washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Former Texas Tech women's coach disputes firing in lawsuit

Former Texas Tech women ’ s basketball coach Marlene Stollings , who was fired after USA Today published a report detailing players ’ claims of physical and emotional abuse , filed a lawsuit against the school and athletic director Kirby Hocutt on Tuesday .
The lawsuit claims breach of contract , fraud , fraudulent inducement , defamation and sex discrimination .
Stollings was fired on Aug. 6 , a day after the scathing report was published .
“ This termination could not properly have been for cause , ” the lawsuit said .
“ Texas Tech ’ s own internal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coach Stollings had not taken any actions which were in violation of her employment contract.
” The lawsuit says the school ’ s decision to fire Stollings was based on discriminatory biases against female coaches .
“ Texas Tech and Mr. Hocutt regularly , and in this instance in particular , penalized female coaches for employing the same demanding and effective coaching techniques that male coaches utilize and utilized without consequence , ” the lawsuit said .
The school declined to comment on the lawsuit .
“ I ’ ve spent the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supporting , and helping student-athletes reach their greatest potential .
That ’ s exactly what I did at Texas Tech , and in return the university and Kirby Hocutt have treated me shamefully and dishonorably , ” Stollings said .
“ The outpouring of support has been overwhelming from current members of the Texas Tech women ’ s basketball team , former student-athletes and parents , along with my coaching colleagues.
” Players made claims of abuse over the past two years in season-ending exit interviews that were obtained through an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative media outlet for college sports .
The details were published by USA Today .
That report indicated that players dreaded a heart monitoring system they said was misused in punitive ways , had to endure demeaning and threatening comments and were subject to sexually suggestive behavior from a strength coach who has since resigned .
Hocutt met with players after the report was published and said he realized “ how deep the trust had been broken.
” He then informed Stollings of her termination .
“ At the center of of everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trust and of genuine relationships that existed , or did not exist , ” he said .
“ This wasn ’ t a basketball-related matter , and the team made certain of that .
From an X ’ s and O ’ s standpoint and competitive standpoint on the court , we ’ re very proud of what they ’ ve achieved.
” Stollings previously turned around the programs at Minnesota and VCU and did the same with the Red Raiders , a once-proud program that had fallen on hard times .
Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season after going 7-23 the year before she arrived .
AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report .

Former Texas Tech women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings, who was fired after USA Today published a report detailing players’ claims of physical and emotional abuse, has filed a lawsuit against the school and athletic director Kirby Hocutt.
The lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Lubbock, Texas, claims breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, defamation and sex discrimination. Stollings was fired on Aug. 6, a day after the scathing report was published.
“This termination could not properly have been for cause,” the lawsuit said. “Texas Tech’s own internal reviews had found - accurately - that Coach Stollings had not taken any actions which were in violation of her employment contract.”
Eric Bentley, general counsel for the Texas Tech University System, said Wednesday that the claims by Stollings in her lawsuit were without merit.
“Her dismissal was handled in accordance with her contract and was appropriate from a legal standpoint. Her mistreatment of student-athletes and the public embarrassment it caused the university was unacceptable,” Bentley said. “I am confident in the defense of our leadership, who did the right thing to prioritize the health, safety and well-being of our student-athletes.”
The lawsuit claims the school’s decision to fire Stollings was based on discriminatory biases against female coaches. It said Texas Tech and Hocutt “regularly, and in this instance in particular,” penalized female coaches for employing the “same demanding and effective coaching techniques” that male coaches used without consequence.
“I’ve spent the past 20 years dedicated to developing, advancing, supporting, and helping student-athletes reach their greatest potential. That’s exactly what I did at Texas Tech, and in return the university and Kirby Hocutt have treated me shamefully and dishonorably,” Stollings said. “The outpouring of support has been overwhelming from current members of the Texas Tech women’s basketball team, former student-athletes and parents, along with my coaching colleagues.”
Players made claims of abuse over the past two years in season-ending exit interviews that were obtained through an open records request by The Intercollegiate, an investigative media outlet for college sports. The details were published by USA Today.
That report indicated that players dreaded a heart monitoring system they said was misused in punitive ways, had to endure demeaning and threatening comments and were subject to sexually suggestive behavior from a strength coach who has since resigned.
Hocutt met with players after the report was published and said he realized “how deep the trust had been broken.” He then informed Stollings of her termination.
“At the center of of everything, it was just the lack of trust and of genuine relationships that existed, or did not exist,” he said. “This wasn’t a basketball-related matter, and the team made certain of that. From an X’s and O’s standpoint and competitive standpoint on the court, we’re very proud of what they’ve achieved.”
Stollings previously turned around the programs at Minnesota and VCU and did the same with the Red Raiders, a once-proud program that had fallen on hard times. Texas Tech finished 18-11 in Stollings’ second season after going 7-23 the year before she arrived.
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AP Sports Writers Schuyler Dixon and Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.
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More AP women’s basketball: https://apnews.com/Womenscollegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--2 Wisconsin women accused of drugging, robbing 10 men

CHICAGO ( AP ) - Two Wisconsin women are accused in Chicago of drugging 10 men and robbing them of about $ 85,000 after they fell unconscious , Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday .
Tiana Trammel , 25 , and Tjwana Rainer , 32 , both of Milwaukee , allegedly ran the scheme from January until last Sunday .
They are charged with operating a continuing financial criminal enterprise and possession of a controlled substance .
The women allegedly lured drunken men from bars and nightclubs in Chicago ’ s River North district with invitations to their place .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that knocked them out .
They awoke either in their own homes or by the side of the road , unharmed but without wallets and valuables .
The women allegedly used stolen credit and debit cards at ATMs at Walmart and Target stores in the Milwaukee area .
The women were arrested early Sunday after carrying a man from a club to Trammell ’ s car , Assistant State ’ s Attorney Paul Kiefer told Judge Charles Beach II .
Authorities were aware of the women ’ s activities and a tracker had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kiefer said , adding surveillance video and license plate readers captured Trammell ’ s movements , which align with what happened to several victims .
Attorneys for the women told Beach neither have significant criminal histories and both are mothers of young children .
Beach said drugging a person without their knowledge or consent was “ an act of violence , ” and set bail at $ 55,000 for Trammell and $ 45,000 for Rainey .

CHICAGO (AP) - Two Wisconsin women are accused in Chicago of drugging 10 men and robbing them of about $85,000 after they fell unconscious, Cook County prosecutors said Tuesday.
Tiana Trammel, 25, and Tjwana Rainey, 32, both of Milwaukee, allegedly ran the scheme from January until last Sunday. They are charged with operating a continuing financial criminal enterprise and possession of a controlled substance.
The women allegedly lured drunken men from bars and nightclubs in Chicago’s River North district with invitations to their place. There, the men were given a drink that knocked them out. They awoke either in their own homes or by the side of the road, unharmed but without wallets and valuables. The women allegedly used stolen credit and debit cards at ATMs at Walmart and Target stores in the Milwaukee area.
The women were arrested early Sunday after carrying a man from a club to Trammell’s car, Assistant State’s Attorney Paul Kiefer told Judge Charles Beach II. Authorities were aware of the women’s activities and a tracker had been placed on Trammell’s vehicle, Kiefer said, adding surveillance video and license plate readers captured Trammell’s movements, which align with what happened to several victims.
Attorneys for the women told Beach neither have significant criminal histories and both are mothers of young children. Beach said drugging a person without their knowledge or consent was “an act of violence,” and set bail at $55,000 for Trammell and $45,000 for Rainey.
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This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Rainey.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--1st Black CHP chief retires, first woman named replacement

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - The first Black commissioner in the 91-year history of the California Highway Patrol is retiring , Gov .
Gavin Newsom said Tuesday , and he will be replaced with the first woman to hold the post - a veteran officer who also is Black .
Commissioner Warren Stanley will retire Nov. 17 after more than 38 years with the CHP , the last 2 1/2 years leading the 11,000 employees in the nation ’ s fifth-largest law enforcement agency and largest state-run law enforcement agency .
His successor , Deputy Commissioner Amanda Ray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second Black to head the patrol .
Newsom said in a statement that Ray will help the state “ advance reforms to our criminal justice system that will help foster a more just and inclusive future for all Californians.
” Ray , 54 , of Sacramento , started with the CHP in 1990 as a cadet , moving steadily up through the ranks in the interim .
The appointment requires Senate confirmation and pays $ 282,528 .
Stanley joined the CHP in 1982 and since has held every uniformed rank within the department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Jerry Brown in February 2018 , and reappointed to the post by Newsom when he took office in January 2019 .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The first Black commissioner in the 91-year history of the California Highway Patrol is retiring, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, and he will be replaced with the first woman to hold the post - a veteran officer who also is Black.
Commissioner Warren Stanley will retire Nov. 17 after more than 38 years with the CHP, the last 2 1/2 years leading the 11,000 employees in the nation’s fifth-largest law enforcement agency and largest state-run law enforcement agency.
His successor, Deputy Commissioner Amanda Ray, will be the first woman and second Black to head the patrol.
Newsom said in a statement that Ray will help the state “advance reforms to our criminal justice system that will help foster a more just and inclusive future for all Californians.”
Ray, 54, of Sacramento, started with the CHP in 1990 as a cadet, moving steadily up through the ranks in the interim. The appointment requires Senate confirmation and pays $282,528.
Stanley joined the CHP in 1982 and since has held every uniformed rank within the department.
He was appointed commissioner by former Gov. Jerry Brown in February 2018, and reappointed to the post by Newsom when he took office in January 2019.


washingtontimes--2020-10-20--Zack Iscol, veteran and entrepreneur, joins NYC mayor's race

NEW YORK ( AP ) - The field of candidates to be New York City ’ s next mayor has @ @ @ @ @ entrepreneur and veteran Zack Iscol announcing his entrance into the race .
Iscol , a @ @ @ @ @ in Iraq , said the city needed a change in his video announcing his candidacy @ @ @ @ @ bringing competency , leadership and a mayor who actually cares more about outcomes than special @ @ @ @ @ City Hall , ” said Iscol , who founded a mental health program for veterans @ @ @ @ @ is barred by term limits from seeking a third term .
Others have already announced @ @ @ @ @ are expected .
Those who have announced include City Comptroller Scott Stringer , former U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Development Shaun Donovan , Maya Wiley , a civil rights lawyer , former de Blasio @ @ @ @ @ , and Raymond McGuire , a longtime Wall Street executive .

NEW YORK (AP) - The field of candidates to be New York City’s next mayor has gotten another name, with entrepreneur and veteran Zack Iscol announcing his entrance into the race.
Iscol, a former Marine who spent time in Iraq, said the city needed a change in his video announcing his candidacy.
“That starts with bringing competency, leadership and a mayor who actually cares more about outcomes than special interests and campaign donors to City Hall,” said Iscol, who founded a mental health program for veterans.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is barred by term limits from seeking a third term.
Others have already announced their candidacies, and others are expected.
Those who have announced include City Comptroller Scott Stringer, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Maya Wiley, a civil rights lawyer, former de Blasio aide and MSNBC legal analyst, and Raymond McGuire, a longtime Wall Street executive.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Danish sub killer denies he had help in prison break attempt

COPENHAGEN , Denmark ( AP ) - A Danish man convicted of murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine was remanded to custody Wednesday after he confessed to threatening several people as he attempted to break out of a suburban Copenhagen prison .
Prosecutors said Peter Madsen threatened a psychologist and a warden on his way out of the Herstedvester prison and allegedly pointed an object that looked like a gun at the driver of a van once he was outside the facility .
He also told the police officers who handcuffed him when he was recaptured that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned out to be fake , prosecutors said .
Madsen ’ s attempt to escape from the prison on Tuesday was brief ; he was recaptured after about five minutes .
Prison personnel who followed him saw that he had jumped into a passing white van and informed police , who arrested one of Denmark ’ s most notorious criminals around 500 meters ( less than a half-mile ) from the prison where he is serving a life sentence .
Madsen , 49 , was convicted in 2018 for the murder of Kim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had lured aboard his homemade submarine in 2017 with the promise of an interview .
He dismembered Wall ’ s body and dumped it at sea .
He now faces preliminary charges of attempted prison escape and making threats .
Preliminary charges are one step short of formal charges and allow police to hold Mardsen for two weeks while they investigate .
During a custody hearing at Glostrup City Court , Madsen answered “ yes ” when a judge asks if he confessed to the new charges .
Prosecutors alleged that one or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison , although defense lawyer Anders Larsen said Mardsen denies that anyone else was involved .
Police said after Madsen was apprehended that he used an object that resembled a firearm and an imitation explosives belt when trying to escape .
Under Danish law , Madsen can not get additional prison time for the escape attempt .
But the terms of his incarceration can become stricter ; for example , he could be cut off from contacts with other inmates and have his visits to a workshop and prison library reduced .
Madsen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she died accidentally inside the submarine , but Madsen has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea .
He lost an appeal in 2018 Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison , but convicts are reassessed to determine whether they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer .

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Danish man convicted of murdering a Swedish journalist on his homemade submarine was remanded to custody Wednesday after he confessed to threatening several people as he attempted to break out of a suburban Copenhagen prison.
Prosecutors said Peter Madsen threatened a psychologist and a warden on his way out of the Herstedvester prison and allegedly pointed an object that looked like a gun at the driver of a van once he was outside the facility. He also told the police officers who handcuffed him when he was recaptured that he would detonate an explosives belt, which turned out to be fake, prosecutors said.
Madsen’s attempt to escape from the prison on Tuesday was brief; he was recaptured after about five minutes. Prison personnel who followed him saw that he had jumped into a passing white van and informed police, who arrested one of Denmark’s most notorious criminals around 500 meters (less than a half-mile) from the prison where he is serving a life sentence.
Madsen, 49, was convicted in 2018 for the murder of Kim Wall, a 30-year-old Swedish reporter he had lured aboard his homemade submarine in 2017 with the promise of an interview. He dismembered Wall’s body and dumped it at sea. He now faces preliminary charges of attempted prison escape and making threats.
Preliminary charges are one step short of formal charges and allow police to hold Mardsen for two weeks while they investigate.
During a custody hearing at Glostrup City Court, Madsen answered “yes” when a judge asks if he confessed to the new charges. Prosecutors alleged that one or more other people helped Mardsen leave the prison, although defense lawyer Anders Larsen said Mardsen denies that anyone else was involved.
Police said after Madsen was apprehended that he used an object that resembled a firearm and an imitation explosives belt when trying to escape.
Under Danish law, Madsen cannot get additional prison time for the escape attempt. But the terms of his incarceration can become stricter; for example, he could be cut off from contacts with other inmates and have his visits to a workshop and prison library reduced.
Madsen has denied murdering Wall, and claims she died accidentally inside the submarine, but Madsen has confessed to throwing her body parts into the Baltic Sea. He lost an appeal in 2018
Life sentences in Denmark usually mean 16 years in prison, but convicts are reassessed to determine whether they would pose a danger to society if released and can be kept longer.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Cop may face charges in killing of autistic Palestinian

JERUSALEM ( AP ) - Israeli prosecutors on Wednesday recommended charging a police officer with reckless killing in the deadly shooting of an autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem ’ s Old City earlier this year .
The decision came nearly five months after the shooting of Eyad Hallaq .
Hallaq ’ s family , which had criticized the slow pace of the investigation and prosecutors ’ claim that security cameras in the area had malfunctioned , condemned Wednesday ’ s decision .
They said prosecutors should have filed much tougher charges .
The Israeli Justice Ministry said the officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with reckless killing , pending a hearing in which he can dispute the charges .
Such hearings are standard procedure before indictments are filed .
If convicted , the officer could face up to 12 years in prison .
His commander , who was also at the scene of the shooting , was not charged .
Hallaq ’ s family said the ministry ’ s decision was unacceptable .
“ There is sufficient evidence to bring charges of premeditated murder against the two policemen , ” said their lawyer , Jad Qadamani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the police .
We are considering the next step now.
” Hallaq , who was 32 , was fatally shot just inside the Old City ’ s Lion ’ s Gate on May 30 as he was on his way to the special-needs institution that he attended .
The area is a frequent site of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces , and the Old City ’ s narrow streets are lined with hundreds of security cameras that are monitored by police .
But as the investigation proceeded over the summer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the area had worked and there was no footage of the incident .
According to accounts at the time , Hallaq was shot after failing to heed calls to stop and running away .
Two members of Israel ’ s paramilitary Border Police then chased Hallaq into a nook and shot him as he cowered next to a garbage bin .
In Wednesday ’ s statement , the Justice Ministry said that after the officer shot Hallaq the first time , he shouted at him in Arabic “ don ’ t move.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ where is the pistol.
” The wounded Hallaq pointed to a woman whom he knew and muttered something .
The officer then turned to the woman and asked her in Arabic , “ Where is the gun ?
” She replied , “ What gun ?
” At that point , the officer under investigation fired again at Hallaq .
The woman mentioned in the statement appears to be Hallaq ’ s teacher , who was with him that morning .
At the time of the shooting , she told an Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to police that he was “ disabled.
” The ministry said the recommendation to prosecute was made after considering eyewitness accounts and other evidence .
“ All the circumstances of the incident were considered , including the fact that the deceased did not pose any threat to the police officers or the civilians at the scene , and that the police officer fired a shot not in accordance with police orders , that were well known to him , and didn ’ t adopt more proportionate alternatives that were at his disposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s parents had expressed concerns the killing would be whitewashed , especially after the alleged camera malfunction .
In cases of attacks against Israeli security forces , police often quickly release security-camera footage to the public .
Palestinians and human rights groups say Israel has a poor record of prosecuting cases of police violence against Palestinians .
The shooting of Hallaq drew comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the U.S. and prompted a series of small demonstrations against police violence .
The uproar crossed Israeli-Palestinian lines and drew Jewish protesters as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the shooting .

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli prosecutors on Wednesday recommended charging a police officer with reckless manslaughter in the deadly shooting of an autistic Palestinian man in Jerusalem’s Old City earlier this year.
The decision came nearly five months after the shooting of Eyad Hallaq. Hallaq’s family, which had criticized the slow pace of the investigation and prosecutors’ claim that security cameras in the area had malfunctioned, condemned Wednesday’s decision. They said prosecutors should have filed much tougher charges.
The Israeli Justice Ministry said the officer, who was not identified, would be charged with reckless manslaughter, pending a hearing in which he can dispute the charges. Such hearings are standard procedure before indictments are filed. If convicted, the officer could face up to 12 years in prison.
His commander, who was also at the scene of the shooting, was not charged.
Hallaq’s family said the ministry’s decision was unacceptable.
“There is sufficient evidence to bring charges of premeditated murder against the two policemen,” said their lawyer, Jad Qadamani. “Eyad was intentionally killed by the police. We are considering the next step now.”
Hallaq, who was 32, was fatally shot just inside the Old City’s Lion’s Gate on May 30 as he was on his way to the special-needs institution that he attended.
The area is a frequent site of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, and the Old City’s narrow streets are lined with hundreds of security cameras that are monitored by police. But as the investigation proceeded over the summer, prosecutors claimed that none of the cameras in the area had worked and there was no footage of the incident.
According to accounts at the time, Hallaq was shot after failing to heed calls to stop and running away. Two members of Israel’s paramilitary Border Police then chased Hallaq into a nook and shot him as he cowered next to a garbage bin.
In Wednesday’s statement, the Justice Ministry said that after the officer shot Hallaq the first time, he shouted at him in Arabic “don’t move.”
Another officer asked him in Arabic “where is the pistol.” The wounded Hallaq pointed to a woman whom he knew and muttered something. The officer then turned to the woman and asked her in Arabic, “Where is the gun?”
She replied, “What gun?” At that point, the officer under investigation fired again at Hallaq.
The woman mentioned in the statement appears to be Hallaq’s teacher, who was with him that morning. At the time of the shooting, she told an Israeli TV station that she had repeatedly called out to police that he was “disabled.”
The ministry said the recommendation to prosecute was made after considering eyewitness accounts and other evidence.
“All the circumstances of the incident were considered, including the fact that the deceased did not pose any threat to the police officers or the civilians at the scene, and that the police officer fired a shot not in accordance with police orders, that were well known to him, and didn’t adopt more proportionate alternatives that were at his disposal,” it said.
Hallaq’s parents had expressed concerns the killing would be whitewashed, especially after the alleged camera malfunction. In cases of attacks against Israeli security forces, police often quickly release security-camera footage to the public.
Palestinians and human rights groups say Israel has a poor record of prosecuting cases of police violence against Palestinians.
The shooting of Hallaq drew comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the U.S. and prompted a series of small demonstrations against police violence. The uproar crossed Israeli-Palestinian lines and drew Jewish protesters as well, and Israeli leaders expressed regret over the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Democrats hope to break Republican hold on Ohio high court

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) - Democratic challengers are hoping to upend Republicans ’ majority on the Ohio Supreme Court in a pair of races this November that feature familiar debates over the role justices should play in interpreting state law .
A coalition of major business groups have endorsed the two Republican candidates - incumbent justices Sharon Kennedy and Judi French - as the best choices for maintaining “ a sense of predictability ” in Ohio ’ s business climate .
And in a sign of the court ’ s expected role in reviewing congressional maps to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rove is soliciting donations for French .
The Democratic Party of Ohio , meanwhile , is criticizing those same justices for a 2016 ruling that limited non-economic damages in child rape cases .
Democratic challenger Jennifer Brunner is seeking to unseat French .
Brunner , a state appeals court judge in Columbus , is a former county court judge who served as Ohio Secretary of State from 2007 to 2011 .
French , a former assistant Attorney General and legal counsel for former Republican Gov .
Bob Taft , is running for her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
French won election in 2014 after being appointed to the court a year earlier .
In a second race , the incumbent Kennedy faces Democratic challenger John O ’ Donnell .
Kennedy is a former police officer in the city of Hamilton in southwestern Ohio who later served as a domestic relations judge .
She is also running for her second full six-year term after winning election in 2014 .
She also won election in 2012 to fill an unexpired term .
O ’ Donnell , a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the court .
He narrowly lost to current Republican Justice Patrick Fischer in 2016 , and lost to French in her 2014 race .
O ’ Donnell ’ s 2016 loss was blamed in part to anger by some Black voters over his ruling a year earlier acquitting a white Cleveland police officer involved in the deaths of two Black suspects .
The two were each shot more than 20 times at the end of the November 2012 pursuit that included a total of 137 shots , including 49 fired by officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Donnell said he would not offer up Brelo to an angry public if the evidence did not merit a conviction .
In June , the state ’ s biggest business groups , including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Farm Bureau , endorsed French and Kennedy .
“ It is crucial for businesses to have a sense of predictability when it comes to the business climate , ” said then Ohio Chamber President Andy Doehrel .
French and Kennedy “ both have demonstrated records of applying the law as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Republicans often level the “ legislating from the bench ” charge at Democratic judges , accusing them of trying to make laws instead of interpreting them .
Both Kennedy and French used similar phrases in an Oct. 9 candidates ’ debate .
“ Our role as judges is to serve as independent bodies , to interpret the law as it ’ s written , not rewrite it or legislate from the bench , ” Kennedy said in that forum .
French said keeping her on the bench speaks to “ the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who ’ s not an activist , someone who exercises judicial restraint and doesn ’ t take the law into our own hands.
” Brunner said she takes the separation of powers between the three branches of government seriously .
But during the Oct. 9 forum , she added : “ There are times when the judiciary must fully occupy its lane , and do its job to check the other branches of government.
” For his part , O ’ Donnell invoked the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices ’ judicial activism , O ’ Donnell said , “ We ’ d still have separate and truly unequal systems of education in our country.
” In 2016 , the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 4-3 - with Kennedy and French voting in the majority - to reject a request from a woman raped by a pastor when she was 15 to boost the amount of damages paid by the church where the minister worked .
The court ’ s decision reduced a $ 3.6 million jury award to the woman and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of which she had to pay attorneys ’ fees and other costs .
“ Ohio needs new Supreme Court justices to protect victims of rape and abuse , ” Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirstin Alvanitakis said in a statement earlier this month .
The upcoming redrawing of legislative and congressional district lines , likely to end up before the state Supreme Court , has attracted national attention to the race including Rove ’ s plea to donors .
In that message , Rove .
former advisor to President George W. Bush , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio ” are vying to unseat French in order to redraw the lines of state legislative and congressional districts to benefit Democrats .
The Republican candidates both lead in fundraising .
French had raised about $ 944,000 as of September , compared to $ 627,000 for Brunner .
Kennedy had raised about $ 1.2 million compared to $ 524,000 for O ’ Donnell .
Three candidates - Brunner , Kennedy and O ’ Donnell - received “ recommended ” ratings from the Ohio State Bar Association .
Only French received a “ highly @ @ @ @

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Democratic challengers are hoping to upend Republicans’ majority on the Ohio Supreme Court in a pair of races this November that feature familiar debates over the role justices should play in interpreting state law.
A coalition of major business groups have endorsed the two Republican candidates - incumbent justices Sharon Kennedy and Judi French - as the best choices for maintaining “a sense of predictability” in Ohio’s business climate. And in a sign of the court’s expected role in reviewing congressional maps to be redrawn next year, Republican strategist Karl Rove is soliciting donations for French.
The Democratic Party of Ohio, meanwhile, is criticizing those same justices for a 2016 ruling that limited non-economic damages in child rape cases.
Democratic challenger Jennifer Brunner is seeking to unseat French. Brunner, a state appeals court judge in Columbus, is a former county court judge who served as Ohio Secretary of State from 2007 to 2011.
French, a former assistant Attorney General and legal counsel for former Republican Gov. Bob Taft, is running for her second full six-year term on the court. French won election in 2014 after being appointed to the court a year earlier.
In a second race, the incumbent Kennedy faces Democratic challenger John O’Donnell.
Kennedy is a former police officer in the city of Hamilton in southwestern Ohio who later served as a domestic relations judge. She is also running for her second full six-year term after winning election in 2014. She also won election in 2012 to fill an unexpired term.
O’Donnell, a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court judge, is making his third run for the court. He narrowly lost to current Republican Justice Patrick Fischer in 2016, and lost to French in her 2014 race.
O’Donnell’s 2016 loss was blamed in part to anger by some Black voters over his ruling a year earlier acquitting a white Cleveland police officer involved in the deaths of two Black suspects. The two were each shot more than 20 times at the end of the November 2012 pursuit that included a total of 137 shots, including 49 fired by officer Michael Brelo.
In his ruling, O’Donnell said he would not offer up Brelo to an angry public if the evidence did not merit a conviction.
In June, the state’s biggest business groups, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Farm Bureau, endorsed French and Kennedy.
“It is crucial for businesses to have a sense of predictability when it comes to the business climate,” said then Ohio Chamber President Andy Doehrel. French and Kennedy “both have demonstrated records of applying the law as written, not legislating from the bench.”
Republicans often level the “legislating from the bench” charge at Democratic judges, accusing them of trying to make laws instead of interpreting them. Both Kennedy and French used similar phrases in an Oct. 9 candidates’ debate sponsored by the Ohio Debate Commission.
“Our role as judges is to serve as independent bodies, to interpret the law as it’s written, not rewrite it or legislate from the bench,” Kennedy said in that forum.
French said keeping her on the bench speaks to “the importance of following the law, of being someone who’s not an activist, someone who exercises judicial restraint and doesn’t take the law into our own hands.”
Brunner said she takes the separation of powers between the three branches of government seriously. But during the Oct. 9 forum, she added: “There are times when the judiciary must fully occupy its lane, and do its job to check the other branches of government.”
For his part, O’Donnell invoked the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that led to school desegregation. If not for those justices’ judicial activism, O’Donnell said, “We’d still have separate and truly unequal systems of education in our country.”
In 2016, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled 4-3 - with Kennedy and French voting in the majority - to reject a request from a woman raped by a pastor when she was 15 to boost the amount of damages paid by the church where the minister worked. The court’s decision reduced a $3.6 million jury award to the woman and her father to about $385,000, out of which she had to pay attorneys’ fees and other costs.
“Ohio needs new Supreme Court justices to protect victims of rape and abuse,” Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Kirstin Alvanitakis said in a statement earlier this month.
The upcoming redrawing of legislative and congressional district lines, likely to end up before the state Supreme Court, has attracted national attention to the race including Rove’s plea to donors.
In that message, Rove. former advisor to President George W. Bush, said “well-funded left-wing interest groups from outside Ohio” are vying to unseat French in order to redraw the lines of state legislative and congressional districts to benefit Democrats.
The Republican candidates both lead in fundraising. French had raised about $944,000 as of September, compared to $627,000 for Brunner. Kennedy had raised about $1.2 million compared to $524,000 for O’Donnell.
Three candidates - Brunner, Kennedy and O’Donnell - received “recommended” ratings from the Ohio State Bar Association. Only French received a “highly recommended” rating.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Conservative Alaskans pressuring Lisa Murkowski to confirm Amy Coney Barrett

The conservative activists at Heritage Action for America think they can persuade Sen. Lisa Murkowski to vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s Supreme Court confirmation and have mounted an advocacy campaign to win her vote .
While some Republicans have already counted the Alaskan Republican as a “ no ” vote , conservative Alaskans said they think they can bring Ms. Murkowski into their corner .
Democrats wanting to stop Judge Barrett ’ s confirmation will almost certainly need Ms. Murkowski to vote no , alongside three of her fellow Republicans to stop the nomination process next week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said her team ’ s strategy to win over Alaska ’ s senators included two-prongs : leveraging conservative activists in the state and Alaskan legislators .
Two letters , one from 20 Alaska state legislators and another from 237 Alaskan activists , were delivered to Ms. Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan , Alaska Republican , this week .
“ The encouragement that we want to provide is she is not alone , ” Ms. Anderson said .
Standing alone is not abnormal for Ms. Murkowski , who was the only GOP senator opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination to the Supreme Court at the time of his confirmation vote in 2018 .
Rather than vote “ no , ” she voted “ present ” so that the nomination could advance without the support of Sen. Steve Daines , Montana Republican , who was absent so he could attend his daughter ’ s wedding .
On Tuesday , Ms. Murkowski reiterated to reporters that she would meet with Judge Barrett .
Ms. Murkowski vowed in September to meet with President Trump ’ s Supreme Court pick but made clear she did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high court vacancy so close to the election .
Now that the vote is set to arrive within two weeks of Election Day , Alaskan legislators hope Ms. Murkowski will keep an open mind before deciding what to do .
In their letter to Alaska ’ s senators , the Alaskan lawmakers pointed out moments during Judge Barrett ’ s Senate nomination hearings that led them to believe she would be an independent justice .
“ There can be no question , Judge Barrett would be resolutely independent , her own person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Alaska lawmakers wrote in the letter delivered on Tuesday .
“ In time , she would be viewed as a titan on the bench and an inspiration to so many across the nation .
We strongly believe Judge Barrett should be confirmed to the Supreme Court before Election Day , and we are calling on you to support her confirmation.
” Alaska State Sen. Mia Costello said she and her fellow lawmakers that wrote the letter know that both Ms. Murkowski and Mr. Sullivan will read the letter carefully .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally and there ’ s hardly a person who hasn ’ t met with Senator Murkowski , or talked with her , or been at an event .
Same with Senator Sullivan , ” Ms. Costello said .
“ So to us , we ’ re one big family and we are very hopeful and confident that she will listen to us and understand that it ’ s important that the Alaska legislature makes it plain to our senators what we would like to see in this nominee — that she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Heritage Action approached the Alaska lawmakers about the letters delivered this week , and Ms. Costello said she had not worked with the group in a similar fashion previously .
The 237 conservative activists ’ letter stresses Judge Barrett ’ s originalist interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the judge ’ s resume as evidence that she is well-qualified to serve on the Supreme Court .
When asked why Heritage Action was focusing on Ms. Murkowski , a potential Republican swing vote , instead of a Democrat in a tough reelection fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ms. Anderson said Heritage Action was mindful of how other conservative groups were allocating their time and resources .
Ms. Anderson pointed to Americans for Prosperity vice president of legal and judicial strategy Casey Mattox , a former clerk of the Alabama Supreme Court , as helping to lead the conservative movement ’ s efforts in Alabama to encourage Mr. Jones to vote in favor of Judge Barrett .
The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Judge Barrett ’ s nomination for Thursday and a vote in the full Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The conservative activists at Heritage Action for America think they can persuade Sen. Lisa Murkowski to vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court confirmation and have mounted an advocacy campaign to win her vote.
While some Republicans have already counted the Alaska Republican as a “no” vote, conservative residents of the state said they think they can bring Ms. Murkowski into their corner. Democrats wanting to stop Judge Barrett’s confirmation would almost certainly need Ms. Murkowski alongside three of her fellow Republicans to stop the nomination process next week.
Heritage Action executive director Jessica Anderson said her team’s strategy to win over Alaska’s senators included two-prongs: leveraging conservative activists in the state and Alaskan legislators. Two letters, one from 20 Alaska state legislators and another from 237 Alaskan activists, were delivered to Ms. Murkowski and Sen. Dan Sullivan, also a Republican, this week.
“The encouragement that we want to provide is she is not alone,” Ms. Anderson said.
Standing alone is not abnormal for Ms. Murkowski, who was the only GOP senator opposed to then-Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court in his 2018 confirmation vote. Rather than vote “no,” she voted “present” so that the nomination could advance without the support of Sen. Steve Daines, Montana Republican, who was absent so he could attend his daughter’s wedding.
On Tuesday, Ms. Murkowski reiterated to reporters that she would meet with Judge Barrett. She vowed in September to meet with President Trump’s Supreme Court pick but made clear she did not support considering a nominee for the high court vacancy so close to the election.
DOCUMENT: Letter from Alaska state legislators
Now that the vote is set to arrive within two weeks of Election Day, Alaska legislators hope Ms. Murkowski will keep an open mind before deciding what to do. In their letter to Alaska’s senators, the Alaskan lawmakers pointed out moments during Judge Barrett’s Senate nomination hearings that led them to believe she would be an independent justice.
“There can be no question, Judge Barrett would be resolutely independent, her own person, guided only by the Constitution,” the Alaska lawmakers wrote in the letter. “In time, she would be viewed as a titan on the bench and an inspiration to so many across the nation. We strongly believe Judge Barrett should be confirmed to the Supreme Court before Election Day, and we are calling on you to support her confirmation.”
Alaska state Sen. Mia Costello said she and her fellow lawmakers that wrote the letter know that both Ms. Murkowski and Mr. Sullivan will read the letter carefully.
“In Alaska, we know our U.S. senators personally and there’s hardly a person who hasn’t met with Senator Murkowski, or talked with her, or been at an event. Same with Senator Sullivan,” Ms. Costello said. “So to us, we’re one big family and we are very hopeful and confident that she will listen to us and understand that it’s important that the Alaska legislature makes it plain to our senators what we would like to see in this nominee — that she’s a successful nominee to the Supreme Court.”
Heritage Action approached the Alaska lawmakers about the letters delivered this week, and Ms. Costello said she had not worked with the group in a similar fashion previously. The 237 conservative activists’ letter stresses Judge Barrett’s originalist interpretation of the Constitution and the judge’s resume as evidence that she is well-qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
When asked why Heritage Action was focusing on Ms. Murkowski, a potential Republican swing vote, instead of a Democrat in a tough reelection fight such as Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, Ms. Anderson said Heritage Action was mindful of how other conservative groups were allocating their time and resources.
DOCUMENT: Letter from Alaska activists
Ms. Anderson pointed to Americans for Prosperity vice president of legal and judicial strategy Casey Mattox, a former clerk of the Alabama Supreme Court, as helping to lead the conservative movement’s efforts in Alabama to encourage Mr. Jones to vote in favor of Judge Barrett.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a vote on Judge Barrett’s nomination for Thursday and a vote in the full Senate is expected to come early next week.
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Japan sticks to nuke fuel cycle despite plutonium stockpile

TOKYO ( AP ) - Japan ’ s government said Wednesday it will pursue its nuclear fuel recycling program that would involve extracting plutonium from spent fuel , despite international concerns about the country ’ s already huge plutonium stockpile and lack of prospects for effectively consuming it as nuclear fuel .
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato , at a meeting with the governor of Aomori prefecture , home to Japan ’ s pending nuclear fuel reprocessing plant , reaffirmed that new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga ’ s government will pursue the country ’ s nuclear energy policy .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy policy and fuel cycle programs , ” Kato said .
He said Japan will make effort to reduce volume and toxicity of high-level nuclear waste , and extract plutonium from spent fuel from a resource conservation point of view .
But critics say continuation of spent fuel reprocessing only adds to Japan ’ s already large plutonium stockpile .
Japan also lacks a final repository for high-level nuclear waste .
Wednesday ’ s meeting came after the Nuclear Regulation Authority granted a safety approval this past summer for the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ltd. , located in northern Japan , for a planned launch in 2022 .
The authority also gave a preliminary permit for the Rokkasho MOX fuel production plant , also planned for completion in 2022 .
Japan now has 45.5 tons of separated plutonium - 8.9 tons at home , and 36.6 tons in Britain and France , where spent fuel from Japanese nuclear plants has been reprocessed and stored because Japan lacks a plant to produce MOX fuel containing plutonium at home .
The amount is enough to make about 6,000 atomic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington and others , the stockpile is hardly decreasing due to difficulties in achieving a full nuclear fuel recycling program and slow restarts of reactors amid setbacks from the 2011 Fukushima disaster .
Japan reprocesses spent fuel , instead of disposing it as waste , to extract plutonium and uranium to make MOX fuel for reuse , while the U.S. discontinued the costly and challenging program .
Allowed under international safeguard rules , Japan is the only non-nuclear weapons state that separates plutonium for peaceful purposes , though the same technology can make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to possess excess plutonium and to put a cap on the amount of extraction from spent fuel .
The Rokkasho plant operator rules out any proliferation risks , citing tight safeguards and close monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency .

TOKYO (AP) - Japan’s government said Wednesday it will pursue its nuclear fuel recycling program that would involve extracting plutonium from spent fuel, despite international concerns about the country’s already huge plutonium stockpile and lack of prospects for effectively consuming it as nuclear fuel.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato, at a meeting with the governor of Aomori prefecture, home to Japan’s pending nuclear fuel reprocessing plant, reaffirmed that new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government will pursue the country’s nuclear energy policy.
“The government will firmly promote our nuclear energy policy and fuel cycle programs,” Kato said. He said Japan will make effort to reduce volume and toxicity of high-level nuclear waste, and extract plutonium from spent fuel from a resource conservation point of view.
But critics say continuation of spent fuel reprocessing only adds to Japan’s already large plutonium stockpile. Japan also lacks a final repository for high-level nuclear waste.
Wednesday’s meeting came after the Nuclear Regulation Authority granted a safety approval this past summer for the Rokkasho fuel reprocessing plant, operated by Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., located in northern Japan, for a planned launch in 2022. The authority also gave a preliminary permit for the Rokkasho MOX fuel production plant, also planned for completion in 2022.
Japan now has 45.5 tons of separated plutonium - 8.9 tons at home, and 36.6 tons in Britain and France, where spent fuel from Japanese nuclear plants has been reprocessed and stored because Japan lacks a plant to produce MOX fuel containing plutonium at home. The amount is enough to make about 6,000 atomic bombs.
Despite security concerns raised by Washington and others, the stockpile is hardly decreasing due to difficulties in achieving a full nuclear fuel recycling program and slow restarts of reactors amid setbacks from the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Japan reprocesses spent fuel, instead of disposing it as waste, to extract plutonium and uranium to make MOX fuel for reuse, while the U.S. discontinued the costly and challenging program. Allowed under international safeguard rules, Japan is the only non-nuclear weapons state that separates plutonium for peaceful purposes, though the same technology can make atomic bombs.
Japan has pledged not to possess excess plutonium and to put a cap on the amount of extraction from spent fuel. The Rokkasho plant operator rules out any proliferation risks, citing tight safeguards and close monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
___
Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/mariyamaguchi


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Dutch king expresses regret at Greek family vacation

THE HAGUE , Netherlands ( AP ) - The Dutch king issued a video message Wednesday saying he had “ regret in the heart ” and he shouldn ’ t have flown to Greece for a family vacation last week , a trip that was quickly broken off amid public uproar back home where people are being urged to stay home as much as possible to battle the coronavirus .
“ It hurts to have betrayed your faith in us , ” a somber King Willem-Alexander said in the video , which shows him sitting next to his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a forest in The Hague .
It is highly unusual for a Dutch monarch to issue such a contrite message to the nation .
The vacation also has been politically damaging for Prime Minister Mark Rutte , who under the Dutch constitution is responsible for the king ’ s actions .
Willem-Alexander and his family flew to Greece , where they have a vacation home , on Friday , but the king , queen and one of their daughters returned home Saturday night .
Their two other daughters flew home later .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government introduced what it called a “ partial lockdown ” in a bid to rein in soaring coronavirus infections in the country .
“ Even though the trip was within the regulations , it was very unwise not to take into account the impact of the new restrictions on our society , ” the king said .
“ Our own decision to return was taken in the realization that we should not have gone.
” he added .
“ We will continue to work with you to get the coronavirus under control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ then resume normal life as soon as possible , ” Willem-Alexander said .
“ That is the most important thing now and we will continue to do so , to the best of our ability .
We are involved .
But not infallible .
”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The Dutch king issued a video message Wednesday saying he had “regret in the heart” and he shouldn’t have flown to Greece for a family vacation last week, a trip that was quickly broken off amid public uproar back home where people are being urged to stay home as much as possible to battle the coronavirus.
“It hurts to have betrayed your faith in us,” a somber King Willem-Alexander said in the video, which shows him sitting next to his wife, Queen Maxima, at their palace in a forest in The Hague.
It is highly unusual for a Dutch monarch to issue such a contrite message to the nation. The vacation also has been politically damaging for Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who under the Dutch constitution is responsible for the king’s actions.
Willem-Alexander and his family flew to Greece, where they have a vacation home, on Friday, but the king, queen and one of their daughters returned home Saturday night. Their two other daughters flew home later.
The vacation came just days after the Dutch government introduced what it called a “partial lockdown” in a bid to rein in soaring coronavirus infections in the country.
“Even though the trip was within the regulations, it was very unwise not to take into account the impact of the new restrictions on our society,” the king said.
“Our own decision to return was taken in the realization that we should not have gone.” he added.
“We will continue to work with you to get the coronavirus under control. So that everyone in our country can then resume normal life as soon as possible,” Willem-Alexander said. “That is the most important thing now and we will continue to do so, to the best of our ability. We are involved. But not infallible.”


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Sudanese return to streets over dire living conditions

CAIRO ( AP ) - Sudanese protesters took to the streets in the capital and across the country on Wednesday over dire living conditions and a deadly crackdown on demonstrators in the east earlier this month .
The protests came on the anniversary of a 1964 uprising that ended six years of military rule .
Sudan is currently ruled by a joint civilian-military government , following the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir last year .
The demonstrations came a week after at least 15 people were killed and dozens were wounded in tribal clashes and a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The violence broke out after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok earlier this month sacked Saleh Ammar , governor of the eastern Kassala province .
Footage circulating online showed protesters marching Wednesday in Khartoum and its twin city , Omdurman , as well as in other cities across the country .
Protesters set tires ablaze in some areas in the capital .
There were no immediate reports of violence .
Security forces blocked off major roads , bridges and streets leading to the presidential palace and the military ’ s headquarters in Khartoum ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said the city center was in complete lockdown .
The “ million-man march ” was called by the so-called Resistance Committees , which were instrumental in the protests against al-Bashir and the generals who removed him from office and briefly held power .
Other political parties and professional unions took part in the demonstrations .
The protesters are calling for the formation of a legislative body , which is supposed to happen as part of a power-sharing agreement they reached with the military last year .
They also demand results from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , including the deadly break-up of the main Khartoum protest camp in June 2019 .
The probe was supposed to have been completed by February , but investigators asked for an extension in part due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The transitional government has been struggling to revive Sudan ’ s battered economy amid a huge budget deficit and widespread shortages of essential goods , including fuel , bread and medicine .
Annual inflation soared past 200 % last month as prices of bread and other staples surged , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has suffered from decades of U.S. sanctions and mismanagement under al-Bashir , who had ruled the country since a 1989 Islamist-backed military coup .
The country has more than $ 60 billion in foreign debt , and debt relief and access to foreign loans are widely seen as its gateway to economic recovery .
But access to foreign loans is linked to the removal of sanctions related to the country ’ s listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror .
President Donald Trump recently said Sudan will be removed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its pledge to pay $ 335 million to American terror victims and their families .
Sudanese officials welcomed Trump ’ s announcement which is widely seen as a key incentive for the east African country to normalize relations with Israel .
The terror designation dates back to the 1990s , when Sudan briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and other wanted militants .

CAIRO (AP) - Sudanese protesters took to the streets in the capital and across the country Wednesday over dire living conditions and a deadly crackdown on demonstrators in the east earlier this month.
The protests came on the anniversary of a 1964 uprising that ended six years of military rule. Sudan is currently ruled by a joint civilian-military government, following the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir last year.
The demonstrations came a week after at least 15 people were killed and dozens were wounded in tribal clashes and a government crackdown against protesters in eastern Sudan. The violence broke out after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok earlier this month sacked Saleh Ammar, governor of the eastern Kassala province.
Footage circulating online showed protesters marching Wednesday in Khartoum and its twin city, Omdurman, as well as in other cities across the country. Protesters set tires ablaze in some areas in the capital. Security forces fired tear gas in some areas in the capital to disperse protesters.
At least one protester in his 20s was shot dead and more than two dozen others wounded in Khartoum, according to the Sudan Doctors’ Committee, which also campaigned for al-Bashir’s ouster.
The Culture and Information Ministry also said security forces attacked reporters covering the protests.
Security forces blocked off major roads, bridges and streets leading to the presidential palace and the military’s headquarters in Khartoum ahead of the demonstrations. The state-run SUNA news agency said the city center was in complete lockdown.
The “million-man march” was called by the so-called Resistance Committees, which were instrumental in the protests against al-Bashir and the generals who removed him from office and briefly held power. Other political parties and professional unions took part in the demonstrations.
The protesters are calling for the formation of a legislative body, which is supposed to happen as part of a power-sharing agreement they reached with the military last year.
They also demand results from an independent investigation into the crackdown against protests last year, including the deadly break-up of the main Khartoum protest camp in June 2019. The probe was supposed to have been completed by February, but investigators asked for an extension, in part due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The transitional government has been struggling to revive Sudan’s battered economy amid a huge budget deficit and widespread shortages of essential goods, including fuel, bread and medicine.
Annual inflation soared past 200% last month as prices of bread and other staples surged, according to official figures.
Sudan’s economy has suffered from decades of U.S. sanctions and mismanagement under al-Bashir, who had ruled the country since a 1989 Islamist-backed military coup.
The country has more than $60 billion in foreign debt, and debt relief and access to foreign loans are widely seen as its gateway to economic recovery. But access to foreign loans is linked to the removal of sanctions related to the country’s listing by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terror.
President Donald Trump recently said Sudan will be removed from the blacklist if it follows through on its pledge to pay $335 million to American terror victims and their families. The terror designation dates back to the 1990s, when Sudan briefly hosted Osama bin Laden and other wanted militants.
Sudanese officials welcomed Trump’s announcement, which is widely seen as a key incentive for the east African country to normalize relations with Israel.
Islamists and supporters of al-Bashir’s government held a protest in Khartoum, calling for the resignation of Hamdok, the prime minister. Footage circulated online showed protesters burning an Israeli flag, in an apparent rejection of a looming deal with Israel.
Sudan hosted the landmark Arab conference after the 1967 Mideast War in which eight Arab countries approved the “three no’s”: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel and no negotiations. But in recent years those animosities have softened, and both countries have expressed readiness to normalize relations.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday the Trump administration has already started the processes of removing Sudan from the terror list.
“We believe there’s a firm legal basis for doing that. We think that there will be an enormous bipartisan consensus that that is the right thing to do,” he told a news conference.
Pompeo, who visited Sudan last month to push for a deal with Israel, said the administration has also worked “diligently” with Khartoum to make “the case for why that is in the Sudanese government best interest to make that sovereign decision” of establishing ties with Israel.
“We hope that they will do that. We hope that they will do that quickly. We hope every country will do that quickly,” he said.
___
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Officials investigate fatal stabbing of woman in Shoreline

SHORELINE , Wash. ( AP ) - King County sheriff ’ s detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a @ @ @ @ @ according to a spokesperson .
The Seattle Times reports Sheriff ’ s Sgt .
Ryan @ @ @ @ @ 911 just before 9 p.m. Monday and reported she had found a woman in a @ @ @ @ @ parking lot on Aurora Avenue North .
Shoreline police officers arrived and rendered aid , @ @ @ @ @ the scene , Abbott said .
On Tuesday , the King County Medical Examiner ’ @ @ @ @ @ as Azhane Mitchell and determined she died from multiple stab wounds .
Her death was @ @ @ @ @ said detectives assigned to the sheriff ’ s Major Crimes Unit spent much of the @ @ @ @ @ witnesses and video-surveillance footage of the deadly assault .
The woman was found near the @ @ @ @ @ , and though officers attempted to track a suspect with a police dog , the @ @ @ @ @ said .

SHORELINE, Wash. (AP) - King County sheriff’s detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a 25-year-old woman in Shoreline, according to a spokesperson.
The Seattle Times reports Sheriff’s Sgt. Ryan Abbott said a woman called 911 just before 9 p.m. Monday and reported she had found a woman in a pool of blood in a parking lot on Aurora Avenue North.
Shoreline police officers arrived and rendered aid, but the woman died at the scene, Abbott said.
On Tuesday, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as Azhane Mitchell and determined she died from multiple stab wounds. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Abbott said detectives assigned to the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit spent much of the day Tuesday trying to locate witnesses and video-surveillance footage of the deadly assault. The woman was found near the entrance of an abandoned bank, and though officers attempted to track a suspect with a police dog, the track was unsuccessful, he said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Australian law enforcement examine Vatican money trail

CANBERRA , Australia ( AP ) - A range of Australian law enforcement and corruption agencies are examining a reported transfer of money from the Vatican that Italian media have speculated might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse .
The national financial crime intelligence agency , two police forces and a public sector corruption watchdog have been drawn into the Vatican scandal , although details of what has piqued their interest in Australia remained scant on Wednesday .
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera speculated in recent weeks that Vatican investigators were looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vatican , ousted Cardinal Angelo Becciu , wired 700,000 euros ( $ 823,000 ) in Vatican money to a bank account in Australia , and whether that money was tied to Pell ’ s sex abuse trial .
The Australian intelligence agency responsible for detecting international financial crime , AUSTRAC , revealed to an Australian Senate committee on Tuesday it had “ looked into the matter , ” without elaborating .
AUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose told the committee her agency had “ provided information ” to Australian Federal Police and Victoria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged Pell in 2017 .
AUSTRAC on Wednesday declined to elaborate on that information .
Australian Federal Police said it was “ undertaking a review of the relevant information.
” A “ review ” of evidence is a preliminary step toward an official criminal investigation .
Federal Police also said in a statement they had “ referred aspects of this matter ” to the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission , an anti-graft agency that investigates the state public sector , including police .
The commission said in statement : “ For legal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this matter.
” Victoria Police media did not respond on Wednesday when asked how it was acting on the AUSTRAC information .
Pell was convicted by a lower court of allegations he molested two choirboys in St. Patrick ’ s Cathedral in Melbourne while he was archbishop in the 1990s , but was ultimately absolved by Australia ’ s High Court .
Pell was brought in by Pope Francis to bring accountability and transparency to the Vatican ’ s opaque finances in 2014 .
The Italian newspaper speculated that Becciu might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s accuser to get Pell out of the Vatican .
Becciu and Pell were known to have clashed over the Australian ’ s financial clean-up efforts at the Holy See .
The accuser , who can not be identified , has denied the allegation .
The newspaper report had no sourcing , attributions or detail and appeared more an effort to discredit Becciu and distract attention from the shortcomings of the Vatican prosecutors ’ primary investigation into a London real estate venture .
Pell returned to the Vatican this month for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his apartment after Becciu was fired over allegations that he wired 100,000 euros ( $ 118,000 ) in Vatican funds to a charity headed by his brother .
Becciu has denied wrongdoing .
Becciu ’ s lawyer Fabio Viglione said his client had “ never interfered with it in any way whatsoever.
” “ Given the apparent will of some news organizations to falsely depict an alleged , albeit non-existent , activity to taint the evidence of Cardinal Pell ’ s trial , Cardinal Becciu will promptly resort to the Judicial Authorities to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravely damaged , ” Viglione said in a statement .
Pell ’ s lawyer Robert Richter has previously called for an investigation of media allegations of a Vatican money trail to Australia and the potential for bribery .
Richter did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday .

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - A range of Australian law enforcement and corruption agencies are examining a reported transfer of money from the Vatican that Italian media have speculated might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse.
The national financial crime intelligence agency, two police forces and a public sector corruption watchdog have been drawn into the Vatican scandal, although details of what has piqued their interest in Australia remained scant on Wednesday.
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera speculated in recent weeks that Vatican investigators were looking into whether Pell’s nemesis at the Vatican, ousted Cardinal Angelo Becciu, wired 700,000 euros ($823,000) in Vatican money to a bank account in Australia, and whether that money was tied to Pell’s sex abuse trial.
The Australian intelligence agency responsible for detecting international financial crime, AUSTRAC, revealed to an Australian Senate committee on Tuesday it had “looked into the matter,” without elaborating.
AUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose told the committee her agency had “provided information” to Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police, the state police department that charged Pell in 2017.
AUSTRAC on Wednesday declined to elaborate on that information.
Australian Federal Police said it was “undertaking a review of the relevant information.” A “review” of evidence is a preliminary step toward an official criminal investigation.
Federal Police also said in a statement they had “referred aspects of this matter” to the Victorian Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, an anti-graft agency that investigates the state public sector, including police.
The commission said in statement: “For legal and operational reasons we are unable to comment on this matter.”
Victoria Police media did not respond on Wednesday when asked how it was acting on the AUSTRAC information.
Pell was convicted by a lower court of allegations he molested two choirboys in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne while he was archbishop in the 1990s, but was ultimately absolved by Australia’s High Court.
Pell was brought in by Pope Francis to bring accountability and transparency to the Vatican’s opaque finances in 2014.
The Italian newspaper speculated that Becciu might have “bought” the testimony of Pell’s accuser to get Pell out of the Vatican. Becciu and Pell were known to have clashed over the Australian’s financial clean-up efforts at the Holy See. The accuser, who cannot be identified, has denied the allegation.
The newspaper report had no sourcing, attributions or detail and appeared more an effort to discredit Becciu and distract attention from the shortcomings of the Vatican prosecutors’ primary investigation into a London real estate venture.
Pell returned to the Vatican this month for a meeting with Francis and to clear out his apartment after Becciu was fired over allegations that he wired 100,000 euros ($118,000) in Vatican funds to a charity headed by his brother. Becciu has denied wrongdoing.
Becciu has repeatedly denied involvement in Pell’s 2018 conviction.
Becciu’s lawyer Fabio Viglione said his client had “never interfered with it in any way whatsoever.”
“Given the apparent will of some news organizations to falsely depict an alleged, albeit non-existent, activity to taint the evidence of Cardinal Pell’s trial, Cardinal Becciu will promptly resort to the Judicial Authorities to protect and defend his honor, so gravely damaged,” Viglione said in a statement.
Pell’s lawyer Robert Richter has previously called for an investigation of media allegations of a Vatican money trail to Australia and the potential for bribery. Richter did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--JC Penney sees bankruptcy protection exit by Christmas

NEW YORK ( AP ) - J.C. Penney believes it will emerge from bankruptcy protection before Christmas under a new ownership agreement that would save tens of thousands of jobs .
The beleaguered , century-old retailer said Wednesday that it has filed a draft asset purchase agreement with the two biggest mall owners in the U.S .
Substantially all of J.C. Penney ’ s retail and operating assets will be acquired by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Simon Property Group through a combination of cash and new term loan debt .
Details of the deal that will save roughly 70,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerged last month during a bankruptcy hearing .
J.C. Penney , which even before the pandemic had struggled to compete with the likes of Amazon.com , Target and Walmart , became one of the largest retailers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year amid a wave of store closures forced by the spread of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. More than two dozen retailers have filed for bankruptcy protection since the pandemic closed stores , restaurants , gyms and other businesses across the country .
The Plano , Texas , retailer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stores in the next two years as it restructures , leaving just 600 locations open .

NEW YORK (AP) - J.C. Penney believes it will emerge from bankruptcy protection before Christmas under a new ownership agreement that would save tens of thousands of jobs.
The beleaguered, century-old retailer said Wednesday that it has filed a draft asset purchase agreement with the two biggest mall owners in the U.S. Substantially all of J.C. Penney’s retail and operating assets will be acquired by Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Simon Property Group through a combination of cash and new term loan debt.
Details of the deal that will save roughly 70,000 jobs and avert a total liquidation first emerged last month during a bankruptcy hearing.
J.C. Penney, which even before the pandemic had struggled to compete with the likes of Amazon.com, Target and Walmart, became one of the largest retailers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this year amid a wave of store closures forced by the spread of COVID-19 infections in the U.S.
More than two dozen retailers have filed for bankruptcy protection since the pandemic closed stores, restaurants, gyms and other businesses across the country.
The Plano, Texas, retailer will shed nearly a third of its stores in the next two years as it restructures, leaving just 600 locations open.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--LSU: $6M for engineering scholarships for working students

BATON ROUGE , La .
( AP ) - Louisiana State University has received $ 6 million to expand a scholarship program for engineering students who are working their way through school , a news release said Wednesday .
The gift from the late William Alfred “ Bill ” Brookshire ’ s family means the program he founded can help more than 300 students a year for the next three years , said Sara Whittaker , spokeswoman for the LSU Foundation .
She said more than 1,300 juniors and seniors have received S & B ; Engineers and Constructors Scholarships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It helps students who keep up at least a 2.5 grade point average while putting in at least 30 hours a week of combined coursework and employment , according to a news release .
“ Our father ’ s vision and legacy are honored each and every year by the exemplary hard work and perseverance of the Brookshire Scholars , ” the Brookshire family said in the news release .
Years before his death in 2017 , Brookshire told LSU : “ I think the whole thrust of my giving at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school and the community college was to support students working their way through school .
I want to help people who are helping themselves.
” The College of Engineering currently has 1,008 third-year and 1,572 fourth-year students enrolled , Whittaker said .
The donation is one of the largest given for LSU scholarships and is the largest such gift made for immediate use , the university said .

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana State University has received $6 million to expand a scholarship program for engineering students who are working their way through school, a news release said.
The gift from the late William Alfred “Bill” Brookshire’s family means the program he founded can help more than 300 students a year for the next three years, Sara Whittaker, spokeswoman for the LSU Foundation, said Tuesday.
She said more than 1,300 juniors and seniors have received S&B Engineers and Constructors Scholarships since the program began in 2010.
It helps students who keep up at least a 2.5 grade point average while putting in at least 30 hours a week of combined coursework and employment, according to a news release.
“Our father’s vision and legacy are honored each and every year by the exemplary hard work and perseverance of the Brookshire Scholars,” the Brookshire family said in the news release.
Years before his death in 2017, Brookshire told LSU: “I think the whole thrust of my giving at the University of Houston, LSU, my high school and the community college was to support students working their way through school. I want to help people who are helping themselves.”
The College of Engineering currently has 1,008 third-year and 1,572 fourth-year students enrolled, Whittaker said.
The donation is one of the largest given for LSU scholarships and is the largest such gift made for immediate use, the university said.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--The Latest: Bayern match to go ahead despite positive test

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world : UEFA says Bayern Munich will be able to play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League despite a positive coronavirus test for forward Serge Gnabry .
Bayern said Tuesday that the 25-year-old Gnabry was “ doing well ” and was in isolation at home .
He had trained with the rest of the team earlier that day .
UEFA says “ we can confirm that the Bayern game is going ahead as scheduled.
” UEFA rules say games can go ahead if a team has 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one goalkeeper .
Gnabry played for Germany in its Nations League game against Switzerland last Tuesday .
He also played in Bayern ’ s 4-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on Saturday .
The Spanish second-division soccer match between Alcorcón and Sabadell has been postponed after nine new coronavirus cases were found among Alcorcón players and staff members .
The Spanish league says two players were among those who tested positive ahead of Wednesday ’ s match .
Three other players and one staff member tested positive last week .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s match against Ponferradina on Sunday .
Alcorcón is in 19th place in the 22-team standings with four points from five matches .

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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Marquette University has paused all men’s and women’s basketball team activities for 14 days after each program received one positive COVID-19 test.
School officials said the most recent round of testing that took place Monday produced two positive results out of 45 tests of men’s and women’s basketball players as well as NCAA-defined Tier 1 team personnel. All individuals within Tier 1, which includes coaches, trainers, physical therapists, medical staff, equipment staff and other team personnel will quarantine for 14 days.
Marquette’s athletic department has conducted a total of 809 tests of athletes and staffers since Aug. 28. There have been eight positive cases.
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Swiss soccer club Sion says its entire first-team squad has been placed in quarantine and it asked the league to postpone its next two games.
Sion says players have to wait 10 days before returning to training, and it wants the league to postpone matches on the next two Sundays, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.
The 10-team Swiss top division already postponed one of its five scheduled games this weekend.
Basel will not play on Sunday because it has 10 players in quarantine and one player who tested positive for COVID-19 is self-isolating. Basel also had its game last weekend postponed. Both games have been rescheduled for November.
Switzerland has one of the fastest-rising infection rates in Europe.
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The Washington Football Team will allow only friends and family in attendance at FedEx Field on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, even after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan allowed teams to fill outdoor stadiums to 10% capacity.
A spokeswoman said there would be no change from Washington’s previous arrangement to not sell tickets to fans for this game at the stadium in Landover, Maryland. At 10% capacity, roughly 8,000 fans would be allowed, something that remains possible later this season.
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Toledo’s men’s basketball team has halted all activities after six players tested positive this week, the school said Wednesday.
The results came on Tuesday during regular weekly testing and a day after the school said coach Tod Kowalczyk had tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating for 10 days.
Those players who tested positive also will self-isolate, the university said.
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The Carolina Panthers have added kicker Joey Slye and offensive tackle Trent Scott to the COVID-19 reserve list, bringing their total number of players on the list to four.
Still, the Panthers practiced as normal Wednesday in preparation for their game Sunday at New Orleans.
Scott becomes the third reserve offensive lineman to be placed on the COVID-19/reserve list in the last six days, joining Tyler Larsen and Michael Schofield.
The moves don’t necessarily mean those players have tested positive; they could have come in close contact with someone who has tested positive. It’s unclear at this point if they’ll be cleared to play Sunday against the Saints. The Panthers don’t currently have a backup kicker on the roster or practice squad.
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Maria Torres has withdrawn from the LPGA Tour event in Georgia this week because her caddie tested positive for the coronavirus. Torres says she has no symptoms but is self-isolating because of their contact.
The LPGA also says a child care provider tested positive at the LPGA Drive On Championship-Reynolds Lake Oconee. The children in child care on Monday who had close contact with the teacher also are quarantined. The LPGA says based on CDC guidance, the players of the children are not considered contagious as “contacts of a contact and do not require isolation.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have started offering ticket packages that include their last five home games after a variance from the state that increases the number of fans allowed at Paul Brown Stadium.
Ohio now permits up to 12,000 people for games at the stadium, but the Bengals say actual capacity likely will be less because of social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions. The venue seats 65,535.
The 12,000 limit is double what was allowed for the Oct. 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The home opener on Sept. 13 against the Los Angeles Chargers was played without fans.
Ticket packages include games against the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals (1-4-1) play the AFC North rival Cleveland Browns (4-2) on Sunday in Cincinnati.
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Inter Milan defender Achraf Hakimi has tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the Champions League match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Hakimi was found to have the virus in the last round of tests ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Inter says Hakimi is “completely asymptomatic.”
Inter players Ashley Young, Alessandro Bastoni, Milan Škriniar, Radja Nainggolan, Roberto Gagliardini and Ionut Radu are all out with the virus.
Hakimi joined from Real Madrid in the offseason. He spent the previous two years on loan at Borussia Dortmund. The wing back has already been involved in several Inter goals.
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Wolfsburg says forward Josip Brekalo has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in isolation.
The club says the Croatian “is feeling good and is currently without symptoms.” The club also says the rest of the squad and coaching staff tested negative.
The isolation period will likely keep Brekalo out of Saturday’s game against Arminia Bielefeld.
Brekalo has scored once in four Bundesliga games this season for 13th-place Wolfsburg. He last played in Wolfsburg’s 1-1 draw with Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday.
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The United States won’t send a team to the world wrestling championships because of health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive committee of USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling, unanimously approved the proposal not to send a team to Belgrade, Serbia, for the Dec. 12-20 event.
“My heart breaks for our athletes, as nobody is more affected by this decision than they are,” said Veronica Carlson, executive committee member and chair of the USA Wrestling Athlete Advisory Committee. “In the same breath, abstaining from the 2020 World Championships is the right decision. I am proud that the athlete voice was solicited and considered through every step of this process. In choosing to make this decision now, versus delaying it, the athletes have time to recover and refocus on what is most important - the 2021 Olympic Games.”
United World Wrestling, the international federation for wrestling, announced Monday that its executive committee approved existing plans to host the event.
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UEFA says Bayern Munich will be able to play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League despite a positive coronavirus test for forward Serge Gnabry.
Bayern said Tuesday that the 25-year-old Gnabry was “doing well” and was in isolation at home. He had trained with the rest of the team earlier that day.
UEFA says “we can confirm that the Bayern game is going ahead as scheduled.”
UEFA rules say games can go ahead if a team has 13 available players. That includes at least one goalkeeper.
Gnabry played for Germany in its Nations League game against Switzerland last Tuesday. He also played in Bayern’s 4-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
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The Spanish second-division soccer match between Alcorcón and Sabadell has been postponed after nine new coronavirus cases were found among Alcorcón players and staff members.
The Spanish league says two players were among those who tested positive ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Three other players and one staff member tested positive last week. That prompted the suspension of the team’s match against Ponferradina on Sunday.
Alcorcón is in 19th place in the 22-team standings with four points from five matches.
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More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Syria president orders new tax breaks amid rising hardship

DAMASCUS , Syria ( AP ) - Syria ’ s president decreed a new income tax exemption on Wednesday intended to provide relief to low-income earners at a time of deepening economic hardship in the war-ravaged country .
The decree exempts those making 50,000 liras ( $ 40 ) a month or less from paying income tax .
The limit was previously set at 15,000 liras ( $ 12 ) .
It also reduced the level of taxes paid in the lowest bracket to 4 % from 5 % .
“ The new amendment reduces the tax burden on those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It was not clear how many people would benefit from the tax break .
The Syrian economy , already battered by years of conflict and corruption , has suffered in recent months from an unprecedented plunge in the value of the local currency .
That has led to increasing shortages of imported basic goods such as oil and wheat .
Economic activities were hard-hit by restrictions imposed to face the coronavirus pandemic .
The cash-strapped government has meanwhile progressively removed subsidies on fuel .
This week , the price of industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for vehicles were lifted .
Many Syrians are struggling to meet basic needs , with long lines outside bakeries while many shut down because of wheat shortages .
Rare protests against the government and corruption erupted last summer , reflecting rising public anger .
Syria has been under heavy U.S. and European sanctions for years .
The sanctions , most imposed because of the government ’ s bloody crackdown on protests in 2011 , have recently been tightened to include senior officials of the government of President Bashar Assad , as well as @ @ @

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syria’s president decreed a new income tax exemption Wednesday intended to provide relief to low-income earners at a time of deepening economic hardship in the war-ravaged country.
The decree exempts those making 50,000 liras ($40) a month or less from paying income tax. The limit was previously set at 15,000 liras ($12). It also reduced the level of taxes paid in the lowest bracket to 4% from 5%.
“The new amendment reduces the tax burden on those with low incomes,” the decree said.
It was not clear how many people would benefit from the tax break.
The Syrian economy, already battered by years of conflict and corruption, has suffered in recent months from an unprecedented plunge in the value of the local currency. That has led to increasing shortages of imported basic goods such as oil and wheat. Economic activities were hard-hit by restrictions imposed to face the coronavirus pandemic.
The cash-strapped government has meanwhile progressively removed subsidies on fuel. This week, the price of industrial fuel doubled as subsidies on high-octane fuel for vehicles were lifted.
Many Syrians are struggling to meet basic needs, with long lines outside bakeries while many shut down because of wheat shortages. Rare protests against the government and corruption erupted last summer, reflecting rising public anger.
Syria has been under heavy U.S. and European sanctions for years. The sanctions, most imposed because of the government’s bloody crackdown on protests in 2011, have recently been tightened to include senior officials of the government of President Bashar Assad, as well as family members.
Separately, Syrian state media reported an overnight rocket attack in the country’s south, blaming Israel. State news agency SANA said the rocket hit the roof of a school in southern Quneitra province, damaging the building. The attack took place shortly after midnight.
The Israeli army declined to comment. Israel rarely comments on reports in the Syrian media, but officials there have occasionally reported on their military campaign against Iranian and Iranian-backed fighters operating in Syria. Israel says it is bent on curbing Iran’s influence along its borders.
A Britain-based war monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the school was used by the Lebanese Hezbollah group and Iranians, who have a heavy presence in Quneitra.
Rami Abdurrahman, the head of the Observatory, said three people, including one Syrian, were believed killed in the attack. There was no word from the Syrian government on casualties.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Police: Virginia man stabbed 2 teens near middle school

CHESTERFIELD , Va. ( AP ) - A 46-year-old man has been accused of stabbing two teens during an altercation @ @ @ @ @ Virginia .
Responding officers found the victims , aged 17 and 18 , with stab @ @ @ @ @ by Carver Middle School Tuesday evening , Chesterfield County Police said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ hospital with non-life-threatening injuries .
Police then arrested Turon M. Savoy Sr. , an acquaintance @ @ @ @ @ charges of malicious wounding .
Savoy was jailed in Chesterfield County and it wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ had an attorney who could comment on his behalf .

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) - A 46-year-old man has been accused of stabbing two teens during an altercation near a middle school in Virginia.
Responding officers found the victims, aged 17 and 18, with stab wounds in a parking lot by Carver Middle School Tuesday evening, Chesterfield County Police said in a statement. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police then arrested Turon M. Savoy Sr., an acquaintance of the victims, on charges of malicious wounding. Savoy was jailed in Chesterfield County and it wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-10-21--Police: Woman, 59, killed in drive-by shooting while asleep

ATLANTA ( AP ) - Several shots were fired into an Atlanta apartment , killing a 59-year-old woman while she was asleep , authorities said .
Eva M. Jones was killed Tuesday morning at her apartment on Cleveland Avenue , news outlets reported .
Her death brings Atlanta ’ s homicide count up to 116 this year , making 2020 the deadliest year in the last decade .
Atlanta Police Lt. Pete Malecki said Jones was shot around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday and died after she was taken to the hospital .
Malecki said Jones was in her bedroom during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
He was not harmed .
Investigators found several bullets in the side of the lower-level unit .
Malecki said it appears the shots were fired from an elevated position , possibly on a nearby hill behind the apartment building .
A motive for the shooting wasn ’ t immediately released but Jones ’ niece , Mimi Hixson-Smith , told WSB-TV that she believes the intended target was Jones ’ boyfriend , although she wasn ’ t sure why someone would shoot him .
Hixson-Smith said Jones was going to celebrate her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone with information on the shooting , should call the office or CrimeStoppers .

ATLANTA (AP) - Several shots were fired into an Atlanta apartment, killing a 59-year-old woman while she was asleep, authorities said.
Eva M. Jones was killed Tuesday morning at her apartment on Cleveland Avenue, news outlets reported. Her death brings Atlanta’s homicide count up to 116 this year, making 2020 the deadliest year in the last decade.
Atlanta Police Lt. Pete Malecki said Jones was shot around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday and died after she was taken to the hospital.
Malecki said Jones was in her bedroom during the incident and her boyfriend was in another room. He was not harmed.
Investigators found several bullets in the side of the lower-level unit. Malecki said it appears the shots were fired from an elevated position, possibly on a nearby hill behind the apartment building.
A motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately released but Jones’ niece, Mimi Hixson-Smith, told WSB-TV that she believes the intended target was Jones’ boyfriend, although she wasn’t sure why someone would shoot him.
Hixson-Smith said Jones was going to celebrate her 60th birthday next month.
Police said anyone with information on the shooting, should call the office or CrimeStoppers.