washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Nevada Democrats shift tactics, revisit mining tax battle

CARSON CITY , Nev. ( AP ) - Nevada lawmakers passed three resolutions on Sunday that propose changing provisions of the state Constitution that cap the amount of taxes that can be levied on the mining industry and require two-thirds majorities in the Legislature to raise taxes .
Battles over how to tax mining in Nevada have raged since prospectors first struck silver in the 19th century .
The state Constitution requires mining businesses be taxed at less than 5 % of what are called net proceeds - profit minus deductions for certain costs .
The resolutions passed through both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a first step to increasing taxes on mining businesses .
To amend Nevada ’ s Constitution , lawmakers must approve proposed amendments in two legislative sessions and then seek approval from the majority of voters in a subsequent election .
Democrats have long argued that mining businesses don ’ t pay a fair share of taxes .
Increasing taxes on minerals like silver , gold and gypsum , they say , will provide needed funding for health care , education and other state programs .
The budget crunch sparked by the pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tax structure based on gross proceeds , like Arizona and Colorado , which would allow for less deductions than taxing net proceeds .
In early July , the Democratic-controlled Legislature proposed a bill to limit the tax deductions mining businesses could claim .
The bill died after they failed to sway any Republicans and fell short of the two-thirds majority that Nevada law requires to increase taxes .
Republicans accused the Legislature ’ s Democratic leaders of rushing through the proposals and bypassing constitutional safeguards that purposefully make tax increases difficult .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ along in the process allowed the Legislature to keep its options open and gather more information and perspectives on the potential effects of changing the tax structure for mining businesses .
Sen. Julia Ratti , D-Sparks , said the requirement to revisit the proposals in 2021 meant there would be ample time to review and discuss the proposals .
“ We ’ ve been talking about mining ’ s special place in the Constitution for decades .
For one reason or another we never get there , ” she said .
The resolutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate on Sunday , all would remove the two-thirds threshold required to increase taxes .
They propose three different changes to the state Constitution : 1 .
Assembly Joint Resolution 1 proposes removing the 5 % cap and taxing gross proceeds at 7.75 % .
2 .
Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes replacing the 5 % cap with a 7.75 % tax on gross proceeds and sending funds to state residents , much like Alaska ’ s Permanent Fund pays state residents yearly dividends after collecting tax revenue from oil businesses .
3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to tax net proceeds , while increasing the cap from 5 % to 12 % and creating a floor based on local property tax rates .
A constitutional amendment could go into effect in 2023 at the earliest , if lawmakers pass one of the three resolutions again in the 2021 legislative session and win voter approval in the subsequent 2022 election .
The Nevada Mining Association opposed the proposals to tax gross versus net proceeds , but took a neutral position on the proposal to increase the cap on net proceeds .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , said mining businesses already pay the state ’ s business and commerce taxes .
He warned that a tax hike could force mining businesses to shutter and cause layoffs in mines and secondary industries like trucking .
If Nevada were a country , it would be the world ’ s fifth largest gold producer , after China , Russia , Australia and Canada .
Mining businesses grossed $ 7.8 billion in 2019 and , after deductions , paid $ 122 million in taxes to state and local governments .
Legislative staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 147 to $ 607 million in revenue .
Sam Metz is a corps member for the AP/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues .

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada lawmakers passed three resolutions on Sunday that propose changing provisions of the state Constitution that cap the amount of taxes that can be levied on the mining industry and require two-thirds majorities in the Legislature to raise taxes.
Battles over how to tax mining in Nevada have raged since prospectors first struck silver in the 19th century. The state Constitution requires mining businesses be taxed at less than 5% of what are called net proceeds - profit minus deductions for certain costs.
The resolutions passed through both the state Senate and Assembly and constitute a first step to increasing taxes on mining businesses. To amend Nevada’s Constitution, lawmakers must approve proposed amendments in two legislative sessions and then seek approval from the majority of voters in a subsequent election.
Democrats have long argued that mining businesses don’t pay a fair share of taxes. Increasing taxes on minerals like silver, gold and gypsum, they say, will provide needed funding for health care, education and other state programs.
The budget crunch sparked by the pandemic has amplified calls to cap deductions or create a tax structure based on gross proceeds, like Arizona and Colorado, which would allow for less deductions than taxing net proceeds.
In early July, the Democratic-controlled Legislature proposed a bill to limit the tax deductions mining businesses could claim. The bill died after they failed to sway any Republicans and fell short of the two-thirds majority that Nevada law requires to increase taxes.
Republicans accused the Legislature’s Democratic leaders of rushing through the proposals and bypassing constitutional safeguards that purposefully make tax increases difficult. But Democrats said moving three different proposals along in the process allowed the Legislature to keep its options open and gather more information and perspectives on the potential effects of changing the tax structure for mining businesses.
Sen. Julia Ratti, D-Sparks, said the requirement to revisit the proposals in 2021 meant there would be ample time to review and discuss the proposals.
“We’ve been talking about mining’s special place in the Constitution for decades. For one reason or another we never get there,” she said.
The resolutions, which passed through the Assembly and Senate on Sunday, all would remove the two-thirds threshold required to increase taxes. They propose three different changes to the state Constitution:
1. Assembly Joint Resolution 1 proposes removing the 5% cap and taxing gross proceeds at 7.75%.
2. Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes replacing the 5% cap with a 7.75% tax on gross proceeds and sending funds to state residents, much like Alaska’s Permanent Fund pays state residents yearly dividends after collecting tax revenue from oil businesses.
3. Assembly Joint Resolution 2 proposes continuing to tax net proceeds, while increasing the cap from 5% to 12% and creating a floor based on local property tax rates.
A constitutional amendment could go into effect in 2023 at the earliest, if lawmakers pass one of the three resolutions again in the 2021 legislative session and win voter approval in the subsequent 2022 election.
The Nevada Mining Association opposed the proposals to tax gross versus net proceeds, but took a neutral position on the proposal to increase the cap on net proceeds. Tyre Gray, the group’s president, said mining businesses already pay the state’s business and commerce taxes. He warned that a tax hike could force mining businesses to shutter and cause layoffs in mines and secondary industries like trucking.
If Nevada were a country, it would be the world’s fifth largest gold producer, after China, Russia, Australia and Canada. Mining businesses grossed $7.8 billion in 2019 and, after deductions, paid $122 million in taxes to state and local governments.
Legislative staff projected the three proposals could raise $147 to $607 million in revenue.
___
Sam Metz is a corps member for the AP/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Abel Alexander Castro Juarez, Virginia murder suspect, nabbed in bus bathroom

Border Patrol announced Sunday that they nabbed a murder suspect who fled from Fairfax County , finding the man hiding in the bathroom of a tour bus as it crossed a highway checkpoint in New Mexico .
Abel Alexander Castro Juarez , 20 , is wanted on second degree homicide charges stemming from the death of Alexander Villa Lobo Guevara , killed July 24 in Annandale .
Agents said Mr. Castro Juarez was caught on Friday night as the bus he was riding came through the Interstate 25 checkpoint — one of dozens of locations the Border Patrol runs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it across the border from getting deeper into the country .
Mr. Castro Juarez had tried to hide in the bus bathroom , hoping he wouldn ’ t be missed , agents said .
Mr. Castro is a citizen of El Salvador .
“ Border Patrol agents working at our interior immigration checkpoints play an important role in keeping our communities safe , ” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez .
Ironically , Fairfax County earlier this year announced it was curtailing its own cooperation with federal immigration authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community by working with the feds .

Border Patrol announced Sunday that they nabbed a murder suspect who fled from Fairfax County, finding the man hiding in the bathroom of a tour bus as it crossed a highway checkpoint in New Mexico.
Abel Alexander Castro Juarez, 20, is wanted on second degree homicide charges stemming from the death of Alexander Villa Lobo Guevara, killed July 24 in Annandale.
Agents said Mr. Castro Juarez was caught on Friday night as the bus he was riding came through the Interstate 25 checkpoint — one of dozens of locations the Border Patrol runs to try to prevent illegal immigrants who make it across the border from getting deeper into the country.
Mr. Castro Juarez had tried to hide in the bus bathroom, hoping he wouldn’t be missed, agents said. Mr. Castro is a citizen of El Salvador.
“Border Patrol agents working at our interior immigration checkpoints play an important role in keeping our communities safe,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.
Ironically, Fairfax County earlier this year announced it was curtailing its own cooperation with federal immigration authorities, saying it feared angering its immigrant community by working with the feds.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Tornado sightings reported in Connecticut, Massachusetts

SALISBURY , Conn. ( AP ) - Authorities in Connecticut and western Massachusetts received several reports of tornadoes Sunday evening @ @ @ @ @ the region .
There were no immediate reports of injuries .
Connecticut State Police said @ @ @ @ @ a tornado around the Falls Village section of Salisbury in the northwestern corner of the @ @ @ @ @ wires were reported down in the area .
Video of what appeared to be a @ @ @ @ @ , heavily wooded area was posted on social media .
The National Weather Service also @ @ @ @ @ of a tornado in Sandisfield , Massachusetts .
Trees and utility wires also were reported @ @ @ @ @ had issued a tornado watch for sections of western New England and eastern New York @ @ @ @ @ tornado warnings for parts of northwestern Connecticut and western Massachusetts early in the evening .

SALISBURY, Conn. (AP) - Authorities in Connecticut and western Massachusetts received several reports of tornadoes Sunday evening as strong thunderstorms moved through the region. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Connecticut State Police said they received multiple reports of a tornado around the Falls Village section of Salisbury in the northwestern corner of the state. Trees and utility wires were reported down in the area. Video of what appeared to be a tornado moving through a hilly, heavily wooded area was posted on social media.
The National Weather Service also said there were multiple reports of a tornado in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. Trees and utility wires also were reported down.
The Weather Service had issued a tornado watch for sections of western New England and eastern New York state on Sunday and issued tornado warnings for parts of northwestern Connecticut and western Massachusetts early in the evening.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Diego Garcia, U.S. airbase in Chagos Archipelago, threatened

It has been described as the most strategically vital U.S. military installation in the world , but the Diego Garcia air base is at the center of a bitter geopolitical fight over colonialism , national security and human rights , a fight that has pitted Washington and London against virtually the rest of the world .
The base , named for the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago in the remote waters of the Indian Ocean , sits on land claimed by the British and leased to the U.S. government for the sole purpose of operating a military base .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mauritius , a former British colony , three years before Mauritius gained its independence in 1968 .
Diego Garcia is now a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory , which critics paint as a vestige of the United Kingdom ’ s colonial past .
The complex arrangement has served the Pentagon well for decades .
The base ’ s location near Asia , the Middle East and Africa makes it an irreplaceable cornerstone of America ’ s ability to project power around the world .
Diego Garcia served as a launch pad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003 .
But Mauritius has mounted a concerted international push in recent years to reclaim the 17-mile-long island .
Its argument is that it was forced to hand over Diego Garcia and other Chagos islands to the British six decades ago as the price of its independence .
The U.N. General Assembly , Pope Francis , international courts and a host of other stakeholders support those claims .
They say the islands must be returned to Mauritania , a step that would seem to put the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question .
“ To us , it is a matter of incomplete decolonization , ” Jagdish Dharamchand Koonjul , Mauritius ‘ permanent representative to the United Nations , said last week at a panel discussion hosted by the Center for the National Interest .
“ It is a matter that is deeply rooted in history , ” the ambassador said .
“ For any country to be able to maintain a colonial system in this century is , I think , totally unacceptable .
We would like the U.K. to talk both to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think together the three countries should be able to come to a solution that takes into account the needs and interest of each one of us.
” The argument about colonization stems from Britain ’ s claim over the physical islands and the forcible resettlement of the roughly 2,000 native inhabitants of Diego Garcia , known as Chagossians , to make room for the air base .
Mr. Koonjul stressed that the Mauritian government does not intend to resettle Chagossians on Diego Garcia .
If his country regains control of the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. a 99-year lease to maintain its military base and pledge that little would change in practical terms for the Pentagon .
The Trump administration is standing firm against those arguments .
State Department officials told The Washington Times that the U.S. “ unequivocally supports U.K. sovereignty ” over the islands and suggested that a change in ownership of Diego Garcia could have a negative impact on American security .
“ This joint facility plays a critical role in maintaining regional and international peace and security .
Its status as a U.K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the joint U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia and our shared security interests , ” a State Department official said .
“ The specific arrangement involving the facilities on Diego Garcia is grounded in the uniquely close and active defense and security partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom .
It can not be replicated.
” The ferocity with which the U.S. and the U.K. guard Diego Garcia has only added to the secrecy surrounding the base .
The facility has long been a focus of conspiracy theories , including wild speculation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was virtually hijacked by the U.S. military and remotely piloted to Diego Garcia .
Conspiracy theories aside , international opinion is clearly aligned against the U.S. and Britain .
In February 2019 , the International Court of Justice offered an advisory opinion that Britain ’ s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of the continued claims over the Chagos Archipelago .
Shortly afterward , the U.N. General Assembly affirmed that opinion in a stunning 116-6 vote and demanded that Britain return the islands .
Only the U.S. , Britain , Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted against the measure .
Several months later , Pope Francis renewed pressure on London .
“ It ’ s true that not always things that seem ‘ just ’ for all of humanity are ‘ just ’ for our pockets , ” he said .
“ But you must obey international institutions.
” U.K. officials have argued that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and Britain and does not warrant international intervention .
On the heels of the International Court of Justice opinion , British officials echoed American arguments that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility can not be compromised .
“ The defense facilities on the British Indian Ocean Territory help to keep people here in Britain and the world safe , and we will continue to seek a bilateral solution to what is a bilateral dispute with Mauritius , ” Alan Duncan , Britain ’ s former minister of state for Europe , said last year after the court opinion .
While the U.S. and Britain show no signs of backing down from their positions , the Diego Garcia lease expires in 2026 .
Given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialists question whether London could legally offer a lease extension to the U.S. , putting pressure on all sides to find a resolution .
“ Time is not on the side of the U.S. and U.K. , ” said Mark Rosen , senior vice president and general counsel at the Center for Naval Analyses and maritime law expert .
“ You can ’ t run out the clock on this .
Some sort of action needs to be taken now .
”

It has been described as the most strategically vital U.S. military installation in the world, but the Diego Garcia air base is at the center of a bitter geopolitical fight over colonialism, national security and human rights, a fight that has pitted Washington and London against virtually the rest of the world.
The base, named for the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago in the remote waters of the Indian Ocean, sits on land claimed by the British and leased to the U.S. government for the sole purpose of operating a military base. The United Kingdom separated the islands from Mauritius, a former British colony, three years before Mauritius gained its independence in 1968.
Diego Garcia is now a part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, which critics paint as a vestige of the United Kingdom’s colonial past.
The complex arrangement has served the Pentagon well for decades. The base’s location near Asia, the Middle East and Africa makes it an irreplaceable cornerstone of America’s ability to project power around the world. Diego Garcia served as a launch pad for U.S. bombers during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003.
But Mauritius has mounted a concerted international push in recent years to reclaim the 17-mile-long island. Its argument is that it was forced to hand over Diego Garcia and other Chagos islands to the British six decades ago as the price of its independence.
The U.N. General Assembly, Pope Francis, international courts and a host of other stakeholders support those claims. They say the islands must be returned to Mauritania, a step that would seem to put the future of the Diego Garcia air base into question.
“To us, it is a matter of incomplete decolonization,” Jagdish Dharamchand Koonjul, Mauritius’ permanent representative to the United Nations, said last week at a panel discussion hosted by the Center for the National Interest.
“It is a matter that is deeply rooted in history,” the ambassador said. “For any country to be able to maintain a colonial system in this century is, I think, totally unacceptable. We would like the U.K. to talk both to the U.S. and to Mauritius, and I think together the three countries should be able to come to a solution that takes into account the needs and interest of each one of us.”
The argument about colonization stems from Britain’s claim over the physical islands and the forcible resettlement of the roughly 2,000 native inhabitants of Diego Garcia, known as Chagossians, to make room for the air base.
Mr. Koonjul stressed that the Mauritian government does not intend to resettle Chagossians on Diego Garcia. If his country regains control of the island, he said, it would offer the U.S. a 99-year lease to maintain its military base and pledge that little would change in practical terms for the Pentagon.
‘Critical role’
The Trump administration is standing firm against those arguments. State Department officials told The Washington Times that the U.S. “unequivocally supports U.K. sovereignty” over the islands and suggested that a change in ownership of Diego Garcia could have a negative impact on American security.
“This joint facility plays a critical role in maintaining regional and international peace and security. Its status as a U.K. territory is essential to the value of the joint U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia and our shared security interests,” a State Department official said. “The specific arrangement involving the facilities on Diego Garcia is grounded in the uniquely close and active defense and security partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom. It cannot be replicated.”
The ferocity with which the U.S. and the U.K. guard Diego Garcia has only added to the secrecy surrounding the base. The facility has long been a focus of conspiracy theories, including wild speculation that the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was virtually hijacked by the U.S. military and remotely piloted to Diego Garcia.
Conspiracy theories aside, international opinion is clearly aligned against the U.S. and Britain. In February 2019, the International Court of Justice offered an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of the continued claims over the Chagos Archipelago.
Shortly afterward, the U.N. General Assembly affirmed that opinion in a stunning 116-6 vote and demanded that Britain return the islands. Only the U.S., Britain, Australia, Hungary, Israel and the Maldives voted against the measure.
Several months later, Pope Francis renewed pressure on London.
“It’s true that not always things that seem ‘just’ for all of humanity are ‘just’ for our pockets,” he said. “But you must obey international institutions.”
U.K. officials have argued that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and Britain and does not warrant international intervention. On the heels of the International Court of Justice opinion, British officials echoed American arguments that the future of the Diego Garcia military facility cannot be compromised.
“The defense facilities on the British Indian Ocean Territory help to keep people here in Britain and the world safe, and we will continue to seek a bilateral solution to what is a bilateral dispute with Mauritius,” Alan Duncan, Britain’s former minister of state for Europe, said last year after the court opinion.
While the U.S. and Britain show no signs of backing down from their positions, the Diego Garcia lease expires in 2026. Given the international court decisions and U.N. action, specialists question whether London could legally offer a lease extension to the U.S., putting pressure on all sides to find a resolution.
“Time is not on the side of the U.S. and U.K.,” said Mark Rosen, senior vice president and general counsel at the Center for Naval Analyses and maritime law expert. “You can’t run out the clock on this. Some sort of action needs to be taken now.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Trump law and order campaign sees rioting a way to win suburbs

Amid clashes in the streets , from Portland to the nation ’ s capital , President Trump has leaned into a “ law and order ” campaign , making the case that out-of-control looting , rioting , and death will become the norm in Joe Biden ’ s America .
Though polling shows Mr. Trump struggling to keep pace with Mr. Biden in the suburbs , the main target of the message , the president ’ s team and his backers say the clashes and violent imagery will ultimately boost him as Election Day nears .
The president on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing unrest in Portland with “ very strong offensive force ” if needed .
The Department of Homeland Security and the city recently struck a tentative deal , under which DHS agents that had been deployed to protect a federal courthouse from rioters would gradually leave if local law enforcement can keep the peace .
“ If it doesn ’ t clean up , we ’ re going to do something very powerful .
We have no choice , ” Mr. Trump said at a White House event with law enforcement leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left-wing extremists have spread mayhem throughout the streets of different cities.
” The Justice Department recently announced that Operation Legend , a federal law enforcement initiative to stop violent crime that started in Kansas City , Missouri , would be expanding into Detroit , Cleveland and Milwaukee — all cities in key battleground states in the fall election .
“ Peaceful protesting and discourse is part of our fabric , but when you ’ re burning buildings , attacking people you don ’ t agree with , destroying property and looting — none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protests , ” said Saul Anuzis , a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party .
Mr. Anuzis said Michigan will be close , but that Mr. Trump should win the critical midwestern state by a bigger margin than in 2016 as the Democrats get dragged to the left on law-and-order issues .
Mr. Trump carried Michigan in 2016 by fewer than 11,000 votes or 0.3 percentage points .
“ What ’ s happening is — this isn ’ t your father ’ s Democratic Party , ” Mr. Anuzis said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have a hard time getting a position in the Democratic Party given their positions on peaceful protests [ and ] demonstrations.
” The Trump campaign had blanketed the airwaves with foreboding ads of people trying to dial 911 and getting no answer .
Liberal activists have called to “ defund the police ” since the May 25 killing of George Floyd , a Black man , under the knee of a White Minneapolis police officer and the resulting widespread protests .
The Trump campaign rolled out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Mr. Biden “ riot , ” “ loot , ” and “ take over cities ” overlaid with video of a burning building and clashes between police and demonstrators .
“ And now the radical left-wing of the Democratic Party has taken control .
Joe Biden stands with them and embraces their policies — defunding the police , ” a narrator says .
“ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America , ” the ad concludes .
Mr. Trump also has hammered home the message by tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his signature all-capital letters style .
Still , much of the recent polling has shown Mr. Trump trailing Mr. Biden — notably among suburban voters , who are the clear target for his law and order message .
A recent ABC/Ipsos poll found that 30 % of Americans think having federal law enforcement officers respond to protests in cities makes the situation better , compared to 52 % who said they think it makes the situation worse .
And 36 % of Americans gave the president positive marks on promoting “ law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 50 % of Americans who said he ’ s doing a poor job , according to a recent IBD/TIPP poll .
The split was worse among suburban voters in that poll : 54 % gave Mr. Trump poor marks on the issue , compared to 34 % who said they approve .
Other polling has shown that Americans are indeed opposed to measures that would defund the police by taking money away from law enforcement and redirecting it to social programs .
A recent Rasmussen poll found that 66 % of U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community ’ s police budget to direct the money into social services programs — a 7-point jump in a month .
The Trump campaign said Mr. Biden and his team want to normalize the violence and destruction because their supporters “ are the culprits.
” “ Enforcing laws and condemning violence shouldn ’ t be a political issue , but by painting rioters – who have destroyed private property , attacked police officers , and burned down cities — as ‘ peaceful ’ , Joe Biden is telling the American people [ that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more important than their safety , ” said Samantha Zager , a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump ’ s campaign .
Mr. Biden has labored to distance himself from the “ defund the police ” movement and has tried to distinguish between violent rioters and peaceful protesters .
He said Mr. Trump is determined to stoke division and chaos because his campaign is flailing .
“ This isn ’ t about law and order .
It ’ s about a political strategy to revive a failing campaign , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fuel to the fire .
That ’ s the last thing we need.
” Other critics of the president say he is getting far afield and encroaching into extraconstitutional territory with Homeland Security ’ s recent actions .
“ I do believe the president likes to associate himself with this tough-guy myth of old-time law enforcement , ” said David Chipman , a senior policy advisor to former Rep. Gabby Giffords ’ gun control group .
“ They just want to throw resources at knocking heads , and that ’ s not my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 America.
” Mr. Chipman , a former special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives ( ATF ) , said there simply aren ’ t enough federal agents for a massive , dragnet-type presence across the country .
“ If you say I ’ m going to send a hundred agents to Chicago , that ’ s not a small number — where does that come from ?
” he said .
“ And those communities now don ’ t have their advisers .
We used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump is intentionally fomenting violence because he thinks it will help his re-election campaign .
Rep. Val Demings , a contender to be Mr. Biden ’ s ticket mate , said Mr. Trump knows he ’ s in trouble and is “ adding fuel to the fire.
” “ If he was the law-and-order president , then he would follow the law himself , ” the Florida Democrat , who was Orlando ’ s first female chief of police , said recently on Sirius XM radio .
“ If he was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends accountable .
We know that ’ s not his intention.
” Some conservatives and libertarians have also questioned the administration ’ s incursions into various cities .
“ They ’ re bringing violence into the situation , ” said Nicholas Sarwark , a former chairman of the Libertarian National Committee .
“ He needs to succeed at something because he ’ s failing so miserably at being president .
”

President Trump has leaned into a “law and order” campaign amid clashes in the streets from Portland, Oregon, to the nation’s capital, making the case that out-of-control looting, rioting and death will become the norm in Joseph R. Biden’s America.
Though polling shows Mr. Trump struggling to keep pace with Mr. Biden in the suburbs, the main target of the message, the president’s team and his backers say the clashes and violent imagery will ultimately boost him as Election Day nears.
The president on Friday vowed that federal officers will respond to the ongoing unrest in Portland with “very strong offensive force” if needed.
The Department of Homeland Security and the city recently struck a tentative deal, under which DHS agents that had been deployed to protect a federal courthouse from rioters would gradually leave if local law enforcement can keep the peace.
“If it doesn’t clean up, we’re going to do something very powerful. We have no choice,” Mr. Trump said at a White House event with law enforcement leaders from around the country. “The left-wing extremists have spread mayhem throughout the streets of different cities.”
The Justice Department recently announced that Operation Legend, a federal law enforcement initiative to stop violent crime that started in Kansas City, Missouri, would be expanding into Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee — all cities in key battleground states in the fall election.
SEE ALSO: Portland protests grow violent again
“Peaceful protesting and discourse is part of our fabric, but when you’re burning buildings, attacking people you don’t agree with, destroying property and looting — none of that has anything to do with the protests,” said Saul Anuzis, a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party.
Mr. Anuzis said Michigan will be close, but that Mr. Trump should win the critical midwestern state by a bigger margin than in 2016 as the Democrats get dragged to the left on law-and-order issues.
Mr. Trump carried Michigan in 2016 by fewer than 11,000 votes or 0.3 percentage points.
“What’s happening is — this isn’t your father’s Democratic Party,” Mr. Anuzis said. “Today, I think John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King would have a hard time getting a position in the Democratic Party given their positions on peaceful protests [and] demonstrations.”
The Trump campaign had blanketed the airwaves with foreboding ads of people trying to dial 911 and getting no answer.
Liberal activists have called to “defund the police” since the May 25 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, under the knee of a White Minneapolis police officer and the resulting widespread protests.
The Trump campaign rolled out a new ad on Friday proclaiming that supporters of Mr. Biden “riot,” “loot,” and “take over cities” overlaid with video of a burning building and clashes between police and demonstrators.
“And now the radical left-wing of the Democratic Party has taken control. Joe Biden stands with them and embraces their policies — defunding the police,” a narrator says.
“You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America,” the ad concludes.
Mr. Trump also has hammered home the message by tweeting “law and order!” in his signature all-capital letters style.
Still, much of the recent polling has shown Mr. Trump trailing Mr. Biden — notably among suburban voters, who are the clear target for his law and order message.
A recent ABC/Ipsos poll found that 30% of Americans think having federal law enforcement officers respond to protests in cities makes the situation better, compared to 52% who said they think it makes the situation worse.
And 36% of Americans gave the president positive marks on promoting “law and order” in the country, compared to 50% of Americans who said he’s doing a poor job, according to a recent IBD/TIPP poll. The split was worse among suburban voters in that poll: 54% gave Mr. Trump poor marks on the issue, compared to 34% who said they approve.
Other polling has shown that Americans are indeed opposed to measures that would defund the police by taking money away from law enforcement and redirecting it to social programs.
A recent Rasmussen poll found that 66% of U.S. adults said they oppose reducing their own community’s police budget to direct the money into social services programs — a 7-point jump in a month.
The Trump campaign said Mr. Biden and his team want to normalize the violence and destruction because their supporters “are the culprits.”
“Enforcing laws and condemning violence shouldn’t be a political issue, but by painting rioters – who have destroyed private property, attacked police officers, and burned down cities — as ‘peaceful’, Joe Biden is telling the American people [that] appealing to his political base is more important than their safety,” said Samantha Zager, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump’s campaign.
Mr. Biden has labored to distance himself from the “defund the police” movement and has tried to distinguish between violent rioters and peaceful protesters.
He said Mr. Trump is determined to stoke division and chaos because his campaign is flailing.
“This isn’t about law and order. It’s about a political strategy to revive a failing campaign,” Mr. Biden said. “Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire. That’s the last thing we need.”
Other critics of the president say he is getting far afield and encroaching into extraconstitutional territory with Homeland Security’s recent actions.
“I do believe the president likes to associate himself with this tough-guy myth of old-time law enforcement,” said David Chipman, a senior policy advisor to former Rep. Gabby Giffords’ gun control group. “They just want to throw resources at knocking heads, and that’s not my view of what policing should be in 2020 America.”
Mr. Chipman, a former special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said there simply aren’t enough federal agents for a massive, dragnet-type presence across the country.
“If you say I’m going to send a hundred agents to Chicago, that’s not a small number — where does that come from?” he said. “And those communities now don’t have their advisers. We used to call it whack-a-mole.”
Other Democrats say Mr. Trump is intentionally fomenting violence because he thinks it will help his re-election campaign.
Rep. Val Demings, a contender to be Mr. Biden’s ticket mate, said Mr. Trump knows he’s in trouble and is “adding fuel to the fire.”
“If he was the law-and-order president, then he would follow the law himself,” the Florida Democrat, who was Orlando’s first female chief of police, said recently on Sirius XM radio. “If he was the law-and-order president, he would hold his friends accountable. We know that’s not his intention.”
Some conservatives and libertarians have also questioned the administration’s incursions into various cities.
“They’re bringing violence into the situation,” said Nicholas Sarwark, a former chairman of the Libertarian National Committee. “He needs to succeed at something because he’s failing so miserably at being president.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Big Tech companies insist spying on users, government is inadvertent

Social media apps on your phone have spied on you , the government and on competitor applications , though Big Tech insists the snooping is inadvertent or an innocent mistake .
Instagram stands accused of turning on users ’ cameras without permission , LinkedIn is implicated with Chinese spying against the U.S. government and TikTok is suspected of handing over users ’ data to the Chinese government .
Mounting accusations of privacy invasions have put Big Tech and social media companies under scrutiny from Congress and the White House .
“ Americans should be very alarmed because Big Tech is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or write or where we move , ” said Mike Davis , founder of the conservative Internet Accountability Project .
“ We think that these apps are ‘ free ’ but these trillion-dollar big tech companies with their billionaire bosses didn ’ t make their fortune by giving out freebies .
Big Tech makes money by turning us into the commodity and selling everything they know about us to the highest bidder.
” Several allegations about the apps ’ snooping stem from iPhone users testing a new operating system , iOS 14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what information apps are collecting .
“ Casually browsing Instagram when suddenly the new iOS 14 camera/microphone indicator comes on , ” tweeted @ KevDoy with a screenshot indicating Instagram accessed his camera .
“ Then control panel ratted out the app behind it .
This is going to change things # iOS14.
” Facebook , which owns Instagram , said it is investigating the problem but thinks it may be caused by users starting to use Instagram ’ s “ Create Mode ” directly from their feeds .
“ We only access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — for example , when you swipe from Feed to Camera , ” a Facebook spokesperson said .
“ We found and are fixing a bug in iOS 14 Beta that mistakenly indicates that some people are using the camera when they aren ’ t .
We do not access your camera in those instances , and no content is recorded.
” Other users testing the new Apple operating system found dozens of apps , including LinkedIn and TikTok , reading users ’ clipboards after each keystroke as they used other applications on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apps similarly monitoring the use of competitors ’ apps said the issue was simply a bug and they were working to fix it .
LinkedIn , which is owned by Microsoft , has remained silent and now faces a potential class-action lawsuit for the alleged clipboard spying .
The civil lawsuit is far from LinkedIn ’ s biggest headache , as the platform also was implicated in a criminal case as a tool of a Chinese agent working to gather sensitive information on the U.S. government and military .
Jun Wei “ Dickson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a court filing said he used a social networking app and website to recruit government officials working at the State Department and Air Force .
Mr. Yeo is believed to have used LinkedIn and other websites to recruit unwitting assets with knowledge of the F-35B military aircraft program and information about a U.S .
Cabinet official .
LinkedIn has refused to comment on the latest use of its platform by Mr. Yeo to spy on Americans for the Chinese , but it is certainly aware of the counterintelligence problem .
In 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense Intelligence Agency case officer preparing to travel to China from a Seattle airport with information printed from LinkedIn on current and former DIA officials , according to the Justice Department .
After U.S. officials sounded the alarm about Chinese agents ’ use of LinkedIn earlier this year , LinkedIn insisted to The Washington Times in February that , “ We actively seek out signs of state-sponsored activity on the platform and quickly take action against bad actors in order to protect our members.
” Without addressing Mr. Yeo ’ s case directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it has been working with American allies overseas on the threat posed by sites such as LinkedIn and pointed to Australia and France as two allies similarly fighting intelligence adversaries using LinkedIn .
“ At a minimum , we encourage the public to practice basic cyber hygiene when receiving a friend/link requests via social media , ” said a National Counterintelligence and Security Center spokesperson .
“ Never accept a friend/link request from someone you don ’ t know , even if they are a friend of a friend.
” While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawmakers are concerned TikTok is directly operating at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party .
Seven Republican senators wrote to the heads of the FBI , Department of Homeland Security , and Office of the Director of National Intelligence last week to determine whether the Chinese government is using the China-owned TikTok to interfere in the 2020 election .
“ TikTok has become a popular forum for Americans — particularly younger Americans — to engage in political conversations , ” the senators wrote .
“ We are greatly concerned that the CCP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distort or manipulate these conversations to sow discord among Americans and to achieve its preferred political outcomes.
” In a letter to House lawmakers last week , TikTok said it , “ never provided any U.S. user data to the Chinese government , nor would we do so if asked.
” “ TikTok isn ’ t the go-to app to follow political news or candidates , but we ’ re taking cues from the experience of our peers during the last US presidential election and proactively investing to safeguard our app , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ TikTok already has a strict policy against disinformation , and we don ’ t accept political ads .
Our content and moderation policies are led by our U.S.-based team in California and aren ’ t influenced by any foreign government.
” Many other apps are not immune to the suspicions of snooping that have dogged Instagram , LinkedIn , and TikTok .
Google is facing litigation arguing that it has monitored users ’ physical movements as well as its users ’ activity on the internet and Android devices .
Following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company and the FBI are still investigating how much personal data was spied on or stolen .
The increasing litigation and oversight from policymakers and law enforcement may not reveal new problems , just growing public awareness of how users ’ data is stored and shared .

Social media apps on your phone have spied on you, the government and on competitor applications, though Big Tech insists the snooping is inadvertent or an innocent mistake.
Instagram stands accused of turning on users’ cameras without permission, LinkedIn is implicated with Chinese spying against the U.S. government and TikTok is suspected of handing over users’ data to the Chinese government.
Mounting accusations of privacy invasions have put Big Tech and social media companies under scrutiny from Congress and the White House.
“Americans should be very alarmed because Big Tech is spying on everything that we see, or write or where we move,” said Mike Davis, founder of the conservative Internet Accountability Project. “We think that these apps are ‘free’ but these trillion-dollar big tech companies with their billionaire bosses didn’t make their fortune by giving out freebies. Big Tech makes money by turning us into the commodity and selling everything they know about us to the highest bidder.”
Several allegations about the apps’ snooping stem from iPhone users testing a new operating system, iOS 14, from Apple that provides more details about what information apps are collecting.
“Casually browsing Instagram when suddenly the new iOS 14 camera/microphone indicator comes on,” tweeted @KevDoy with a screenshot indicating Instagram accessed his camera. “Then control panel ratted out the app behind it. This is going to change things #iOS14.”
Facebook, which owns Instagram, said it is investigating the problem but thinks it may be caused by users starting to use Instagram’s “Create Mode” directly from their feeds.
“We only access your camera when you tell us to — for example, when you swipe from Feed to Camera,” a Facebook spokesperson said. “We found and are fixing a bug in iOS 14 Beta that mistakenly indicates that some people are using the camera when they aren’t. We do not access your camera in those instances, and no content is recorded.”
Other users testing the new Apple operating system found dozens of apps, including LinkedIn and TikTok, reading users’ clipboards after each keystroke as they used other applications on their phones. TikTok and several other apps similarly monitoring the use of competitors’ apps said the issue was simply a bug and they were working to fix it.
LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, has remained silent and now faces a potential class-action lawsuit for the alleged clipboard spying.
The civil lawsuit is far from LinkedIn’s biggest headache, as the platform also was implicated in a criminal case as a tool of a Chinese agent working to gather sensitive information on the U.S. government and military.
Jun Wei “Dickson” Yeo pleaded guilty last month and a court filing said he used a social networking app and website to recruit government officials working at the State Department and Air Force. Mr. Yeo is believed to have used LinkedIn and other websites to recruit unwitting assets with knowledge of the F-35B military aircraft program and information about a U.S. Cabinet official.
LinkedIn has refused to comment on the latest use of its platform by Mr. Yeo to spy on Americans for the Chinese, but it is certainly aware of the counterintelligence problem. In 2018, for example, the FBI arrested a Defense Intelligence Agency case officer preparing to travel to China from a Seattle airport with information printed from LinkedIn on current and former DIA officials, according to the Justice Department.
After U.S. officials sounded the alarm about Chinese agents’ use of LinkedIn earlier this year, LinkedIn insisted to The Washington Times in February that, “We actively seek out signs of state-sponsored activity on the platform and quickly take action against bad actors in order to protect our members.”
Without addressing Mr. Yeo’s case directly, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center said it has been working with American allies overseas on the threat posed by sites such as LinkedIn and pointed to Australia and France as two allies similarly fighting intelligence adversaries using LinkedIn.
“At a minimum, we encourage the public to practice basic cyber hygiene when receiving a friend/link requests via social media,” said a National Counterintelligence and Security Center spokesperson. “Never accept a friend/link request from someone you don’t know, even if they are a friend of a friend.”
While the vulnerabilities exploited on LinkedIn involve intermediaries, lawmakers are concerned TikTok is directly operating at the behest of the Chinese Communist Party.
Seven Republican senators wrote to the heads of the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence last week to determine whether the Chinese government is using the China-owned TikTok to interfere in the 2020 election.
“TikTok has become a popular forum for Americans — particularly younger Americans — to engage in political conversations,” the senators wrote. “We are greatly concerned that the CCP could use its control over TikTok to distort or manipulate these conversations to sow discord among Americans and to achieve its preferred political outcomes.”
In a letter to House lawmakers last week, TikTok said it, “never provided any U.S. user data to the Chinese government, nor would we do so if asked.”
“TikTok isn’t the go-to app to follow political news or candidates, but we’re taking cues from the experience of our peers during the last US presidential election and proactively investing to safeguard our app,” a TikTok spokesperson said in an email. “TikTok already has a strict policy against disinformation, and we don’t accept political ads. Our content and moderation policies are led by our U.S.-based team in California and aren’t influenced by any foreign government.”
Many other apps are not immune to the suspicions of snooping that have dogged Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok. Google is facing litigation arguing that it has monitored users’ physical movements as well as its users’ activity on the internet and Android devices. Following the cyberattack at Twitter earlier this month, the company and the FBI are still investigating how much personal data was spied on or stolen. The increasing litigation and oversight from policymakers and law enforcement may not reveal new problems, just growing public awareness of how users’ data is stored and shared.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Top U.S. tech executives face grilling on China dealings

America ’ s technology giants came under fire from House Republicans last week , accused of working with China and in the case of Google , indirectly helping the Chinese military improve targeting for a new stealth fighter jet .
Executives from Google , Amazon , Apple and Facebook told a House hearing they had not personally seen large-scale Chinese theft of American technology at their companies , but they still faced tough questioning from House Republicans at a congressional hearing Wednesday on the tech giants ’ market dominance and ties to Beijing .
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai , head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his company is doing work with Chinese partners on artificial intelligence — a key technology for China ’ s warplanes , autonomous weapons and other advanced military capabilities , such as cyber warfare .
But Mr. Pichai denied Google is helping China ’ s military , the People ’ s Liberation Army .
Asked about comments last year by then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford that Google ’ s technology work in China was indirectly assisting the PLA , Mr. Pichai said Google is “ not working with the Chinese military.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ I had a chance to meet with Gen. Dunford personally .
We have clarified what we do in China compared to our peers .
It ’ s very , very limited in nature.
” Google also faced heat for what critics said was the help it gave China developing a censorship tool to police search engines .
The program , “ Dragonfly , ” would help China further control online information under its communist system .
Mr. Pichai said Google ’ s artificial intelligence in China is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on open-source projects.
” He did not elaborate .
Google also came under fire over its backing out of a $ 10 billion Pentagon artificial intelligence program — while agreeing to help the Chinese AI program .
Rep. Ken Buck , Colorado Republican , pressed Mr. Pichai on what he called Google ’ s “ disturbing ” withdrawal from the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure , the AI program .
“ Google ’ s stated reason for removing itself from the bidding process is that the U.S. military ’ s project did not align @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principles , ” Mr. Buck said .
“ It made me wonder what values Google and Communist Red China had in common.
” “ I asked myself , Is it that the Chinese Communist Party imprisons Uighur Muslims in concentration camp ?
Could it be that China forces slaves to work in sweatshops ?
Maybe they align on the design to suppress free speech in Hong Kong .
Did Google agree with CCP ’ s decision to lie to the world about the COVID-19 pandemic ?
” Gen. Dunford told a March 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ with great concern when [ U.S. ] industry partners work in China , ” calling it “ a direct benefit to the Chinese military , ” he added .
Rep. Matt Gaetz , Florida Republican , said Google was aiding the Chinese military by making the PLA ’ s J-20 fighter more effective in its targeting , noting that China ’ s Academy of Sciences has praised a Google-linked AI center in China for work on the J-20 .
He said Mr. Pichai ’ s denials were misleading because Google worked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military , including Tsinghua University where Google ’ s director of AI Jeff Dean , worked on the university ’ s computer science advisory committee .
Tsinghua University also received nearly $ 15 million annually from the Chinese Communist Party ’ s Central Military Commission , he noted .
Mr. Pichai said his company recently signed a major cybersecurity contract with the Pentagon and also has projects with the Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs .
Google , he insisted , has a “ very limited presence ” inside China and its search @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not available there .
At one point during the five-hour House Judiciary subcommittee hearing , the four executives were asked if they were aware China has stolen U.S. technology .
Mr. Pichai testified that he had no firsthand knowledge , but then later amended his answer to note China ’ s hacking of Google software in 2009 .
Google pulled out of China in 2009 and moved to Hong Kong after the cyberattacks .
A U.S. intelligence official revealed in May 2016 that Chinese hackers had obtained details of Google search engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to control search results .
Apple CEO Tim Cook said he too was unaware of “ specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government.
” Federal agents in December and January arrested three Chinese-born former Apple employees who are accused of stealing trade secrets from the company on self-driving cars and other projects .
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the hearing that “ it ’ s well-documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies .
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said he has “ heard many reports of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t seen it personally ” at Amazon .
Asked about counterfeit goods from China , Mr. Bezos said : “ Well , certainly there are knockoff products , if that ’ s what you mean , and there are counterfeit products and all that .
But if the answer is the Chinese government stealing technology , that ’ s the thing I ’ ve read reports of but don ’ t have personal experience with.
” Of the four companies at the hearing , Facebook clearly identified itself as “ American.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not elaborate .
Mr. Zuckerberg noted that China is building its own version of the internet focused on its system of “ very different ideas ” that is being exported around the world .
“ As Congress and other stakeholders consider how antitrust laws support competition in the U.S. , I believe it ’ s important to maintain the core values of openness and fairness that have made America ’ s digital economy a force for empowerment and opportunity here and around the world.
” Several Republicans at the hearing criticized Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

America’s technology giants came under fire from House Republicans last week, accused of working with China and in the case of Google, indirectly helping the Chinese military improve targeting for a new stealth fighter jet.
Executives from Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook told a House hearing they had not personally seen large-scale Chinese theft of American technology at their companies, but they still faced tough questioning from House Republicans at a congressional hearing Wednesday on the tech giants’ market dominance and ties to Beijing.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, head of Google, revealed at the hearing that his company is doing work with Chinese partners on artificial intelligence — a key technology for China’s warplanes, autonomous weapons and other advanced military capabilities, such as cyber warfare.
But Mr. Pichai denied Google is helping China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army.
Asked about comments last year by then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford that Google’s technology work in China was indirectly assisting the PLA, Mr. Pichai said Google is “not working with the Chinese military.”
“It’s absolutely false,” he said. “I had a chance to meet with Gen. Dunford personally. We have clarified what we do in China compared to our peers. It’s very, very limited in nature.”
Google also faced heat for what critics said was the help it gave China developing a censorship tool to police search engines. The program, “Dragonfly,” would help China further control online information under its communist system.
Mr. Pichai said Google’s artificial intelligence in China is “limited to a handful of people working on open-source projects.” He did not elaborate.
Google also came under fire over its backing out of a $10 billion Pentagon artificial intelligence program — while agreeing to help the Chinese AI program.
Rep. Ken Buck, Colorado Republican, pressed Mr. Pichai on what he called Google’s “disturbing” withdrawal from the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, the AI program.
“Google’s stated reason for removing itself from the bidding process is that the U.S. military’s project did not align with Google’s corporate values and principles,” Mr. Buck said. “It made me wonder what values Google and Communist Red China had in common.”
“I asked myself, Is it that the Chinese Communist Party imprisons Uighur Muslims in concentration camp? Could it be that China forces slaves to work in sweatshops? Maybe they align on the design to suppress free speech in Hong Kong. Did Google agree with CCP’s decision to lie to the world about the COVID-19 pandemic?”
Gen. Dunford told a March 2019 Senate hearing that the Pentagon is watching “with great concern when [U.S.] industry partners work in China,” calling it “a direct benefit to the Chinese military,” he added.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, Florida Republican, said Google was aiding the Chinese military by making the PLA’s J-20 fighter more effective in its targeting, noting that China’s Academy of Sciences has praised a Google-linked AI center in China for work on the J-20.
He said Mr. Pichai’s denials were misleading because Google worked with many Chinese entities that collaborate with the military, including Tsinghua University where Google’s director of AI Jeff Dean, worked on the university’s computer science advisory committee.
Tsinghua University also received nearly $15 million annually from the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Commission, he noted.
Mr. Pichai said his company recently signed a major cybersecurity contract with the Pentagon and also has projects with the Navy and Department of Veterans Affairs. Google, he insisted, has a “very limited presence” inside China and its search engine, maps, Gmail and YouTube are not available there.
At one point during the five-hour House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, the four executives were asked if they were aware China has stolen U.S. technology.
Mr. Pichai testified that he had no firsthand knowledge, but then later amended his answer to note China’s hacking of Google software in 2009. Google pulled out of China in 2009 and moved to Hong Kong after the cyberattacks.
A U.S. intelligence official revealed in May 2016 that Chinese hackers had obtained details of Google search engine software and as a result were able to control search results.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said he too was unaware of “specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government.” Federal agents in December and January arrested three Chinese-born former Apple employees who are accused of stealing trade secrets from the company on self-driving cars and other projects.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told the hearing that “it’s well-documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said he has “heard many reports of that,” but “I haven’t seen it personally” at Amazon.
Asked about counterfeit goods from China, Mr. Bezos said: “Well, certainly there are knockoff products, if that’s what you mean, and there are counterfeit products and all that. But if the answer is the Chinese government stealing technology, that’s the thing I’ve read reports of but don’t have personal experience with.”
Of the four companies at the hearing, Facebook clearly identified itself as “American.” The other three acknowledged being American firms but did not elaborate.
Mr. Zuckerberg noted that China is building its own version of the internet focused on its system of “very different ideas” that is being exported around the world.
“As Congress and other stakeholders consider how antitrust laws support competition in the U.S., I believe it’s important to maintain the core values of openness and fairness that have made America’s digital economy a force for empowerment and opportunity here and around the world.”
Several Republicans at the hearing criticized Facebook for censoring views and posts of conservatives.
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Storms complicate fight against coronavirus pandemic

Just when it seemed like 2020 couldn ’ t get any worse , the storms showed up .
As Tropical Storm Isaias lashed Florida with winds and threatened the Carolinas , federal and state officials said they ’ re bracing for a worse-than-usual battery of storms as hurricane season collides with a deadly pandemic .
Forecasters are predicting up to 20 named storms this season compared to a yearly average of about 12 .
Gonzalo and Hanna were the earliest seventh and eighth named storms on record , respectively .
Governors and federal directors are adjusting accordingly , safeguarding drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow for physical distancing to avoid spreading the coronavirus .
Isaias tracked along the east coast of Florida late Sunday , with tropical storm winds and storm surges , and was set to creep up the Carolinas late Monday and up the eastern seaboard the rest of the week .
The storm is blowing through at a rough time for Florida , which posted several single-day highs for COVID-19 deaths last week .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis said his storm-prep team set aside thousands of thermometers and millions of units of masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hurricane season .
Every nursing home , including ones exclusively for coronavirus-positive residents , is equipped with a generator , he said .
On the downside , the state had to close 43 COVID-19 testing sites in the path of the storm .
The sites are outdoors in tents , so high winds would pose a risk .
“ If it were to get 40- , 50 mile-per-hour winds , it would just collapse , so safety is paramount for that , ” Mr. DeSantis said as the storm approached Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic presents a series of challenges .
“ The first involves evacuation plans .
People may alter their typical evacuation strategy if traveling or staying in a public shelter is viewed as risky due to COVID-19 , ” said Paul Miller , an assistant professor oceanography and coastal sciences at Louisiana State University .
There is also the risk that the mass movement of people from coastal areas with COVID-19 spikes could create a new problem farther inland .
“ We ’ re recommending and working with the state to establish shelters that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , ” Health Secretary Alex M. Azar II said during a Friday roundtable with Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis in Tampa .
If someone does end up in a setting whether people are gathered together , the secretary added , “ it ’ s the same advice that we give in a non-emergency situation — wear face coverings , practice good physical distance , good personal hygiene.
” Mr. DeSantis issued an executive order that activated agreements with local hotels to provide evacuees with shelter that affords enough privacy to engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The order says “ all counties are encouraged to accept evacuees from other jurisdictions into their non-congregate shelters to allow for the state of Florida to practice safe social distancing measures.
” Likewise , North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper said evacuees should plan to stay with family and friends or at a hotel , and not a shelter , because of COVID-19 .
“ With the right protection and sheltering , we can keep people safe from the storm while at the same time trying to avoid making the pandemic worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble .
But the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario.
” His administration said families should include masks , hand sanitizer , cleaning products and sanitizing wipes in their evacuation kits .
The U.S. can ill-afford missteps or new roadblocks in its fight against the pandemic .
It recorded over 1,000 deaths in its daily count on six consecutive days heading into Sunday .
An increase in deaths is typically reported weeks after a surge in infections on the front end .
Florida and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plateau in their summer surge , though officials are warning of a resurgence in places like Ohio , Indiana and Kentucky .
“ What we are seeing today is different from March and April .
It is extraordinarily widespread .
It ’ s into the rural as [ much as ] urban areas , ” Dr. Deborah Birx , the U.S. coronavirus response coordinator , told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union.
” “ And to everybody who lives in a rural area , you are not immune or protected from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we keep saying , no matter where you live in America , you need to wear a mask and socially distance , do the personal hygiene pieces.
” Mr. Trump says the U.S. isn ’ t alone in struggling with the virus , pointing to infection surges in places that were once hailed as role-models in how to handle the pandemic .
In Australia , for instance , the city of Melbourne will impose an 8 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew , with exceptions for work and caregiving , and limit food-shopping to one person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southeastern U.S. , however , is battling a raging pandemic and storms at the same time .
The National Weather Service tweeted a photo of its Melbourne , Florida , staff “ masked-up & socially distant across our operations floor.
” Mr. Miller , at LSU , said besides the obvious challenges for evacuees , the pandemic is causing a drop in air travel that could affect the quality of weather forecasts .
Computer weather modeling and forecasts “ benefit greatly from commercial aircraft observations over data-sparse regions , ” such as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This might have implications for hurricane-track and intensity forecasts as the season progresses , ” he said .

Just when it seemed like 2020 couldn’t get any worse, the storms showed up.
As Tropical Storm Isaias lashed Florida with winds and threatened the Carolinas, federal and state officials said they’re bracing for a worse-than-usual battery of storms as hurricane season collides with a deadly pandemic.
Forecasters are predicting up to 20 named storms this season compared to a yearly average of about 12. Gonzalo and Hanna were the earliest seventh and eighth named storms on record, respectively.
Governors and federal directors are adjusting accordingly, safeguarding drugs and supplies and setting up shelters that allow for physical distancing to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
Isaias tracked along the east coast of Florida late Sunday, with tropical storm winds and storm surges, and was set to creep up the Carolinas late Monday and up the eastern seaboard the rest of the week.
The storm is blowing through at a rough time for Florida, which posted several single-day highs for COVID-19 deaths last week.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said his storm-prep team set aside thousands of thermometers and millions of units of masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment for the hurricane season. Every nursing home, including ones exclusively for coronavirus-positive residents, is equipped with a generator, he said.
On the downside, the state had to close 43 COVID-19 testing sites in the path of the storm. The sites are outdoors in tents, so high winds would pose a risk.
“If it were to get 40-, 50 mile-per-hour winds, it would just collapse, so safety is paramount for that,” Mr. DeSantis said as the storm approached Friday.
Experts say battling storm season during a pandemic presents a series of challenges.
“The first involves evacuation plans. People may alter their typical evacuation strategy if traveling or staying in a public shelter is viewed as risky due to COVID-19,” said Paul Miller, an assistant professor oceanography and coastal sciences at Louisiana State University.
There is also the risk that the mass movement of people from coastal areas with COVID-19 spikes could create a new problem farther inland.
“We’re recommending and working with the state to establish shelters that would be non-congregate places for sheltering in place,” Health Secretary Alex M. Azar II said during a Friday roundtable with Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis in Tampa.
If someone does end up in a setting whether people are gathered together, the secretary added, “it’s the same advice that we give in a non-emergency situation — wear face coverings, practice good physical distance, good personal hygiene.”
Mr. DeSantis issued an executive order that activated agreements with local hotels to provide evacuees with shelter that affords enough privacy to engage in social distancing without congregating in the open.
The order says “all counties are encouraged to accept evacuees from other jurisdictions into their non-congregate shelters to allow for the state of Florida to practice safe social distancing measures.”
Likewise, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said evacuees should plan to stay with family and friends or at a hotel, and not a shelter, because of COVID-19.
“With the right protection and sheltering, we can keep people safe from the storm while at the same time trying to avoid making the pandemic worse,” Mr. Cooper tweeted. “A hurricane during a pandemic is double trouble. But the state has been carefully preparing for this scenario.”
His administration said families should include masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning products and sanitizing wipes in their evacuation kits.
The U.S. can ill-afford missteps or new roadblocks in its fight against the pandemic. It recorded over 1,000 deaths in its daily count on six consecutive days heading into Sunday.
An increase in deaths is typically reported weeks after a surge in infections on the front end. Florida and other Sun Belt states have seen a plateau in their summer surge, though officials are warning of a resurgence in places like Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
“What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread. It’s into the rural as [much as] urban areas,” Dr. Deborah Birx, the U.S. coronavirus response coordinator, told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And to everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus. And that is why we keep saying, no matter where you live in America, you need to wear a mask and socially distance, do the personal hygiene pieces.”
Mr. Trump says the U.S. isn’t alone in struggling with the virus, pointing to infection surges in places that were once hailed as role-models in how to handle the pandemic.
In Australia, for instance, the city of Melbourne will impose an 8 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew, with exceptions for work and caregiving, and limit food-shopping to one person from each household each day.
The southeastern U.S., however, is battling a raging pandemic and storms at the same time.
The National Weather Service tweeted a photo of its Melbourne, Florida, staff “masked-up & socially distant across our operations floor.”
Mr. Miller, at LSU, said besides the obvious challenges for evacuees, the pandemic is causing a drop in air travel that could affect the quality of weather forecasts.
Computer weather modeling and forecasts “benefit greatly from commercial aircraft observations over data-sparse regions,” such as the open ocean, according to the professor.
“This might have implications for hurricane-track and intensity forecasts as the season progresses,” he said.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Alabama man finds alligator swimming in his backyard pool

MOBILE , Ala. ( AP ) - An Alabama homeowner woke up to an unexpected visitor swimming in his backyard @ @ @ @ @ WALA-TV reports that Steven McCulland of Mobile recorded the unwanted guest on video and posted @ @ @ @ @ In the video , McCulland shows the alligator and sounds stunned as he says : @ @ @ @ @ alligator in my pool , swimming around in my pool ?
What in the blue @ @ @ @ @ And he told those watching the video : “ If you own an alligator and @ @ @ @ @ , he in my backyard in my pool .
Come get him.
” McCulland told @ @ @ @ @ no idea how the alligator got into his backyard Friday , but he ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ the pool .
The reptile eventually retreated to McCulland ’ s fence line , and @ @ @ @ @ .

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama homeowner woke up to an unexpected visitor swimming in his backyard pool: an alligator.
WALA-TV reports that Steven McCulland of Mobile recorded the unwanted guest on video and posted it on social media.
In the video, McCulland shows the alligator and sounds stunned as he says: “How is there an alligator in my pool, swimming around in my pool? What in the blue blazes is this?”
And he told those watching the video: “If you own an alligator and you’re missing one, he in my backyard in my pool. Come get him.”
McCulland told the news station he had no idea how the alligator got into his backyard Friday, but he’ll double-checking now before he enters the pool. The reptile eventually retreated to McCulland’s fence line, and a wildlife agent removed it.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Attorney: Man lost job, custody battle before 2 shootings

SLATINGTON , Pa. ( AP ) - The attorney for a man accused of firing shots outside an eastern Pennsylvania cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask and later exchanging gunfire with police says his client had lost his job and a custody battle and was “ just not handling the pandemic well.
” Adam Zaborowski , 35 , faces attempted homicide charges in both Friday ’ s incident outside Cigars International in Northampton County ’ s Bethlehem Township and Saturday ’ s confrontation with police near his Slatington home in Lehigh County .
LehighValleyLive.com reports that defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversation with his client ’ s father for insight into the motivation for both shootings .
Waldron said he ’ s out of the area and hasn ’ t been able to speak with his client , who is hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks .
Waldron said he learned that Zaborowski lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently lost custody of his child , things that don ’ t justify his behavior but give some insight into his motives .
“ He just wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job , the loss of his child , just not handling the pandemic well , ” Waldron said .
“ I think he was getting stretched too tight.
” Saying he had represented Zaborowski in the past , he added from what he knew of the allegations , “ this is not his typical behavior pattern.
” County District Attorney Jim Martin earlier said police were trying to serve a warrant on Zaborowski on Saturday morning in Slatington , but he fled in a pickup truck and later opened fire on officers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zaborowski was hit along with a Slatington officer , whose injury was relatively minor .
Martin said Sunday that at least seven officers were put in harm ’ s way by the defendant ’ s AK-47 and handgun .
Earlier , Bethlehem Township police said Zaborowski entered the cigar store shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday , without a mask , and when he was told he needed one he “ became irate , grabbed two cigars from a shelf and exited the store without paying.
” A staff member followed him outside , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air and then fired twice at the staff member .
A patron was sitting behind the staff member , but no one was injured .
In the Lehigh County shootout with police , Zaborowski is charged with seven counts of attempted homicide and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer as well as aggravated assault and gun possession by a felon .
In the Northampton County cigar store shooting , Zaborowski is charged with attempted homicide , aggravated assault , robbery , recklesss endangerment and two gun offenses .

SLATINGTON, Pa. (AP) - The attorney for a man accused of firing shots outside an eastern Pennsylvania cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask and later exchanging gunfire with police says his client had lost his job and a custody battle and was “just not handling the pandemic well.”
Adam Zaborowski, 35, faces attempted homicide charges in both Friday’s incident outside Cigars International in Northampton County’s Bethlehem Township and Saturday’s confrontation with police near his Slatington home in Lehigh County.
LehighValleyLive.com reports that defense attorney John Waldron on Sunday cited a conversation with his client’s father for insight into the motivation for both shootings. Waldron said he’s out of the area and hasn’t been able to speak with his client, who is hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks.
Waldron said he learned that Zaborowski lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently lost custody of his child, things that don’t justify his behavior but give some insight into his motives.
“He just wasn’t dealing well with the loss of his job, the loss of his child, just not handling the pandemic well,” Waldron said. “I think he was getting stretched too tight.” Saying he had represented Zaborowski in the past, he added from what he knew of the allegations, “this is not his typical behavior pattern.”
County District Attorney Jim Martin earlier said police were trying to serve a warrant on Zaborowski on Saturday morning in Slatington, but he fled in a pickup truck and later opened fire on officers. Martin said officers returned fire, and Zaborowski was hit along with a Slatington officer, whose injury was relatively minor. Martin said Sunday that at least seven officers were put in harm’s way by the defendant’s AK-47 and handgun.
Earlier, Bethlehem Township police said Zaborowski entered the cigar store shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday, without a mask, and when he was told he needed one he “became irate, grabbed two cigars from a shelf and exited the store without paying.” A staff member followed him outside, and police allege that Zaborowski fired into the air and then fired twice at the staff member. A patron was sitting behind the staff member, but no one was injured.
In the Lehigh County shootout with police, Zaborowski is charged with seven counts of attempted homicide and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer as well as aggravated assault and gun possession by a felon. In the Northampton County cigar store shooting, Zaborowski is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, recklesss endangerment and two gun offenses.


washingtontimes--2020-08-02--Trucking companies: Defund police effort puts drivers at risk

The truckers who help Americans get through the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders by keeping store shelves stocked are on the front lines again , this time rolling into massive protests , rioting and a defund-the-police movement that they say threatens drivers ’ safety .
The owner of a large trucking company in Illinois will have to halt his drivers going into Minneapolis and other big cities if police departments are defunded , saying his drivers ’ safety has to be the top priority .
“ It ’ s getting harder and harder to do business , ” said Mike Kucharski , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they defund the police in Minneapolis , JKC trucks won ’ t go there.
” Labor statistics out in December of last year revealed transportation incidents were the leading cause of workplace fatalities and truck drivers rank as one of the top 10 deadliest jobs .
Accidents contribute to deaths and injuries , but so does hijacking and crime , said Mr. Kucharski .
He noted many drivers make their deliveries early in the early morning when it is still dark .
“ A lot of drivers are worried about going to places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Drivers also have been trying to avoid those areas , as anti-racism protests turned violent across the country and rioting persisted in cities such as Seattle and Portland .
In Portland , where sometimes violent protests have lasted for more than two months , Police Bureau spokesman Officer Derek Carmon said he wasn ’ t aware of any truck drivers caught in the mayhem or requesting help .
“ I am unaware of truckers reaching out for assistance for anything related to safety .
We welcome them to do so in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
A spokesperson from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said the group has been monitoring the protest situation across the country .
“ We know that there were concerns about protest areas , but we know of no recent disruptions to the supply chain , ” said Norita Taylor , the Association ’ s director of public relations .
Truckers have a reputation for being tough and fiercely independent .
They also share camaraderie with police .
Bill Johnson , executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truckers to find runaways and missing persons , to look out for human trafficking , and to provide tips for high-profile fugitives .
“ Truckers are vital employees and trucking companies are essential service providers .
The reliable and safe transportation of goods and products is crucial not only to the economic vitality of a community but also to its safety , ” Mr. Johnson said .
“ After all , it was a trucker who first reported the location of the D.C. Snipers at a Maryland highway rest area , a report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said trucking is already a dangerous profession .
“ Removing the protection of our police from cities and communities will understandably make it more difficult or even impossible for truckers and other transport and delivery workers to perform their jobs , ” Mr. Johnson said .
JKC Trucking driver Brenda Echols , who lives in Texas , said truck drivers are accustomed to delivering to dangerous neighborhoods — and then the anti-police movement erupted .
“ I ’ m always concerned about [ safety ] even without defunding police , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives Matter message .
“ Being a female in a truck alone having an early morning delivery in an area where there are homeless people , there could always be that issue.
” In addition , Ms. Echols noted , truck drivers often cross state lines , limiting their ability to legally carrying a firearm .
She said new laws are needed that would allow more drivers to arm themselves .
Ellen Voie , president of the industry advocacy group Women in Trucking Inc. , said most of the focus during the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drivers to tell their employers if they feel unsafe .
“ I ’ ve talked to some CEOs and they are cautioning their drivers if you feel unsafe to let us know and we will route you around it , ” she said of the unrest in several cities , most recently Chicago and Portland , Oregon .
“ The carriers are trying to make sure the drivers feel safe.
” Ms. Voie also said drivers have been very diligent , sharing information about how to reroute around massive gatherings .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they really do look out for one another , ” she told The Washington Times .
Safety for female drivers has always been a concern , even before COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests , but given today ’ s times , more focus is being placed on keeping drivers out of harm ’ s way — including various safety protocols and amenities being implemented at truck stops .
“ Nobody wants our drivers to be in a situation , ” Ms. Voie said .
“ It ’ s just how a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to giving the driver control over their own safety .
”

The truckers who help Americans get through the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders by keeping store shelves stocked are on the front lines again, this time rolling into massive protests, rioting and a defund-the-police movement that they say threatens drivers’ safety.
The owner of a large trucking company in Illinois will have to halt his drivers going into Minneapolis and other big cities if police departments are defunded, saying his drivers’ safety has to be the top priority.
“It’s getting harder and harder to do business,” said Mike Kucharski, co-owner of JKC Trucking. “If they defund the police in Minneapolis, JKC trucks won’t go there.”
Labor statistics out in December of last year revealed transportation incidents were the leading cause of workplace fatalities and truck drivers rank as one of the top 10 deadliest jobs.
Accidents contribute to deaths and injuries, but so does hijacking and crime, said Mr. Kucharski. He noted many drivers make their deliveries early in the early morning when it is still dark.
“A lot of drivers are worried about going to places that were defunded,” he said.
Drivers also have been trying to avoid those areas, as anti-racism protests turned violent across the country and rioting persisted in cities such as Seattle and Portland.
In Portland, where sometimes violent protests have lasted for more than two months, Police Bureau spokesman Officer Derek Carmon said he wasn’t aware of any truck drivers caught in the mayhem or requesting help.
“I am unaware of truckers reaching out for assistance for anything related to safety. We welcome them to do so in order for us to address their specific concerns,” he said.
A spokesperson from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said the group has been monitoring the protest situation across the country.
“We know that there were concerns about protest areas, but we know of no recent disruptions to the supply chain,” said Norita Taylor, the Association’s director of public relations.
Truckers have a reputation for being tough and fiercely independent. They also share camaraderie with police.
Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations, said law enforcement regularly relies on truckers to find runaways and missing persons, to look out for human trafficking, and to provide tips for high-profile fugitives.
“Truckers are vital employees and trucking companies are essential service providers. The reliable and safe transportation of goods and products is crucial not only to the economic vitality of a community but also to its safety,” Mr. Johnson said. “After all, it was a trucker who first reported the location of the D.C. Snipers at a Maryland highway rest area, a report which led to their capture.”
He said trucking is already a dangerous profession.
“Removing the protection of our police from cities and communities will understandably make it more difficult or even impossible for truckers and other transport and delivery workers to perform their jobs,” Mr. Johnson said.
JKC Trucking driver Brenda Echols, who lives in Texas, said truck drivers are accustomed to delivering to dangerous neighborhoods — and then the anti-police movement erupted.
“I’m always concerned about [safety] even without defunding police,” she said, adding that she supports the Black Lives Matter message. “Being a female in a truck alone having an early morning delivery in an area where there are homeless people, there could always be that issue.”
In addition, Ms. Echols noted, truck drivers often cross state lines, limiting their ability to legally carrying a firearm. She said new laws are needed that would allow more drivers to arm themselves.
Ellen Voie, president of the industry advocacy group Women in Trucking Inc., said most of the focus during the COVID-19 crisis and racial upheaval has been for drivers to tell their employers if they feel unsafe.
“I’ve talked to some CEOs and they are cautioning their drivers if you feel unsafe to let us know and we will route you around it,” she said of the unrest in several cities, most recently Chicago and Portland, Oregon. “The carriers are trying to make sure the drivers feel safe.”
Ms. Voie also said drivers have been very diligent, sharing information about how to reroute around massive gatherings.
“It’s a very close-knit community where they really do look out for one another,” she told The Washington Times.
Safety for female drivers has always been a concern, even before COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests, but given today’s times, more focus is being placed on keeping drivers out of harm’s way — including various safety protocols and amenities being implemented at truck stops.
“Nobody wants our drivers to be in a situation,” Ms. Voie said. “It’s just how a company’s culture is in regard to giving the driver control over their own safety.”
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.