washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Judge Rudolph Contreras delays on Nancy Pelosi proxy-voting rules

A federal judge signaled Monday he ’ s in no hurry to rule on whether the House ’ s new rules allowing lawmakers to skip votes but pick a designated voter to speak for them are legal .
Judge Rudolph Contreras said he ’ ll hold a hearing July 24 , with briefs to be filed in the weeks between now and then .
That ’ s more than a month later than the June 19 hearing requested by House Republicans , who sued last week to stop Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s new voting scheme .
It also puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi has authorized designated voting , so unless she renews the idea , it could be a dead issue by that time .
“ Allowing the initial 45-day period to expire without a decision from this court would raise difficult questions of mootness and potentially deprive plaintiffs of relief from their ongoing injuries , with enormous implications for our constitutional structure , ” the House Republicans had warned the judge in their motion for a speedy hearing .
He was not swayed .
Democrats say the designated-voter idea is needed because the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to Washington .
Rather than shut down business or act without those members , Mrs. Pelosi came up with a plan to let them assign their vote by proxy to another lawmaker who will be present .
“ The voting procedures in House Resolution 965 for members who can not be physically present but who have directed others to cast votes for them in specific and binding terms advance vital public health and safety imperatives and serve national needs , ” the Democrats said in their brief to the court .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been submitted to the House clerk , and 74 of them are still listed as active .
The House conducted business under the proxy-voting system last week , passing a massive coronavirus bill that Republicans have declared dead in the Senate .
GOP lawmakers had urged Judge Contreras to move speedily , saying that any action the House takes at this point under proxy-voting is suspect , and could be called into question later , creating a legal mess .
Mrs. Pelosi says courts traditionally have deferred to Congress to write its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expects that to happen this time , too .

A federal judge signaled Monday he’s in no hurry to rule on whether the House’s new rules allowing lawmakers to skip votes but pick a designated voter to speak for them are legal.
Judge Rudolph Contreras said he’ll hold a hearing July 24, with briefs to be filed in the weeks between now and then.
That’s more than a month later than the June 19 hearing requested by House Republicans, who sued last week to stop Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s new voting scheme. It also puts the hearing beyond the 45-day window Mrs. Pelosi has authorized designated voting, so unless she renews the idea, it could be a dead issue by that time.
“Allowing the initial 45-day period to expire without a decision from this court would raise difficult questions of mootness and potentially deprive plaintiffs of relief from their ongoing injuries, with enormous implications for our constitutional structure,” the House Republicans had warned the judge in their motion for a speedy hearing.
He was not swayed.
Democrats say the designated-voter idea is needed because the coronavirus makes it unsafe for some members to return to Washington. Rather than shut down business or act without those members, Mrs. Pelosi came up with a plan to let them assign their vote by proxy to another lawmaker who will be present.
“The voting procedures in House Resolution 965 for members who cannot be physically present but who have directed others to cast votes for them in specific and binding terms advance vital public health and safety imperatives and serve national needs,” the Democrats said in their brief to the court.
As of Monday, 84 letters assigning proxies had been submitted to the House clerk, and 74 of them are still listed as active.
The House conducted business under the proxy-voting system last week, passing a massive coronavirus bill that Republicans have declared dead in the Senate.
GOP lawmakers had urged Judge Contreras to move speedily, saying that any action the House takes at this point under proxy-voting is suspect, and could be called into question later, creating a legal mess.
Mrs. Pelosi says courts traditionally have deferred to Congress to write its own rules, and she said she expects that to happen this time, too.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Republicans sue Clark County for election-related records

LAS VEGAS ( AP ) - The Nevada Republican Party and Republican National Committee are suing Clark County officials for public records related to the June primary election .
In a lawsuit filed Monday , the state and local GOP asked a court to force the county to turn over any records related to the county ’ s decision to open more in-person polling places and to mail absentee ballots to inactive voters .
The changes came after Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske announced the June primary would be conducted mostly by mail because of the coronavirus .
Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawsuit challenging the rules , including that Nevada ’ s 17 counties provide at least one in-person polling place and that absentee ballots would be sent to all “ active ” voters who participated in at least one of the last two federal elections .
Clark County then agreed to add additional in-person polling sites and to send ballots to active and inactive voters .
Republicans contend Clark County commissioners should have held a public meeting to discuss the decision and are seeking related records .
They say in their lawsuit that after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documents but they believe more records exist and should be turned over .
“ This lawsuit is based upon suspicions not facts and we expect to prevail , ” Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said in an emailed statement .

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Nevada Republican Party and Republican National Committee are suing Clark County officials for public records related to the June primary election.
In a lawsuit filed Monday, the state and local GOP asked a court to force the county to turn over any records related to the county’s decision to open more in-person polling places and to mail absentee ballots to inactive voters.
The changes came after Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske announced the June primary would be conducted mostly by mail because of the coronavirus. Nevada’s Democratic Party then filed a lawsuit challenging the rules, including that Nevada’s 17 counties provide at least one in-person polling place and that absentee ballots would be sent to all “active” voters who participated in at least one of the last two federal elections.
Clark County then agreed to add additional in-person polling sites and to send ballots to active and inactive voters.
Republicans contend Clark County commissioners should have held a public meeting to discuss the decision and are seeking related records. They say in their lawsuit that after filing a records request they received some documents but they believe more records exist and should be turned over.
“This lawsuit is based upon suspicions not facts and we expect to prevail,” Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said in an emailed statement.


washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Project 21, black conservatives group, joins police reform push of liberals

Black conservative leaders are finding common ground with their liberal counterparts on a host of police reform policies in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police officers , including de-escalation tactics , ending civil assets forfeiture and holding bad officers accountable .
“ Four people for one person is ridiculous , ” said Marie Fischer , a member of the black conservative group Project 21 , referring to the number of officers who helped restrain Mr. Floyd while one of them knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a counterfeit $ 20 bill ?
” Liberal and conservative black leaders are beginning to coalesce around similar ideas in the wake of high-profile police killings of unarmed black males .
“ Unusual coalitions are emerging , ” Sen. Cory A. Booker , New Jersey Democrat , said Monday in a phone call with reporters hosted by leading civil rights groups .
“ We have a nation where you ’ re seeing more receptivity to ideas that just four or five years ago would see [ Republican ] resistance.
” At the center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan opponents : the “ 21st Century Policing Report ” written by a task force convened by President Obama and Project 21 ’ s “ Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.
” The documents reflect ideological differences in the role of faith leaders , LGBTQ inclusivity and other topics .
But both support the “ broken windows ” community policing approach implemented in New York City in the 1990s and encourage the development of police tactics for people with disabilities and increasing data on effective strategies .
Both also encourage ending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private property by law enforcement during the course of an investigation .
“ Law enforcement agencies have become too focused on revenue-generating activities , ” Project 21 ’ s “ Blueprint ” says .
The organization cites a study from the Nevada Policy Research Institute showing that two-thirds of assets seized by police in 2016 were concentrated in 12 ZIP codes , all with mostly nonwhite populations .
“ In some communities , tickets , fines , fees , and asset forfeitures generated by arrests contribute to a significant portion of revenue and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21st Century Policing Report ” says .
Several black liberals called Monday for a variety of reforms , including a national registry of police officers to prevent repeat offenders from moving to different departments and a federal statute to lower the threshold for prosecuting officers who use lethal force , otherwise known as the “ doctrine of qualified immunity.
” “ The way the laws are written now , they can justify choking a man to death … because they are not required to prove that there was no other way to de-escalate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Al Sharpton of the National Action Network .
Mr. Booker pointed to deals with Republicans that led to the 2018 bipartisan criminal justice reform package , signed by President Trump that overhauled prison and sentencing laws that historically had been harsh on blacks .
Meanwhile , Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina , the only black Republican in the Senate , condemned the rioting and looting that erupted after Mr. Floyd ’ s death .
But he also has called for reform and repeated criticisms of racial profiling and unequal treatment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much abuse within law enforcement towards African American men , ” Mr. Scott told “ Fox News Sunday.
” “ I have been a victim seven times — stopped in one year — as an elected official , just driving while black.
” Black conservatives and liberals were united in criticizing the violence and destruction emerging in protests over Mr. Floyd ’ s death and said justice should be found in the courts .
“ The officers who killed George Floyd will be tried and judged by a jury of their peers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 , said Monday .
“ That is the system of justice that we have and cherish here in America.
” Project 21 ’ s Ms. Fischer and Sherrilyn Ifill , president of the NAACP ’ s Legal Defense and Educational Fund , echoed that sentiment .
She said the incidents in Minneapolis show a need to go beyond anti-racism training for police officers .
Ms. Fischer said “ there doesn ’ t need to be a lot of police training ” to know not to kneel on a person ’ s neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not talking about training individual officers anymore , ” said Ms. Ifill .
“ There ’ s no training that ’ s going to train that officer [ who knelt on Mr. Floyd ’ s neck ] .
” The Rainbow/PUSH and the Congress for Racial Equality did not respond to requests for comment .

Black conservative leaders are finding common ground with their liberal counterparts on a host of police reform policies in the wake of the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police officers, including de-escalation tactics, ending civil assets forfeiture and holding bad officers accountable.
“Four people for one person is ridiculous,” said Marie Fischer, a member of the black conservative group Project 21, referring to the number of officers who helped restrain Mr. Floyd while one of them knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes on May 25. “And they stopped him all for a counterfeit $20 bill?”
Liberal and conservative black leaders are beginning to coalesce around similar ideas in the wake of high-profile police killings of unarmed black males.
“Unusual coalitions are emerging,” Sen. Cory A. Booker, New Jersey Democrat, said Monday in a phone call with reporters hosted by leading civil rights groups. “We have a nation where you’re seeing more receptivity to ideas that just four or five years ago would see [Republican] resistance.”
At the center of this dovetailing are two documents from partisan opponents: the “21st Century Policing Report” written by a task force convened by President Obama and Project 21’s “Blueprint for a Better Deal for Black America.”
The documents reflect ideological differences in the role of faith leaders, LGBTQ inclusivity and other topics.
But both support the “broken windows” community policing approach implemented in New York City in the 1990s and encourage the development of police tactics for people with disabilities and increasing data on effective strategies.
Both also encourage ending civil assets forfeiture: the taking of private property by law enforcement during the course of an investigation.
“Law enforcement agencies have become too focused on revenue-generating activities,” Project 21’s “Blueprint” says.
The organization cites a study from the Nevada Policy Research Institute showing that two-thirds of assets seized by police in 2016 were concentrated in 12 ZIP codes, all with mostly nonwhite populations.
“In some communities, tickets, fines, fees, and asset forfeitures generated by arrests contribute to a significant portion of revenue and law enforcement budgets,” the “21st Century Policing Report” says.
Several black liberals called Monday for a variety of reforms, including a national registry of police officers to prevent repeat offenders from moving to different departments and a federal statute to lower the threshold for prosecuting officers who use lethal force, otherwise known as the “doctrine of qualified immunity.”
“The way the laws are written now, they can justify choking a man to death … because they are not required to prove that there was no other way to de-escalate a situation,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network.
Mr. Booker pointed to deals with Republicans that led to the 2018 bipartisan criminal justice reform package, signed by President Trump that overhauled prison and sentencing laws that historically had been harsh on blacks.
Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the only black Republican in the Senate, condemned the rioting and looting that erupted after Mr. Floyd’s death. But he also has called for reform and repeated criticisms of racial profiling and unequal treatment of blacks.
“There’s too much abuse within law enforcement towards African American men,” Mr. Scott told “Fox News Sunday.” “I have been a victim seven times — stopped in one year — as an elected official, just driving while black.”
Black conservatives and liberals were united in criticizing the violence and destruction emerging in protests over Mr. Floyd’s death and said justice should be found in the courts.
“The officers who killed George Floyd will be tried and judged by a jury of their peers,” Stacy Washington, co-chair of Project 21, said Monday. “That is the system of justice that we have and cherish here in America.”
Project 21’s Ms. Fischer and Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund, echoed that sentiment. She said the incidents in Minneapolis show a need to go beyond anti-racism training for police officers.
Ms. Fischer said “there doesn’t need to be a lot of police training” to know not to kneel on a person’s neck for nearly nine minutes.
“We’re not talking about training individual officers anymore,” said Ms. Ifill. “There’s no training that’s going to train that officer [who knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck].”
The Rainbow/PUSH and the Congress for Racial Equality did not respond to requests for comment.
• Christopher Vondracek can be reached at cvondracek@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Mississippi state senator stepping down at end of June

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - A state lawmaker from north Mississippi said Monday that he will resign @ @ @ @ @ Gary Jackson of French Camp has served in the Legislature since 2004 .
His district @ @ @ @ @ , Oktibbeha and Webster counties.qa Jackson , 69 , is a pastor and residential appraiser @ @ @ @ @ this term as chairman of the Senate Municipalities Committee .
His Senate colleagues gave him @ @ @ @ @ he announced his plan to step down .
Republican Lt. Gov .
Delbert Hosemann noted @ @ @ @ @ re-election last year .
“ There is a reason for that , ” Hosemann said @ @ @ @ @ He is not afraid to take a position or stand up for his constituents , @ @ @ @ @ so in a way which is respectful and thoughtful while remaining a leader.
” Gov @ @ @ @ @ a special election to fill Jackson ’ s seat , and the winner will serve @ @ @ @ @ that ends in January 2024 .

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A state lawmaker from north Mississippi said Monday that he will resign June 30.
Republican Sen. Gary Jackson of French Camp has served in the Legislature since 2004. His district is in Choctaw, Montgomery, Oktibbeha and Webster counties.qa
Jackson, 69, is a pastor and residential appraiser. He’s serving this term as chairman of the Senate Municipalities Committee. His Senate colleagues gave him a standing ovation Monday when he announced his plan to step down.
Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann noted that Jackson ran unopposed for re-election last year.
“There is a reason for that,” Hosemann said in a statement. “He is not afraid to take a position or stand up for his constituents, but he has always done so in a way which is respectful and thoughtful while remaining a leader.”
Gov. Tate Reeves will set a special election to fill Jackson’s seat, and the winner will serve the rest of the term that ends in January 2024.


washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Montana judge orders $15K restitution for starved cattle

GREAT FALLS , Mont .
( AP ) - A Montana man who pleaded guilty to starving his cattle received a deferred , six-year jail sentence and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $ 15,000 .
District Judge Elizabeth Best ’ s sentence also prevents 57-year-old George Savoy from owning cows for six years , The Great Falls Tribune reports .
Savoy pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty and waived his right to trial .
The sentence was the result of a plea deal with the Cascade County Attorney ’ s Office .
The Cascade County Sheriff ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 following reports of dead cattle on Savoy ’ s land 40 miles ( 64 kilometers ) southwest of Great Falls .
More than 100 cows died from lack of food and water .
The $ 15,571 in restitution , which Savoy has already paid , covers expenses the county incurred while caring for the animals after they were seized .
Savoy must also dispose of the dead cows and sell the surviving animals .
At the time the cattle were neglected , Savoy ’ s father was undergoing daily kidney dialysis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A Montana man who pleaded guilty to starving his cattle received a deferred, six-year jail sentence and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $15,000.
District Judge Elizabeth Best’s sentence also prevents 57-year-old George Savoy from owning cows for six years, The Great Falls Tribune reports.
Savoy pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty and waived his right to trial. The sentence was the result of a plea deal with the Cascade County Attorney’s Office.
The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office seized about 230 cows March 31 following reports of dead cattle on Savoy’s land 40 miles (64 kilometers) southwest of Great Falls.
More than 100 cows died from lack of food and water.
The $15,571 in restitution, which Savoy has already paid, covers expenses the county incurred while caring for the animals after they were seized.
Savoy must also dispose of the dead cows and sell the surviving animals.
At the time the cattle were neglected, Savoy’s father was undergoing daily kidney dialysis, said his attorney, Jason Holden.


washingtontimes--2020-06-01--Alleged Hells Angels president requests new judge, again

PROVIDENCE ( AP ) - The alleged president of the Rhode Island chapter of Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has again challenged a judge ’ s refusal to recuse herself from his case .
Superior Court Judge Kristin Rodgers previously denied the request by Joseph Lancia to step down on April 29 , the Providence Journal reported Monday .
Lancia was arrested June 2019 after an investigation into reports of shots fired and faces charges related to attempting to kill a former club prospect .
Lancia has argued that Rodger ’ s marriage to Little Compton Police Chief Scott Raynes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , could appear improper .
Lancia ’ s request stems from a raid on the Hells Angels clubhouse by state police , a raid that Rodgers says her husband was not involved in .
“ To suggest that Chief Raynes ’ entry into that particular premises decades ago creates an appearance of impropriety is as unreasonable as concluding that recusal is required in a motor vehicle accident case where a judicial officer ’ s spouse patrolled the roadway on which that accident occurred in his role as a police officer many years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has requested that the ruling is delayed , arguing that the decision was reached using information from Raynes work with the state police .

PROVIDENCE (AP) - The alleged president of the Rhode Island chapter of Hells Angels Motorcycle Club has again challenged a judge’s refusal to recuse herself from his case.
Superior Court Judge Kristin Rodgers previously denied the request by Joseph Lancia to step down on April 29, the Providence Journal reported Monday.
Lancia was arrested June 2019 after an investigation into reports of shots fired and faces charges related to attempting to kill a former club prospect.
Lancia has argued that Rodger’s marriage to Little Compton Police Chief Scott Raynes, formerly of the state police for 24 years, could appear improper.
Lancia’s request stems from a raid on the Hells Angels clubhouse by state police, a raid that Rodgers says her husband was not involved in.
“To suggest that Chief Raynes’ entry into that particular premises decades ago creates an appearance of impropriety is as unreasonable as concluding that recusal is required in a motor vehicle accident case where a judicial officer’s spouse patrolled the roadway on which that accident occurred in his role as a police officer many years before,” Rodgers wrote.
Lancia has requested that the ruling is delayed, arguing that the decision was reached using information from Raynes work with the state police.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Mount Holly man dies in two-vehicle crash in Shrewsbury

SHREWSBURY , Vt. ( AP ) - A Mount Holly man died Monday in a crash between a car and @ @ @ @ @ Vermont Police said .
Ryan Ahonen , 21 , was driving on Route 103 when @ @ @ @ @ oncoming lane and crashed into the truck , police said .
Ahonen was pronounced dead @ @ @ @ @ driver of the truck was not injured .
The crash is being investigated , police @ @

SHREWSBURY, Vt. (AP) - A Mount Holly man died Monday in a crash between a car and a truck in Shrewsbury, Vermont Police said.
Ryan Ahonen, 21, was driving on Route 103 when his car crossed into the oncoming lane and crashed into the truck, police said. Ahonen was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck was not injured.
The crash is being investigated, police said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Huge Confederate flag taken down near Tampa due to protests

BRANDON , Fla. ( AP ) - A huge Confederate battle flag has been lowered from its towering pole near Interstates 4 and 75 outside Tampa after threats appeared on social media to set it on fire during protests of the killings of black people by white authorities .
David R. McCallister , who leads the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans , wants people to know that removing the 30-foot by 60-foot ( 9-meter by 18-meter ) battle flag wasn ’ t a decision made in fear .
“ The decision was we would temp take down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserving the park overall , ” he told the Tampa Bay Times .
“ We don ’ t want the flag to be an excuse for anyone to do illegal acts.
” The flag flies on a 139-foot ( 42-meter ) flag pole , erected in Confederate Memorial Park in 2008 for the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis , president of the Confederate States of America .
The group typically only removes it when hurricanes threaten the area .
“ We want to lower the temperature and defuse any problems , ” McCallister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday that the flag was considered a “ high visibility target ” for protests in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis .

BRANDON, Fla. (AP) - A huge Confederate battle flag has been lowered from its towering pole near Interstates 4 and 75 outside Tampa after threats appeared on social media to set it on fire during protests of the killings of black people by white authorities.
David R. McCallister, who leads the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, wants people to know that removing the 30-foot by 60-foot (9-meter by 18-meter) battle flag wasn’t a decision made in fear.
“The decision was we would temp take down the flag in the bests interests of preserving the park overall,” he told the Tampa Bay Times. “We don’t want the flag to be an excuse for anyone to do illegal acts.”
The flag flies on a 139-foot (42-meter) flag pole, erected in Confederate Memorial Park in 2008 for the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. The group typically only removes it when hurricanes threaten the area.
“We want to lower the temperature and defuse any problems,” McCallister said.
McCallister posted on Facebook on Sunday that the flag was considered a “high visibility target” for protests in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Books on race and criminal justice top bestseller lists

NEW YORK ( AP ) - As nationwide protests against racism and police violence continue , readers are seeking out books old and new on race and criminal justice .
Robin Diangelo ’ s “ White Fragility , ” Michelle Alexander ’ s “ The New Jim Crow ” and Bryan Stevenson ’ s “ Just Mercy ” were among the works high on the bestseller lists Tuesday of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com .
Popular books also included James Baldwin ’ s classic “ The Fire Next Time , ” published more than 50 years ago , and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Award winner Ibram X. Kendi , “ Antiracist Baby , ” that comes out next week .
The demonstrations began a week ago after a white police officer in Minneapolis put his knee on George Floyd ’ s neck until he stopped breathing and died .
Several of the current bestsellers directly address police violence .
Ta-Nehisi Coates ’ “ Between the World and Me , ” winner of the National Book Award in 2015 , is an open letter to the author ’ s son that centers on the murder of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ “ The Hate U Give ” is a popular young adult novel , adapted into a feature film of the same name , about a young girl who sees her best friend killed at the hands of police .
Other works range from messages of unity - the “ Sesame Street ” picture book “ We ’ re Different , We ’ re the Same , ” Latasha Morrison ’ s “ Be the Bridge : Pursuing God ’ s Heart for Racial Reconciliation ” - to Reni Eddo-Lodge ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to White People About Race .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - As nationwide protests against racism and police violence continue, readers are seeking out books old and new on race and criminal justice.
Robin Diangelo’s “White Fragility,” Michelle Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” and Bryan Stevenson’s “Just Mercy” were among the works high on the bestseller lists Tuesday of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. Popular books also included James Baldwin’s classic “The Fire Next Time,” published more than 50 years ago, and a board book for children from National Book Award winner Ibram X. Kendi, “Antiracist Baby,” that comes out next week.
The demonstrations began a week ago after a white police officer in Minneapolis put his knee on George Floyd’s neck until he stopped breathing and died.
Several of the current bestsellers directly address police violence. Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me,” winner of the National Book Award in 2015, is an open letter to the author’s son that centers on the murder of an old friend by police. Angie Thomas’ “The Hate U Give” is a popular young adult novel, adapted into a feature film of the same name, about a young girl who sees her best friend killed at the hands of police.
Other works range from messages of unity - the “Sesame Street” picture book “We’re Different, We’re the Same,” Latasha Morrison’s “Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation” - to Reni Eddo-Lodge’s “Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Florida woman discovers alligators fighting by her home

FORT MYERS , Fla. ( AP ) - A woman in route to get her morning coffee was jolted awake with pounding on her front door she later discovered to be two alligators fighting in front of her home in Florida .
The video of the surprising encounter in Fort Myers was posted on Facebook last week by Susan Geshel .
When she first saw the reptiles before 7 a.m. , Geshel told The Fort Myers News-Press that one of the alligators had his snout pinned on her door while the other was stationed at a distance with its snout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Geshel calling her husband in surprise as one of the alligators clamped its jaws on the other ’ s body and pushed it to the wall as it moved away from the house .
“ They made a mess on the front door , ” Geshel , who has never seen alligators on her property in Fort Myers , said .
After about 20 minutes by her house , one of the alligators walked across the street to a neighbor ’ s home while the other disappeared from the area and could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Spokeswoman Melody Kilborn said the fighting alligators were reacting to being in a confined space .
The reptiles , who Kilborn said are most visible when the weather is warm , also tend to mate during May and June , according to the wildlife agency .

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) - A woman in route to get her morning coffee was jolted awake with pounding on her front door she later discovered to be two alligators fighting in front of her home in Florida.
The video of the surprising encounter in Fort Myers was posted on Facebook last week by Susan Geshel. When she first saw the reptiles before 7 a.m., Geshel told The Fort Myers News-Press that one of the alligators had his snout pinned on her door while the other was stationed at a distance with its snout wide open.
The video then shows Geshel calling her husband in surprise as one of the alligators clamped its jaws on the other’s body and pushed it to the wall as it moved away from the house.
“They made a mess on the front door,” Geshel, who has never seen alligators on her property in Fort Myers, said. After about 20 minutes by her house, one of the alligators walked across the street to a neighbor’s home while the other disappeared from the area and could have gone to a nearby pond, she added.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Spokeswoman Melody Kilborn said the fighting alligators were reacting to being in a confined space.
The reptiles, who Kilborn said are most visible when the weather is warm, also tend to mate during May and June, according to the wildlife agency.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--French virus tracing app goes live amid debate over privacy

PARIS ( AP ) - France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks as lockdown restrictions gradually ease , becoming the first major European country to deploy the smartphone technology amid simmering debate over privacy fears .
The French will able to download the StopCovid app on their Google Android devices and Apple iPhones starting Tuesday , the same day they ’ ll once again be allowed to go to restaurants and cafes , parks and beaches and museums and monuments .
Neighbors including the U.K. , Germany , Italy , and Switzerland are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re using different technical protocols , raising questions about compatibility across Europe ’ s borders .
Authorities hope the app can help manage virus flare-ups as they reopen the economy in France , which has been living under some of Europe ’ s tightest restrictions since it became one of countries hardest hit by the pandemic , with nearly 29,000 deaths .
Some Parisians were keen to adopt the technology to help bring life back to normal .
Cafe waiter Paul Hubert said he was ready to download the app because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To me it sounds like wearing a mask in a shop , ” said Hubert , 24 .
“ It ’ s easy and it can help protecting others.
” The various European apps use low-energy Bluetooth signals to anonymously log the nearby presence of other users .
Under the French system , data is uploaded to government-run centralized servers .
Users who test positive will be able to notify others who have been in close contact for at least 15 minutes so they can self-isolate and seek treatment .
France , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ software interface for tracing apps jointly developed by U.S. tech giants Google and Apple , instead choosing to build its own .
The Google-Apple system uses a “ decentralized ” system backed by privacy experts because it keeps data on phones , but British and French officials say it doesn ’ t give them enough information to manage outbreaks .
Civil liberties groups worry that tracing apps are a gateway to government surveillance but Cedric O , France ’ s junior minister for the digital economy , dismissed those concerns .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have to be confident and to trust your state but we ’ re in a democratic state , we have checks and balances , ” O told the AP .
The government says the app doesn ’ t track location and deletes user data after 14 days .
Some French lawmakers have raised doubts over the app ’ s effectiveness if few people install it amid privacy concerns and because of potential technical issues .
O said the app detects about 80 % of surrounding phones via Bluetooth .
Parisian Sami Mounir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the privacy concerns .
“ We don ’ t know what they could do with the data or whether it could be hacked , ” Mounir , 31 , said .
“ Plus , it ’ s health data , it ’ s too sensitive.
” Officials and experts say tracing apps aren ’ t a magic bullet against the virus but can aid time-consuming manual contact tracing efforts .
Professor Arnaud Fontanet , epidemiologist at the Paris Pasteur Institute and a member of the scientific committee advising French President Emmanuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tool , not a revolutionary one , but a useful tool.
” France and other countries have set up teams to interview people testing positive about their contacts .
But the tracers will likely miss strangers , so the app may prove useful especially “ in circumstances where you ’ re going to stand next to someone who is infected , without knowing , for quite a long period of time ” like in public transports and restaurants , Fontanet said .
Other countries around Europe have been scrambling to build their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The reliance on the tech giants for a more private system is an ironic turn of events after the European Union called them out repeatedly in recent years for not protecting data privacy sufficiently .
Italy ’ s Immuni app , based on the Google-Apple system , was available to download starting Monday , and will undergo testing initially in parts of the country less affected by coronavirus next week before being rolled out nationwide .
Authorities say at least 60 % of Italy ’ s 60 million population will need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Switzerland started a pilot test of its SwissCovid app last week , to last until mid-June , when the government is expected to introduce legislation covering the app .
Germany hired software company SAP and wireless carrier Deutsche Telekom to build its decentralized “ Corona-Warn-App .
” Developers say the app ’ s “ data will be stored locally on each device preventing access and control over data by authorities or anyone else.
” Britain launched a massive countrywide “ track and trace ” program on Friday , including 25,000 human contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is being tested , isn ’ t ready and it ’ s unclear when it will be launched .
The European apps are voluntary to encourage people to use them .
If the app is mandatory , “ people will definitely not use it , ” said , Ingmars Pukis , a vice president at Latvian wireless carrier LMT , which helped developed the country ’ s tracing app , released Friday and also based on the Google-Apple standard .
EPFL , the Swiss research institute that helped develop SwissCovid , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the same decentralized protocol , it should enable different systems to work with each other when users travel .
But that leaves out the British and French systems .
The French government ’ s technology choice means the French app is not compatible with foreign ones .
O suggested that cross-border commuters and travelers will have to work around the problem by downloading their destination country ’ s app .
Chan reported from London .
Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report .

PARIS (AP) - France is rolling out an official coronavirus contact-tracing app aimed at containing fresh outbreaks as lockdown restrictions gradually ease, becoming the first major European country to deploy the smartphone technology amid simmering debates over data privacy.
The StopCovid app launched Tuesday just as the French government started allowing people to once again go to restaurants and cafes, parks and beaches and museums and monuments. It was available on Apple’s App store and the Google Play store.
Neighbors including the U.K., Germany, Italy, and Switzerland are developing their own apps, though they’re using different technical protocols, raising questions about compatibility across Europe’s borders.
Authorities hope the app can help manage virus flare-ups as they reopen the economy in France, which has been living under some of Europe’s tightest restrictions since it became one of countries hardest hit by the pandemic, with nearly 29,000 deaths.
Some Parisians were keen to adopt the technology to help bring life back to normal.
Cafe waiter Paul Hubert said he was ready to download the app because he sees “more benefits than risks.”
“To me it sounds like wearing a mask in a shop,” said Hubert, 24. “It’s easy and it can help protecting others.”
The various European apps use low-energy Bluetooth signals to anonymously log the nearby presence of other users. Under the French system, data is uploaded to government-run centralized servers. Users who test positive will be able to notify others who have been in close contact for at least 15 minutes so they can self-isolate and seek treatment.
France, like Britain, rejected a new mobile software interface for tracing apps jointly developed by U.S. tech giants Google and Apple, instead choosing to build its own. The Google-Apple system uses a “decentralized” system backed by privacy experts because it keeps data on phones, but British and French officials say it doesn’t give them enough information to manage outbreaks.
Civil liberties groups worry that tracing apps are a gateway to more government surveillance but Cedric O, France’s junior minister for the digital economy, dismissed those concerns.
“The problem with a centralized protocol is that you have to be confident and to trust your state but we’re in a democratic state, we have checks and balances,” O told the AP.
The government says the app doesn’t track location and deletes user data after 14 days.
Some French lawmakers have raised doubts over the app’s effectiveness if few people install it and because of potential technical issues. O said the app detects about 80% of surrounding phones via Bluetooth.
Parisian Sami Mounir said he won’t download it because of the privacy concerns.
“We don’t know what they could do with the data or whether it could be hacked,” Mounir, 31, said. “Plus, it’s health data, it’s too sensitive.”
Officials and experts say tracing apps aren’t a magic bullet against the virus but can aid time-consuming manual contact tracing efforts.
Professor Arnaud Fontanet, epidemiologist at the Paris Pasteur Institute and a member of the scientific committee advising French President Emmanuel Macron, said the app is “a tool, not a revolutionary one, but a useful tool.”
France and other countries have set up teams to interview people testing positive about their contacts. But the tracers will likely miss strangers, so the app may prove useful especially “in circumstances where you’re going to stand next to someone who is infected, without knowing, for quite a long period of time,” like in public transports and restaurants, Fontanet said.
Other countries around Europe have been scrambling to build apps, often using the Google-Apple system. The reliance on the tech giants for a more private system is an ironic turn of events after the European Union called them out repeatedly in recent years for not protecting data privacy sufficiently.
In the U.S., only a few states were early to launch tracing apps, which have encountered technical problems on Apple and Android phones and haven’t been widely downloaded. Other states are building apps using the Google-Apple technology.
Italy’s Immuni app, based on the Google-Apple system, was available to download starting Monday, and will undergo testing next week before being rolled out nationwide. Authorities say at least 60% of Italy’s 60 million population need to use it for it to be effective.
Switzerland started a pilot test of its SwissCovid app last week, to last until mid-June, when the government is expected to introduce legislation covering the app.
Germany hired software company SAP and wireless carrier Deutsche Telekom to build its decentralized “Corona-Warn-App. ” Developers say the app’s “data will be stored locally on each device preventing access and control over data by authorities or anyone else.”
Britain launched a massive countrywide “track and trace” program on Friday, including 25,000 human contact tracers, but its tracing app, which is being tested, isn’t ready and it’s unclear when it will be launched.
The European apps are voluntary to encourage people to use them. If the app is mandatory, “people will definitely not use it,” said, Ingmars Pukis, a vice president at Latvian wireless carrier LMT, which helped develop the country’s tracing app, released Friday and also based on the Google-Apple standard.
EPFL, the Swiss research institute that helped develop SwissCovid, said that with other European countries building apps based on the same decentralized protocol, it should enable different systems to work with each other when users travel.
But that leaves out the British and French systems.
The French government’s technology choice means the French app is not compatible with foreign ones. O suggested that cross-border commuters and travelers will have to work around the problem by downloading their destination country’s app.
____
Chan reported from London. Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Protesters in Sydney call for change in race relations

SYDNEY ( AP ) - Chanting “ Black lives matter , ” “ I can ’ t breathe ” and “ George Floyd , ” thousands of protesters held an impassioned but peaceful march through central Sydney on Tuesday demanding fundamental change in race relations .
Many said they were inspired by the ongoing protests in the U.S. following the death of Floyd , a black man who was pinned to the pavement by a white police officer , but had turned out also to call for change in Australia ’ s treatment of its indigenous population , particularly by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australians but also some from the U.S. and elsewhere , marched for around half a mile under police escort .
“ I ’ m here for my people , and for our fallen brothers and sisters around the world , ” said Amanda Hill of Sydney , a 46-year-old indigenous woman who attended the rally with her daughter and two nieces .
“ What ’ s happening in America shines a light on the situation here , ” she said .
“ It doesn ’ t matter if it ’ s about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here or from another country - enough is enough.
” A total of 432 indigenous Australians have died in police detention since a 1991 Royal Commission , Australia ’ s highest level of official inquiry , into deaths of Aboriginals in custody , according to a running analysis by The Guardian newspaper .
Australia ’ s indigenous people have higher-than-average rates of infant mortality and poor health , as well as shorter life expectancy and lower levels of education and employment than white Australians .
“ Always was , always will be Aboriginal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ray O ’ Shannassy , one of the rally ’ s organizers , said he hopes the protest - and a far larger one planned for Sydney on Saturday - will lead to long-term change .
“ We plan to build this into a solid movement , where it ’ s not just a matter of every time someone passes away we go out and march , ” he said .
“ There ’ s other injustices occurring every day .
We want to build a long-term movement off of this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights and other issues.
” Sydney student Chelsea Caffrey , 18 , held a sign reading , “ We ’ re here because they aren ’ t. ” The sign included representations of Floyd - whose May 25 death in Minneapolis sparked the ongoing protests across the U.S. - and Australian David Dungay .
Dungay was an indigenous 26-year-old man who died in the hospital section of a Sydney jail in 2015 while being restrained by five guards .
Like Floyd , he had repeatedly called out “ I can ’ t breathe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are largely ignorant to the injustices that happen here , but just because it isn ’ t filmed and put on TV doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t happen , ” Caffrey said .
An American protester , a 25-year-old woman who gave her name only as Merinda , held a sign reading , “ Sydney stands with Black Lives Matter.
” “ I ’ m feeling the distance being so far away from home , but this is a great opportunity to use my voice and to show them that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .

SYDNEY (AP) - Chanting “Black lives matter,” “I can’t breathe” and “George Floyd,” thousands of protesters held an impassioned but peaceful march through central Sydney on Tuesday demanding fundamental change in race relations.
Many said they were inspired by the ongoing protests in the U.S. following the death of Floyd, a black man who was pinned to the pavement by a white police officer, but had turned out also to call for change in Australia’s treatment of its indigenous population, particularly by police.
Around 3,000 people, mainly Australians but also some from the U.S. and elsewhere, marched for around half a mile under police escort.
“I’m here for my people, and for our fallen brothers and sisters around the world,” said Amanda Hill of Sydney, a 46-year-old indigenous woman who attended the rally with her daughter and two nieces.
“What’s happening in America shines a light on the situation here,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s about the treatment of black men and women from here or from another country - enough is enough.”
A total of 432 indigenous Australians have died in police detention since a 1991 Royal Commission, Australia’s highest level of official inquiry, into deaths of Aboriginals in custody, according to a running analysis by The Guardian newspaper.
Australia’s indigenous people have higher-than-average rates of infant mortality and poor health, as well as shorter life expectancy and lower levels of education and employment than white Australians.
“Always was, always will be Aboriginal land,” protesters chanted on Tuesday.
Ray O’Shannassy, one of the rally’s organizers, said he hopes the protest - and a far larger one planned for Sydney on Saturday - will lead to long-term change.
“We plan to build this into a solid movement, where it’s not just a matter of every time someone passes away we go out and march,” he said. “There’s other injustices occurring every day. We want to build a long-term movement off of this, looking at deaths in custody, land rights and other issues.”
Sydney student Chelsea Caffrey, 18, held a sign reading, “We’re here because they aren’t.” The sign included representations of Floyd - whose May 25 death in Minneapolis sparked the ongoing protests across the U.S. - and Australian David Dungay.
Dungay was an indigenous 26-year-old man who died in the hospital section of a Sydney jail in 2015 while being restrained by five guards. Like Floyd, he had repeatedly called out “I can’t breathe” before he died.
“Australians are largely ignorant to the injustices that happen here, but just because it isn’t filmed and put on TV doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Caffrey said.
An American protester, a 25-year-old woman who gave her name only as Merinda, held a sign reading, “Sydney stands with Black Lives Matter.”
“I’m feeling the distance being so far away from home, but this is a great opportunity to use my voice and to show them that we’re with them,” she said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Mariann Edgar Budde: I had to disassociate us from Trump's 'symbolic' gesture at St. John's

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington on Tuesday said President Trump is welcome to pray at St. John ’ s Episcopal Church near the White House but that she couldn ’ t abide the “ symbolic ” gesture from Mr. Trump outside of the church on Monday evening .
She said the president cleared a path “ with tear gas ” and police clad in riot gear to make the walk over from the White House to the nearby church , which had been vandalized Sunday evening .
“ [ He ] stood in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Bible as if it were spiritual validation and justification for a message that is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and to the God of justice , ” she said on ABC ’ s “ Good Morning America.
” “ And so I felt in no uncertain terms that I had to disassociate us from that symbolic gesture and to speak a word of justice and peace to the nation.
” She said she didn ’ t get any notice that Mr. Trump was going to make the trek and that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it happened .
“ He ’ s welcome , as anyone is welcome , to pray , ” she said .
“ But he is not entitled to use the spiritual symbolism of our scared spaces and our sacred texts to promote or to justify [ an ] entirely different message.
” The bishop said she was deeply disappointed Mr. Trump didn ’ t take the opportunity to enter the church to pray .
“ He didn ’ t come to church to offer condolences to those who are grieving .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healing our nation , ” she said on NBC ’ s “ Today ” program .
“ The only time President Trump has been at St. John ’ s Church as president was on the morning of his inauguration.
” She also said on ABC that a small fire at the church on Sunday was quickly extinguished and didn ’ t do too much damage .
Mr. Trump made the dramatic walk over to the church on Monday after he had vowed to marshal federal resources , if necessary , to crack down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minnesota .
Shortly before he delivered the Rose Garden speech , gas and flash-bang devices had been deployed near protesters who had been congregating near the White House .
Mr. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to make a visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine near Catholic University in Washington on Tuesday .

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington on Tuesday said President Trump is welcome to pray at St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House but that she couldn’t abide the “symbolic” gesture from Mr. Trump outside of the church on Monday evening.
She said the president cleared a path “with tear gas” and police clad in riot gear to make the walk over from the White House to the nearby church, which had been vandalized Sunday evening.
“[He] stood in front of St. John’s and held up a Bible as if it were spiritual validation and justification for a message that is antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and to the God of justice,” she said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “And so I felt in no uncertain terms that I had to disassociate us from that symbolic gesture and to speak a word of justice and peace to the nation.”
She said she didn’t get any notice that Mr. Trump was going to make the trek and that she was watching the news with her mother when it happened.
“He’s welcome, as anyone is welcome, to pray,” she said. “But he is not entitled to use the spiritual symbolism of our sacred spaces and our sacred texts to promote or to justify [an] entirely different message.”
The bishop said she was deeply disappointed Mr. Trump didn’t take the opportunity to enter the church to pray.
“He didn’t come to church to offer condolences to those who are grieving. He didn’t come to commit to healing our nation,” she said on NBC’s “Today” program. “The only time President Trump has been at St. John’s Church as president was on the morning of his inauguration.”
Mr. Trump has, in fact, attended services at the church on at least one other occasion: St. Patrick’s Day 2019.
She also said on ABC that a small fire at the church on Sunday was quickly extinguished and didn’t do too much damage.
Mr. Trump made the dramatic walk over to the church on Monday after he had vowed to marshal federal resources, if necessary, to crack down on protests that have spread nationwide after the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Shortly before he delivered the Rose Garden speech, gas and flash-bang devices had been deployed near protesters who had been congregating near the White House.
Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump are scheduled to make a visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine near Catholic University in Washington on Tuesday.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Safety protocol set for funeral of slain police officer

GRAND FORKS , N.D. ( AP ) - Physical distancing is included in safety protocol for the funeral of slain Grand Forks police officer Cody Holte Tuesday on the University of North Dakota campus .
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Ralph Engelstad Arena with the service set to begin at 1 p.m .
Both the visitation and funeral service are open to the public .
Police say two seats will be left open between groups or individuals .
The use of face masks and hand sanitizer is strongly encouraged .
KFGO reports those attending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six feet of distance between others not in your group .
Bags , backpacks and weapons are prohibited .
Law enforcement will be provided separate instructions for duty weapons .
Holte was killed Wednesday in a shooting in Grand Forks while helping sheriff ’ s deputies who were serving eviction papers .
A woman also was killed .
Prosecutors have charged Salamah Pendleton , 41 , with two counts of murder in the deaths of Holte and Lola Moore .
Authorities said Pendleton used a semi-automatic rifle in the shooting and was shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot and wounded .

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - Law enforcement officers, state officials and residents turned out Tuesday to remember a fallen Grand Forks police officer.
Over 1,000 mourners said goodbye to Officer Cody Holte at Ralph Engelstad Arena on the University of North Dakota campus. Holte was 29 when he was killed in a shootout last week as he helped sheriff’s deputies who were serving eviction papers.
Gov. Doug Burgum was among those remembering Holte. Burgum talked about Holte’s service in the National Guard and how proud Holte and his wife, Amanda, were when they attended a UND hockey game with their son, Gunner, now 10 months old. It was the child’s first hockey game.
Grand Forks Police Chief Mark Nelson described Holte as someone who had it right, from family and friends to dedication and service, KVRR-TV reported.
Burgum ordered state agencies to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Tuesday in honor of Holte.
Holte was killed Wednesday in a shooting in Grand Forks. A woman also was killed.
Prosecutors have charged Salamah Pendleton, 41, with two counts of murder in the deaths of Holte and Lola Moore. Authorities said Pendleton used a semi-automatic rifle in the shooting and was shot several times. A deputy also was shot and wounded.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Indonesia cancels hajj pilgrimage due to coronavirus

JAKARTA , Indonesia ( AP ) - Indonesia ’ s government has decided not to participate in this year ’ s hajj pilgrimage because of the coronavirus outbreak , an official said Tuesday .
Indonesian Religious Affair Minister Fachrul Razi said Saudi Arabia has not announced it will open the July hajj pilgrimage to other countries , and it is too late to prepare if it does so now .
“ The government will not send the 2020 hajj pilgrimage , ” Razi said .
Indonesia , the world ’ s most populous Muslim nation , normally sends the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s holiest cities , Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia .
It was expected to send 221,000 pilgrims this year .
Razi said pilgrimages held during past disease outbreaks resulted in tragedies in which tens of thousands of people became victims .
“ In 1814 for example , when the Thaun outbreak occurred , also in 1837 and 1858 there was an epidemic outbreak , cholera outbreak in 1892 and during the meningitis outbreak in 1987 , ” he said .
As of Tuesday , the government has confirmed 27,549 COVID-19 cases , @ @ @ @

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesia’s government has decided not to participate in this year’s hajj pilgrimage because of the coronavirus outbreak, an official said Tuesday.
Indonesian Religious Affair Minister Fachrul Razi said Saudi Arabia has not announced it will open the July hajj pilgrimage to other countries, and it is too late to prepare if it does so now.
“The government will not send the 2020 hajj pilgrimage,” Razi said.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, normally sends the largest contingent to the pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest cities, Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. It was expected to send 221,000 pilgrims this year.
Razi said pilgrimages held during past disease outbreaks resulted in tragedies in which tens of thousands of people became victims.
“In 1814 for example, when the Thaun outbreak occurred, also in 1837 and 1858 there was an epidemic outbreak, cholera outbreak in 1892 and during the meningitis outbreak in 1987,” he said.
As of Tuesday, the government has confirmed 27,549 COVID-19 cases, including 1,663 deaths.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Gun shop owner shoots, kills man during attempted burglary

PHILADELPHIA ( AP ) - A Philadelphia gun shop owner shot and killed a man who the owner said was among a group that had broken into the store early Tuesday , authorities said .
The shooting at the Firing Line Gun Range and Gun Store occurred around 4:20 a.m .
The shop owner told police he was staking out his store following an earlier burglary attempt and was monitoring a store security screen when he saw three or four men using wire cutters to break through the gate and enter the store .
The owner said he pointed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the store and fired , striking him in the head .
The other men with him then ran from the scene , and it wasn ’ t clear if any of them had been shot or injured .
The man who was shot was found on the second floor and was pronounced dead there a short time later .
The gun shop owner was not injured .
No charges have been filed so far , but authorities say the shooting remains under investigation .
The names of the gun shop owner and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A south Philadelphia gun shop owner shot and killed a man after he and three other men smashed glass to break their way into the store and confronted the owner early Tuesday, authorities said.
The owner told police he was staking out his store following an earlier burglary attempt and was monitoring a store security screen at Firing Line Gun Range and Gun Store when he saw a group of men using wire cutters to break through the gate and enter the store shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Police said the four men rushed up the stairs and confronted the 67-year-old owner, who fired an M-4 rifle, killing one man in his 20s who was armed with a handgun. The other three men fled. The gun shop owner was not injured. No charges have been filed so far, but authorities say the shooting remains under investigation.
The city’s mayor and police commissioner said later Tuesday they supported the rights of individuals to protect themselves and their property. But Mayor Jim Kenney said he was “deeply troubled at the ease with which another life has been taken amidst this chaos.”
Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said officials don’t endorse “vigilante justice or taking the law into one’s own hands” and encouraged people to protect themselves through “safe, nonviolent” methods if possible. But, she said, “there are very clear laws that allow us to protect ourselves and our property from harm.”


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Pennsylvania primary begins despite unrest, pandemic

HARRISBURG , Pa. ( AP ) - Pennsylvania will undertake a primary election Tuesday amid civil unrest , a pandemic , the introduction of new voting machines in some counties and the debut of mail-in balloting that has pushed county election bureaus to their limits .
The result of the highest-profile contest on the ballot is a foregone conclusion , with President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden their presumptive party nominees .
There is only one competitive primary in the only three statewide races , for attorney general , auditor general and treasurer .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to run for auditor general .
All 18 of the state ’ s members of the U.S. House of Representatives are seeking reelection , although only two have primary opposition .
In the Legislature , all 203 House seats and half the 50-member Senate are up this year .
Primary voters will also pick delegates and alternates for the two major parties ’ presidential nominating conventions .
There will be hundreds of fewer polling places to cope with difficulties recruiting election volunteers fearful of contracting the coronavirus , while social distancing rules will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With protests over George Floyd ’ s death raging in Pennsylvania ’ s cities , Gov .
Tom Wolf on Monday ordered Philadelphia and five other counties to keep counting mailed-in ballots that arrive up to seven days after polls close at 8 p.m. , as long as they are post-marked by then .
Officials in several counties had already sought a delayed deadline , but Wolf ’ s order faced a court challenge by Republican Party officials , who said it violates constitutional protections that ensure equal voting laws .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in or absentee ballot , smashing expectations by state officials and bringing warnings that contest results will be delayed well past election night .
Officials in some counties have worried that voters wouldn ’ t receive their ballot in time for the U.S .
Postal Service to return it to county election offices by the election day deadline .
Wolf ’ s order is limited to Philadelphia and Allegheny , Dauphin , Delaware , Erie and Montgomery counties , where his emergency declaration over the protests was active as of Monday .
Voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mail can vote provisionally at their polling location .
In addition , some counties were providing ballot drop-off locations .
Twenty-two counties were already dealing with the difficulty of rolling out new voting machines ordered by Wolf as a bulwark against election meddling .
The election was postponed from April 28 to avoid the height of Pennsylvania ’ s spike in coronavirus cases , and candidates and political parties have urged voters to cast ballots by mail .

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania held a primary election Tuesday amid civil unrest, a pandemic, the introduction of new voting machines in some counties and the debut of mail-in balloting that pushed county election bureaus to their limits.
The result of the highest-profile contest on the ballot was a foregone conclusion: President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, uncontested for their party’s nominations, both won their primary Tuesday in Pennsylvania.
The lack of drama in the outcome of the presidential primary and the huge number of voters who opted to vote by mail meant turnout was light.
Still, voters in some places were dealing with late-arriving mail-in ballots and a dramatic consolidation of polling places in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Montgomery County to cope with the difficulty of recruiting poll workers fearful of the coronavirus.
Ultimately, more than 1.8 million voters applied for a mail-in or absentee ballot, smashing expectations by state officials for the debut of the state’s new vote-by-mail law and drawing warnings that many contest results will be delayed well past election night.
Officials in Philadelphia and its suburbs, in particular, had been concerned that voters wouldn’t receive their ballots in time for the post office to return them by Tuesday’s 8 p.m. deadline.
Two heavily populated suburban Philadelphia counties on Tuesday won court decisions extending the counting of mail-in ballots, a day after Gov. Tom Wolf issued a similar order for Philadelphia and five counties with protests over George Floyd’s death raging.
In Bucks County, home to 461,000 registered voters, a judge ruled that the county can count any ballots that arrive by June 9, as long as they are postmarked by June 1. In Delaware County, home to 405,000 voters, a judge gave the county an extra 10 days to count the ballots of about 400 voters whose ballots had not even been mailed to them before Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, lines were long at consolidated polling locations, made temporarily worse in some places by broken voting machines and delivery mix-ups of voting machines at other polling places, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Despite the challenges, the Department of State said Tuesday night that the election had gone smoothly.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m., with social distancing rules in place at the still-open locations.
There was only one competitive primary among the statewide races: a six-way race in the Democratic primary for auditor general. Candidates in the other two other statewide races on the ballot, attorney general and treasurer, were uncontested.
All 18 of the state’s members of the U.S. House of Representatives are seeking reelection, although only two have primary opposition. One of them, Pittsburgh’s Mike Doyle, a Democrat and the dean of the state’s delegation, won his primary as he seeks a 14th term. In the Legislature, all 203 House seats and half the 50-member Senate are up this year.
Primary voters will also pick delegates and alternates for the two major parties’ presidential nominating conventions.
Lawmakers voted to postpone the primary election from April 28 to avoid the height of Pennsylvania’s spike in coronavirus cases, and candidates and political parties have urged voters to cast ballots by mail.
Wolf’s order to extend the deadline for counting mail-in ballots is limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie and Montgomery counties, where his emergency declaration over the protests was active as of Monday.
Republican Party officials criticized Wolf’s order as usurping lawmakers’ authority and violating constitutional protections that ensure equal voting laws, but had not challenged it in court as of Tuesday evening. In 2012, then-Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, used the authority, allowing counties that had to close their election offices in the days before the election because of Superstorm Sandy to extend the deadline to accept absentee ballots.
Voters who do not receive their ballot in the mail can vote provisionally at their polling location. In addition, some counties were providing ballot drop-off locations.
Meanwhile Tuesday, 22 counties were road-testing new paper-based voting machines, ordered by Wolf in 2018 as a bulwark against election meddling after the federal authorities said Russian hackers had targeted election systems in Pennsylvania and other states in the 2016 election.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Cartoonists to thank frontline workers playfully this Sunday

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The funny papers this Sunday will have more than laughs .
More than 70 comic strips and panels - ranging from Garry Trudeau ’ s “ Doonesbury ” to Jim Toomey ’ s “ Sherman ’ s Lagoon ” and Jeff Keane ’ s “ Family Circus ” - will each have six symbols hidden in the artwork to honor workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic .
Look closely and you ’ ll find a mask for medical workers and caregivers , a steering wheel for delivery workers , a shopping cart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers , a fork for food service workers and a microscope for medical researchers .
In “ Sherman ’ s Lagoon , ” the six items are hidden in the ocean ’ s reef .
In “ Blondie , ” they appear on the computer screen of over-worked Dagwood Bumstead .
In “ Zits , ” they hide in Jeremy Duncan ’ s messy bedroom .
The initiative was thought up by “ Baby Blues ” co-cartoonist Rick Kirkman , who wanted to show his gratitude for the helpers .
He consulted his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it just kept growing .
“ Every time somebody finds or discovers one of those little symbols in the artwork , to me , I hope that evokes a little bit of gratitude that goes out into the universe , ” he said .
This Sunday would have marked the last day of the National Cartoonists Society ’ s annual convention , which was canceled .
“ I just felt like that was a great day to do it because we ’ re missing that big communal feeling , but at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Kirkman said .
The cartoonists involved represent an astonishing array of syndicated and non-syndicated strips , including “ Mallard Fillmore , ” “ Mutts , ” “ Pearls Before Swine , ” “ Tank McNamara , ” “ Baldo , ” “ Big Nate , ” “ Rose Is Rose , ” “ Zits ” and “ Stone Soup.
” All the participating comics , including additional art by webcomic creators and others , will be featured at ComicsKingdom.com and GoComics.com .
All the cartoonists offer links to local or national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jason Chatfield , who draws the “ Ginger Meggs ” strip and is president of the National Cartoonist Society , said that while cartoonists have banded together for causes before , nothing of this scale has been attempted .
“ There ’ s nothing quite like sitting down and seeing all the comics together on one page and on a really special day where we ’ ve all coordinated to do something very special for a really good cause , ” he said .
Because some strips are written and submitted weeks ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go back into already approved works to add the symbols or swap in a new strip .
Kirkman credits the comic strip syndicates for rallying behind the effort and being flexible .
Kirkman left it up to the artists how to incorporate the six symbols : “ I said , ’ You can hide these things and just be really devious about it .
You can leave them in the open .
You can use them as props .
You can even build your gag around them .
I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in there.
” For some strips , the task was pretty easy .
For others , it required a bit more work .
How exactly was “ Prince Valiant ” - set in the fifth century - supposed to add a microscope , which wasn ’ t invented until the late 16th century ?
One cartoonist , Wiley Miller , had to really scramble since his “ Non Sequitur ” panel set for Sunday takes place in the Pleistocene era .
“ I told him , ‘ Well , you know , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kirkman said .
“ And the next day he came back and he said , ‘ I did it !
’ ” Chatfield said some of his fellow artists came up with stylized versions of the items , like half-eaten apples or an apple pie .
“ Something that cartoonists love is a creative challenge , ” he said .
While many cartoonists hope to keep their work escapist and so have avoided dealing directly with the coronavirus , Kirkman and Chatfield have gradually incorporated elements of the pandemic into their daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” co-creator Jerry Scott had some characters wear face masks when coming from outside , and Chatfield ’ s sports-loving hero is now being schooled at home .
The cartoonists are looking forward to Sunday , when a community they say can be a little introverted and isolated offers its communal artistic gratitude - and a scavenger hunt for readers .
“ I ’ m going to be as pleasantly surprised , I think , as everybody else to see all of this , ” said Kirkman .
“ And I hope this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserve all of this gratitude .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - The funny papers this Sunday will have more than laughs.
More than 70 comic strips and panels - ranging from Garry Trudeau’s “Doonesbury” to Jim Toomey’s “Sherman’s Lagoon” and Jeff Keane’s “Family Circus” - will each have six symbols hidden in the artwork to honor workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.
Look closely and you’ll find a mask for medical workers and caregivers, a steering wheel for delivery workers, a shopping cart for grocery workers, an apple for teachers, a fork for food service workers and a microscope for medical researchers.
In “Sherman’s Lagoon,” the six items are hidden in the ocean’s reef. In “Blondie,” they appear on the computer screen of over-worked Dagwood Bumstead. In “Zits,” they hide in Jeremy Duncan’s messy bedroom.
The initiative was thought up by “Baby Blues” co-cartoonist Rick Kirkman, who wanted to show his gratitude for the helpers. He consulted his colleagues, who helped shape the idea, and it just kept growing.
“Every time somebody finds or discovers one of those little symbols in the artwork, to me, I hope that evokes a little bit of gratitude that goes out into the universe,” he said.
This Sunday would have marked the last day of the National Cartoonists Society’s annual convention, which was canceled. “I just felt like that was a great day to do it because we’re missing that big communal feeling, but at least we get to do something together,” Kirkman said.
The cartoonists involved represent an astonishing array of syndicated and non-syndicated strips, including “Mallard Fillmore,” “Mutts,” “Pearls Before Swine,” “Tank McNamara,” “Baldo,” “Big Nate,” “Rose Is Rose,” “Zits” and “Stone Soup.”
All the participating comics, including additional art by webcomic creators and others, will be featured at ComicsKingdom.com and GoComics.com. All the cartoonists offer links to local or national charities in their social media feeds.
Jason Chatfield, who draws the “Ginger Meggs” strip and is president of the National Cartoonist Society, said that while cartoonists have banded together for causes before, nothing of this scale has been attempted.
“There’s nothing quite like sitting down and seeing all the comics together on one page and on a really special day where we’ve all coordinated to do something very special for a really good cause,” he said.
Because some strips are written and submitted weeks ahead of publication, many participating artists had to go back into already approved works to add the symbols or swap in a new strip. Kirkman credits the comic strip syndicates for rallying behind the effort and being flexible.
Kirkman left it up to the artists how to incorporate the six symbols: “I said, ’You can hide these things and just be really devious about it. You can leave them in the open. You can use them as props. You can even build your gag around them. I don’t care as long as they’re in there.”
For some strips, the task was pretty easy. For others, it required a bit more work. How exactly was “Prince Valiant” - set in the fifth century - supposed to add a microscope, which wasn’t invented until the late 16th century?
One cartoonist, Wiley Miller, had to really scramble since his “Non Sequitur” panel set for Sunday takes place in the Pleistocene era. “I told him, ‘Well, you know, you just hide stuff in there,’” Kirkman said. “And the next day he came back and he said, ‘I did it!’”
Chatfield said some of his fellow artists came up with stylized versions of the items, like half-eaten apples or an apple pie. “Something that cartoonists love is a creative challenge,” he said.
While many cartoonists hope to keep their work escapist and so have avoided dealing directly with the coronavirus, Kirkman and Chatfield have gradually incorporated elements of the pandemic into their daily strips.
Kirkman and “Baby Blues” co-creator Jerry Scott had some characters wear face masks when coming from outside, and Chatfield’s sports-loving hero is now being schooled at home.
The cartoonists are looking forward to Sunday, when a community they say can be a little introverted and isolated offers its communal artistic gratitude - and a scavenger hunt for readers.
“I’m going to be as pleasantly surprised, I think, as everybody else to see all of this,” said Kirkman. “And I hope this news makes it to the people who deserve all of this gratitude.”
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--UN report: Afghan Taliban still maintain ties with al-Qaida

ISLAMABAD ( AP ) - The Taliban in Afghanistan still maintain close ties with the al-Qaida terror network , despite signing a peace deal with the United States in which they committed to fight militant groups , a U.N. report released on Tuesday said .
The U.S.-Taliban peace accord signed in Qatar in February was meant to allow for American troops to gradually leave Afghanistan after 19 years of war and pave way for intra-Afghan negotiations that would shape the country ’ s political future .
Under the accord , the Taliban pledged to combat other terror groups - including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prevent militants from using Afghan territory to stage attacks on America .
But the details of the Taliban counter-terrorism commitment were never publicized .
Zalmay Khalilzad , Washington ’ s peace envoy and the architect of the deal , says the secrecy is necessary to protect intelligence operations involved in enforcing it .
Khalilzad told reporters in Washington on Monday that the Taliban pledge was specific “ in terms of their presence , in terms of training , in terms of recruiting , in terms of fundraising in the territory that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress has been made and our future steps in terms of force reduction and related commitments ” now depend on the Taliban delivering on their promise .
The U.N. committee behind the report said several significant al-Qaida figures were killed over the past months but a number of prominent leaders of the group , once led by Osama bin Laden , remain in Afghanistan .
The report said they maintain links with the feared Haqqani network , an ally of the Taliban , and still play a significant role in Taliban operations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shared history continue to bind the two militant groups .
Several top al-Qaida leaders , such as Ayman al-Zawahri who succeeded bin Laden as the terror network ’ s leader , trace their involvement in Afghanistan to the 1980s war against the invading Soviet Union , when the Afghan mujahedeen , or holy warriors , were also financed by the U.S. to oust Moscow ’ s troops .
There was no immediate comment from the Taliban on he U.N. report .
But critics of the U.S.-Taliban deal have expressed concern at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insurgents ’ compliance difficult .
“ One of the many problems with a very flawed deal is that the demands of the Taliban on counter-terrorism are worded very vaguely , ” said Michael Kugelman , deputy director of the Asia program at the Washington-based Wilson Center .
He said the deal doesn ’ t even mention al-Qaida by name .
“ At the very least , Washington should be demanding that the Taliban cease all communication with senior al-Qaida figures , ” Kugelman said .
The U.N. report , however , did note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State group ’ s affiliate in Afghanistan .
The IS has become increasingly aggressive , carrying out horrific attacks in the capital , Kabul .
The group is also believed to have been behind a brutal assault on a maternity hospital last month that killed 24 , mainly young mothers and also two newborn babies .
In his Monday telephone interview with reporters , Khalilzad also said the Taliban have been an important part in the battle by U.S. and Afghan forces against IS .
“ Daesh is working against peace … and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most dastardly attacks recently , ” he said , using the Arabic name for IS .
Still , Kugelman warned against underplaying the Taliban ties to al-Qaida .
“ If the U.S. simply shrugs off the Taliban ’ s continued ties to the very terror group that U.S. forces entered Afghanistan to eliminate nearly 19 years ago , then you ’ d have some really bad optics to say the least , ” he said .

ISLAMABAD (AP) - The Taliban in Afghanistan still maintain close ties with the al-Qaida terror network, despite signing a peace deal with the United States in which they committed to fight militant groups, a U.N. report released on Tuesday said.
The insurgents promptly slammed the report as “baseless and bigoted.”
The U.S.-Taliban accord, signed in Qatar’s capital of Doha at the end of February, was meant to allow for American troops to gradually leave Afghanistan after 19 years of war and pave way for intra-Afghan negotiations that would shape the country’s political future.
Under the accord, the Taliban pledged to combat other terror groups - including al-Qaida, which they once harbored - and prevent militants from using Afghan territory to stage attacks on America.
But the details of the Taliban counter-terrorism commitment were never publicized. Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington’s peace envoy and the architect of the deal, says the secrecy is necessary to protect intelligence operations involved in enforcing it.
Khalilzad told reporters in Washington on Monday that the Taliban pledge was specific “in terms of their presence, in terms of training, in terms of recruiting, in terms of fundraising in the territory that they currently control.”
He insisted that “progress has been made and our future steps in terms of force reduction and related commitments” now depend on the Taliban delivering on their promise.
The U.N. committee behind the report said several significant al-Qaida figures were killed over the past months but a number of prominent leaders of the group, once led by Osama bin Laden, remain in Afghanistan. The report said they maintain links with the feared Haqqani network, an ally of the Taliban, and still play a significant role in Taliban operations.
Jihad, or holy war, and a shared history continue to bind the two militant groups. Several top al-Qaida leaders, such as Ayman al-Zawahri who succeeded bin Laden as the terror network’s leader, trace their involvement in Afghanistan to the 1980s war against the invading Soviet Union, when the Afghan mujahedeen, or holy warriors, were also financed by the U.S. to oust Moscow’s troops.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued an English-language statement condemning the U.N. report. The Taliban, he said, “in accordance with the Doha agreement, will not allow anyone to use the soil of Afghanistan against anyone else or maintain training camps or use our soil to fund raise against others.”
Critics of the U.S.-Taliban deal have expressed concern at its vagueness, warning it makes monitoring the insurgents’ compliance difficult.
“One of the many problems with a very flawed deal is that the demands of the Taliban on counter-terrorism are worded very vaguely,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia program at the Washington-based Wilson Center. He said the deal doesn’t even mention al-Qaida by name.
“At the very least, Washington should be demanding that the Taliban cease all communication with senior al-Qaida figures,” Kugelman said.
The U.N. report, however, did note the Taliban contribution in fighting the Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan. The IS has become increasingly aggressive, carrying out horrific attacks in the capital, Kabul. The group is also believed to have been behind a brutal assault on a maternity hospital last month that killed 24, mainly young mothers and also two newborn babies.
In his Monday telephone interview with reporters, Khalilzad also said the Taliban have been an important part in the battle by U.S. and Afghan forces against IS.
“Daesh is working against peace … and they have been responsible … for some of the most dastardly attacks recently,” he said, using the Arabic name for IS.
Still, Kugelman warned against underplaying the Taliban ties to al-Qaida.
“If the U.S. simply shrugs off the Taliban’s continued ties to the very terror group that U.S. forces entered Afghanistan to eliminate nearly 19 years ago, then you’d have some really bad optics to say the least,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Virginia officers, suspect wounded in early morning shooting

RICHMOND , Va. ( AP ) - Two police officers and a suspect were shot and wounded during an early @ @ @ @ @ s capital city , according to authorities .
Richmond police officers responded to a report @ @ @ @ @ the city ’ s south side just before 1:30 a.m. , news outlets reported , @ @ @ @ @ The news outlets didn ’ t say whether or not the person was involved in @ @ @ @ @ protests .
Gunfire erupted when the officers arrived , news outlets said .
The wounded @ @ @ @ @ taken to a hospital , according to authorities .
Their conditions were not immediately given @ @ @ @ @ detained two other people .
The department ’ s Force Investigation Team will review the @ @ @ @ @ to the police chief and commonwealth ’ s attorney ’ s office , the statement @ @

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Two police officers and a suspect were shot and wounded during an early morning encounter in Virginia’s capital city, according to authorities.
Richmond police officers responded to a report of an armed person on the city’s south side just before 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, police said in a statement.
Officers encountered three males, and one produced a firearm and “exchanged gunfire” with one of the officers, police said.
The wounded officers and suspect were all taken to a hospital. One of the officers had life-threatening injuries and the other suffered a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening, police said.
The suspect, who police identified Tuesday evening as Waseem A. Hackett, 19, was charged with malicious wounding of a law enforcement officer and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Hackett, whose injuries were not life-threatening, also was served with outstanding warrants from a nearby jurisdiction, and additional charges are pending, police said.
It was not immediately clear if Hackett had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
Police said one of the three men police encountered had attended protests earlier in the evening over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for minutes, even after he stopped moving. They did not say whether the person who attended was Hackett.
The department’s Force Investigation Team will review the shooting and report its findings to the police chief and commonwealth’s attorney’s office, the statement said.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--More than a quarter of U.S. adults say it's unlikely they'd get the coronavirus vaccine: Poll

More than a quarter of U.S. adults said they would be unlikely to get a coronavirus vaccine that was free of charge and protected them from infection , according to polling released on Tuesday .
Overall , 27 % of adults said they “ definitely ” or “ probably ” would not get the vaccine , according to the ABC News/Washington Post poll .
Forty-three percent said they would definitely get a vaccine and 28 % said they would probably get one .
Among those who said they were unlikely to get a vaccine , 50 % said they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 % said they don ’ t think it ’ s necessary .
Eighty-one percent of Democrats , 71 % of independents and 58 % of Republicans said they would definitely or probably get a vaccine that protected them from the virus and that was available for free .
The results are similar to other recent surveys gauging public interest in the U.S. on a vaccine .
There are more than 1.8 million positive cases in the U.S. and more than 105,000 coronavirus-related deaths , according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was conducted from May 25-28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 points .

More than a quarter of U.S. adults said they would be unlikely to get a coronavirus vaccine that was free of charge and protected them from infection, according to polling released on Tuesday.
Overall, 27% of adults said they “definitely” or “probably” would not get the vaccine, according to the ABC News/Washington Post poll.
Forty-three percent said they would definitely get a vaccine and 28% said they would probably get one.
Among those who said they were unlikely to get a vaccine, 50% said they don’t trust vaccines in general and 23% said they don’t think it’s necessary.
Eighty-one percent of Democrats, 71% of independents and 58% of Republicans said they would definitely or probably get a vaccine that protected them from the virus and that was available for free.
The results are similar to other recent surveys gauging public interest in the U.S. on a vaccine.
There are more than 1.8 million positive cases in the U.S. and more than 105,000 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a tracker from Johns Hopkins University.
The survey of 1,001 U.S. adults was conducted from May 25-28 and has a margin of error of 3.5 points.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Twitter says post from Rep. Matt Gaetz on Antifa violates rules on glorifying violence

Twitter has flagged a post from Rep. Matt Gaetz about Antifa , saying the Florida Republican ’ s tweet violates @ @ @ @ @ about glorifying violence .
“ Now that we clearly see Antifa as terrorists , can @ @ @ @ @ we do those in the Middle East ?
” the congressman tweeted on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ street group President Trump has pointed to as a lead instigator in the protests following @ @ @ @ @ George Floyd .
The action from Twitter comes after it similarly flagged one of Mr. @ @ @ @ @ week .
Mr. Gaetz , a top Capitol Hill ally of Mr. Trump , responded @ @ @ @ @ a “ badge of honor.
” “ Antifa is a terrorist organization , encouraging riots @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Our government should hunt them down .
Twitter should stop enabling them @ @ @ @ @ saying it .
”

Twitter has flagged a post from Rep. Matt Gaetz about Antifa, saying the Florida Republican’s tweet violates the platform’s rules about glorifying violence.
“Now that we clearly see Antifa as terrorists, can we hunt them down like we do those in the Middle East?” the congressman tweeted on Monday.
Anita is the left-wing radical street group President Trump has pointed to as a lead instigator in the protests following the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd.
The action from Twitter comes after it similarly flagged one of Mr. Trump’s tweets last week.
Mr. Gaetz, a top Capitol Hill ally of Mr. Trump, responded by saying the warning is a “badge of honor.”
“Antifa is a terrorist organization, encouraging riots that hurt Americans,” he said. “Our government should hunt them down. Twitter should stop enabling them. I’ll keep saying it.”
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-06-02--Report: Half-billion gallons of raw sewage leaked into river

JACKSON , Miss .
( AP ) - Nearly half a billion gallons of raw sewage leaked into the Pearl River in the first three months of 2020 , according to a quarterly report released by the city of Jackson , Mississippi .
Now , an organization focused on clean water is urging city and state leaders to issue a new advisory on the contents of the water , news outlets reported .
Overflows of Jackson ’ s West Bank Interceptor generally can occur when water flow exceeds the pumping capacity of the Savanna Wastewater Treatment Plant , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high river levels , equipment failure , or a combination of the three can cause insufficient pumping capacity .
There was near-record rainfall in the first quarter of the year , the Clarion Ledger reported citing National Weather Service records .
January had the second-highest rainfall in 100 years with nearly 14 inches ( 36 centimeters ) falling at the Jackson airport .
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water content advisory last year , which is still online .
But , Pearl Riverkeeper executive director Abby Braman says the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MDEQ to reissue the water content advisory in some way and notify the public again .
MDEQ declined to do so , ” Braman told WLBT-TV .
The city said it works to inform the public of the dangers of the water during flood events .
“ We always tell folks in all of our press releases stay out of the flood water , ” Jackson Department of Public Works director Bob Miller told WJTV-TV .
“ There ’ s all sorts of things in that flood water that you don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Nearly half a billion gallons of raw sewage leaked into the Pearl River in the first three months of 2020, according to a quarterly report released by the city of Jackson, Mississippi.
Now, an organization focused on clean water is urging city and state leaders to issue a new advisory on the contents of the water, news outlets reported.
Overflows of Jackson’s West Bank Interceptor generally can occur when water flow exceeds the pumping capacity of the Savanna Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to the quarterly report. Excessive rain, high river levels, equipment failure, or a combination of the three can cause insufficient pumping capacity.
There was near-record rainfall in the first quarter of the year, the Clarion Ledger reported citing National Weather Service records. January had the second-highest rainfall in 100 years with nearly 14 inches (36 centimeters) falling at the Jackson airport.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water content advisory last year, which is still online. But, Pearl Riverkeeper executive director Abby Braman says the public should be reminded.
“We asked MDEQ to reissue the water content advisory in some way and notify the public again. MDEQ declined to do so,” Braman told WLBT-TV.
The city said it works to inform the public of the dangers of the water during flood events.
“We always tell folks in all of our press releases stay out of the flood water,” Jackson Department of Public Works director Bob Miller told WJTV-TV. “There’s all sorts of things in that flood water that you don’t want to be exposed to.”