leaders have been working with senators on the measure , and they are in agreement , Luke said at a committee hearing .
The bill also allocates funds for the state ’ s smaller counties that didn ’ t receive any funds directly from the coronavirus relief legislation the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did .
Hawaii County will get $ 80 million , Maui County $ 67 million and Kauai County $ 29 million , with the amounts set by population .
Honolulu has already started using some of its $ 387 million on rent relief programs , grants to small businesses and other initiatives to help individuals struggling amid the crisis .
Luke expressed hope other counties would do similarly “ We are asking the counties for their kokua in sharing the burden with the state , ” she said , using the Hawaiian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ additional funding as follows : - $ 40 million for the state Department of Defense and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency .
- $ 36 million for thermal screening of passengers at Hawaii ’ s airports .
- $ 14 million to the Department of Health to boost testing of those with COVID-19 and trace those who have had contact with positive cases .
- $ 8.1 million to help the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations respond to deal with unemployment claims .
- $ 1.3 million to build computer systems needed for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers .

HONOLULU (AP) - Hawaii lawmakers plan to set aside more than half of the money the state received in federal coronavirus relief money to bolster the state’s unemployment insurance fund.
The House Finance Committee on Friday approved legislation sending $635 million, out of $1.25 billion allocated by the U.S. Congress to Hawaii, to the state’s rainy day fund for this purpose. The bill next goes to the House floor for a vote.
Committee Chairwoman Rep. Sylvia Luke said this money is needed because the surge in joblessness during the coronavirus pandemic has severely depleted the unemployment insurance fund. It held $550 million before the pandemic hit, but the state has already distributed $200 million of this as claims have jumped, she said. At the current rate, the money will be depleted by the end of next month.
The state Department of Labor said more than 220,000 people have filed for unemployment since early March. Hawaii’s jobless rate is estimated to be between 25% and 35%. The department is scheduled to announce the unemployment rate for April next week.
Normally, the fund accumulates money from an assessment placed on employers. But Luke said lawmakers can’t do that now.
Gov. David Ige’s administration has also asked for money to bolster the fund.
House leaders have been working with senators on the measure, and they are in agreement, Luke said at a committee hearing.
The bill also allocates funds for the state’s smaller counties that didn’t receive any funds directly from the coronavirus relief legislation the way Honolulu, as a major city, did.
Hawaii County will get $80 million, Maui County $67 million and Kauai County $29 million, with the amounts set by population.
Honolulu has already started using some of its $387 million on rent relief programs, grants to small businesses and other initiatives to help individuals struggling amid the crisis. Luke expressed hope other counties would do similarly
“We are asking the counties for their kokua in sharing the burden with the state,” she said, using the Hawaiian word for assistance.
Lawmakers rejected an administration request for $10 million for an effort led by Alan Oshima, the Economic and Community Recovery and Resiliency Navigator, to chart a way forward for Hawaii’s economy in the wake of coronavirus. Oshima had proposed spending $5 million for a consultant to help develop these plans.
Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said members of his panel felt the administration had no plan except to pay consultants. Also, Oshima laid out intentions to staff his office for two years even though the federal coronavirus relief money must be spent by the end of December.
Dela Cruz said existing state agencies that could be used for this effort, like the Department of Business, Economic, Development and Tourism, but it’s not clear what role they would play.
Luke said the administration should instead apply for $10 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration or take funds from money lawmakers appropriated to the state Department of Defense for coronavirus response.
The legislation includes additional funding as follows:
- $40 million for the state Department of Defense and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
- $36 million for thermal screening of passengers at Hawaii’s airports.
- $14 million to the Department of Health for “maximum” testing of those with COVID-19 and tracing those who have had contact with positive cases.
- $8.1 million to help the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations deal with unemployment claims.
- $1.3 million to build computer systems needed for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program for self-employed workers.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Georgia man jailed for 43 years freed after plea deal

COLUMBUS , Ga. ( AP ) - A Georgia man convicted of murdering a woman in 1976 reached a plea deal and was released from jail Friday after recent DNA testing cast doubt on his guilt .
Johnny Lee Gates , 63 , was convicted in 1977 of murder , rape and robbery in the slaying of Katharina Wright , 19 , in an apartment in Columbus .
Through the years , Gates has maintained his innocence .
Earlier this year , the state Supreme Court ruled Gates deserved a new trial after DNA tests showed Gates ’ DNA wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scene .
Gates this week entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and armed robbery in a negotiated deal that would get him freed with credit for the time he already had served behind bars .
An Alford plea means the defendant denies guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him .
Gates was then released Friday from the Muscogee County Jail , news outlets reported .
“ I ’ ve fought for 43 years for this day , ” Gates said in a statement .
“ I am an innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime .
What happened to me is something that should never happen to any person .
But I am not bitter .
I thank God that I am here , and I am happy to be free.
” Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to the plea deal Monday but Judge Bobby Peters initially didn ’ t approve of the terms because while Gates was pleading guilty to the crime , he also continued to maintain his innocence .
Peters said he didn ’ t want people to plead guilty to get out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plea .
Gates was convicted and sentenced to death in August 1977 .
His sentence was later changed to life in prison without parole because he was found to be intellectually disabled .
Execution of the intellectually disabled is prohibited by federal and state law .

COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia man convicted of murdering a woman in 1976 reached a plea deal and was released from jail Friday after recent DNA testing cast doubt on his guilt.
Johnny Lee Gates, 63, was convicted in 1977 of murder, rape and robbery in the slaying of Katharina Wright, 19, in an apartment in Columbus. Through the years, Gates has maintained his innocence.
Earlier this year, the state Supreme Court ruled Gates deserved a new trial after DNA tests showed Gates’ DNA wasn’t found on fabric at the scene.
Gates this week entered an Alford plea to voluntary manslaughter and armed robbery in a negotiated deal that would get him freed with credit for the time he already had served behind bars. An Alford plea means the defendant denies guilt but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.
Gates was then released Friday from the Muscogee County Jail, news outlets reported.
“I’ve fought for 43 years for this day,” Gates said in a statement. “I am an innocent man. I did not commit this crime. What happened to me is something that should never happen to any person. But I am not bitter. I thank God that I am here, and I am happy to be free.”
Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed to the plea deal Monday but Judge Bobby Peters initially didn’t approve of the terms because while Gates was pleading guilty to the crime, he also continued to maintain his innocence.
Peters said he didn’t want people to plead guilty to get out of jail, but he later accepted the plea.
Gates was convicted and sentenced to death in August 1977. His sentence was later changed to life in prison without parole because he was found to be intellectually disabled. Execution of the intellectually disabled is prohibited by federal and state law.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Kroger offers Fred Meyer workers extra pay after outcry

SPOKANE , Wash. ( AP ) - Kroger , the parent company of grocer Fred Meyer , announced Friday that it will provide “ thank you ” payments to hourly employees after a union outcry over the company ending a $ 2 per hour pay bump it implemented in March amid the coronavirus pandemic .
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union held rallies Friday at Fred Meyer stores seeking additional pay for workers while the pandemic continues , KREM-TV reported .
Kroger officials said Friday that bonus payments of $ 400 and $ 200 for full- and part-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in May and June .
Fred Meyer has locations in Washington , Oregon , Idaho , and Alaska .
“ Our associates have been instrumental in feeding America while also helping to flatten the curve during the initial phases of the pandemic , ” Rodney McMullen , Kroger ’ s chairman and CEO , said in statement .
“ As the country moves toward reopening , we will continue to safeguard our associates ’ health and well-being and recognize their work.
” Testing for the coronavirus is available for Fred Meyer employees based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Fred Meyer spokesperson Jeffrey Temple .
Workers who are most directly affected by the virus or experiencing related symptoms have been provided with emergency leave or paid time off , he said .
Fred Meyer has also added safety measures throughout the stores including plexiglass partitions on check-out stands and masks for employees .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some , especially older adults and people with existing health problems , it can cause more severe illness , @ @ @ @ @ @

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Kroger, the parent company of grocer Fred Meyer, announced Friday that it will provide “thank you” payments to hourly employees after a union outcry over the company ending a $2 per hour pay bump it implemented in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union held rallies Friday at Fred Meyer stores seeking additional pay for workers while the pandemic continues, KREM-TV reported.
Kroger officials said Friday that bonus payments of $400 and $200 for full- and part-time employees will be paid in two installments in May and June.
Fred Meyer has locations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
“Our associates have been instrumental in feeding America while also helping to flatten the curve during the initial phases of the pandemic,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO, said in statement. “As the country moves toward reopening, we will continue to safeguard our associates’ health and well-being and recognize their work.”
Testing for the coronavirus is available for Fred Meyer employees based on their symptoms and medical need, said Fred Meyer spokesperson Jeffrey Temple. Workers who are most directly affected by the virus or experiencing related symptoms have been provided with emergency leave or paid time off, he said.
Fred Meyer has also added safety measures throughout the stores including plexiglass partitions on check-out stands and masks for employees.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Detective: Cellphone records led to woman's alleged killer

FLAGSTAFF , Ariz. ( AP ) - Authorities used cellphone records to track down an airman who they believe shot and killed a Sunday school teacher and left her body off a forest road in northern Arizona , a sheriff ’ s detective said .
Mark Gooch left his dorm room at Luke Air Force base where he ’ s stationed and traveled more than 400 miles ( 643 kilometers ) to northwestern New Mexico , where Sasha Krause lived and worked in a Mennonite community .
Coconino County Sheriff ’ s Detective Lauren Jones said Thursday that Gooch returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day later .
In that time , authorities say Gooch kidnapped Krause , fractured her skull and shot her in the back of the head .
A camper found Krause ’ s body outside Flagstaff on Feb. 24 , more than a month after the 27-year-old was reported missing .
Her wrists were bound with duct tape and she was facedown in a clearing in the forest , Jones said .
Gooch , 21 , pleaded not guilty earlier this week to first-degree murder , kidnapping and theft charges .
Authorities found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one communicating with the same cell towers as Krause ’ s phone before hers dropped off west of Farmington , New Mexico , Jones said .
Gooch , who has lived in Wisconsin , also told authorities that no one else had been using his phone at the time .
Gooch ’ s attorney , Matthew Springer , said that doesn ’ t mean his client is responsible for Krause ’ s death .
The DNA gathered from Krause ’ s neck and underneath her fingernails could belong to someone else , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t definitively say the .22-caliber bullet collected at the scene was fired from a rifle that authorities seized from the home of one of Gooch ’ s friends .
Prosecutor Ammon Barker said even without the gun , there ’ s enough evidence to support the charges .
Gooch remains in custody after a Coconino County judge ruled Thursday he was not eligible for release on bond .
It ’ s still unclear if Gooch personally knew Krause , who was originally from Texas , but authorities said he once had been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detectives he went to Farmington in search of a new church .
Jones said text messages between Gooch and his brothers showed an apparent disdain for Mennonites .

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) - Authorities used cellphone records to track down an airman who they believe shot and killed a Sunday school teacher and left her body off a forest road in northern Arizona, a sheriff’s detective said.
Mark Gooch left his dorm room at Luke Air Force base where he’s stationed and traveled more than 400 miles (643 kilometers) to northwestern New Mexico, where Sasha Krause lived and worked in a Mennonite community. Coconino County Sheriff’s Detective Lauren Jones said Thursday that Gooch returned to the base near Phoenix less than a day later.
In that time, authorities say Gooch kidnapped Krause, fractured her skull and shot her in the back of the head. A camper found Krause’s body outside Flagstaff on Feb. 24, more than a month after the 27-year-old was reported missing. Her wrists were bound with duct tape and she was facedown in a clearing in the forest, Jones said.
Gooch, 21, pleaded not guilty earlier this week to first-degree murder, kidnapping and theft charges.
Authorities found that Gooch’s cellphone was the only one communicating with the same cell towers as Krause’s phone before hers dropped off west of Farmington, New Mexico, Jones said. Gooch, who has lived in Wisconsin, also told authorities that no one else had been using his phone at the time.
Gooch’s attorney, Matthew Springer, said that doesn’t mean his client is responsible for Krause’s death.
The DNA gathered from Krause’s neck and underneath her fingernails could belong to someone else, he said. Prosecutors also can’t definitively say the .22-caliber bullet collected at the scene was fired from a rifle that authorities seized from the home of one of Gooch’s friends.
Prosecutor Ammon Barker said even without the gun, there’s enough evidence to support the charges.
Gooch remains in custody after a Coconino County judge ruled Thursday he was not eligible for release on bond.
It’s still unclear if Gooch personally knew Krause, who was originally from Texas, but authorities said he once had been a part of the Mennonite community and told detectives he went to Farmington in search of a new church.
Jones said text messages between Gooch and his brothers showed an apparent disdain for Mennonites.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Citizenship agency faces 'drastic' coronavirus cash crunch, begs Congress for $1.2 billion

The federal agency that handles citizenship and other legal immigration applications is running out of money amid the coronavirus crisis , and warned Congress on Friday it needs a quick infusion of $ 1.2 billion in taxpayer money or else it will have to take “ drastic actions ” to keep the doors open .
Joseph Edlow , deputy director for policy at U.S .
Citizenship and Immigration Services , told employees in a memo Friday that they ’ ve already done some belt-tightening and are working on a new fee schedule that will bring in more money .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress will have to pony up .
“ USCIS will exhaust its funding this summer , and without congressional intervention , we risk not being able to make payroll and will have to take drastic actions to keep the agency afloat , ” Mr. Edlow wrote .
The money would be a loan , and it would repay taxpayers through a 10 % surcharge on future applications and petitions , Mr. Edlow said , adding that it was important not to add to the deficit or leave taxpayers in the lurch over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a government operation .
USCIS , which is part of the Homeland Security Department , is a rarity in the federal government because it ’ s almost entirely funded by fees — in this case paid by immigrants and visa seekers when they apply for benefits .
But the agency ’ s workload has plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic , cutting revenue in half .
Without some new source of money , USCIS believes it will run out of money by July 13 , and will have to furlough employees .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for pay and operating expenses for the rest of fiscal year 2020 , and wants $ 650 million more in carryover money in case the crisis extends into 2021 .
Even that will only maintain “ limited operations , ” the agency told Congress .
The agency ’ s fee-funded structure is usually a boon .
During government shutdowns , when most other federal departments and agencies either shutter or continue working without pay , USCIS is able to operate as usual because it operates somewhat like a business and its money comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , the equation is reversed and , like businesses that depend on income , USCIS is facing a cash crunch .
Meanwhile agencies that depend on taxpayers are able to chug along on the money Congress is borrowing .
USCIS does get about 4 % of its funding each year from taxpayers to operate E-Verify , a voluntary program that lets businesses check to make sure new hires are legally able to work in the U.S. And the agency has gotten direct infusions of cash from Congress before , including in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases had built up and lawmakers sent over taxpayer money to staff up and cut into the backlog .
USCIS is fee-funded because there ’ s long been a consensus that immigrants and businesses that want to bring in guest workers should pay their own way , rather than force taxpayers to foot the bill .
Every couple years , USCIS reviews its fees and can adjust them to bring in more income .
Some Democrats on Capitol Hill in recent years have complained about the increases , and suggested ending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidize immigrants , but it would also give Congress more control over the agency ’ s decisions .
The Washington Times reached out Friday evening to the chairs of the House and Senate subcommittees that oversee USCIS ’ s spending , but had yet to receive replies .

The federal agency that handles citizenship and other legal immigration applications warned Congress late last week that it’s running out of money during the coronavirus crisis and will soon have to take “drastic actions” unless Congress comes up with $1.2 billion in emergency cash.
While most federal agencies have weathered the pandemic without any financial hiccups, thanks to Capitol Hill’s willingness to borrow money, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is an exception.
Almost all of USCIS’s money comes from fees charged for processing citizenship and other legal visas applications — and that work has severely dried up during the crisis, slashing the agency’s income in half.
Joseph Edlow, deputy director for policy at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told employees in a memo Friday that they’ve already done some belt-tightening and are working on a new fee schedule that will bring in more money.
But it won’t be enough and Congress will have to pony up.
“USCIS will exhaust its funding this summer, and without congressional intervention, we risk not being able to make payroll and will have to take drastic actions to keep the agency afloat,” Mr. Edlow wrote.
The top Democrat who oversees the agency’s money in the House didn’t respond to a request for comment, but the top Republican in the Senate who oversees USCIS’s budget, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, said she will look at the matter.
“We are working daily with the Department of Homeland Security to meet the funding needs they have today to combat the coronavirus pandemic,” she said. “Meanwhile, we are trying to understand what the next few days and weeks will look like, particularly in light of the imbalanced workloads in some sectors, as well as the reliance on fees that right now are nonexistent.”
USCIS said the money would be a loan, and taxpayers could be repaid in the future by a 10% surcharge on applications and petitions. Mr. Edlow said the agency thought it important not to add to the deficit or leave taxpayers in the lurch over the long term.
Congress has just begun to work on another round of funding for governments, with House Democrats on Friday passing a $3 trillion bill.
That legislation, which does not include the cash infusion for USCIS, is considered a dead letter in the GOP-controlled Senate. But it was clearing the House at the same time USCIS was issuing its extraordinary warning.
While a number of federal agencies charge user fees for their work, most of them also get significant taxpayer funding, and they have not suffered over the last couple of months.
More than 95% of USCIS’s budget, though, is funded by fees paid by immigrants and visa seekers when they apply for benefits. When the agency’s workload plummeted during the pandemic, revenue also fell.
Without some new source of money, USCIS believes it will run out of money by July 13, and will have to furlough employees.
The agency says it needs $571.2 million for pay and operating expenses for the rest of fiscal year 2020, and wants $650 million more in carryover money in case the crisis extends into 2021. Even that will only maintain “limited operations,” the agency told Congress.
USCIS is fee-funded because there’s long been a consensus that immigrants and businesses that want to bring in guest workers should pay their own way, rather than force taxpayers to foot the bill.
And that structure is usually a boon. During government shutdowns, when most other federal departments and agencies either shutter or continue working without pay, USCIS is able to operate as usual because it operates somewhat like a business and its money comes directly from fees.
During coronavirus, the equation is reversed and, like businesses that depend on income, USCIS is facing a cash crunch.
USCIS does get about 4% of its funding each year from taxpayers to operate E-Verify, a voluntary program that lets businesses check to make sure new hires are legally able to work in the U.S.
And the agency has gotten direct infusions of cash from Congress before, including in the early 2000s, when a massive backlog of cases had built up and lawmakers sent over taxpayer money to staff up and cut into the backlog.
Every couple of years USCIS reviews its fees and can adjust them to bring in more income.
Some Democrats on Capitol Hill in recent years have complained about the increases, and suggested ending the fee-funding structure. That would make taxpayers subsidize immigrants, but it would also give Congress more control over the agency’s decisions.
The Washington Times reached out Friday evening to the chairs of the House and Senate subcommittees that oversee USCIS’s spending, but neither office had an immediate comment.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Feds: Man charged in 2006 Iraq slayings should remain jailed

PHOENIX ( AP ) - Prosecutors say an Iraqi immigrant arrested three months ago in Arizona on charges of participating in the 2006 killings of two police officers in Iraq should remain jailed until his extradition case concludes because he is at risk of fleeing and poses a danger to the community .
Prosecutors also told a judge at a hearing Friday that he should reject Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri ’ s claim that he shouldn ’ t be extradited because his offense in Iraq was of a political nature .
Ahmed , an Iraqi native who came to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has since become a U.S. citizen , is accused of leading an al-Qaida group that fatally shot the officers on the streets of Fallujah .
Ahmed ’ s attorney , Jami Johnson , disputed the prosecutors ’ arguments and questioned why it took nearly 13 years for the Iraqi criminal case to be filed and alleged that there is pervasive corruption in the Iraqi justice system .
She has said Ahmed could be killed if he is sent back to Iraq .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Morrissey will make a ruling later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ahmed , who operated a driving school in Phoenix before his arrest in late January , has denied involvement in the killings and being a member of a terror group .
Prosecutors argued Ahmed left Iraq after the killings to avoid prosecution .
They also questioned Ahmed ’ s credibility , saying he gave conflicting explanations on how he suffered gunshot wounds while in Iraq and that they could not determine why he spent time in a Syrian prison before moving to the United States .
In arguing for his release , Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. as a cultural adviser to military and said that her 42-year-old client , who suffers from heart and lung ailments , is vulnerable to being infected with coronavirus in the Florence , Arizona , detention center where he is being held .
Prosecutors expressed skepticism about Ahmed ’ s claim that he is vulnerable to the coronavirus , saying the detention center has taken preventive steps to protect inmates and that Ahmed lives alone in a cell and doesn ’ t have contact with other detained people .
In both attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Fallujah , armed men emerged from cars , fired on the officers and fled .
In the first shooting , a masked attacker held a gun to a witness ’ head , while another masked man tried to open fire at a police officer .
But his gun malfunctioned .
Another attacker then killed police Lt. Issam Ahmed Hussein .
The witness later identified Ahmed , who was not wearing a mask , as the group ’ s leader , according to court records .
Four months later , Iraqi authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Officer Khalid Ibrahim Mohammad as the officer sat outside a store .
A witness recognized Ahmed , whose mask had fallen off , as one of the assailants , according to court records .
After settling in Arizona , Ahmed volunteered in Phoenix ’ s refugee community and worked as a military cultural advisor , traveling to bases in other states to help personnel as they prepared to deploy to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State , his attorney said .
Johnson has previously said the case emerged from information provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain by delivering the Trump administration a supposed ‘ terrorist refugee ’ in an election year .
”

PHOENIX (AP) - Prosecutors say an Iraqi immigrant arrested three months ago in Arizona on charges of participating in the 2006 killings of two police officers in Iraq should remain jailed until his extradition case concludes because he is at risk of fleeing and poses a danger to the community.
Prosecutors also told a judge at a hearing Friday that he should reject Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri’s claim that he shouldn’t be extradited because his offense in Iraq was of a political nature.
Ahmed, an Iraqi native who came to the United States as a refugee in 2009 and has since become a U.S. citizen, is accused of leading an al-Qaida group that fatally shot the officers on the streets of Fallujah.
Ahmed’s attorney, Jami Johnson, disputed the prosecutors’ arguments and questioned why it took nearly 13 years for the Iraqi criminal case to be filed and alleged that there is pervasive corruption in the Iraqi justice system. She has said Ahmed could be killed if he is sent back to Iraq.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Morrissey will make a ruling later on whether Ahmed should be released.
Ahmed, who operated a driving school in Phoenix before his arrest in late January, has denied involvement in the killings and being a member of a terror group.
Prosecutors argued Ahmed left Iraq after the killings to avoid prosecution.
They also questioned Ahmed’s credibility, saying he gave conflicting explanations on how he suffered gunshot wounds while in Iraq and that they could not determine why he spent time in a Syrian prison before moving to the United States.
In arguing for his release, Johnson cited Ahmed’s earlier work in the U.S. as a cultural adviser to military and said that her 42-year-old client, who suffers from heart and lung ailments, is vulnerable to being infected with coronavirus in the Florence, Arizona, detention center where he is being held.
Prosecutors expressed skepticism about Ahmed’s claim that he is vulnerable to the coronavirus, saying the detention center has taken preventive steps to protect inmates and that Ahmed lives alone in a cell and doesn’t have contact with other detained people.
In both attacks on the two officers in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, armed men emerged from cars, fired on the officers and fled.
In the first shooting, a masked attacker held a gun to a witness’ head, while another masked man tried to open fire at a police officer. But his gun malfunctioned.
Another attacker then killed police Lt. Issam Ahmed Hussein. The witness later identified Ahmed, who was not wearing a mask, as the group’s leader, according to court records.
Four months later, Iraqi authorities say Ahmed and other men fatally shot Officer Khalid Ibrahim Mohammad as the officer sat outside a store. A witness recognized Ahmed, whose mask had fallen off, as one of the assailants, according to court records.
After settling in Arizona, Ahmed volunteered in Phoenix’s refugee community and worked as a military cultural advisor, traveling to bases in other states to help personnel as they prepared to deploy to the Middle East to fight the Islamic State, his attorney said.
Johnson has previously said the case emerged from information provided by informants who had “everything to gain by delivering the Trump administration a supposed ‘terrorist refugee’ in an election year.”


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Shootout leaves US marshal hurt, murder suspect dead

OXFORD , Miss .
( AP ) - A suspect in an Arkansas slaying was shot and killed by authorities Friday in Mississippi during a shootout in which a U.S. marshal was wounded , officials said .
Hunter Carlstrom , 33 , was fatally shot by authorities after he began firing at deputies attempting to pull him over in Oxford , Mississippi , news outlets reported .
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Capt .
Johnny Poulos said marshals tried to stop Carlstrom on Friday morning , but he fled and later jumped out of the car and began shooting at authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said marshals returned fired and Carlstrom was later pronounced dead .
The wounded marshal was expected to recover , authorities said .
Carlstrom ’ s wife was with him during the confrontation and was taken into custody .
It was not immediately clear whether she faces any charges .
Authorities in Lawrence County , Arkansas , said Carlstrom was wanted for the killing of James Sarotelli , 61 , who was found dead on May 7 in Smithville , about 150 miles ( 241 kilometers ) northwest of Oxford .
Details surrounding Sarotelli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connection to the crime weren ’ t immediately released .

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - A suspect in an Arkansas slaying was shot and killed by authorities Friday in Mississippi during a shootout in which a U.S. marshal was wounded, officials said.
Hunter Carlstrom, 33, was fatally shot by authorities after he began firing at deputies attempting to pull him over in Oxford, Mississippi, news outlets reported.
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Capt. Johnny Poulos said marshals tried to stop Carlstrom on Friday morning, but he fled and later jumped out of the car and began shooting at authorities, hitting the marshal twice.
Poulos said marshals returned fired and Carlstrom was later pronounced dead.
The wounded marshal was expected to recover, authorities said.
Carlstrom’s wife was with him during the confrontation and was taken into custody. It was not immediately clear whether she faces any charges.
Authorities in Lawrence County, Arkansas, said Carlstrom was wanted for the killing of James Sarotelli, 61, who was found dead on May 7 in Smithville, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of Oxford.
Details surrounding Sarotelli’s slaying and Carlstrom’s connection to the crime weren’t immediately released.


washingtontimes--2020-05-15--Federal court grants Missouri inmate 30-day execution stay

LIBERTY , Mo .
( AP ) - A Missouri inmate scheduled to be executed next week was given a 30-day reprieve Friday when a federal court said it needed more time to consider issues raised by the man ’ s attorneys .
Walter Barton , 64 , was scheduled to die by injection Tuesday in the killing of 81-year-old trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler in 1991 .
She was beaten , sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times in Ozark , near Springfield .
Barton ’ s attorneys filed a motion May 4 raising concerns about evidence used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found at the scene .
They said Barton couldn ’ t be executed because he suffered a brain injury as a teenager and was therefore incompetant .
The Western District Court of Missouri said in its order Friday that the 15 days between the May 4 filing and Barton ’ s scheduled execution was not long enough to consider all the issues raised by the petition .
The order said the court must assess whether Barton was likely to succeed in his petition and , if it can ’ t dismiss the petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ must issue a stay to prevent the case from becoming moot.
” Barton ’ s attorney , Fred Duchardt Jr. , said this week that three jurors involved in Barton ’ s 2006 trial now express misgivings , based on new blood spatter evidence .
A blood spatter expert hired by the defense found the assailant would have had far more blood on his clothing than was found on Barton ’ s clothing .
Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits saying the new evidence would have affected their deliberations .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence , he would have been “ uncomfortable ” recommending the death penalty , Duchardt said .
The NAACP and Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty submitted more than 5,000 petition signatures Wednesday to Republican Gov .
Mike Parson , urging him to grant clemency to Barton .
The execution would have been the first in the U.S. since March 5 .
Other states have postponed executions after defense attorneys argued the coronavirus pandemic had made it more difficult to conduct thorough investigations .
Duchardt said his investigation had been hampered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s order did not address those concerns .

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri inmate scheduled to be executed next week was given a 30-day reprieve Friday when a federal court said it needed more time to consider issues raised by the man’s attorneys.
Walter Barton, 64, was scheduled to die by injection Tuesday in the killing of 81-year-old trailer park operator Gladys Kuehler in 1991. She was beaten, sexually assaulted and stabbed more than 50 times in Ozark, near Springfield.
Barton’s attorneys filed a motion May 4 raising concerns about evidence used to convict Barton, particularly blood splatter found at the scene. They said Barton couldn’t be executed because he suffered a brain injury as a teenager and was therefore incompetant.
The Western District Court of Missouri said in its order Friday that the 15 days between the May 4 filing and Barton’s scheduled execution was not long enough to consider all the issues raised by the petition.
The order said the court must assess whether Barton was likely to succeed in his petition and, if it can’t dismiss the petition on its merits before the execution, “must issue a stay to prevent the case from becoming moot.”
Barton’s attorney, Fred Duchardt Jr., said this week that three jurors involved in Barton’s 2006 trial now express misgivings, based on new blood spatter evidence.
A blood spatter expert hired by the defense found the assailant would have had far more blood on his clothing than was found on Barton’s clothing. Duchardt said three jurors recently signed affidavits saying the new evidence would have affected their deliberations. The jury foreman said, based on the evidence, he would have been “uncomfortable” recommending the death penalty, Duchardt said.
The NAACP and Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty submitted more than 5,000 petition signatures Wednesday to Republican Gov. Mike Parson, urging him to grant clemency to Barton.
The execution would have been the first in the U.S. since March 5. Other states have postponed executions after defense attorneys argued the coronavirus pandemic had made it more difficult to conduct thorough investigations. Duchardt said his investigation had been hampered by having courthouses closed. The court’s order did not address those concerns.