washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Iran blames bad communication, alignment for jet shootdown

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - A misaligned missile battery , miscommunication between troops and their commanders and a decision to fire without authorization all led to Iran ’ s Revolutionary Guard shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner in January , killing all 176 people on board , a new report says .
The report released late Saturday by Iran ’ s Civil Aviation Organization comes months after the Jan. 8 crash near Tehran .
Authorities had initially denied responsibility , only changing course days later after Western nations presented extensive evidence that Iran had shot down the plane .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the investigation into the crash , as the aircraft ’ s black box flight recorder is due to be sent to Paris , where international investigators will finally be able to examine it .
The shootdown happened the same night Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. soldiers in Iraq , its response to the American drone strike that killed Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3 .
At the time , Iranian troops were bracing for a U.S. counterstrike and appear to have mistaken the plane for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not acknowledge that , only saying a change in the “ alertness level of Iran ’ s air defense ” allowed previously scheduled air traffic to resume .
The report detailed a series of moments where the shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 could have been avoided .
The report said the surface-to-air missile battery that targeted the Boeing 737-800 had been relocated and was not properly reoriented .
Those manning the missile battery could not communicate with their command center , they misidentified the civilian flight as a threat and opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials , the report said .
“ If each had not arisen , the aircraft would not have been targeted , ” the report said .
Western intelligence officials and analysts believe Iran shot down the aircraft with a Russian-made Tor system , known to NATO as the SA-15 .
In 2007 , Iran took the delivery of 29 Tor M1 units from Russia under a contract worth an estimated $ 700 million .
The system is mounted on a tracked vehicle and carries a radar and a pack of eight missiles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guard moved the air defense system , though that area near the airport is believed to be home to both regular military and bases of the paramilitary Guard .
The report notes that the Ukrainian flight had done nothing out of the ordinary up until the missile launch , with its transponder and other data being broadcast .
“ At the time of firing the first missile , the aircraft was flying at a normal altitude and trajectory , ” the report said .
The plane had just taken off from Imam Khomeini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , possibly damaging its radio equipment , the report said .
The second missile likely directly struck the aircraft , as videos that night show the plane exploding into a ball of fire before crashing into a playground and farmland on the outskirts of Tehran .
The report put the blame entirely on the crew of the missile battery .
Already , six people believed to be involved in the incident have been arrested , judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili reportedly said in June .
He said at the time three had been released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held .
In recent months , Iran has repeatedly delayed releasing the aircraft ’ s so-called black box , which includes data and communications from the cockpit leading up to the shootdown .
The U.S. , under international regulations , has a right to be part of the investigation as the plane involved was a Boeing .
Iran is to send the black box to France on July 20 , where Ukrainian and French experts are expected to examine it , Iran ’ s state-run IRNA news agency recently reported .
Iranian officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to read data from the box .
The plane , en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv , was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries , including 82 Iranians , 57 Canadians - including many Iranians with dual citizenship - and 11 Ukrainians , according to officials .
The route was popular with those traveling onward to Canada .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A misaligned missile battery, miscommunication between troops and their commanders and a decision to fire without authorization all led to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard shooting down a Ukrainian jetliner in January, killing all 176 people on board, a new report says.
The report released late Saturday by Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization comes months after the Jan. 8 crash near Tehran. Authorities had initially denied responsibility, only changing course days later after Western nations presented extensive evidence that Iran had shot down the plane.
The report may signal a new phase in the investigation into the crash, as the aircraft’s black box flight recorder is due to be sent to Paris, where international investigators will finally be able to examine it. It also comes as public opinion remains low over Iran’s government as it faces both crushing U.S. sanctions and vast domestic economic problems.
The shootdown happened the same night Iran launched a ballistic missile attack targeting U.S. soldiers in Iraq, its response to the American drone strike that killed Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3.
At the time, Iranian troops were bracing for a U.S. counterstrike and appear to have mistaken the plane for a missile. The civil aviation report does not acknowledge that, only saying a change in the “alertness level of Iran’s air defense” allowed previously scheduled air traffic to resume.
The report detailed a series of moments where the shootdown of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 could have been avoided.
The report said the surface-to-air missile battery that targeted the Boeing 737-800 had been relocated and was not properly reoriented.
Those manning the missile battery could not communicate with their command center, they misidentified the civilian flight as a threat and opened fire twice without getting approval from ranking officials, the report said.
“If each had not arisen, the aircraft would not have been targeted,” the report said.
Western intelligence officials and analysts believe Iran shot down the aircraft with a Russian-made Tor system, known to NATO as the SA-15. In 2007, Iran took the delivery of 29 Tor M1 units from Russia under a contract worth an estimated $700 million. The system is mounted on a tracked vehicle and carries a radar and a pack of eight missiles.
The report did not say why the Guard moved the air defense system, though that area near the airport is believed to be home to both regular military and bases of the paramilitary Guard.
The report notes that the Ukrainian flight had done nothing out of the ordinary up until the missile launch, with its transponder and other data being broadcast.
“At the time of firing the first missile, the aircraft was flying at a normal altitude and trajectory,” the report said.
The plane had just taken off from Imam Khomeini International Airport when the first missile exploded, possibly damaging its radio equipment, the report said. The second missile likely directly struck the aircraft, as videos that night show the plane exploding into a ball of fire before crashing into a playground and farmland on the outskirts of Tehran.
The report put the blame entirely on the crew of the missile battery. Already, six people believed to be involved in the incident have been arrested, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili reportedly said in June. He said at the time three had been released on bail while the other three remained held.
In recent months, Iran has repeatedly delayed releasing the aircraft’s so-called black box, which includes data and communications from the cockpit leading up to the shootdown. The U.S., under international regulations, has a right to be part of the investigation as the plane involved was a Boeing.
Iran is to send the black box to France on July 20, where Ukrainian and French experts are expected to examine it, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency recently reported. Iranian officials did not have the equipment on hand to read data from the box.
The plane, en route to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members from several countries, including 82 Iranians, 57 Canadians - including many Iranians with dual citizenship - and 11 Ukrainians, according to officials. The route was popular with those traveling onward to Canada.
After the assassination of Soleimani in the U.S. drone strike, millions came out for funeral processions in his honor across Iran. However, his burial - which also saw a stampede that killed dozens - came just as the Guard shot down the airliner, igniting public anger against a paramilitary force that answers only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
___
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Mark and Patricia McCloskey: Search warrant executed at St. Louis home after guns incident

ST. LOUIS — Authorities executed a search warrant at the St. Louis mansion of a white couple whose armed defense of their home during a recent racial injustice protest drew widespread attention , their attorney confirmed Saturday .
Mark and Patricia McCloskey , who are personal injury lawyers , were caught on video brandishing guns as demonstrators walked past their Renaissance palazzo-style home on June 28 while headed to protest outside of the mayor ’ s home nearby .
The video showed Mark McCloskey , 61 , wielding a long-barreled gun and Patricia McCloskey , 63 standing next to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the couple ’ s lawyer , said a search warrant was served Friday evening and that the gun Mark McCloskey was holding in the video was seized .
Schwartz told The Associated Press that arrangements have been made to turn over to authorities on Saturday the gun that Patricia McCloskey had been holding , adding that her gun was inoperable at the time of the protest and still is .
The couple has not been charged , and Schwartz said charges against them would be “ absolutely , positively unmerited.
” “ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what the circuit attorney ’ s intentions are .
Beyond that , I can ’ t comment , ” Schwartz said .
Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner , who is St. Louis ‘ top prosecutor , issued a statement after the June 28 incident in which she said she was “ alarmed ” by what happened and that “ any attempt to chill ( the right to peacefully protest ) through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated.
” Calls to Gardner ’ s office on Saturday ran unanswered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are in reasonable apprehension or fear have the right to take necessary steps to defend themselves .
“ In this particular situation , people not only broke the law and trespassed on private property , but they committed property damage , ” Schwartz said , adding that a St. Louis business was burned down and a retired police captain was killed in the week leading up to the confrontation .
Meanwhile , the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that public records and interviews show the McCloskeys are almost always in conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private property .
They filed a lawsuit in 1988 to obtain their house , a castle built for Adolphus Busch ’ s daughter and her husband in the early 20th century .
At the McCloskeys ’ property in Franklin County , they have sued neighbors for making changes to a gravel road and twice evicted tenants from a modular home on their property .
Mark McCloskey sued a former employer for wrongful termination and his sister , father and his father ’ s caretaker for defamation .
The McCloskeys and the trustees of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a St. Louis historic district where they live , have been involved in a three-year legal dispute over a small piece of land in the neighborhood .
The McCloskeys claim they own it , but the trustees say it belongs to the neighborhood .
Mark McCloskey said in an affidavit that he has defended the patch previously by pointing a gun at a neighbor who tried to cut through it .

ST. LOUIS — Authorities executed a search warrant at the St. Louis mansion of a white couple whose armed defense of their home during a recent racial injustice protest drew widespread attention, their attorney confirmed Saturday.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are personal injury lawyers, were caught on video brandishing guns as demonstrators walked past their Renaissance palazzo-style home on June 28 while headed to protest outside of the mayor’s home nearby. The video showed Mark McCloskey, 61, wielding a long-barreled gun and Patricia McCloskey, 63 standing next to him waving a handgun.
Joel Schwartz, the couple’s lawyer, said a search warrant was served Friday evening and that the gun Mark McCloskey was holding in the video was seized. Schwartz told The Associated Press that arrangements have been made to turn over to authorities on Saturday the gun that Patricia McCloskey had been holding, adding that her gun was inoperable at the time of the protest and still is.
The couple has not been charged, and Schwartz said charges against them would be “absolutely, positively unmerited.”
“A search warrant being executed is clear indication of what the circuit attorney’s intentions are. Beyond that, I can’t comment,” Schwartz said.
Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner, who is St. Louis’ top prosecutor, issued a statement after the June 28 incident in which she said she was “alarmed” by what happened and that “any attempt to chill (the right to peacefully protest) through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated.” Calls to Gardner’s office on Saturday ran unanswered.
Schwartz said that under Missouri law, people who are in reasonable apprehension or fear have the right to take necessary steps to defend themselves.
“In this particular situation, people not only broke the law and trespassed on private property, but they committed property damage,” Schwartz said, adding that a St. Louis business was burned down and a retired police captain was killed in the week leading up to the confrontation.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that public records and interviews show the McCloskeys are almost always in conflict with others, typically over control of private property.
They filed a lawsuit in 1988 to obtain their house, a castle built for Adolphus Busch’s daughter and her husband in the early 20th century. At the McCloskeys’ property in Franklin County, they have sued neighbors for making changes to a gravel road and twice evicted tenants from a modular home on their property.
Mark McCloskey sued a former employer for wrongful termination and his sister, father and his father’s caretaker for defamation.
The McCloskeys and the trustees of Portland Place, the tony private street in a St. Louis historic district where they live, have been involved in a three-year legal dispute over a small piece of land in the neighborhood. The McCloskeys claim they own it, but the trustees say it belongs to the neighborhood.
Mark McCloskey said in an affidavit that he has defended the patch previously by pointing a gun at a neighbor who tried to cut through it.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Hyundai exec: Online sales will help with virus resurgence

DETROIT ( AP ) - The past five years have been rough for Hyundai in the U.S. as it scrambled to catch up with a massive shift in consumer preferences from cars to trucks and SUVs .
The South Korean auto company ran through multiple leaders as it added utility vehicles to a car-heavy lineup , but sales fell after peaking in 2016 .
Early last year , Jose Munoz left Nissan to become the latest CEO of Hyundai ’ s operations in the Americas .
Sales rose in 2019 as the new SUVs took hold .
Then the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press about Hyundai , the pandemic and the future of the auto business .
The interview has been edited for length and clarity .
Q : What has it been like managing through the pandemic and how has Hyundai weathered it ?
A : One thing I ’ ve learned is the better you are doing in your business before you get into trouble , the better you ’ re going to navigate .
We were doing really , really well in the market the last few months , last year and January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a very good place to navigate .
We immediately created a crisis team .
We took advantage of the great know how of our headquarters .
South Korea has been probably the country which managed best .
Then we launched a number of actions , the Hyundai Assurance job loss protection program .
We also implemented an extended warranty .
Q : The number of cases is growing , especially in Southern and Western states .
Are you worried that we might have to go back to restrictions ?
A : Nobody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would mean monitoring every single day .
We worked very diligently to ensure that dealers were in a position to sell digitally .
If this situation gets back to what it was , and then we need to shut down the dealers , we will continue to operate with digital procedures .
Q : There has been talk about a government stimulus to spur auto sales , which are down from last year .
Is that needed ?
A : I ’ ve always thought that the automotive industry is the engine of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are about 10 million jobs which depend on this industry .
There are many , many parts suppliers who depend on the OEMs ( original equipment manufacturers ) .
Not to mention the dealers .
Some companies had to lay off , some did employee furloughs .
We kept them all , maintained all their benefits .
So I strongly believe that this stimulus plan will be the right thing to do for the country .
It would secure a lot of jobs , and you would create a positive action by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a government incentive to buy a vehicle ?
A : I think the OEMs should have skin in the game , and then also participate probably equally .
Then you can make some elements for the vehicles to qualify .
It may be made in America , or fulfilling certain environmental requirements .
I think there are many ways to make it work .
Q : Hyundai has invested a lot in hybrid and electric technology without a lot of returns yet .
Why keep doing that ?
A : Our company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of mobility and to the green and newest technologies .
Q : Do you see a time when everyone will be driving electric vehicles ?
A : I think all of the studies that have been made in the past have missed the time .
And what we have seen is that that optimism hasn ’ t happened .
There is no doubt about it that the technology is becoming more and more popular , more utilized .
So the ranges are longer , the costs are getting lower .
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very short-term or mid-term that the EV is going to be the dominant player in our market .
Yet we ’ re going to continue to see an increase , which is going to be different by state .
When you live in California you see a much higher share of users which are utilizing the EVs , the plug-in hybrids , the hybrids and even the hydrogen powered vehicles .
So is there is there going to be a time ?
Nobody knows exactly but it is growing for sure .

DETROIT (AP) - The past five years have been rough for Hyundai in the U.S. as it scrambled to catch up with a massive shift in consumer preferences from cars to trucks and SUVs.
The South Korean auto company ran through multiple leaders as it added utility vehicles to a car-heavy lineup, but sales fell after peaking in 2016.
Early last year, Jose Munoz left Nissan to become the latest CEO of Hyundai’s operations in the Americas. Sales rose in 2019 as the new SUVs took hold. Then the coronavirus hit.
Munoz spoke to The Associated Press about Hyundai, the pandemic and the future of the auto business. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: What has it been like managing through the pandemic and how has Hyundai weathered it?
A: One thing I’ve learned is the better you are doing in your business before you get into trouble, the better you’re going to navigate. We were doing really, really well in the market the last few months, last year and January and February. And this put us in a very good place to navigate. We immediately created a crisis team. We took advantage of the great know how of our headquarters. South Korea has been probably the country which managed best. Then we launched a number of actions, the Hyundai Assurance job loss protection program. We also implemented an extended warranty.
Q: The number of cases is growing, especially in Southern and Western states. Are you worried that we might have to go back to restrictions?
A: Nobody wants to go through that. That would mean monitoring every single day. We worked very diligently to ensure that dealers were in a position to sell digitally. If this situation gets back to what it was, and then we need to shut down the dealers, we will continue to operate with digital procedures.
Q: There has been talk about a government stimulus to spur auto sales, which are down from last year. Is that needed?
A: I’ve always thought that the automotive industry is the engine of the economy, considering that in America there are about 10 million jobs which depend on this industry. There are many, many parts suppliers who depend on the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers). Not to mention the dealers. Some companies had to lay off, some did employee furloughs. We kept them all, maintained all their benefits. So I strongly believe that this stimulus plan will be the right thing to do for the country. It would secure a lot of jobs, and you would create a positive action by consumers.
Q: Would the stimulus be a government incentive to buy a vehicle?
A: I think the OEMs should have skin in the game, and then also participate probably equally. Then you can make some elements for the vehicles to qualify. It may be made in America, or fulfilling certain environmental requirements. I think there are many ways to make it work.
Q: Hyundai has invested a lot in hybrid and electric technology without a lot of returns yet. Why keep doing that?
A: Our company is really very much committed to the future of mobility and to the green and newest technologies.
Q: Do you see a time when everyone will be driving electric vehicles?
A: I think all of the studies that have been made in the past have missed the time. And what we have seen is that that optimism hasn’t happened. There is no doubt about it that the technology is becoming more and more popular, more utilized. So the ranges are longer, the costs are getting lower. I don’t see it immediately on a very short-term or mid-term that the EV is going to be the dominant player in our market. Yet we’re going to continue to see an increase, which is going to be different by state. When you live in California you see a much higher share of users which are utilizing the EVs, the plug-in hybrids, the hybrids and even the hydrogen powered vehicles. So is there is there going to be a time? Nobody knows exactly but it is growing for sure.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--California police say 2 people killed in 7-vehicle accident

FRESNO , Calif. ( AP ) - Two people died in a highway accident involving seven vehicles , the California @ @ @ @ @ semitrailer truck struck a car around 4:30 p.m. Saturday , triggering the larger accident , @ @ @ @ @ Traffic on northbound Interstate Highway 5 in Merced County stopped near the John Erreca Rest @ @ @ @ @ 97 kilometers ) west of Fresno , the highway patrol said .
The large truck @ @ @ @ @ a car with two people inside , killing both of them .
The names of @ @ @ @ @ reported .
The car rolled into another vehicle and the impact pushed the cars into @ @ @ @ @ was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries , police said .

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - Two people died in a highway accident involving seven vehicles, the California Highway Patrol said.
A semitrailer truck struck a car around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, triggering the larger accident, The Fresno Bee reports.
Traffic on northbound Interstate Highway 5 in Merced County stopped near the John Erreca Rest Area, 60 miles (97 kilometers) west of Fresno, the highway patrol said.
The large truck failed to stop and struck a car with two people inside, killing both of them.
The names of the deceased were not immediately reported.
The car rolled into another vehicle and the impact pushed the cars into other vehicles.
One driver was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries, police said.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un sister, rise marks increase in North Korea cyberattacks

A cyber “ spear phishing ” campaign believed to be run by North Korean intelligence operatives who impersonate American journalists and South Korean diplomats on email with the goal of hacking U.S.-based North Korea analysts and human rights advocates has grown increasingly brazen in recent months , according to sources familiar with the campaign .
Emanating from networks in several locations around the world , the campaign has grown more aggressive and sophisticated during a period in which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has faced heightened difficulties at home and as his younger sister , Kim Yo-jong , has emerged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretive Pyongyang regime .
Kim Yo-jong made headlines last month by threatening military action against anyone engaging in propaganda against North Korea .
Meanwhile , the clandestine cybercampaign had gained speed and was targeting American think tanks and rights groups whose work focuses on exposing Pyongyang ’ s nuclear programs and authoritarianism .
Her rising prominence was on display again Friday when the North ’ s strictly controlled state media cited her on the delicate question of the state of nuclear talks with South Korea and the U.S. Ms. Kim dismissed what she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signals ” from the Trump administration about the prospect for further talks .
She also said Pyongyang would demand major concessions from Washington and that a face-to-face meeting would “ only be used as boring boasting coming from someone ’ s pride.
” Showing no hesitation about speaking for her brother , she added , “ It is still my personal opinion ; however , I doubt that things like the [ North Korean-U.S. ] summit talks would happen this year.
” Among those targeted in the cyber spear phishing campaign is Suzanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea Freedom Coalition .
She also chairs Free North Korea Radio , a nonprofit that has been helping North Korean defectors pipe shortwave news broadcasts and other messages into North Korea from offices in South Korea since 2006 .
Ms. Scholte became aware of attempts to hack her email in April after receiving a message claiming to be from Uri Friedman , a prominent national security journalist with The Atlantic and the Atlantic Council , seeking her comment for an article .
“ When I responded to the email , my message @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Times .
She said she realized she had become the victim of a cyberoperation after phoning Mr. Friedman , who told her he had not written any email to her .
Cybersecurity experts say phishing attempts often involve emails that are designed to dupe the target into a trusting conversation or information exchange before tricking them into clicking on corrupted links or large malware files .
Ms. Scholte said she subsequently received a message claiming to be from a South Korean diplomat friend who wanted to share a “ link ” to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights violations by the Kim regime .
After phoning the diplomat friend and learning that they too had not sent the email , Ms. Scholte said , she came upon information that the phishing attempts were likely engineered by North Korean intelligence seeking to undermine her work .
North Korean cyberwar operations have been well known to U.S. intelligence since at least 2014 , when Pyongyang was blamed for a massive hack of confidential data from Sony Pictures while the studio was preparing to release a movie that angered and mocked Mr. Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals like Ms. Scholte points to a more intensive phase .
Recent phishing attacks have impersonated a range of high-profile journalists .
A recent article by the North Korea-focused NK News said the efforts are likely designed to compromise South Korean and Western public and private institutions as well as individuals who have influence on how the world interprets North Korea .
Among those who have been impersonated on email are Jenny Town , deputy director of the 38 North website dedicated to North Korea analysis , Washington Post reporter Min Joo Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carroll , the article said .
NK News maintained that the culprits behind the campaign were not known .
However , sources told The Washington Times that U.S. intelligence officials believe at least some of the hacking is traceable to North Korean operatives on a mission to disrupt people suspected of engaging in “ psychological warfare ” against the Kim regime .
This includes academics , analysts and activists within U.S. civil society , as well as journalists and South Korean government officials .
But proving with certainty the origins of the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ originating from a range of locations outside North Korea , including networks in China and Southeast Asia .
The campaign is likely part of a wider North Korean information warfare operation and may be tied to the rise of Kim Yo-jong within the Kim regime since her brother ’ s unexplained roughly monthlong disappearance from public view in April amid a suspected health scare .
Kim Yo-jong drew global attention last month with an angry tirade against South Korea for failing to stop activists from spreading anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the North-South divide on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has targeted a range of individuals , Ms. Scholte ’ s case stands out because she has been directly involved in the broadcasting and balloon-messaging efforts .
She has worked for nearly two decades to support defectors ’ efforts to get information into North Korea ’ s notoriously closed information space .
“ It ’ s not surprising that she would have been targeted , ” said David Maxwell , a retired Special Forces colonel and North Korea expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies .
“ I think the regime is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio broadcasts .
“ Shortwave radio broadcasts are one of the most effective ways to get outside information into North Korea , and the information has an effect , ” Mr. Maxwell told The Times .
“ The regime wants to stop the flow of any information that has the potential to undermine the legitimacy of Kim Jong-un in the eyes of the North Korean people or puts the regime at risk.
” Serious health issues for national leaders are the kinds of things totalitarian regimes are desperate to conceal from their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] is sick , ” said Mr. Maxwell , “ they certainly don ’ t want information about that proliferating into North Korea because it undermines his stature , and that could be destabilizing.
” Ms. Scholte said she has received death threat emails in the past but believes the more recent efforts against her stem from “ our success in getting information into North Korea .
They feel they have to stop it.
” She expressed frustration that the government of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has not done more to stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr .
Moon has long been a strong supporter of detente and expanded contacts on the bitterly divided Korean Peninsula .
Seoul ’ s Unification Ministry recently called for the banning of all “ escapee information operations , ” a reference to defector efforts to send messages back to the North .
Mr. Maxwell said the ministry has also called on the South Korean National Assembly to enact a law making it illegal for anyone to float balloons into the North .
“ It is as if the North Koreans actually have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for them , ” Ms. Scholte said .
North Korea ’ s recent operations also coincide with uncertainty over the Trump administration ’ s commitment to its “ maximum pressure ” policy of sanctions and other actions against Pyongyang .
Denuclearization talks with the Kim regime have made little progress since early 2019 .
Late last year , the Foundation for Defense of Democracies issued a report suggesting that the U.S. was quietly shying away from more aggressive pressure that might lead to a challenge of the Kim regime from within and kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. and allies , the report said , should “ integrate all tools of national power , including diplomacy , military , cyber , sanctions , and information and influence activities ” to change the internal calculus of the regime in Pyongyang and squeeze the North Koreans toward more productive nuclear diplomacy .
Mr. Maxwell told The Times in an interview that Washington is “ missing an opportunity right now to really sustain maximum pressure through the use of information and should be doing more to support nongovernment organizations in their effective efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The battle to sustain such operations is familiar for Ms. Scholte , whose Free North Korea Radio operation has received on-again , off-again U.S. government funding but is currently financed entirely by private donations .
The organization and a partner outfit called the Defense Forum Foundation , which Ms. Scholte also chairs , received grant money from the State Department ’ s bureau of democracy human rights and labor during the George W. Bush administration , but she said the funding was held back during the Obama years .
Free North Korea Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took office , only to be cut off again in 2019 .
Ms. Scholte said she was “ totally devastated ” by the news and the U.S. demand to prepare an entirely new funding grant .
“ This meant the State Department was essentially shutting down Free North Korea Radio for at least six to eight months because the grant process takes that long , ” she said .
A State Department spokesperson disputed that characterization and said Ms. Scholte ’ s organization never applied to have the grant renewed .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department rejected the renewal of the project , as no such request for additional funding was submitted , ” the spokesperson said .
Two notices posted by the department over the past year have sought grant applications from organizations capable of “ producing and transmitting radio broadcasts into North Korea , ” and a spokesperson told The Times that one of the department ’ s “ main programming lines of effort is to increase ” such broadcasts .
Ms. Scholte questioned that claim , saying the department funding mechanism has become so bungled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea Radio forward without it .
“ What is State Department grant money anyway ?
It ’ s money from American taxpayers .
Why not reach out to Americans directly , because what we are doing is exactly the kind of thing they would want to support ?
” she said .
The service ’ s funders , she added , now include “ a Missouri farm couple , a Florida businesswoman , an Illinois web designer , a retired Pennsylvania teacher , and a handful of churches in California , Illinois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are confident , ” she said , “ that as more Americans hear what we are doing they will partner with us , too .
”

A cyber “spear phishing” campaign believed to be run by North Korean intelligence operatives who impersonate American journalists and South Korean diplomats on email with the goal of hacking U.S.-based North Korea analysts and human rights advocates has grown increasingly brazen in recent months, according to sources familiar with the campaign.
Emanating from networks in several locations around the world, the campaign has grown more aggressive and sophisticated during a period in which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has faced heightened difficulties at home and as his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, has emerged as an influential power player in the secretive Pyongyang regime.
Kim Yo-jong made headlines last month by threatening military action against anyone engaging in propaganda against North Korea. Meanwhile, the clandestine cybercampaign had gained speed and was targeting American think tanks and rights groups whose work focuses on exposing Pyongyang’s nuclear programs and authoritarianism.
Her rising prominence was on display again Friday when the North’s strictly controlled state media cited her on the delicate question of the state of nuclear talks with South Korea and the U.S.
Ms. Kim dismissed what she said was a “spate of strange signals” from the Trump administration about the prospect for further talks. She also said Pyongyang would demand major concessions from Washington and that a face-to-face meeting would “only be used as boring boasting coming from someone’s pride.”
Showing no hesitation about speaking for her brother, she added, “It is still my personal opinion; however, I doubt that things like the [North Korean-U.S.] summit talks would happen this year.”
Among those targeted in the cyber spear phishing campaign is Suzanne Scholte, an activist with the Washington-based North Korea Freedom Coalition. She also chairs Free North Korea Radio, a nonprofit that has been helping North Korean defectors pipe shortwave news broadcasts and other messages into North Korea from offices in South Korea since 2006.
Ms. Scholte became aware of attempts to hack her email in April after receiving a message claiming to be from Uri Friedman, a prominent national security journalist with The Atlantic and the Atlantic Council, seeking her comment for an article.
“When I responded to the email, my message bounced back,” she told The Washington Times. She said she realized she had become the victim of a cyberoperation after phoning Mr. Friedman, who told her he had not written any email to her.
Cybersecurity experts say phishing attempts often involve emails that are designed to dupe the target into a trusting conversation or information exchange before tricking them into clicking on corrupted links or large malware files.
Ms. Scholte said she subsequently received a message claiming to be from a South Korean diplomat friend who wanted to share a “link” to a document purporting to be about human rights violations by the Kim regime.
After phoning the diplomat friend and learning that they too had not sent the email, Ms. Scholte said, she came upon information that the phishing attempts were likely engineered by North Korean intelligence seeking to undermine her work.
Impersonating journalists
North Korean cyberwar operations have been well known to U.S. intelligence since at least 2014, when Pyongyang was blamed for a massive hack of confidential data from Sony Pictures while the studio was preparing to release a movie that angered and mocked Mr. Kim.
Analysts say the sophisticated targeting of individuals like Ms. Scholte points to a more intensive phase.
Recent phishing attacks have impersonated a range of high-profile journalists. A recent article by the North Korea-focused NK News said the efforts are likely designed to compromise South Korean and Western public and private institutions as well as individuals who have influence on how the world interprets North Korea.
Among those who have been impersonated on email are Jenny Town, deputy director of the 38 North website dedicated to North Korea analysis, Washington Post reporter Min Joo Kim and NK News CEO Chad O’Carroll, the article said.
NK News maintained that the culprits behind the campaign were not known. However, sources told The Washington Times that U.S. intelligence officials believe at least some of the hacking is traceable to North Korean operatives on a mission to disrupt people suspected of engaging in “psychological warfare” against the Kim regime.
This includes academics, analysts and activists within U.S. civil society, as well as journalists and South Korean government officials. But proving with certainty the origins of the campaign is difficult because the suspect emails are originating from a range of locations outside North Korea, including networks in China and Southeast Asia.
The campaign is likely part of a wider North Korean information warfare operation and may be tied to the rise of Kim Yo-jong within the Kim regime since her brother’s unexplained roughly monthlong disappearance from public view in April amid a suspected health scare.
New twist in Pyongyang
Kim Yo-jong drew global attention last month with an angry tirade against South Korea for failing to stop activists from spreading anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the North-South divide on message-laden balloons.
Although the spear phishing has targeted a range of individuals, Ms. Scholte’s case stands out because she has been directly involved in the broadcasting and balloon-messaging efforts. She has worked for nearly two decades to support defectors’ efforts to get information into North Korea’s notoriously closed information space.
“It’s not surprising that she would have been targeted,” said David Maxwell, a retired Special Forces colonel and North Korea expert with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “I think the regime is focused on her organization because of the radio broadcasts.
“Shortwave radio broadcasts are one of the most effective ways to get outside information into North Korea, and the information has an effect,” Mr. Maxwell told The Times. “The regime wants to stop the flow of any information that has the potential to undermine the legitimacy of Kim Jong-un in the eyes of the North Korean people or puts the regime at risk.”
Serious health issues for national leaders are the kinds of things totalitarian regimes are desperate to conceal from their own people.
“If [Mr. Kim] is sick,” said Mr. Maxwell, “they certainly don’t want information about that proliferating into North Korea because it undermines his stature, and that could be destabilizing.”
Ms. Scholte said she has received death threat emails in the past but believes the more recent efforts against her stem from “our success in getting information into North Korea. They feel they have to stop it.”
She expressed frustration that the government of South Korean President Moon Jae-in has not done more to stand up against North Korea’s campaign. Mr. Moon has long been a strong supporter of detente and expanded contacts on the bitterly divided Korean Peninsula.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry recently called for the banning of all “escapee information operations,” a reference to defector efforts to send messages back to the North. Mr. Maxwell said the ministry has also called on the South Korean National Assembly to enact a law making it illegal for anyone to float balloons into the North.
“It is as if the North Koreans actually have the South Korean government doing their bidding for them,” Ms. Scholte said.
Funded by donations
North Korea’s recent operations also coincide with uncertainty over the Trump administration’s commitment to its “maximum pressure” policy of sanctions and other actions against Pyongyang. Denuclearization talks with the Kim regime have made little progress since early 2019.
Late last year, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies issued a report suggesting that the U.S. was quietly shying away from more aggressive pressure that might lead to a challenge of the Kim regime from within and kill hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough.
The U.S. and allies, the report said, should “integrate all tools of national power, including diplomacy, military, cyber, sanctions, and information and influence activities” to change the internal calculus of the regime in Pyongyang and squeeze the North Koreans toward more productive nuclear diplomacy.
Mr. Maxwell told The Times in an interview that Washington is “missing an opportunity right now to really sustain maximum pressure through the use of information and should be doing more to support nongovernment organizations in their effective efforts to get information into North Korea.”
The battle to sustain such operations is familiar for Ms. Scholte, whose Free North Korea Radio operation has received on-again, off-again U.S. government funding but is currently financed entirely by private donations.
The organization and a partner outfit called the Defense Forum Foundation, which Ms. Scholte also chairs, received grant money from the State Department’s bureau of democracy human rights and labor during the George W. Bush administration, but she said the funding was held back during the Obama years.
Free North Korea Radio was granted funding again after Mr. Trump took office, only to be cut off again in 2019. Ms. Scholte said she was “totally devastated” by the news and the U.S. demand to prepare an entirely new funding grant.
“This meant the State Department was essentially shutting down Free North Korea Radio for at least six to eight months because the grant process takes that long,” she said.
A State Department spokesperson disputed that characterization and said Ms. Scholte’s organization never applied to have the grant renewed. “It is not accurate to state that the department rejected the renewal of the project, as no such request for additional funding was submitted,” the spokesperson said.
Two notices posted by the department over the past year have sought grant applications from organizations capable of “producing and transmitting radio broadcasts into North Korea,” and a spokesperson told The Times that one of the department’s “main programming lines of effort is to increase” such broadcasts.
Ms. Scholte questioned that claim, saying the department funding mechanism has become so bungled that she has decided to push Free North Korea Radio forward without it. “What is State Department grant money anyway? It’s money from American taxpayers. Why not reach out to Americans directly, because what we are doing is exactly the kind of thing they would want to support?” she said.
The service’s funders, she added, now include “a Missouri farm couple, a Florida businesswoman, an Illinois web designer, a retired Pennsylvania teacher, and a handful of churches in California, Illinois, South Carolina and Virginia.”
“We are confident,” she said, “that as more Americans hear what we are doing they will partner with us, too.”
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Grandson of Elvis Presley has died at age 27, agent says

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - The son of Lisa Marie Presley has died .
He was 27 .
Presley @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement Sunday to The Associated Press that she was “ heartbroken ” @ @ @ @ @ of her son Benjamin Keough .
He is the grandson of the late Elvis Presley @ @ @ @ @ died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday in Calabasas , California .
“ She is @ @ @ @ @ beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter @ @ @ @ @ in the statement .
“ She adored that boy .
He was the love of @ @ @ @ @ Keough and actress Riley Keough , 31 , with her former husband Danny Keough .
@ @ @ @ @ another marriage .
Nancy Sinatra tweeted her condolences to Presley , writing , “ I @ @ @ @ @ your mama gave birth to you , never dreaming you would have pain like this @ @ @ @ @ ’ m so very sorry .
”

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The son of Lisa Marie Presley has died. He was 27.
Presley’s representative Roger Widynowski said in a statement Sunday to The Associated Press that she was “heartbroken” after learning about the death of her son Benjamin Keough. He is the grandson of the late Elvis Presley.
TMZ reports that Keough died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Sunday in Calabasas, California.
“She is completely heartbroken, inconsolable and beyond devastated but trying to stay strong for her 11-year-old twins and her oldest daughter Riley,” Widynowski said in the statement. “She adored that boy. He was the love of her life.”
Presley had Keough and actress Riley Keough, 31, with her former husband Danny Keough. She also had twins from another marriage.
Nancy Sinatra tweeted her condolences to Presley, writing, “I have known you since before your mama gave birth to you, never dreaming you would have pain like this in your life. I’m so very sorry.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Police locate California infant after 2 women fatally shot

SAN DIEGO ( AP ) - A 6-month-old boy was found more than six hours after the child was taken from a home where his mother and grandmother were shot to death , police said .
The baby was found unharmed around 3 p.m. Sunday after being taken from a San Diego home , The San Diego Union-Tribune reports .
San Diego Police Department Capt .
Manny Del Toro said the boy was found with a woman at an apartment complex .
Police Lt. Matt Dobbs said the shooting victims were the boy ’ s 37-year-old mother and his 65-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
Police were searching for 31-year-old Justice Love Peace , the child ’ s father , who authorities called a person of interest in the case .
Police said they believe Peace left the scene with the boy in a white SUV after the shooting in the city ’ s Otay Mesa area .
A caller reported hearing gunshots around 8:20 a.m. and officers found the mother in the driveway .
She was transported to a hospital , where she died .
Police located the grandmother near the front door , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital .

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A 6-month-old boy was found more than six hours after the child was taken from a home where his mother and grandmother were shot to death, police said.
The baby was found unharmed around 3 p.m. Sunday after being taken from a San Diego home, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
San Diego Police Department Capt. Manny Del Toro said the boy was found with a woman at an apartment complex.
Police Lt. Matt Dobbs said the shooting victims were the boy’s 37-year-old mother and his 65-year-old grandmother. Their names were not immediately released.
Police were searching for 31-year-old Justice Love Peace, the child’s father, who authorities called a person of interest in the case.
Police said they believe Peace left the scene with the boy in a white SUV after the shooting in the city’s Otay Mesa area.
A caller reported hearing gunshots around 8:20 a.m. and officers found the mother in the driveway. She was transported to a hospital, where she died.
Police located the grandmother near the front door, but the woman died before she could be taken to a hospital.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Record label announces death of rap artist Lil Marlo

ATLANTA ( AP ) - The Atlanta-based rap artist known as Lil Marlo has died , his record label said Sunday .
Quality Control Music announced the death of Rudolph “ Marlo ” Johnson in a social media post , saying he will be remembered as “ a man of great talent who feared nothing.
” A statement from the Atlanta Police Department says a man named Rudolph Johnson was killed late Saturday in what investigators believe was a targeted shooting .
Officers responded to a single-car wreck on Interstate 285 in Atlanta at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson , dead inside his vehicle , the statement said .
Investigators believe Johnson was shot while driving and was the intended target .
Police identified Johnson as 30 years old , while the social media post from Quality Control Music says he was born in 1993 , which would make him around 27 .
Representatives for the record label did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday .
Johnson emerged in 2017 collaborating with rapper and friend Lil Baby on “ 2 The Hard Way.
” Earlier this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st & 3rd ” featuring Future , Gucci Mane and Lil Baby .
“ So Much Potential That The World Didn ’ t Get A Chance To See .
Love You Bro .
It ’ s Really Hard For Me To Say RIP , ” Quality Control Music CEO Pierre Thomas said on Instagram .
Rapper Lil Yachty , Johnson ’ s label mate , said on social media that he and Johnson had worked on four songs the morning of his death .

ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta-based rap artist known as Lil Marlo has died, his record label said Sunday.
Quality Control Music announced the death of Rudolph “Marlo” Johnson in a social media post, saying he will be remembered as “a man of great talent who feared nothing.”
A statement from the Atlanta Police Department says a man named Rudolph Johnson was killed late Saturday in what investigators believe was a targeted shooting.
Officers responded to a single-car wreck on Interstate 285 in Atlanta at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night and found the driver, later identified as Johnson, dead inside his vehicle, the statement said. Investigators believe Johnson was shot while driving and was the intended target.
Police identified Johnson as 30 years old, while the social media post from Quality Control Music says he was born in 1993, which would make him around 27. Representatives for the record label did not immediately reply to a request for comment Sunday.
Johnson emerged in 2017 collaborating with rapper and friend Lil Baby on “2 The Hard Way.” Earlier this year, the up-and-coming rapper released his project “1st & 3rd” featuring Future, Gucci Mane and Lil Baby.
“So Much Potential That The World Didn’t Get A Chance To See. Love You Bro. It’s Really Hard For Me To Say RIP,” Quality Control Music CEO Pierre Thomas said on Instagram.
Rapper Lil Yachty, Johnson’s label mate, said on social media that he and Johnson had worked on four songs the morning of his death.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--2 teens and 11-year-old die when cars crash on old airstrip

NEW YORK ( AP ) - An 11-year-old boy and two teenagers were killed after two cars collided on a decommissioned airfield in Brooklyn , police said Sunday .
A police official told The New York Times the teens had been spinning out , “ doing doughnuts , ” at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn Saturday night before they crashed .
First responders found two badly damaged cars and bodies on the ground , Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Ramdayal said .
The young people who died were identified as Daniel Sidgiyayeva , 11 , Margarita Sidgiyayeva , 18 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Homecrest in southeast Brooklyn .
They were riding in a 2014 Kia Forte .
Another passenger in the car , age 17 , was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday , police said .
Three teenagers in the other car , a 2020 Toyota Camry , were hospitalized in stable condition on Sunday .
The deserted runway is in Marine Park , Brooklyn , near Jamaica Bay , and is part of the National Park System .
It has attracted drag races in the past but it was unclear if the cars had been @ @ @ @ @

NEW YORK (AP) - An 11-year-old boy and two teenagers were killed after two cars collided on a decommissioned airfield in Brooklyn, police said Sunday.
A police official told The New York Times the teens had been spinning out, “doing doughnuts,” at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn Saturday night before they crashed. First responders found two badly damaged cars and bodies on the ground, Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Ramdayal said.
Four teens remained hospitalized Sunday, one critically injured.
The young people who died were identified as Daniel Sidgiyayeva, 11, Margarita Sidgiyayeva, 18, and Emil Badalov, 16, all of Homecrest in southeast Brooklyn. They were riding in a 2014 Kia Forte. Another passenger in the car, age 17, was hospitalized in critical condition Sunday, police said.
Three teenagers in the other car, a 2020 Toyota Camry, were hospitalized in stable condition on Sunday.
The deserted runway is in Marine Park, Brooklyn, near Jamaica Bay, and is part of the National Park System. It has attracted drag races in the past but it was unclear if the cars had been drag racing Saturday evening.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Police say man had fake gun during California hotel standoff

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - A man brandished what police later learned was a fake gun during a @ @ @ @ @ evacuation of a hotel , authorities said .
Guests were evacuated from a Comfort Inn @ @ @ @ @ during a standoff between police and a domestic violence suspect , The Sacramento Bee reported @ @ @ @ @ , of Corning faces multiple charges including child abuse and domestic violence , the Red @ @ @ @ @ a release .
Officers went to the hotel ’ s second floor and encountered Sandoval-Perez @ @ @ @ @ held off police for more than 75 minutes , police said .
After he put @ @ @ @ @ himself to be taken into custody , police determined the weapon was fake .
Guests @ @ @ @ @ building as police negotiated with Sandoval-Perez .
Police said they initially responded to a call @ @ @ @ @ Motel 6 across the street , where a woman who was thought to be a @ @ @ @ @ outside demanding the return of her children .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A man brandished what police later learned was a fake gun during a standoff that resulted in the evacuation of a hotel, authorities said.
Guests were evacuated from a Comfort Inn in Red Bluff early Saturday during a standoff between police and a domestic violence suspect, The Sacramento Bee reported.
Christian Sandoval-Perez, 21, of Corning faces multiple charges including child abuse and domestic violence, the Red Bluff Police Department said in a release.
Officers went to the hotel’s second floor and encountered Sandoval-Perez with a gun. He held off police for more than 75 minutes, police said.
After he put down the gun and allowed himself to be taken into custody, police determined the weapon was fake.
Guests were ushered out of the building as police negotiated with Sandoval-Perez.
Police said they initially responded to a call around 5 a.m. at a Motel 6 across the street, where a woman who was thought to be a victim of domestic violence was outside demanding the return of her children.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--MATCHDAY: Man United's CL bid could rest on City ban verdict

A look at what ’ s happening around European soccer on Monday : Manchester City will discover if it is to be banned from European competitions for the next two seasons .
The Court of Arbitration for Sport delivers its verdict at 0830 GMT after hearing City ’ s appeal against the UEFA sanctions for breaching Financial Fair Play rules .
Currently second in the Premier League , Pep Guardiola ’ s side has secured qualification for next season ’ s Champions League .
A beneficiary of Manchester City being banned from the Champions League could be rival Manchester United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s game against Southampton .
Fifth place would take the fourth qualification spot if second-place City isn ’ t allowed into European football ’ s elite competition .
United may not need help , anyway .
It will move up to third if it beats Southampton after weekend losses for Chelsea and Leicester .
Real Madrid visits midtable Granada looking to reopen a four-point lead over Barcelona and move closer to its first Spanish league title in three years .
Zinedine Zidane ’ s Madrid would then need another victory - or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matches to clinch the title .
Barcelona , the two-time defending champion , stayed within a point after a 1-0 win at Valladolid on Saturday .
Inter Milan needs a win to boost morale after a disappointing series of results .
Antonio Conte ’ s side has dropped to fourth in Serie A after a draw at Hellas Verona and a dispiriting home loss to Bologna .
While it has a cushion of 11 points ahead of fifth-place Roma and a solid hold on the final Champions League place , a victory at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restore Inter ’ s confidence .
Torino is five points above the drop zone .

A look at what’s happening around European soccer on Monday:
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT
Manchester City will discover if it is to be banned from European competitions for the next two seasons. The Court of Arbitration for Sport delivers its verdict at 0830 GMT after hearing City’s appeal against the UEFA sanctions for breaching Financial Fair Play rules. Currently second in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side has secured qualification for next season’s Champions League.
ENGLAND
A beneficiary of Manchester City being banned from the Champions League could be rival Manchester United, which is fifth heading into Monday’s game against Southampton. Fifth place would take the fourth qualification spot if second-place City isn’t allowed into European football’s elite competition. United may not need help, anyway. It will move up to third if it beats Southampton after weekend losses for Chelsea and Leicester.
SPAIN
Real Madrid visits midtable Granada looking to reopen a four-point lead over Barcelona and move closer to its first Spanish league title in three years. Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid would then need another victory - or two draws - from its final two matches to clinch the title. Barcelona, the two-time defending champion, stayed within a point after a 1-0 win at Valladolid on Saturday.
ITALY
Inter Milan needs a win to boost morale after a disappointing series of results. Antonio Conte’s side has dropped to fourth in Serie A after a draw at Hellas Verona and a dispiriting home loss to Bologna. While it has a cushion of 11 points ahead of fifth-place Roma and a solid hold on the final Champions League place, a victory at home to relegation-threatened Torino would help to restore Inter’s confidence. Torino is five points above the drop zone.
___
More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Former tennis player Mardy Fish wins celebrity golf title

STATELINE , Nev. ( AP ) - U.S. Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish won the American Century Championship on Sunday , holding off former Buffalo defensive tackle Kyle Williams a day after a record-setting round .
The 38-year-old former tennis player jumped into Lake Tahoe in celebration .
“ I ’ ve wanted to play well here for a long time , ” said Fish , a six-time winner on the ATP Tour.. “ It just doesn ’ t suit my eye very well , so I haven ’ t put it all together .
And thankfully I put it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t today and it wasn ’ t Friday.
” The celebrity tournament was played without fans at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The $ 600,000 purse and additional money will be donated to organizations supporting COVID-19 relief efforts , the Equal Justice Initiative and Lake Tahoe regional non-profits .
Fish birdied the par-5 16th and 18th holes for a 21-point day and 76-point total - nine better than Williams - under the modified Stableford scoring system .
On Saturday , Fish birdied the final five holes for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The left-hander won after finishing in the top five five times in his previous six starts .
The nearly 300-pound Williams was trying to become the first lineman to win the event .
He had 15 points in the final round .
“ I ’ m happy for Mardy , ” Williams said .
“ I don ’ t like that he did it at my expense , but he was the best player this week.
” Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz was third with 58 points after a 21-point round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played relentless , ” Smoltz said .
“ He didn ’ t change his theory and it ended up working out.
” Golden State star Stephen Curry was fourth .
He closed with a 26-point day to finish with 56 points .
Former Dallas quarterback Tony Romo , the winner the last two years , withdrew after injuring a wrist late in the second round Saturday .
He was tied for fourth after two rounds .

STATELINE, Nev. (AP) - U.S. Davis Cup captain Mardy Fish won the American Century Championship on Sunday, holding off former Buffalo defensive tackle Kyle Williams a day after a record-setting round.
The 38-year-old former tennis player jumped into Lake Tahoe in celebration.
“I’ve wanted to play well here for a long time,” said Fish, a six-time winner on the ATP Tour.. “It just doesn’t suit my eye very well, so I haven’t put it all together. And thankfully I put it all together yesterday because it wasn’t today and it wasn’t Friday.”
The celebrity tournament was played without fans at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course because of the coronavirus pandemic. The $600,000 purse and additional money will be donated to organizations supporting COVID-19 relief efforts, the Equal Justice Initiative and Lake Tahoe regional non-profits.
Fish birdied the par-5 16th and 18th holes for a 21-point day and 76-point total - nine better than Williams - under the modified Stableford scoring system.
On Saturday, Fish birdied the final five holes for a course-record 9-under 63 and event-record 37-point round. The left-hander won after finishing in the top five five times in his previous six starts.
The nearly 300-pound Williams was trying to become the first lineman to win the event. He had 15 points in the final round.
“I’m happy for Mardy,” Williams said. “I don’t like that he did it at my expense, but he was the best player this week.”
Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz was third with 58 points after a 21-point round.
“Mardy played fearless. He played relentless,” Smoltz said. “He didn’t change his theory and it ended up working out.”
Golden State star Stephen Curry was fourth. He closed with a 26-point day to finish with 56 points.
Former Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, the winner the last two years, withdrew after injuring a wrist late in the second round Saturday. He was tied for fourth after two rounds.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Police: 2 dead after disturbance at suburban Seattle party

BELLEVUE , Wash. ( AP ) - Two men died at an apartment building in suburban Seattle after a male relative of the host stabbed her and two other people and one of the stabbing victims shot him , police said Sunday .
The 41-year-old stabbing suspect from Burien and a 21-year-old man from Renton , whom he allegedly stabbed , died , after some kind of disturbance between the 41-year-old and the party ’ s 22-year-old host , police chief Steve Mylett said .
The woman hosting the party at the Elements Apartments , a three-building high-rise complex downtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released on Saturday while a 24-year-old from Bend , Oregon , who shot the suspect after being stabbed , was in stable condition Sunday at Harborview Medical Center , police said .
Police were investigating what led up to a disturbance and what the relationship was between the party ’ s host and the stabbing suspect , Mylett said .
Video evidence of what happened has been found and police were interviewing witnesses at the party , he said .
The deaths are the third and fourth homicides in the city this year @

BELLEVUE, Wash. (AP) - Two men died at an apartment building in suburban Seattle after a male relative of the host stabbed her and two other people and one of the stabbing victims shot him, police said Sunday.
The 41-year-old stabbing suspect from Burien and a 21-year-old man from Renton, whom he allegedly stabbed, died, after some kind of disturbance between the 41-year-old and the party’s 22-year-old host, police chief Steve Mylett said. The woman hosting the party at the Elements Apartments, a three-building high-rise complex downtown, was taken to the hospital but released on Saturday while a 24-year-old from Bend, Oregon, who shot the suspect after being stabbed, was in stable condition Sunday at Harborview Medical Center, police said.
Police were investigating what led up to a disturbance and what the relationship was between the party’s host and the stabbing suspect, Mylett said. Video evidence of what happened has been found and police were interviewing witnesses at the party, he said.
The deaths are the third and fourth homicides in the city this year.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Alaska protesters interrupt campaign event with animal heart

ANCHORAGE , Alaska ( AP ) - Protesters in Alaska carrying a banner and a caribou heart interrupted a campaign event for a U.S. senator seeking reelection .
The small group of protesters were restrained and escorted out by staff and attendees at Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan ’ s campaign launch event in a hangar near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Saturday , The Anchorage Daily News reports .
Kathleen Bonnar said she approached Sullivan while carrying the caribou heart to the stage in a handbag .
She was accompanied by another woman , later identified as Crystal Berwick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign manager , Matt Shuckerow , restraining Bonnar .
The animal heart slipped from her hands onto the floor , leaving blood on Shuckerow and the stage .
At least two other women carrying a banner reading “ Heartless Sullivan ” attempted to rush the stage during the confrontation but were also pulled outside .
Bonnar said the heart fell from her hands when her arms were grabbed , which is why there may have been the misperception she intended to throw it .
“ I think things just got really blown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us had any intention to be violent at all .
We didn ’ t even expect the response we received at all , ” Bonnar said .
Shuckerow said he attempted to stop Bonnar because he was not sure what the object was as she attempted to remove the heart from her bag .
The action was “ not a safe protest , it was not peaceful , it was in fact violent on the part of the protesters , ” Shuckerow said .
The demonstrators issued a statement afterward saying they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sullivan ’ s record against Alaska Native interests.
” The statement , which said the group consisted of Alaska residents who were not connected to any organization or corporation , said the protest was peaceful and they plan to seek assault charges against those who ejected them .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Protesters in Alaska carrying a banner and a caribou heart interrupted a campaign event for a U.S. senator seeking reelection.
The small group of protesters were restrained and escorted out by staff and attendees at Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s campaign launch event in a hangar near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Saturday, The Anchorage Daily News reports.
Kathleen Bonnar said she approached Sullivan while carrying the caribou heart to the stage in a handbag.
She was accompanied by another woman, later identified as Crystal Berwick.
A video posted online showed Sullivan’s campaign manager, Matt Shuckerow, restraining Bonnar. The animal heart slipped from her hands onto the floor, leaving blood on Shuckerow and the stage.
At least two other women carrying a banner reading “Heartless Sullivan” attempted to rush the stage during the confrontation but were also pulled outside.
Bonnar said the heart fell from her hands when her arms were grabbed, which is why there may have been the misperception she intended to throw it.
“I think things just got really blown way out of proportion. None of us had any intention to be violent at all. We didn’t even expect the response we received at all,” Bonnar said.
Shuckerow said he attempted to stop Bonnar because he was not sure what the object was as she attempted to remove the heart from her bag.
The action was “not a safe protest, it was not peaceful, it was in fact violent on the part of the protesters,” Shuckerow said.
The demonstrators issued a statement afterward saying they were “attempting to establish a dialogue about Sullivan’s record against Alaska Native interests.”
The statement, which said the group consisted of Alaska residents who were not connected to any organization or corporation, said the protest was peaceful and they plan to seek assault charges against those who ejected them.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Trade groups oppose proposed D.C. sales tax on advertising

Trade associations are opposing a new sales tax on advertising in the District , saying the 3 % levy will only further hurt businesses already devastated by the economic recession created by the coronavirus pandemic .
Dan Jaffe , executive group president of the Association of National Advertisers , called the tax counterproductive , arguing that it would suppress sales and ultimately revenue from other sales taxes .
“ When I do an ad , I am trying to make a sale .
[ The ad ] is not the sale .
It ’ s not soap or cereal or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to sell soap , cereal or a car service .
You are taxing the effort to sell — that ’ s very , very different , ” Mr. Jaffe told The Washington Times .
“ And that ’ s why advertising everywhere has almost been excluded from sales taxes.
” The Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association said that newspapers “ were fighting tooth and nail ” before the pandemic to generate revenue amid declining subscriptions and circulation .
So they turned to advertising to shore up their budgets , the trade group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — proposed at the eleventh hour , without even a public hearing — would essentially kick the newspaper industry when it ’ s down , subjecting it to new taxes that will be difficult to calculate and economically devastating to pay , at a time when the District ’ s newspaper industry is working round the clock to keep our citizens informed about an ongoing public health crisis , ” the press association said in a written statement .
On Tuesday , the D.C. Council gave unanimous preliminary approval of its $ 16.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 3 % tax on advertising that is expected to generate $ 18 million in new revenue for the District .
The 3 % tax would be applied to the sale of all advertising and personal data .
The most common penalty for failing to pay the tax would be an additional 5 % charge on what is owed for every month that it has not paid .
Some lawmakers raised concerns about the tax ’ s impact on businesses , particularly newspapers .
But Council Chairman Phil Mendelson , who proposed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will see that the impact is not that great.
” Still , D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “ problematic ” that the public and small businesses were not given an opportunity to have input on the tax , noting that it was discussed in committee and that Mr. Mendelson made public his budget proposal just 15 hours before the council was to hold a first vote on it .
In a letter to the council , Miss Bowser called it “ foolhardy ” to raise taxes this year because the chief financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finances for the next two years .
Hal Schild , president of the American Advertising Federation of Washington , echoed that sentiment in a brief interview with The Times .
“ I understand you need to spread the pain of taxes , but is this the right time to start a new tax ?
” Mr. Schild said .
He pointed out that advertising agencies have been forced to cut staff and close due to the pandemic .
He expressed worry that agencies would shrink further if businesses become reluctant to buy advertising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new tax .
But Mr. Mendelson , at-large Democrat , told The Times that he thinks the tax is “ modest ” and that it ’ s good policy to have a broad sales tax base .
“ Businesses typically oppose any broadening of a sales tax that apply to them and then they pull up arguments that don ’ t bear out , ” the council chairman said , noting that fitness centers had threatened to leave the District after lawmakers included gym memberships and classes in the sales tax .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on behalf of local businesses , said it opposes the proposed tax .
The chamber has been critical of past measures that would increase costs on city businesses such as requiring paid family leave .
The D.C. Association of Realtors and Destination DC , the city ’ s tourism association , said they are evaluating how the tax would impact their industries and declined to comment further .
The Associated General Contractors of Metropolitan Washington and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington declined to comment .

Trade associations are opposing a new sales tax on advertising in the District, saying the 3% levy will only further hurt businesses already devastated by the economic recession created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Dan Jaffe, executive group president of the Association of National Advertisers, called the tax counterproductive, arguing that it would suppress sales and ultimately revenue from other sales taxes.
“When I do an ad, I am trying to make a sale. [The ad] is not the sale. It’s not soap or cereal or a car service. It’s trying to sell soap, cereal or a car service. You are taxing the effort to sell — that’s very, very different,” Mr. Jaffe told The Washington Times. “And that’s why advertising everywhere has almost been excluded from sales taxes.”
The Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association said that newspapers “were fighting tooth and nail” before the pandemic to generate revenue amid declining subscriptions and circulation. So they turned to advertising to shore up their budgets, the trade group said.
“Now this revenue provision — proposed at the eleventh hour, without even a public hearing — would essentially kick the newspaper industry when it’s down, subjecting it to new taxes that will be difficult to calculate and economically devastating to pay, at a time when the District’s newspaper industry is working round the clock to keep our citizens informed about an ongoing public health crisis,” the press association said in a written statement.
On Tuesday, the D.C. Council gave unanimous preliminary approval of its $16.7 billion fiscal 2021 budget, which includes a 3% tax on advertising that is expected to generate $18 million in new revenue for the District.
The 3% tax would be applied to the sale of all advertising and personal data. The most common penalty for failing to pay the tax would be an additional 5% charge on what is owed for every month that it has not paid.
Some lawmakers raised concerns about the tax’s impact on businesses, particularly newspapers. But Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who proposed the levy, said he thinks “we will see that the impact is not that great.”
Still, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “problematic” that the public and small businesses were not given an opportunity to have input on the tax, noting that it was discussed in committee and that Mr. Mendelson made public his budget proposal just 15 hours before the council was to hold a first vote on it.
In a letter to the council, Miss Bowser called it “foolhardy” to raise taxes this year because the chief financial officer predicted the District will face uncertain finances for the next two years.
Hal Schild, president of the American Advertising Federation of Washington, echoed that sentiment in a brief interview with The Times.
“I understand you need to spread the pain of taxes, but is this the right time to start a new tax?” Mr. Schild said.
He pointed out that advertising agencies have been forced to cut staff and close due to the pandemic. He expressed worry that agencies would shrink further if businesses become reluctant to buy advertising because of the added cost of the new tax.
But Mr. Mendelson, at-large Democrat, told The Times that he thinks the tax is “modest” and that it’s good policy to have a broad sales tax base.
“Businesses typically oppose any broadening of a sales tax that apply to them and then they pull up arguments that don’t bear out,” the council chairman said, noting that fitness centers had threatened to leave the District after lawmakers included gym memberships and classes in the sales tax.
The D.C. Chamber of Commerce, which advocates on behalf of local businesses, said it opposes the proposed tax. The chamber has been critical of past measures that would increase costs on city businesses such as requiring paid family leave.
The D.C. Association of Realtors and Destination DC, the city’s tourism association, said they are evaluating how the tax would impact their industries and declined to comment further.
The Associated General Contractors of Metropolitan Washington and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington declined to comment.
• Sophie Kaplan can be reached at skaplan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Missouri reports 310 more COVID-19 cases

JEFFERSON CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - The Missouri Department of Heath and Senior Services is reporting 310 @ @ @ @ @ , bringing the total to 27,443 .
The state on Sunday also reported five more @ @ @ @ @ to 1,069 .
State health officials say new cases of the coronavirus are being spread @ @ @ @ @ infect many others .
Health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox on Friday said that the average @ @ @ @ @ in the past week was 37.4 .
Officials suspect the actual number of people with @ @ @ @ @ the state-released statistics indicate because many people with mild or no symptoms do not get @ @

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Department of Heath and Senior Services is reporting 310 more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 27,443.
The state on Sunday also reported five more deaths, bringing the total to 1,069.
State health officials say new cases of the coronavirus are being spread primarily by young people who infect many others. Health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox on Friday said that the average age of newly diagnosed cases in the past week was 37.4.
Officials suspect the actual number of people with COVID-19 is much higher than the state-released statistics indicate because many people with mild or no symptoms do not get tested.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Democrats bring 'Defund' movement to Capitol Police

Democrats from Seattle to New York are working to cut their police budgets , but not on Capitol Hill , where the House — controlled by Democrats — is moving ahead with a budget that freezes but doesn ’ t trim any funding for the U.S. Capitol Police .
Instead , Democrats are demanding new training and more accountability , ordering the department to study whether it ’ s policing too far beyond the Capitol , to release better arrest statistics , and to do a better job communicating with the public .
Republicans gleefully pointed to the full funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police amid the ongoing debate over policing and race .
“ The bill recognizes their service and sacrifice by ensuring they have the resources they need to continue to keep the complex safe , ” said Rep. Kay Granger of Texas , the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee .
Activists , though , saw the budget freeze as a first swipe at a department that ’ s tripled over the last two decades , and they cheered the new accountability provisions , which were tucked into a report accompanying the bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for .
These are all things they should be doing .
The Capitol Police for a very long time have operated under a cloak of secrecy , ” said Daniel Schuman , policy director at Demand Progress .
“ The goal isn ’ t to cut their funding or to increase their funding .
It ’ s about making sure the Capitol complex is safe for democracy to take place.
” The funding , which is included in a broader bill to fund Congress ’ s operations next year , cleared its first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House Appropriations Committee on a 30-18 vote .
Republicans voted against the measure while Democrats , including some of the party ’ s most liberal members , backed it .
They cheered some of the non-police provisions such as language that would give illegal immigrant “ Dreamers ” permission to work , for pay , in the halls of Congress .
Currently they are barred because , despite DACA ’ s grant of work permits , they don ’ t have a path to citizenship , which is required under the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats also gloated over language that would order the removal of statues of figures from the Confederacy and others Democrats said are too tainted to be allowed to remain in the halls of Congress , such as former Chief Justice Roger B. Taney , author of the Dred Scott decision that ruled the Constitution didn ’ t envision citizenship for Africans or their descendants .
“ I hope that this action will begin a larger conversation we need to have about other statues in the Capitol , ” said Rep. Tim Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House ’ s legislative appropriations subcommittee and who sponsored the bill .
The only Democrat to mention the policing issue during Friday ’ s committee meeting was Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger , a Maryland Democrat who complained that the Capitol Police had their collective bargaining agreement suspended during coronavirus , and he urged that situation be corrected .
The Washington Times reached out to a local Black Lives Matter organization and several others who have backed the “ Defund Police ” movement but none responded to inquiries about the bill ’ s funding decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police makes up about a tenth of the overall legislative branch spending bill .
That ’ s 11 % less than the $ 516.7 million the department requested , Mr. Ryan did boost the pool of money going to salaries by $ 16.7 million , ensuring the department won ’ t have to cut any officers , but he cut that same amount from other expenses such as new vehicles , communications equipment and training .
Police Chief Steven A. Sund had asked for an increase in order to carry out plans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks , and to make other technology and equipment upgrades .
The new bill does include money for the updated alert system .
The Senate , controlled by Republicans , will produce its own version of the bill , which may be more generous to the department ’ s full request .
A compromise bill will eventually have to be hammered out .
But lawmakers in both parties are looking for places to make new changes , and the spending process is a likely battleground .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding for the FBI , ICE , the Border Patrol and other major federal law enforcement agencies , and it controls billions of dollars in grant money that can be used to push states and localities in a new direction .
The Capitol Police force totals 2,300 officers and civilians , meaning it ’ s twice the size of the police department in Minneapolis , where the death of a black man , George Floyd , sparked the new debate over race and police accountability .
Its budget and staffing soared in recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1998 deaths of two officers at the hands of a gunman who gained access to the Capitol , and again after the 2001 terrorist attacks .
But even in more recent times the money has poured in .
In 2017 , the department ’ s budget was $ 393.3 million , rising to $ 426.5 million in next year , $ 456.3 million in 2019 and the current $ 464.3 million level .
Among the changes House Democrats proposed are making the department have to respond to public information requests .
Because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s exempt from the Freedom of Information Act , the federal law that governs requests to executive agencies .
But the bill orders the department to come up with a FOIA-like system so the public can get information .
Democrats also demanded reports on steps the department takes to promote hiring of “ underrepresented groups ” and on what sorts of training exist to prevent racial profiling .
Mr. Schuman said it doesn ’ t generally make sense to compare the job of the Capitol Police to a local department — though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded its jurisdiction , and patrols not just the Capitol grounds but a large perimeter beyond the House and Senate footprint , including Union Station .
“ A lot of their arrests are for nonsense , ” Mr. Schuman said .
“ Somebody smoking pot on their doorstep 10 blocks from the Capitol , the Capitol Police should leave them alone.
” The new bill orders the department to report back on how much of its policing happens “ beyond USCP ’ s primary and extended jurisdictions.
” “ They ’ re making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions of who are the Capitol Police , what is their mission , how are they accomplishing it and are their resources an appropriate fit for what they ’ re supposed to be doing , ” Mr. Schuman said .

Democrats from Seattle to New York are working to cut their police budgets, but not on Capitol Hill, where the House — controlled by Democrats — is moving ahead with a budget that freezes but doesn’t trim any funding for the U.S. Capitol Police.
Instead, Democrats are demanding new training and more accountability, ordering the department to study whether it’s policing too far beyond the Capitol, to release better arrest statistics, and to do a better job communicating with the public.
Republicans gleefully pointed to the full funding as as a vote of confidence in police amid the ongoing debate over policing and race.
“The bill recognizes their service and sacrifice by ensuring they have the resources they need to continue to keep the complex safe,” said Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee.
Activists, though, saw the budget freeze as a first swipe at a department that’s tripled over the last two decades, and they cheered the new accountability provisions, which were tucked into a report accompanying the bill.
“This is what we asked for. These are all things they should be doing. The Capitol Police for a very long time have operated under a cloak of secrecy,” said Daniel Schuman, policy director at Demand Progress. “The goal isn’t to cut their funding or to increase their funding. It’s about making sure the Capitol complex is safe for democracy to take place.”
The funding, which is included in a broader bill to fund Congress’s operations next year, cleared its first big step Friday, gaining approval in the House Appropriations Committee on a 30-18 vote.
Republicans voted against the measure while Democrats, including some of the party’s most liberal members, backed it.
They cheered some of the non-police provisions such as language that would give illegal immigrant “Dreamers” permission to work, for pay, in the halls of Congress. Currently they are barred because, despite DACA’s grant of work permits, they don’t have a path to citizenship, which is required under the law for someone to work on Capitol Hill.
Democrats also gloated over language that would order the removal of statues of figures from the Confederacy and others Democrats said are too tainted to be allowed to remain in the halls of Congress, such as former Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision that ruled the Constitution didn’t envision citizenship for Africans or their descendants.
“I hope that this action will begin a larger conversation we need to have about other statues in the Capitol,” said Rep. Tim Ryan, the Ohio Democrat who chairs the House’s legislative appropriations subcommittee and who sponsored the bill.
The only Democrat to mention the policing issue during Friday’s committee meeting was Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Maryland Democrat who complained that the Capitol Police had their collective bargaining agreement suspended during coronavirus, and he urged that situation be corrected.
The Washington Times reached out to a local Black Lives Matter organization and several others who have backed the “Defund Police” movement but none responded to inquiries about the bill’s funding decisions.
The $464.3 million included for police makes up about a tenth of the overall legislative branch spending bill. That’s 11% less than the $516.7 million the department requested,
Mr. Ryan did boost the pool of money going to salaries by $16.7 million, ensuring the department won’t have to cut any officers, but he cut that same amount from other expenses such as new vehicles, communications equipment and training.
Police Chief Steven A. Sund had asked for an increase in order to carry out plans to update the obsolete campus-wide alert system put in place after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and to make other technology and equipment upgrades.
The new bill does include money for the updated alert system.
The Senate, controlled by Republicans, will produce its own version of the bill, which may be more generous to the department’s full request. A compromise bill will eventually have to be hammered out.
But lawmakers in both parties are looking for places to make new changes, and the spending process is a likely battleground. Beyond the Capitol Police, Congress controls funding for the FBI, ICE, the Border Patrol and other major federal law enforcement agencies, and it controls billions of dollars in grant money that can be used to push states and localities in a new direction.
The Capitol Police force totals 2,300 officers and civilians, meaning it’s twice the size of the police department in Minneapolis, where the death of a black man, George Floyd, sparked the new debate over race and police accountability.
Its budget and staffing soared in recent years, with major realignments after the 1998 deaths of two officers at the hands of a gunman who gained access to the Capitol, and again after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
But even in more recent times the money has poured in. In 2017, the department’s budget was $393.3 million, rising to $426.5 million in next year, $456.3 million in 2019 and the current $464.3 million level.
Among the changes House Democrats proposed are making the department have to respond to public information requests.
Because it is part of the legislative branch it’s exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, the federal law that governs requests to executive agencies. But the bill orders the department to come up with a FOIA-like system so the public can get information.
Democrats also demanded reports on steps the department takes to promote hiring of “underrepresented groups” and on what sorts of training exist to prevent racial profiling.
Mr. Schuman said it doesn’t generally make sense to compare the job of the Capitol Police to a local department — though the Capitol’s force has increasingly expanded its jurisdiction, and patrols not just the Capitol grounds but a large perimeter beyond the House and Senate footprint, including Union Station.
“A lot of their arrests are for nonsense,” Mr. Schuman said. “Somebody smoking pot on their doorstep 10 blocks from the Capitol, the Capitol Police should leave them alone.”
The new bill orders the department to report back on how much of its policing happens “beyond USCP’s primary and extended jurisdictions.”
“They’re making a real effort to grapple with the questions of who are the Capitol Police, what is their mission, how are they accomplishing it and are their resources an appropriate fit for what they’re supposed to be doing,” Mr. Schuman said.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-12--Nevada reports 845 additional COVID-19 cases, 1 more death

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Health officials in Nevada reported 845 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday along with one more known death .
That pushes the totals to 27,683 positive coronavirus cases around the state with 593 known deaths .
The closure order for bars in seven Nevada counties took effect Saturday along with re-imposed limits on restaurants .
Gov .
Steve Sisolak also imposed statewide rules that barred restaurants from serving groups of more than six people .
Sisolak ’ s new directive was the second time Nevada has tightened restrictions since the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May and bars and casinos in early June .
After new positive cases and hospitalization rates rose in recent weeks , the governor imposed a statewide mask mandate starting June 26 .
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested , and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick .
For most people , the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks .
For some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Health officials in Nevada reported 845 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday along with one more known death.
That pushes the totals to 27,683 positive coronavirus cases around the state with 593 known deaths.
The closure order for bars in seven Nevada counties took effect Saturday along with re-imposed limits on restaurants.
Gov. Steve Sisolak also imposed statewide rules that barred restaurants from serving groups of more than six people.
Sisolak’s new directive was the second time Nevada has tightened restrictions since the state began reopening, starting with restaurants in May and bars and casinos in early June.
After new positive cases and hospitalization rates rose in recent weeks, the governor imposed a statewide mask mandate starting June 26.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.