washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Thousands protest in Berlin against coronavirus restrictions

BERLIN ( AP ) - Thousands of protesters against German coronavirus restrictions converged Saturday in Berlin for a demonstration proclaiming “ the end of the pandemic ” has arrived just as authorities voice increasing concern about an upturn in new infections .
A crowd of people whistling and cheering , and with few masks in sight , marched through downtown Berlin from the Brandenburg Gate ahead of a rally on a wide boulevard that runs through the city ’ s Tiergarten park .
Protesters held up home-made placards featuring slogans that included “ Corona , false alarm , ” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muzzle , ” “ Natural defense instead of vaccination ” and “ End the corona panic - bring fundamental rights back.
” They chanted , “ We ’ re here and we ’ re loud , because we are being robbed of our freedom.
” The demonstration , entitled “ The end of the pandemic — freedom day , ” was planned for weeks and drew people from various parts of Germany .
Police used bullhorns to chide participants to keep to distancing rules and to wear masks .
Previous protests against anti-virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendees , including conspiracy theorists and right-wing populists .
Germany ’ s management of the pandemic has been viewed as relatively successful .
The country ’ s death toll - just over 9,150 out of more than 210,670 confirmed virus cases as of Saturday - is lower than in comparable nations .
The German government has been easing lockdown measures since late April but social-distancing rules remain in place , as does a requirement to wear masks on public transit and in shops .
Officials have warned against complacency as the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They pleaded with Germans this week to observe the distancing and mask rules and , amid concern about residents bringing home infections from summer trips abroad , introduced free tests for people entering the country .
Germany ’ s national disease control center registered 955 new cases on Friday , a high figure by recent standards that underlined the upward trend .

BERLIN (AP) — Thousands protested Germany’s coronavirus restrictions Saturday in a Berlin demonstration marking what organizers called “the end of the pandemic” - a declaration that comes just as authorities are voicing increasing concerns about an uptick in new infections.
With few masks in sight, a dense crowd marched through downtown Berlin from the Brandenburg Gate.
Protesters who came from across the country held up homemade signs with slogans like “Corona, false alarm,” “We are being forced to wear a muzzle,” “Natural defense instead of vaccination” and “We are the second wave.”
They chanted, “We’re here and we’re loud, because we are being robbed of our freedom!”
Police used bullhorns to chide participants to adhere to social distancing rules and to wear masks, apparently with little success. They tweeted that they drew up a criminal complaint against the rally’s organizer for failing to enforce hygiene rules, then said shortly afterward that the organizer had ended the march.
Police estimated about 17,000 people turned out. The demonstrators were kept apart from counterprotesters, some of whom chanted “Nazis out!”
Protesters continued to a subsequent rally on a boulevard running through the city’s Tiergarten park, which police estimated drew 20,000 people. Police declared that event over as organizers again failed to get demonstrators to wear masks or keep their distance.
Protests against anti-virus restrictions in Germany have drawn a variety of attendees, including conspiracy theorists and right-wing populists.
Unlike the U.S., Brazil and Britain, Germany’s government has been praised worldwide for its management of the pandemic. The country’s death toll - just over 9,150 people out of more than 210,670 confirmed virus cases as of Saturday - is five times less than Britain’s, which has a smaller population.
The German government has been easing lockdown measures since late April but social distancing rules remain, as does a requirement to wear masks on public transit and in shops.
Officials have been warning against complacency as the number of new COVID-19 cases has crept up recently. Amid concerns about residents bringing home infections from summer trips abroad, officials introduced free tests for people entering the country.
Germany’s national disease control center registered 955 new cases Friday, a high figure by recent standards.
“Thousands of #covidiots are celebrating themselves in Berlin as ‘the second wave,’ without distancing, without masks,” tweeted Saskia Esken, a co-leader of the Social Democrats, the junior party in Germany’s governing coalition.
“They are not just endangering our health, they are endangering our success against the pandemic and for the revival of the economy, education and society. Irresponsible!”
___
Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Emirati nuclear plant successfully starts up first reactor

DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( AP ) - A nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates successfully started @ @ @ @ @ authorities said Saturday .
The Barakah nuclear power plant in the Emirates ’ far western @ @ @ @ @ Saudi Arabia reached what scientists called its “ first criticality ” on Friday .
That @ @ @ @ @ chain reaction within the reactor is self-sustaining .
The nuclear reactor ultimately will generate electricity @ @ @ @ @ country ’ s power grid .
The $ 20 billion Barakah nuclear power plant was @ @ @ @ @ the help of South Korea .
It ’ s the first nuclear power plant on @ @ @ @ @ U.S. has praised the Emirates ’ nuclear program for agreeing never to acquire enrichment or @ @ @ @ @ it from being able to make weapons-grade uranium .
The U.S. says that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ countries seeking nuclear power while also encouraging the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons .

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - A nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates successfully started up its first reactor, authorities said Saturday.
The Barakah nuclear power plant in the Emirates’ far western desert near the border with Saudi Arabia reached what scientists called its “first criticality” on Friday. That’s when the nuclear chain reaction within the reactor is self-sustaining.
The nuclear reactor ultimately will generate electricity and be connected to the country’s power grid.
The $20 billion Barakah nuclear power plant was built by the Emirates with the help of South Korea. It’s the first nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula.
The U.S. has praised the Emirates’ nuclear program for agreeing never to acquire enrichment or reprocessing capabilities, which prevents it from being able to make weapons-grade uranium. The U.S. says that’s a model agreement for other countries seeking nuclear power while also encouraging the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Iran says it detains leader of California-based exile group

TEHRAN , Iran ( AP ) - Iran on Saturday said it had detained a leader of a little-known California-based opposition group for allegedly planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others .
Iran ’ s Intelligence Ministry also alleged Jamshid Sharmahd of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran planned other attacks around the Islamic Republic amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S. over its collapsing 2015 nuclear deal with world powers .
It remains unclear how Sharmahd , whom Iran accused of running the opposition group ’ s Tondar militant wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Requests for comment sent by email to the Glendora-based Kingdom Assembly of Iran were not immediately answered and a telephone number for the group no longer worked .
Iranian state television broadcast a report on Sharmahd ’ s arrest , linking him to the 2008 bombing of the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada Mosque in Shiraz .
It also said his group was behind a 2010 bombing at Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ’ s mausoleum in Tehran that wounded several people .
The report also alleged without providing evidence that Tondar , or “ Thunder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a dam and planned to use cyanide bombs at Tehran ’ s annual book fair .
The Kingdom Assembly of Iran , known in Farsi as Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran , and Tondar seek to restore Iran ’ s monarchy , which ended when the fatally ill Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled the country in 1979 just before its Islamic Revolution .
The group ’ s founder disappeared in the mid-2000s .
Authorities did not elaborate on how they apprehended Sharmahd , though Iranian intelligence operatives in the past have used family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iran or friendly countries to be captured .
An alleged Iranian government operative who allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill Sharmahd disappeared in 2010 before facing trial in California , likely having returned to Iran .
While overshadowed by other exiled opposition groups , Iran reportedly brought up the Kingdom Assembly multiple times while negotiating the terms of the 2015 deal , which saw Tehran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions .
A statement attributed to Tondar claimed the assassination of an Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bomb , though it later said it wasn ’ t responsible .
Suspicion long has fallen on Israel for a string of assassinations targeting scientists amid concerns about Iran ’ s nuclear program , which the West fears could be used to develop a nuclear bomb .
Iran long has maintained its program is for peaceful purposes .
Sharmahd ’ s reported arrest comes as tensions remain inflamed by President Donald Trump ’ s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw America from the nuclear deal .
A series of incidents last year were capped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing a top Iranian general in Baghdad .
Iran responded by launching a ballistic missile attack on U.S. soldiers in Iraq that injured dozens .

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Saturday said it detained an Iranian-American leader of a little-known California-based militant opposition group for allegedly planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others.
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry also alleged Jamshid Sharmahd of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran planned other attacks around the Islamic Republic amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the U.S. over its collapsing 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
It was unclear how the 65-year-old Sharmahd, whom Iran accused of running the opposition group’s Tondar militant wing, ended up detained by intelligence officials. The Intelligence Ministry called it a “complex operation,” without elaborating. It published a purported picture of Sharmahd, blindfolded, on its website.
Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi later appeared on state TV, saying Sharmahd had been arrested in Iran, without elaborating.
Requests for comment sent by email to the Glendora-based Kingdom Assembly of Iran were not immediately answered and a telephone number for the group no longer worked.
The U.S. State Department, which mentioned how Sharmahd earlier had been targeted for assassination in a recent report called “Outlaw Regime: A Chronicle of Iran’s Destructive Activities,” acknowledged reports of his detention.
“The Iranian regime has a long history of detaining Iranians and foreign nationals on spurious charges,” the State Department said in a statement. “We urge Iran to be fully transparent and abide by all international legal standards.”
Iranian state television broadcast a report on Sharmahd’s arrest, linking him to the 2008 bombing of the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada Mosque in Shiraz. It also said his group was behind a 2010 bombing at Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran that wounded several people.
The report also alleged without providing evidence that Tondar, or “Thunder” in Farsi, plotted attacks on a dam and planned to use cyanide bombs at Tehran’s annual book fair.
State TV later aired footage of Sharmahd interspersed with footage from the moment of the 2008 explosion at the Shiraz mosque. Sharmahd’s face appeared swollen and the style of the footage resembled one of what a rights group has identified as over 350 coerced confessions aired by the broadcaster over the last decade.
The Intelligence Ministry has not said what charges Sharmahd will face. Prisoners earlier accused in the same attack were sentenced to death and executed.
The Kingdom Assembly of Iran, known in Farsi as Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran, and Tondar seek to restore Iran’s monarchy, which ended when the fatally ill Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled the country in 1979 just before its Islamic Revolution. The group’s founder disappeared in the mid-2000s.
Iranian intelligence operatives in the past have used family members and other tricks to lure targets back to Iran or friendly countries to be captured. An alleged Iranian government operative who allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill Sharmahd disappeared in 2010 before facing trial in California, likely having returned to Iran.
A 2010 U.S. diplomatic cable from London later published by WikiLeaks shows that a Voice of America commentator said that same operative earlier had been in contact with him. British anti-terror police later warned the commentator that he “had been targeted by the Iranian regime,” the cable said.
The two cases marked “a clear escalation in the regime’s attempts to intimidate critics outside its borders, and could have a chilling effect on journalists, academics and others in the West who until recently felt little physical threat from the regime,” the cable said.
Sharmahd last appeared in an online livestream video on Dec. 29, according to his group’s website, speaking in Farsi while sitting in a black chair in front of a black background.
“We are not only seeking the liberation of the homeland, but we are also moving towards a special direction, and that is to be Iranian,” Sharmahd said at one point in the video. “Because we have heard that once upon a time some people were living in the region who were able to build an empire.”
While overshadowed by other exiled opposition groups, Iran reportedly brought up the Kingdom Assembly multiple times while negotiating the terms of the 2015 deal, which saw Tehran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi reacted to the news by criticizing the U.S. for allowing Sharmahd and others to live in America.
The U.S. “must be responsible for supporting terrorist groups which are inside of this country and carry out and lead terrorist acts against the Iranian people,” state TV quoted Mousavi as saying.
A statement attributed to Tondar claimed the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist in 2010 by a remote-control bomb, though it later said it wasn’t responsible. Suspicion long has fallen on Israel for a string of assassinations targeting scientists amid concerns about Iran’s nuclear program, which the West fears could be used to develop a nuclear bomb. Iran long has maintained its program is for peaceful purposes.
Sharmahd’s reported arrest comes as tensions remain inflamed by President Donald Trump’s 2018 decision to unilaterally withdraw America from the nuclear deal. A series of incidents last year were capped by a U.S. drone strike in January killing a top Iranian general in Baghdad. Iran responded by launching a ballistic missile attack on U.S. soldiers in Iraq that injured dozens.
___
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Crane collapses in Indian shipyard, killing 11 workers

HYDERABAD , India ( AP ) - A huge crane collapsed during load testing at a government-run shipyard in southern @ @ @ @ @ at least 11 workers , a district administrator said .
Television footage showed the new @ @ @ @ @ full force and breaking into pieces at the Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam , a port @ @ @ @ @ .
Vinay Chand , a district government administrator , said most of the victims were @ @ @ @ @ were hospitalized with injuries , he said , adding that the crane collapsed on workers @ @ @ @ @ or standing nearby The cause of the accident is being investigated , Chand said .
@ @ @ @ @ 385 miles ) east of Hyderabad , the state capital .
In another accident in @ @ @ @ @ , a gas leak in a South Korean-owned chemical factory killed 12 people and sickened @ @ @ @

HYDERABAD, India (AP) - A huge crane collapsed during load testing at a government-run shipyard in southern India on Saturday, killing at least 11 workers, a district administrator said.
Television footage showed the new crane hitting the ground with full force and breaking into pieces at the Hindustan Shipyard in Vishakhapatnam, a port city in Andhra Pradesh state.
Vinay Chand, a district government administrator, said most of the victims were contract laborers. Five workers were hospitalized with injuries, he said, adding that the crane collapsed on workers who were working on it or standing nearby
The cause of the accident is being investigated, Chand said.
Vishakhapatnam is 620 kilometers (385 miles) east of Hyderabad, the state capital.
In another accident in the port city in May, a gas leak in a South Korean-owned chemical factory killed 12 people and sickened more than 1,000.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Samsung, Apple to boost cellphone manufacturing in India

NEW DELHI ( AP ) - Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea ’ s Samsung have applied @ @ @ @ @ in India under a $ 6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government , a @ @ @ @ @ scheme will extend cash incentives of 4-6 % for five years on incremental sales of @ @ @ @ @ 2019-2020 as the base year , Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters The international @ @ @ @ @ applied under the scheme are Samsung , Rising Star and three Apple contract manufacturers - @ @ @ @ @ and Pegatron .
Prasad said the scheme is expected to increase Apple ’ s and @ @ @ @ @ manifold in India .
Nearly two dozen Indian and international companies in the cellphone segment @ @ @ @ @ , which is expected to generate 300,000 direct jobs in the country , Prasad said @

NEW DELHI (AP) - Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea’s Samsung have applied for large-scale electronics manufacturing rights in India under a $6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government, a minister said Saturday.
The scheme will extend cash incentives of 4-6% for five years on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India with 2019-2020 as the base year, Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters
The international cellphone manufacturing companies that have applied under the scheme are Samsung, Rising Star and three Apple contract manufacturers - Foxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron.
Prasad said the scheme is expected to increase Apple’s and Samsung’s manufacturing base manifold in India.
Nearly two dozen Indian and international companies in the cellphone segment have applied for the scheme, which is expected to generate 300,000 direct jobs in the country, Prasad said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Finger Lakes area expects economic hit from cancelled race

WATKINS GLEN , N.Y. ( AP ) - Business owners and local officials predicted the decision to cancel the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International later this month will be a major economic loss for the Finger Lakes region of New York .
NASCAR and Watkins Glen International have cited coronavirus-related health regulations and logistics issues for the decision to move the event to the Daytona International Speedway road course in Florida .
It was scheduled to take place Aug. 13-16 .
Schuyler County Administrator Timothy O ’ Hearn told the Poughkeepsie Journal the NASCAR weekend generates about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ region .
It ’ s the biggest event at the speedway and typically attracts up to 100,000 people .
“ The loss of NASCAR plus the loss of state aid plus a drop in tourism , it ’ s been a perfect storm for us , ” O ’ Hearn said .
“ It ’ s impossible to replace the loss of NASCAR .
It could result in 20 % of our revenue , as much as $ 2 million , in direct sales tax loss .
We ’ re most dependent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kamala Keeley , president of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce , said the weekend has been important to the hospitality industry , local restaurants , retailers , service industries and the Elmira Corning Regional Airport .
“ Watkins Glen is one of the most popular locations for NASCAR and the races are a sellout event , generating significant sales tax and room tax , ” Keeley said .
“ Although we understand moving the race to Daytona this year was a necessary decision given the current circumstances , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing that annual boost to local economies , ” she said .
The speedway announced Saturday that a sports car race that had been rescheduled for September will now be moved to Georgia “ as a result of the ongoing pandemic and its impact on the state of New York .
”

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) - Business owners and local officials predicted the decision to cancel the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International later this month will be a major economic loss for the Finger Lakes region of New York.
NASCAR and Watkins Glen International have cited coronavirus-related health regulations and logistics issues for the decision to move the event to the Daytona International Speedway road course in Florida. It was scheduled to take place Aug. 13-16.
Schuyler County Administrator Timothy O’Hearn told the Poughkeepsie Journal the NASCAR weekend generates about $50 million in revenue for the region. It’s the biggest event at the speedway and typically attracts up to 100,000 people.
“The loss of NASCAR plus the loss of state aid plus a drop in tourism, it’s been a perfect storm for us,” O’Hearn said. “It’s impossible to replace the loss of NASCAR. It could result in 20% of our revenue, as much as $2 million, in direct sales tax loss. We’re most dependent on tourism and its impact on our economy.”
Kamala Keeley, president of the Chemung County Chamber of Commerce, said the weekend has been important to the hospitality industry, local restaurants, retailers, service industries and the Elmira Corning Regional Airport.
“Watkins Glen is one of the most popular locations for NASCAR and the races are a sellout event, generating significant sales tax and room tax,” Keeley said.
“Although we understand moving the race to Daytona this year was a necessary decision given the current circumstances, it’s no doubt our entire region will be missing that annual boost to local economies,” she said.
The speedway announced Saturday that a sports car race that had been rescheduled for September will now be moved to Georgia “as a result of the ongoing pandemic and its impact on the state of New York.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Reports: Text to Pac-12 players encourages possible opt-out

A text message circulating among Pac-12 football players is encouraging them to opt-out of practices and games until they can negotiate protections and benefits related to health and safety , economic rights and the fight against racial injustice .
ESPN first reported the possible movement among players at multiple Pac-12 schools and The Athletic published the text invitation .
The text says a public announcement , along with a list of demands , will be published Monday through The Players Tribune and social media platforms .
“ Our goals is obtain a written contract with the Pac-12 that legally ensures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits.
” I The Pac-12 on Friday announced its plan to delay the start of the season to Sept. 26 and play only 10 conference games in an attempt manage potential disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic .
The states of California and Arizona , home to half the Pac-12 teams , have experienced some some of the worst surges in coronvirus cases over the last month .
The Pac-12 approved a plan that will allow teams in the conference to start 20 hours per week of team activities , including weight training , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Preseason practice in the Pac-12 is scheduled to start Aug. 17 , but currently Southern California , UCLA and California are operating under local restrictions that would prevent their football teams from practicing .
“ Neither the Conference nor our university athletics departments have been contacted by this group regarding these topics , ” the Pac-12 said in a statement .
“ We support our student-athletes using their voices , and have regular communications with our student-athletes at many different levels on a range of topics .
As we have clearly stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are , and always will be , directed by medical experts with health , safety and well being of our student athletes , coaches and staff always the first priority .
We have made it clear that any student who chooses not to return to competition for health and safety reasons will have their scholarship protected.
” Also on Saturday , The Washington Post reported on a meeting between player representatives from Southeastern Conference teams and the league ’ s commissioner , Greg Sankey , and medial advisers .
The Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ For so much unknown in the air right now , is it worth having a football season without certainty ?
” an unidentified player asked .
Sankey responded : “ Part of our work is to bring as much certainty in the midst of this really strange time as we can so you can play football in the most healthy way possible , with the understanding there aren ’ t any guarantees in life .
”

A text message circulating among Pac-12 football players is encouraging them to opt-out of practices and games until they can negotiate protections and benefits related to health and safety, economic rights and the fight against racial injustice.
ESPN first reported the possible movement among players at multiple Pac-12 schools and The Athletic published the text invitation. The text says a public announcement, along with a list of demands, will be published Monday through The Players Tribune and social media platforms.
“Our goals is obtain a written contract with the Pac-12 that legally ensures we are offered the following protections and benefits.” I
Listed are:
- Ensure safe play during COVID-19
- Fight racial injustice
- Secure economic rights and fair compensation
- Protect all sports
- Obtain long-term health insurance
The Pac-12 on Friday announced its plan to delay the start of the season to Sept. 26 and play only 10 conference games in an attempt manage potential disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The states of California and Arizona, home to half the Pac-12 teams, have experienced some some of the worst surges in coronvirus cases over the last month.
The Pac-12 approved a plan that will allow teams in the conference to start 20 hours per week of team activities, including weight training, meetings and noncontact practices known as walk-throughs. Preseason practice in the Pac-12 is scheduled to start Aug. 17, but currently Southern California, UCLA and California are operating under local restrictions that would prevent their football teams from practicing.
“Neither the Conference nor our university athletics departments have been contacted by this group regarding these topics,” the Pac-12 said in a statement. “We support our student-athletes using their voices, and have regular communications with our student-athletes at many different levels on a range of topics. As we have clearly stated with respect to our fall competition plans, we are, and always will be, directed by medical experts with health, safety and well being of our student athletes, coaches and staff always the first priority. We have made it clear that any student who chooses not to return to competition for health and safety reasons will have their scholarship protected.”
Also on Saturday, The Washington Post reported on a meeting between player representatives from Southeastern Conference teams and the league’s commissioner, Greg Sankey, and medial advisers. The Post obtained an audio recording of the meeting.
“For so much unknown in the air right now, is it worth having a football season without certainty?” an unidentified player asked.
Sankey responded: “Part of our work is to bring as much certainty in the midst of this really strange time as we can so you can play football in the most healthy way possible, with the understanding there aren’t any guarantees in life.”
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Maryland gov. criticizes online-only private school order

ANNAPOLIS , Md .
( AP ) - Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan on Saturday criticized an order by the health officer for the state ’ s most populous county that requires private schools to remain closed for in-person instruction through Oct. 1 and to conduct online-only classes due to the coronavirus .
Hogan wrote on Twitter that he “ strongly ” disagreed with the decision taken in Montgomery County , a suburb of the nation ’ s capital .
“ As long as these schools develop safe plans that follow ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ) and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do what ’ s best for their community , ” Hogan , a Republican , wrote .
“ This is a decision for schools and parents , not politicians.
” Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles , who issued the order late Friday , said it will be reevaluated before Oct. 1 to determine whether it should be extended , terminated or changed in any way .
Gayles noted there have been increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 in Maryland , the District of Columbia and Virginia , particularly in younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 pandemic , we have based our decisions on science and data , ” Gayles said in a news release announcing the decision .
“ At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers.
” Montgomery County , which has more than 1 million residents , has had 17,665 confirmed cases of the coronavirus - the second highest in a Maryland jurisdiction - and 750 people have died from the virus in the county .
Maryland reported Saturday that there have been 89,365 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
Of them , 8,528 cases have been confirmed in people 19 years of age or younger .
Maryland has reported a total of 3,374 deaths from the virus statewide .
Montgomery County Public Schools recently announced they would open virtually for the fall semester , along with other public school systems in the region .

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Saturday criticized an order by the health officer for the state’s most populous county that requires private schools to remain closed for in-person instruction through Oct. 1 and to conduct online-only classes due to the coronavirus.
Hogan wrote on Twitter that he “strongly” disagreed with the decision taken in Montgomery County, a suburb of the nation’s capital.
“As long as these schools develop safe plans that follow (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and state guidelines, they should be empowered to do what’s best for their community,” Hogan, a Republican, wrote. “This is a decision for schools and parents, not politicians.”
Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles, who issued the order late Friday, said it will be reevaluated before Oct. 1 to determine whether it should be extended, terminated or changed in any way. Gayles noted there have been increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, particularly in younger age groups.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have based our decisions on science and data,” Gayles said in a news release announcing the decision. “At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers.”
Montgomery County, which has more than 1 million residents, has had 17,665 confirmed cases of the coronavirus - the second highest in a Maryland jurisdiction - and 750 people have died from the virus in the county.
Maryland reported Saturday that there have been 89,365 confirmed cases of the virus in the state. Of them, 8,528 cases have been confirmed in people 19 years of age or younger. Maryland has reported a total of 3,374 deaths from the virus statewide.
Montgomery County Public Schools recently announced they would open virtually for the fall semester, along with other public school systems in the region.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Ceremony to mark 10th anniversary of CT workplace shooting

MANCHESTER , Conn. ( AP ) - A quiet ceremony is planned to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2010 @ @ @ @ @ in Manchester , where a disgruntled employee killed eight co-workers and seriously injured two others @ @ @ @ @ , family and employees are expected to meet Monday at the facility at 7 a.m @ @ @ @ @ scheduled to begin at 7:21 a.m. , the same time the shooting began on what @ @ @ @ @ picture perfect ” summer day .
There will be eight seconds of silence to honor @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s deadliest workplace shooting , the Journal Inquirer of Manchester reported Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ to honor his late brother Bryan , who was a union president at the distribution @ @ @ @ @ who also died that morning .
“ It ’ s a healing day for everybody @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s stressful getting there , but once we ’ re there it @ @ @ @ @ day .
”

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) - A quiet ceremony is planned to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2010 mass shooting at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, where a disgruntled employee killed eight co-workers and seriously injured two others before killing himself.
Friends, family and employees are expected to meet Monday at the facility at 7 a.m. The low-key memorial is scheduled to begin at 7:21 a.m., the same time the shooting began on what was described as a “picture perfect” summer day.
There will be eight seconds of silence to honor each person killed in the state’s deadliest workplace shooting, the Journal Inquirer of Manchester reported Saturday.
Joseph Cirigliano said he plans to honor his late brother Bryan, who was a union president at the distribution company, and the others who also died that morning.
“It’s a healing day for everybody,” he said. “It’s stressful getting there, but once we’re there it’s definitely a healing day.”
T


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Nick Kyrgios won't play US Open due to coronavirus concerns

SYDNEY ( AP ) - Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of concerns over the coronavirus and in honor of the “ hundreds and thousands of Americans ” who have died from COVID-19 .
Kyrgios said in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had no problem with the United States Tennis Association proceeding with its plans to hold the tournament from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13 .
But he cited health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic as he joined fellow Australian and world No .
1 Ash Barty in opting out of the Flushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be playing this year at the U.S. Open .
It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sport ’ s greatest arenas , Arthur Ashe Stadium , ” Kyrgios said in the video .
“ But I ’ m sitting out for the people , for my Aussies , for the hundreds and thousands of Americans that have lost their lives , for all of you .
It ’ s my decision.
” “ We can rebuild our sport and the economy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never recover lives lost.
” Kyrgios also criticized players who have continued to play exhibition tournaments , chastising them for “ dancing on tables , money grabbing your way around Europe , trying to make a quick buck hosting an exhibition .
”

SYDNEY (AP) - Nick Kyrgios has withdrawn from the U.S. Open because of concerns over the coronavirus and in honor of the “hundreds and thousands of Americans” who have died from COVID-19.
Kyrgios said in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had no problem with the United States Tennis Association proceeding with its plans to hold the tournament from Aug. 31 to Sept. 13. But he cited health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic as he joined fellow Australian and world No. 1 Ash Barty in opting out of the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam tournament.
“I will not be playing this year at the U.S. Open. It hurts me at my core not to be out there competing in one of the sport’s greatest arenas, Arthur Ashe Stadium,” Kyrgios said in the video. “But I’m sitting out for the people, for my Aussies, for the hundreds and thousands of Americans that have lost their lives, for all of you. It’s my decision.”
“We can rebuild our sport and the economy,” Kyrgios adds, “but we can never recover lives lost.”
Kyrgios also criticized players who have continued to play exhibition tournaments in the past several months, chastising them for “dancing on tables, money grabbing your way around Europe, trying to make a quick buck hosting an exhibition.”
There have been a number of exhibition events held, the most high-profile one organized by No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic. It was held in several countries and photographs of spectators at the events showed poor social distancing.
Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov and Borna Coric later tested positive to COVID-19. Kyrgios described the decision to go ahead with the exhibition as “boneheaded,” saying people had to stick to the protocols.
On Thursday, Barty said she did not feel comfortable about traveling during the pandemic. She will decide in the coming weeks whether to defend her French Open title. The Roland Garros tournament starts on Sept. 27.
___
More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Remains of WWII pilot returned to family in northern Nevada

RENO , Nev. ( AP ) - The remains of a World War II pilot whose aircraft was shot down @ @ @ @ @ to his family in northern Nevada .
Italian citizens near the town of Bolzano later @ @ @ @ @ and the apparent gravesite .
The remains were recovered in 2017 and identified last year @ @ @ @ @ S. Twedt , the Nevada Army National Guard said Friday .
Twedt ’ s only @ @ @ @ @ was at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Friday as the remains arrived .
He was @ @ @ @ @ father died in a mission to attack oil targets in Germany .
William Twedt said @ @ @ @ @ out hope that her husband was alive , possibly suffering from memory loss after the @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s really hit me yet , @ @ @ @ @ neat that I can have him near , ” he told KOLO-TV in Reno .
@ @ @ @ @ Saturday , Aug. 8 at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley .

RENO, Nev. (AP) - The remains of a World War II pilot whose aircraft was shot down over Italy have been returned to his family in northern Nevada.
Italian citizens near the town of Bolzano later came across the plane wreckage and the apparent gravesite. The remains were recovered in 2017 and identified last year as Army 2nd Lt. Lowell S. Twedt, the Nevada Army National Guard said Friday.
Twedt’s only son, William Twedt, was at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Friday as the remains arrived. He was 5 years old when his father died in a mission to attack oil targets in Germany.
William Twedt said his late grandmother always held out hope that her husband was alive, possibly suffering from memory loss after the crash and wandering around Italy.
“I don’t think it’s really hit me yet, but it’s really neat that I can have him near,” he told KOLO-TV in Reno.
Lowell Twedt will be reburied Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Alabama school system using foggers to sanitize campuses

CLANTON , Ala. ( AP ) - An Alabama school system is using a new cleaning tool to combat the coronavirus , without having to scrub desks , chairs and chalkboards .
WBRC-TV reports that Chilton County School custodians will be armed with 18 backpack decontamination foggers for the 16 school buildings .
The custodians will be trained on how to use them next week .
“ The foggers are a game changer as far as sanitizing , ” Chilton County School Maintenance Director Freddy Smith said .
“ It ’ s got a 5-minute COVID kill , that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Smith said the foggers usually are used in agriculture farming , but are safe to use around students .
He plans for custodians to spray bathrooms , common areas and door handles after every class change .
“ Anytime that you take a chemical and atomize it out of a fogger , it ’ s more effective and doesn ’ t take near as much chemical , ” Smith said .
The school system bought the foggers at $ 500 each using federal coronavirus aid dollars .
For most people , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For some , especially older adults and those with existing health problems , it can cause more severe or fatal illness .
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

CLANTON, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama school system is using a new cleaning tool to combat the coronavirus, without having to scrub desks, chairs and chalkboards.
WBRC-TV reports that Chilton County School custodians will be armed with 18 backpack decontamination foggers for the 16 school buildings. The custodians will be trained on how to use them next week.
“The foggers are a game changer as far as sanitizing,” Chilton County School Maintenance Director Freddy Smith said. “It’s got a 5-minute COVID kill, that’s what you’re looking at.”
Smith said the foggers usually are used in agriculture farming, but are safe to use around students. He plans for custodians to spray bathrooms, common areas and door handles after every class change.
“Anytime that you take a chemical and atomize it out of a fogger, it’s more effective and doesn’t take near as much chemical,” Smith said.
The school system bought the foggers at $500 each using federal coronavirus aid dollars.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe or fatal illness.
___
Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--New Mexico reports 210 more coronavirus cases, nine deaths

SANTA FE , N.M. ( AP ) - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New Mexico increased by 210 and deaths by nine on Saturday , state health officials reported .
The deaths included three residents of Bernalillo County , two in Dona Ana County , and one each in Eddy , Lea , McKinley and San Juan counties .
Most were in their 70s and 80s .
The state ’ s total number of deaths since the pandemic began is 651 .
Lea , McKinley and Luna counties had the highest numbers of coronavirus cases per capita in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering .
De Baca county is the only one of the state ’ s 33 counties without a confirmed case .
In all , New Mexico has recorded 20,796 positive coronavirus cases .
The 7-day rolling average of daily infections has increased over the past two weeks by 11 % , according to the AP analysis .
For most people , the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , especially those who are older or have underlying health conditions , it can cause more severe illness and death .
The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover .

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in New Mexico increased by 210 and deaths by nine on Saturday, state health officials reported.
The deaths included three residents of Bernalillo County, two in Dona Ana County, and one each in Eddy, Lea, McKinley and San Juan counties. Most were in their 70s and 80s. The state’s total number of deaths since the pandemic began is 651.
Lea, McKinley and Luna counties had the highest numbers of coronavirus cases per capita in New Mexico over the past two weeks, according to an Associated Press analysis of data collected by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
De Baca county is the only one of the state’s 33 counties without a confirmed case. In all, New Mexico has recorded 20,796 positive coronavirus cases.
The 7-day rolling average of daily infections has increased over the past two weeks by 11%, according to the AP analysis.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.
For some people who contract the virus, especially those who are older or have underlying health conditions, it can cause more severe illness and death. The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Oregon to offer quicker benefits to unemployed workers

PORTLAND , Ore. ( AP ) - Oregon officials said Friday that an administrative change will enable the state to offer early prepayments to “ tens of thousands ” of unemployed workers waiting to have their claims adjudicated .
The state ’ s adjudication process has been clogged by a backlog that typically runs between 12 and 16 weeks , leaving many newly jobless Oregonians without income for months during the coronavirus pandemic , The Oregonian/OregonLive reported .
Qualifying workers will receive prepayments while their claims work through the adjudication process .
They will have to pay the money back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the state says it chose participants who are likely to have claims approved .
The prepayments will still take “ several weeks , ” according to David Gerstenfeld , the Oregon Employment Department ’ s interim director .
“ We think that it will help a lot of people but it will still take some time , ” Gerstenfeld said .
Unemployed workers may face claims adjudication for many reasons including if they have left the state or if they have been laid off by a school district from jobs that typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it will notify employees who qualify for the adjudication prepayments by email or robocall .
There is no process to apply to participate in the new program .
The department , wrestling with outdated technology , says it has been unable to determine how many people are waiting for adjudication .
But it says the total is large .
Many of those workers will receive payments for several thousand dollars in backlogged claims .
Inundated by more than 650,000 jobless claims since the state ’ s COVID-19 shutdown began in March , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dates to 1993 , the employment department has struggled to pay benefits throughout the pandemic .

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Oregon officials said Friday that an administrative change will enable the state to offer early prepayments to “tens of thousands” of unemployed workers waiting to have their claims adjudicated.
The state’s adjudication process has been clogged by a backlog that typically runs between 12 and 16 weeks, leaving many newly jobless Oregonians without income for months during the coronavirus pandemic, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
Qualifying workers will receive prepayments while their claims work through the adjudication process. They will have to pay the money back if Oregon ultimately denies their claims, but the state says it chose participants who are likely to have claims approved.
The prepayments will still take “several weeks,” according to David Gerstenfeld, the Oregon Employment Department’s interim director.
“We think that it will help a lot of people but it will still take some time,” Gerstenfeld said.
Unemployed workers may face claims adjudication for many reasons including if they have left the state or if they have been laid off by a school district from jobs that typically continue through the summer.
The state says it will notify employees who qualify for the adjudication prepayments by email or robocall. There is no process to apply to participate in the new program.
Email notifications began going out Friday.
The department, wrestling with outdated technology, says it has been unable to determine how many people are waiting for adjudication. But it says the total is large. Many of those workers will receive payments for several thousand dollars in backlogged claims.
Inundated by more than 650,000 jobless claims since the state’s COVID-19 shutdown began in March, and grappling with a computer system that dates to 1993, the employment department has struggled to pay benefits throughout the pandemic.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Navajo lawmakers pass massive virus relief spending bill

WINDOW ROCK , Ariz. ( AP ) - Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation have approved a massive spending bill to respond to the coronavirus pandemic that includes money for water projects , power lines , broadband and casino employees who have been laid off .
The Navajo Nation Council passed the nearly $ 651 million in spending late Friday after discussing it for more than 28 hours in a special session over three days .
The money comes from the Navajo Nation ’ s share of $ 8 billion federal coronavirus relief funding that was set aside for tribes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought to the service all the underlying , systemic challenges like lack of running water and access to electricity that are common throughout the Navajo Nation , ” council Speaker Seth Damon said Saturday .
“ This legislation begins to directly address those obstacles we face , as Navajo people , in protecting the health of our own homes and communities.
” Navajo President Jonathan Nez has 10 days to act on the measure once it reaches him .
It ’ s unclear whether he ’ ll keep the legislation intact .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill but not in the exact amounts he outlined to lawmakers .
Nez previously signed off on about $ 60 million in spending but vetoed $ 70 million in proposed spending .
The tribe received more than $ 714 million from the Coronavirus Aid , Relief and Economic Security Act .
With the measure approved Friday , about $ 1.15 million remains .
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise is relying on $ 24 million in the tribal legislation to put hundreds of casino employees back on the payroll .
The tribe ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a travel center and resort casino in northern Arizona remain closed .
The enterprise continued paying its employees but nearly exhausted its cash reserves after 19 weeks .
About 900 people were told Monday they no longer would get a paycheck .
Another 125 people are scheduled to be laid off in the coming days .
The casinos and much of the tribal government is shut down until at least mid-August .
Residents on the reservation that extends into New Mexico , Arizona and Utah are required to wear masks when out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curfews and weekend lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The tribe reported 36 additional cases of COVID-19 late Friday and two more deaths , bringing the total number of people infected to 9,055 .
Health officials said 6,677 have recovered .
The death toll was 456 .
The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover .
For some people it causes mild or moderate symptoms , such as fever and cough .
For some people who contract the virus , especially those who are older or have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more severe illness and death .

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) - Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation have approved a massive spending bill to respond to the coronavirus pandemic that includes money for water projects, power lines, broadband and casino employees who have been laid off.
The Navajo Nation Council passed the nearly $651 million in spending late Friday after discussing it for more than 28 hours in a special session over three days. The money comes from the Navajo Nation’s share of $8 billion federal coronavirus relief funding that was set aside for tribes.
“This was a collective effort that brought to the service all the underlying, systemic challenges like lack of running water and access to electricity that are common throughout the Navajo Nation,” council Speaker Seth Damon said Saturday. “This legislation begins to directly address those obstacles we face, as Navajo people, in protecting the health of our own homes and communities.”
Navajo President Jonathan Nez has 10 days to act on the measure once it reaches him. It’s unclear whether he’ll keep the legislation intact. Many of his proposals are reflected in the bill but not in the exact amounts he outlined to lawmakers.
Nez previously signed off on about $60 million in spending but vetoed $70 million in proposed spending.
The tribe received more than $714 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. With the measure approved Friday, about $1.15 million remains.
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise is relying on $24 million in the tribal legislation to put hundreds of casino employees back on the payroll. The tribe’s three casinos in New Mexico, and a travel center and resort casino in northern Arizona remain closed.
The enterprise continued paying its employees but nearly exhausted its cash reserves after 19 weeks. About 900 people were told Monday they no longer would get a paycheck. Another 125 people are scheduled to be laid off in the coming days.
The casinos and much of the tribal government is shut down until at least mid-August. Residents on the reservation that extends into New Mexico, Arizona and Utah are required to wear masks when out in public. The tribe also has daily curfews and weekend lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The tribe reported 36 additional cases of COVID-19 late Friday and two more deaths, bringing the total number of people infected to 9,055. Health officials said 6,677 have recovered. The death toll was 456.
The vast majority of people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 recover. For some people it causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.
For some people who contract the virus, especially those who are older or have underlying health conditions, it can cause more severe illness and death.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--North Carolina prepares for Isaias

North Carolina prepares for Isaias

RALEIGH , N.C. ( AP ) - North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper urged state residents on Saturday to be prepared for Isaias , which weakened to a tropical storm but was expected to regain hurricane strength as it nears Florida .
“ As we learned with Hurricane Florence , even a category one storm can bring severe impacts , and we should not take this lightly , ” Cooper said .
Cooper authorized the activation of up to 150 members of the state ’ s National Guard on Saturday in case they are needed for hurricane response .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start impacting North Carolina on Monday , the governor ’ s office says dangerous rip currents are already occurring along the coastline now .
As of midday Saturday , local officials had ordered evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands , Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach .
“ North Carolina will feel impacts from this storm , ” said Mike Sprayberry , the state ’ s emergency management director .
“ No one should take this lightly.
” While the path of the storm ’ s center remains uncertain , state and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Carolina with sustained winds of 70 mph on Monday , the governor ’ s office said , particularly affecting communities along Interstate 95 and eastward .

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper urged state residents on Saturday to be prepared for Isaias, which weakened to a tropical storm but was expected to regain hurricane strength as it nears Florida.
“As we learned with Hurricane Florence, even a category one storm can bring severe impacts, and we should not take this lightly,” Cooper said.
Cooper authorized the activation of up to 150 members of the state’s National Guard on Saturday in case they are needed for hurricane response.
While the National Hurricane Center says Isaias should start impacting North Carolina on Monday, the governor’s office says dangerous rip currents are already occurring along the coastline now.
As of midday Saturday, local officials had ordered evacuations for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, Ocean Isle Beach and Holden Beach.
“North Carolina will feel impacts from this storm,” said Mike Sprayberry, the state’s emergency management director. “No one should take this lightly.”
While the path of the storm’s center remains uncertain, state and local officials are preparing for impacts in Eastern North Carolina with sustained winds of 70 mph on Monday, the governor’s office said, particularly affecting communities along Interstate 95 and eastward.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--State says Montana rental assistance program largely unused

HELENA , Mont .
( AP ) - Montana set aside $ 50 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to help people make their rent or mortgage payments during the economic upheaval caused by coronavirus .
But through the end of July the program has paid out just over $ 1.2 million , about 2.4 % of the available funds , state figures show .
So far , about 750 Montana residents have submitted valid applications for the funding , a fraction of the 131,000 who have applied for unemployment at some point since mid-March as the pandemic ravaged the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pinpoint exactly why the program isn ’ t being used more , though Montana Department of Commerce spokeswoman Emilie Ritter Saunders said one of the holdups is that a few landlords are not providing information the state needs to process the claims .
John Sinrud , a lobbyist for the Montana Landlords Association , countered that some tenants who could use the help aren ’ t seeking the assistance , and that state policies put up roadblocks .
The limited participation in the program has led Gov .
Steve Bullock ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aware of the money while also acknowledging it might need to reallocate the funds to other programs .
Montana , with just over a million residents , set aside more money than several larger states .
Connecticut has a $ 10 million rental assistance fund for 3.5 million residents and Florida has a $ 5 million fund for 21.5 million people .
Montana , however , is cautious about shifting the funds too soon because it ’ s bracing for an increased need with the end of the $ 600 weekly boost in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions , the governor ’ s office said .
Scott Banderob of Bozeman applied for the emergency housing assistance in late May after he lost his job with a painting company .
The state has approved his application , but his landlord in California , who Banderob pays through a property manager , won ’ t fill out a tax form that ’ s required to receive the payment , he and Saunders said .
“ They want their money for rent , but they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Banderob said about the assistance funds .
“ When they made these funds available , they should have made these landlords have to take it.
” The Nemelka Law Firm , which represents the landlord , did not return a phone message seeking comment on the reason Banderob ’ s landlord isn ’ t working with the housing assistance program .
“ There is no legal way to force the landlord to cooperate and accept the money , ” said Amy Hall , a housing attorney with the Montana Legal Services Association .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns and held a garage sale to raise money while someone at his granddaughter ’ s school paid their rent for one month on the three-bedroom apartment he shares with his son and granddaughter .
His son is on blood-thinning medication due to a clotting disorder diagnosed 18 months ago and has been unable to work , Banderob said .
The emergency housing assistance program provides rent , security deposit and mortgage payment help for Montana residents who have lost a job or substantial income as a result of the pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ monthly gross income toward their rent or mortgage and the assistance program will pay the rest , up to $ 2,000 a month .
There are income and asset limits for eligibility .
The current approved but unspent payments total about $ 560,000 on behalf of 237 renters in Montana , Saunders said .
The agency is calling and emailing the landlords and property managers to try to obtain the information needed to send payments .
Fewer than a dozen landlords have refused to sign the required tax form , Saunders said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Landlords Association , said he hasn ’ t heard that any of his organization ’ s more than 1,300 members are refusing to participate in the housing assistance program .
In fact , he said , landlords are encouraging their tenants to apply for the aid .
Some aren ’ t following through , he said .
The online applications the state prefers are an obstacle to people without access to a computer or the internet , Sinrud argues .
Applicants are asked to upload their proof of income and copies of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also throws up roadblocks for people who had been looking for work , but weren ’ t employed , when the economy was shut down due to the coronavirus , Sinrud said .
The program requires people to explain how the pandemic affected their income .
“ I don ’ t know what ’ s more COVID-related , you lose your job due to COVID or you can ’ t find a job , ” Sinrud said .
“ These are just working class Montanans that get hammered from bad state of Montana @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Commerce announced a partnership with NeighborWorks Montana to increase awareness of the emergency housing assistance program and to help people file applications , Commerce Director Tara Rice said .
Montana received $ 1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief money , which must be spent by the end of the year or returned to the federal government .
Bullock has allocated about $ 822 million to help businesses , nonprofits public health and schools , officials said .
The state has spent nearly $ 106 million through July .
Republican lawmakers have criticized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more quickly .
“ Money distributed , NOT money allocated , is what matters for Montana families and Main Street businesses , ” the Montana Republican party said .
Community Health Partners in Bozeman ended up helping Banderob with his August rent and he ’ s put in his 30-day notice with his current landlord .
The housing assistance program is willing to help Banderob with a down payment and rent if he can find another place to live , Saunders said .
Now he ’ s looking for a job and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight housing market .
“ It ’ s like being in a brick-walled room , ” he said .
“ No matter which way you turn you ’ re beating your head against concrete .
”

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana set aside $50 million in federal coronavirus relief funding to help people make their rent or mortgage payments during the economic upheaval caused by coronavirus. But through the end of July the program has paid out just over $1.2 million, about 2.4% of the available funds, state figures show.
So far, about 750 Montana residents have submitted valid applications for the funding, a fraction of the 131,000 who have applied for unemployment at some point since mid-March as the pandemic ravaged the global economy.
Officials can’t pinpoint exactly why the program isn’t being used more, though Montana Department of Commerce spokeswoman Emilie Ritter Saunders said one of the holdups is that a few landlords are not providing information the state needs to process the claims. John Sinrud, a lobbyist for the Montana Landlords Association, countered that some tenants who could use the help aren’t seeking the assistance, and that state policies put up roadblocks.
The limited participation in the program has led Gov. Steve Bullock’s office to craft new plans to make people aware of the money while also acknowledging it might need to reallocate the funds to other programs.
Montana, with just over a million residents, set aside more money than several larger states. Connecticut has a $10 million rental assistance fund for 3.5 million residents and Florida has a $5 million fund for 21.5 million people.
Montana, however, is cautious about shifting the funds too soon because it’s bracing for an increased need with the end of the $600 weekly boost in unemployment benefits from the U.S. government and the expiration of a federal moratorium on evictions, the governor’s office said.
Scott Banderob of Bozeman applied for the emergency housing assistance in late May after he lost his job with a painting company. The state has approved his application, but his landlord in California, who Banderob pays through a property manager, won’t fill out a tax form that’s required to receive the payment, he and Saunders said.
“They want their money for rent, but they don’t want that money,” Banderob said about the assistance funds. “When they made these funds available, they should have made these landlords have to take it.”
The Nemelka Law Firm, which represents the landlord, did not return a phone message seeking comment on the reason Banderob’s landlord isn’t working with the housing assistance program.
“There is no legal way to force the landlord to cooperate and accept the money,” said Amy Hall, a housing attorney with the Montana Legal Services Association.
Banderob said he has sold a couple guns and held a garage sale to raise money while someone at his granddaughter’s school paid their rent for one month on the three-bedroom apartment he shares with his son and granddaughter. His son is on blood-thinning medication due to a clotting disorder diagnosed 18 months ago and has been unable to work, Banderob said.
The emergency housing assistance program provides rent, security deposit and mortgage payment help for Montana residents who have lost a job or substantial income as a result of the pandemic. The applicants must pay 30% of their monthly gross income toward their rent or mortgage and the assistance program will pay the rest, up to $2,000 a month. There are income and asset limits for eligibility.
The current approved but unspent payments total about $560,000 on behalf of 237 renters in Montana, Saunders said. The agency is calling and emailing the landlords and property managers to try to obtain the information needed to send payments. Fewer than a dozen landlords have refused to sign the required tax form, Saunders said.
Sinrud, the lobbyist for the Montana Landlords Association, said he hasn’t heard that any of his organization’s more than 1,300 members are refusing to participate in the housing assistance program. In fact, he said, landlords are encouraging their tenants to apply for the aid. Some aren’t following through, he said.
The online applications the state prefers are an obstacle to people without access to a computer or the internet, Sinrud argues. Applicants are asked to upload their proof of income and copies of their lease or mortgage agreements. The program also throws up roadblocks for people who had been looking for work, but weren’t employed, when the economy was shut down due to the coronavirus, Sinrud said. The program requires people to explain how the pandemic affected their income.
“I don’t know what’s more COVID-related, you lose your job due to COVID or you can’t find a job,” Sinrud said. “These are just working class Montanans that get hammered from bad state of Montana policies.”
On Tuesday, the Department of Commerce announced a partnership with NeighborWorks Montana to increase awareness of the emergency housing assistance program and to help people file applications, Commerce Director Tara Rice said.
Montana received $1.25 billion in federal coronavirus relief money, which must be spent by the end of the year or returned to the federal government. Bullock has allocated about $822 million to help businesses, nonprofits public health and schools, officials said. The state has spent nearly $106 million through July.
Republican lawmakers have criticized the governor for not distributing the money more quickly.
“Money distributed, NOT money allocated, is what matters for Montana families and Main Street businesses,” the Montana Republican party said.
Community Health Partners in Bozeman ended up helping Banderob with his August rent and he’s put in his 30-day notice with his current landlord. The housing assistance program is willing to help Banderob with a down payment and rent if he can find another place to live, Saunders said.
Now he’s looking for a job and a place to live in Bozeman’s tight housing market.
“It’s like being in a brick-walled room,” he said. “No matter which way you turn you’re beating your head against concrete.”


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Fires in Brazil's Amazon up 28% in July, worrying experts

BRASILIA , Brazil ( AP ) - Fires in the Brazilian Amazon increased 28 % in July from a year ago , a state agency reported Saturday .
The National Institute for Space Research , which is responsible for monitoring Brazil , said it recorded 6,803 fires in the Amazon rainforest last month , compared to 5,318 in the same month of 2019 .
Environmentalists expressed concern at the rise because August traditionally marks the beginning of the fire season in the region .
They fear Brazil could repeat the surge seen in fires last August , when 30,900 fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp increase in fires comes amid domestic and international concern over President Jair Bolsonaro ’ s calls to clear land in Brazil ’ s Amazon to drive economic development .
Addressing those concerns , on July 16 , the government banned burning in the Pantanal wetlands and the Amazon forest for four months .
Bolsonaro also issued an order in May for the military to coordinate environmental actions in the Amazon .
But experts said the fire numbers indicate the government ’ s response is not being effective and also point to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season will be even more prone to fires than last year .
Carlos Nobre , a researcher at the Advanced Studies Institute in the State University of Sao Paulo , said the deforestation index also has remained high this year until July , compared to the last couple of years .
“ We can conclude , with data until the end of July , that the effectiveness of government actions to reduce fires and deforestation is low , ” he said .
Carlos Rittl , senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associated Press that trends in the Amazon are worrisome .
“ The tendency is that this will be a more dry year than 2019 and this makes it easier for the fire to spread , ” he said .

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) - Fires in the Brazilian Amazon increased 28% in July from a year ago, a state agency reported Saturday.
The National Institute for Space Research, which is responsible for monitoring Brazil, said it recorded 6,803 fires in the Amazon rainforest last month, compared to 5,318 in the same month of 2019.
Environmentalists expressed concern at the rise because August traditionally marks the beginning of the fire season in the region. They fear Brazil could repeat the surge seen in fires last August, when 30,900 fires were recorded by the institute.
The sharp increase in fires comes amid domestic and international concern over President Jair Bolsonaro’s calls to clear land in Brazil’s Amazon to drive economic development.
Addressing those concerns, on July 16, the government banned burning in the Pantanal wetlands and the Amazon forest for four months. Bolsonaro also issued an order in May for the military to coordinate environmental actions in the Amazon.
But experts said the fire numbers indicate the government’s response is not being effective and also point to the possibility that this year’s dry season will be even more prone to fires than last year.
Carlos Nobre, a researcher at the Advanced Studies Institute in the State University of Sao Paulo, said the deforestation index also has remained high this year until July, compared to the last couple of years.
“We can conclude, with data until the end of July, that the effectiveness of government actions to reduce fires and deforestation is low,” he said.
Carlos Rittl, senior fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Germany, also told The Associated Press that trends in the Amazon are worrisome.
“The tendency is that this will be a more dry year than 2019 and this makes it easier for the fire to spread,” he said.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Manfred confident MLB can get through playoffs despite virus

NEW YORK | Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he ’ s confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus , though not every club might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams .
During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press , Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins .
Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week .
“ I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a credible season and get through the postseason , ” Manfred said .
Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60 , the coronavirus has forced 19 postponements in 11 days , including St. Louis ’ three-game weekend series at Milwaukee .
The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday : Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Miami second baseman Isan Díaz .
At least 18 Marlins players have been infected along with three St. Louis Cardinals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ test .
Manfred had what he said was a constructive conversation Friday with union head Tony Clark , and expects stepped-up efforts by players and teams to adhere to special virus protocols put in place by MLB and the players ’ association .
“ It is what the public health experts have been saying from the beginning about this , that there is no one big magic fix , ” Manfred said .
“ The protocols are a series of little things that people need to do .
We ’ ve had some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s another series of little things .
I think it ’ s peer pressure .
I think it ’ s players taking personal responsibility .
I think it ’ s the union helping us like Tony Clark helped us yesterday .
And I think it ’ s us managing more aggressively , ” he said .
Still , he does expect more issues .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s realistic to think that we ’ re not going to have any more positive tests , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be fluid .
We think it ’ s manageable.
” Boston said left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez will miss the entire season because of heart inflammation caused by COVID-19 .
He has been on the injured list since mid-July and has not pitched this season .
Miami , which last played July 26 at Philadelphia , was set to resume its schedule Tuesday at Baltimore .
The Phillies are due back Monday at Yankee Stadium .
Toronto missed its weekend series against the Phillies .
Blue Jays pitcher Matt Shoemaker was against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are using and understood Manfred ’ s urging of stricter adherence .
“ I don ’ t take Rob ’ s comments as a personal attack at all because I know we are doing better and some teams might not be , so hopefully they do better , ” Shoemaker said .
“ If guys are going out to clubs or bars that is irresponsible to say the least , if that ’ s what happened .
We have guys not doing that which is great from a team standpoint .
We want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series at Miller Park was scrapped .
After two St. Louis players tested positive , the whole Cardinals team was given rapids tests Friday and saliva samples were sent to an MLB laboratory .
St. Louis will play four games at Detroit from Tuesday through Thursday , including a doubleheader Wednesday , rather than two games at Comerica Park followed by two at Busch Stadium .
“ We feel confident by the time we get to Detroit on Monday , that we will have control of this , ” Cardinals president of baseball @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking was that we ’ re flying there and it just didn ’ t make sense to just then fly back and be on a plane again.
” MLB-mandated monitors have been accompanying teams on the road since Wednesday in an effort to cause stricter adherence to the protocols .
“ I think it ’ s a top-down thing , ” Yankees pitcher James Paxton said .
“ I think that if your leadership is showing how important it is and you ’ ve got the front office like we have here taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then that ’ ll trickle down to the players taking it seriously.
” Given all the schedule changes , MLB is considering whether active rosters should remain at 30 rather than decrease to 28 on Thursday , as scheduled .
No decision has been made .
“ This is kind of a day-to-day thing right now , ” Manfred said .
“ You ’ ve just got to get up in the morning and figure out a way to keep going through another day to stay safe for people.
” There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to get in 60 regular-season games .
“ We ’ ve got to be flexible on that , ” Manfred said .
“ Look , this is one of the reasons that we revisited the issue off the expanded playoffs .
If it turns out that some guys play 60 , some guys play 58 , they have this new thing called winning percentage .
We can sort that out.
” In another rule change that started this weekend , all doubleheaders for the rest of the season will have a pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The first twinbill under the 2020 change will be between Cincinnati and Detroit at Comerica Park on Sunday following a rainout on Saturday .
“ Doubleheaders were problematic from a health perspective from the very beginning of our planning .
That ’ s why we were reluctant to get into scheduling a bunch of doubleheaders just to play more games , ” Manfred said .
“ It ’ s just too long together and extended periods inside a clubhouse .
As we ’ ve had to move to rescheduling and been forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality just became that we should do everything we can to shorten those days up from a health perspective , ” he said .
MLB said no Phillies players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week and while three staff members have tested positive , it appeared two were attributable to false positives and the third , based on the timing of the positive test , may not have contracted COVID-19 from the Marlins .
The Phillies were permitted to access Citizens Bank Park for staggered workouts beginning Saturday .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , ” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said .
“ I know that we ’ ve done a — knock on wood — a really good job of controlling our atmosphere here .
And I think it ’ s important that everyone does that .
You can ’ t slip up , you can ’ t make a bad decision because it can really cost your organization the game of baseball and everything.
” MLB rescheduled the postponed Phillies-Yankees games of this week for next week , in New York on Monday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
New York ’ s game at Tampa Bay on Thursday was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 8 .
“ What the virus has taught us is this is a day-by-day , week-by-week situation that we live in , ” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said .
Miami will play a four-game series in Baltimore from Tuesday through Thursday , with one game a doubleheader .
The Marlins will be the home team for two games .
MLB said it will reschedule the missed Yankees-Orioles game and Marlins-Phillies series .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coaches should take advantage of the open seats in the stands near the dugouts and bullpens in order to spread out .
AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen , Rob Gillies , Rob Maaddi , Steve Megargee , Jake Seiner and Steven Wine contributed to this report .

NEW YORK | Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says he’s confident his sport can get through the regular season and postseason without being stopped by the coronavirus, though not every club might play all 60 games and winning percentage could be used to determine playoff teams.
During an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, Manfred said Major League Baseball knows which player introduced COVID-19 into the clubhouse of the Marlins Marlins. Miami and Philadelphia both postponed games for an entire week.
“I think that if everybody does what they are supposed to do, we can continue to play, have a credible season and get through the postseason,” Manfred said.
Just 1 1/2 weeks into a pandemic-delayed regular season shortened from 162 games per team to 60, the coronavirus has forced 19 postponements in 11 days, including St. Louis’ three-game weekend series at Milwaukee.
The virus also prompted at least two more players to opt out Saturday: Brewers All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Miami second baseman Isan Díaz.
At least 18 Marlins players have been infected along with three St. Louis Cardinals. One St. Louis player has an inconclusive test.
Manfred had what he said was a constructive conversation Friday with union head Tony Clark, and expects stepped-up efforts by players and teams to adhere to special virus protocols put in place by MLB and the players’ association.
“It is what the public health experts have been saying from the beginning about this, that there is no one big magic fix,” Manfred said.
“The protocols are a series of little things that people need to do. We’ve had some problems. In order to be better, it’s another series of little things. I think it’s peer pressure. I think it’s players taking personal responsibility. I think it’s the union helping us like Tony Clark helped us yesterday. And I think it’s us managing more aggressively,” he said.
Still, he does expect more issues.
“I don’t think it’s realistic to think that we’re not going to have any more positive tests,” Manfred said. “We’re going to be fluid. We think it’s manageable.”
Boston said left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez will miss the entire season because of heart inflammation caused by COVID-19. He has been on the injured list since mid-July and has not pitched this season.
Miami, which last played July 26 at Philadelphia, was set to resume its schedule Tuesday at Baltimore. The Phillies are due back Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Toronto missed its weekend series against the Phillies. Blue Jays pitcher Matt Shoemaker was against a bubble-environment such as the NBA and MLS are using and understood Manfred’s urging of stricter adherence.
“I don’t take Rob’s comments as a personal attack at all because I know we are doing better and some teams might not be, so hopefully they do better,” Shoemaker said. “If guys are going out to clubs or bars that is irresponsible to say the least, if that’s what happened. We have guys not doing that which is great from a team standpoint. We want to play baseball.”
The entire Cardinals-Brewers series at Miller Park was scrapped. After two St. Louis players tested positive, the whole Cardinals team was given rapids tests Friday and saliva samples were sent to an MLB laboratory.
St. Louis will play four games at Detroit from Tuesday through Thursday, including a doubleheader Wednesday, rather than two games at Comerica Park followed by two at Busch Stadium.
“We feel confident by the time we get to Detroit on Monday, that we will have control of this,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. “The thinking was that we’re flying there and it just didn’t make sense to just then fly back and be on a plane again.”
MLB-mandated monitors have been accompanying teams on the road since Wednesday in an effort to cause stricter adherence to the protocols.
“I think it’s a top-down thing,” Yankees pitcher James Paxton said. “I think that if your leadership is showing how important it is and you’ve got the front office like we have here taking it very seriously, I think that then that’ll trickle down to the players taking it seriously.”
Given all the schedule changes, MLB is considering whether active rosters should remain at 30 rather than decrease to 28 on Thursday, as scheduled. No decision has been made.
“This is kind of a day-to-day thing right now,” Manfred said. “You’ve just got to get up in the morning and figure out a way to keep going through another day to stay safe for people.”
There’s a chance not all teams will be able to get in 60 regular-season games.
“We’ve got to be flexible on that,” Manfred said. “Look, this is one of the reasons that we revisited the issue off the expanded playoffs. If it turns out that some guys play 60, some guys play 58, they have this new thing called winning percentage. We can sort that out.”
In another rule change that started this weekend, all doubleheaders for the rest of the season will have a pair of seven-inning games rather than nine-inning contests. The first twinbill under the 2020 change will be between Cincinnati and Detroit at Comerica Park on Sunday following a rainout on Saturday.
“Doubleheaders were problematic from a health perspective from the very beginning of our planning. That’s why we were reluctant to get into scheduling a bunch of doubleheaders just to play more games,” Manfred said.
“It’s just too long together and extended periods inside a clubhouse. As we’ve had to move to rescheduling and been forced into some doubleheaders, I think the reality just became that we should do everything we can to shorten those days up from a health perspective,” he said.
MLB said no Phillies players have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week and while three staff members have tested positive, it appeared two were attributable to false positives and the third, based on the timing of the positive test, may not have contracted COVID-19 from the Marlins. The Phillies were permitted to access Citizens Bank Park for staggered workouts beginning Saturday.
“There’s risk in everything we do,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “I know that we’ve done a — knock on wood — a really good job of controlling our atmosphere here. And I think it’s important that everyone does that. You can’t slip up, you can’t make a bad decision because it can really cost your organization the game of baseball and everything.”
MLB rescheduled the postponed Phillies-Yankees games of this week for next week, in New York on Monday and Tuesday and in Philadelphia on Wednesday and Thursday. New York’s game at Tampa Bay on Thursday was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 8.
“What the virus has taught us is this is a day-by-day, week-by-week situation that we live in,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Miami will play a four-game series in Baltimore from Tuesday through Thursday, with one game a doubleheader. The Marlins will be the home team for two games.
MLB said it will reschedule the missed Yankees-Orioles game and Marlins-Phillies series. In addition, Manfred says players and coaches should take advantage of the open seats in the stands near the dugouts and bullpens in order to spread out.
___
AP Sports Writers Jay Cohen, Rob Gillies, Rob Maaddi, Steve Megargee, Jake Seiner and Steven Wine contributed to this report.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--BNSF train cars carrying corn derail in Richland

RICHLAND , Wash. ( AP ) - Eight train cars carrying corn derailed in Richland near the Yakima River train @ @ @ @ @ Firefighters were called to the area just after 4 p.m. Friday when the BNSF rail @ @ @ @ @ , The Tri-City Herald reported .
BNSF is investigating what caused the cars to derail @ @ @ @ @ while crews cleared the area .
Most of the train cars were moved from the @ @ @ @ @ according to BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace .
Crews were working Saturday to clean up the @ @ @ @ @ was hurt .

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - Eight train cars carrying corn derailed in Richland near the Yakima River train bridge, authorities said.
Firefighters were called to the area just after 4 p.m. Friday when the BNSF rail cars went off the track, The Tri-City Herald reported.
BNSF is investigating what caused the cars to derail.
Local streets were closed while crews cleared the area. Most of the train cars were moved from the area by Saturday morning, according to BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace.
Crews were working Saturday to clean up the spilled corn. No one was hurt.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--Firefighters rescue 6 people after boat capsizes near marina

HAMMOND , Ind .
( AP ) - Six people have been rescued after the boat they were on capsized @ @ @ @ @ found them clinging to the sides of the boat about 8 p.m. Friday near the @ @ @ @ @ Northwest Indiana ) Times reported .
The boat had capsized in about 15-20 feet ( @ @ @ @ @ near the marina ’ s breakwater .
The people on board said it ran out @ @ @ @ @ Chief Jeff Smith said firefighters took off their gear , tied on ropes and swam @ @ @ @ @ and waves on Lake Michigan prevented authorities from recovering the boat Friday night .

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - Six people have been rescued after the boat they were on capsized in northwestern Indiana.
Firefighters found them clinging to the sides of the boat about 8 p.m. Friday near the Hammond Marina, the (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.
The boat had capsized in about 15-20 feet (4½-6 meters) of water near the marina’s breakwater. The people on board said it ran out of gas.
Hammond Fire Chief Jeff Smith said firefighters took off their gear, tied on ropes and swam to the boat.
Wind and waves on Lake Michigan prevented authorities from recovering the boat Friday night.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--TN Mom jailed on false report in child death seeks release

BLOUNTVILLE , Tenn. ( AP ) - A Tennessee teen mother jailed for giving false information in the disappearance of her infant daughter has been asking a judge to release her from prison .
The remains of Megan Boswell ’ s daughter , 15-month-old Evelyn Mae Boswell , were found nearly five months ago inside a shed owned by her grandfather .
The child ’ s teenaged mother , Megan Boswell , has been jailed in Sullivan County on charges she lied about her daughter ’ s whereabouts .
Her attorney , Brad Sproles , has been pushing a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 counts of filing a false report , The Knoxville News Sentinel reported .
So far , Sullivan County Judge James Goodwin has refused .
Sproles said told Goodwin on Friday that Megan Boswell has already served five months in the false report case .
He said if she had been tried and convicted she would likely qualify for probation .
Goodwin left Megan Boswell ’ s bond intact and postponed her hearing in the false report case until Aug. 28 .
The discovery of the toddler ’ s body March 6 followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ girl .
Megan Boswell was arrested Feb. 25 .
Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements had impeded the investigation .

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee teen mother jailed for giving false information in the disappearance of her infant daughter has been asking a judge to release her from prison.
The remains of Megan Boswell’s daughter, 15-month-old Evelyn Mae Boswell, were found nearly five months ago inside a shed owned by her grandfather.
The child’s teenaged mother, Megan Boswell, has been jailed in Sullivan County on charges she lied about her daughter’s whereabouts.
Her attorney, Brad Sproles, has been pushing a judge to lower the $150,000 bond on 11 counts of filing a false report, The Knoxville News Sentinel reported. So far, Sullivan County Judge James Goodwin has refused.
Sproles said told Goodwin on Friday that Megan Boswell has already served five months in the false report case. He said if she had been tried and convicted she would likely qualify for probation.
Goodwin left Megan Boswell’s bond intact and postponed her hearing in the false report case until Aug. 28.
The discovery of the toddler’s body March 6 followed a search across three states for the girl. Megan Boswell was arrested Feb. 25. Authorities said her inaccurate and conflicting statements had impeded the investigation.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--University of Guam to start year with mostly online courses

HAGATNA , Guam ( AP ) - The University of Guam has announced that it will offer most courses online for the upcoming semester to limit the spread of COVID-19 because of surges in case numbers .
“ In certain cases , limited-contact hybrid courses will be available and , only when it is absolutely required , face-to-face classes will be offered , ” university Senior Vice President Anita Enriquez said .
The semester is scheduled to start Aug. 18 and the first day of classes is the following day .
The university implemented enrollment caps for online classes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a free learning management system , the Pacific Daily News reported .
Virtual tutoring will also be provided .
Students will also be able to choose pass , credit or no credit grading options instead of traditional grading .
Lab-based courses and some graduate courses requiring students to meet with a team or complete research in their respective fields will be allowed .
“ Classrooms have been re-arranged with strict social distancing protocols , and instructors may rotate student attendance to facilitate safe learning environments , ” Enriquez said .
The announcement came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses .
Faculty and students are more comfortable with online courses now , said Jonas Macapinlac , the university ’ s chief marketing and communications officer .
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms , but can also be detected in people without symptoms .
For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness , including pneumonia , and death .

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) - The University of Guam has announced that it will offer most courses online for the upcoming semester to limit the spread of COVID-19 because of surges in case numbers.
“In certain cases, limited-contact hybrid courses will be available and, only when it is absolutely required, face-to-face classes will be offered,” university Senior Vice President Anita Enriquez said.
The semester is scheduled to start Aug. 18 and the first day of classes is the following day.
The university implemented enrollment caps for online classes and will continue standardized courses through Moodle, a free learning management system, the Pacific Daily News reported. Virtual tutoring will also be provided.
Students will also be able to choose pass, credit or no credit grading options instead of traditional grading.
Lab-based courses and some graduate courses requiring students to meet with a team or complete research in their respective fields will be allowed.
“Classrooms have been re-arranged with strict social distancing protocols, and instructors may rotate student attendance to facilitate safe learning environments,” Enriquez said.
The announcement came five months after it transitioned to online courses. Faculty and students are more comfortable with online courses now, said Jonas Macapinlac, the university’s chief marketing and communications officer.
The coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, but can also be detected in people without symptoms. For some - especially older adults and people with existing health problems - it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.


washingtontimes--2020-08-01--DA: Man sought in shots outside cigar store hurt in shootout

SLATINGTON , Pa. ( AP ) - Authorities say a man being sought after shots were fired outside an eastern Pennsylvania cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask in the establishment was later shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire .
A police officer also was wounded .
Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin told The ( Allentown ) Morning Call that police from Bethlehem Township in Northampton County were trying to serve a warrant Saturday morning on 35-year-old Adam Zaborowski in Slatington , but he jumped into a pickup truck and fled .
When police tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had an AK-47 and a pistol - left the truck and opened fire on officers , according to Martin .
Martin said officers returned fire , and Zaborowski was hit but was expected to survive .
A Slatington officer was shot in the arm , but Martin said the wound was relatively minor .
Zaborowski will face additional charges of attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault stemming from Saturday ’ s events , Martin said .
Bethlehem Township police said earlier that Zaborowski was being sought in connection with shots fired shortly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police said the defendant had entered the store without a mask , and when he was told he needed one he “ became irate , grabbed two cigars from a shelf and exited the store without paying.
” A staff member followed him outside , and police allege that Zaborowski fired a handgun into the air and then fired twice at the staff member .
A patron was sitting behind the staff member , but no one was injured .
Police said Zaborowski was charged with attempted murder , aggravated assault , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as being unlawfully in possession of a firearm .
Court documents don ’ t list a defense attorney for Zaborowski , and a listed number for him couldn ’ t be found Saturday .

SLATINGTON, Pa. (AP) - Authorities say a man being sought after shots were fired outside an eastern Pennsylvania cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask in the establishment was later shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire. A police officer also was wounded.
Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin told The (Allentown) Morning Call that police from Bethlehem Township in Northampton County were trying to serve a warrant Saturday morning on 35-year-old Adam Zaborowski in Slatington, but he jumped into a pickup truck and fled.
When police tried to pull him over, Zaborowski - who had an AK-47 and a pistol - left the truck and opened fire on officers, according to Martin.
Martin said officers returned fire, and Zaborowski was hit but was expected to survive. A Slatington officer was shot in the arm, but Martin said the wound was relatively minor. Zaborowski will face additional charges of attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault stemming from Saturday’s events, Martin said.
Bethlehem Township police said earlier that Zaborowski was being sought in connection with shots fired shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday outside Cigars International. Police said the defendant had entered the store without a mask, and when he was told he needed one he “became irate, grabbed two cigars from a shelf and exited the store without paying.” A staff member followed him outside, and police allege that Zaborowski fired a handgun into the air and then fired twice at the staff member. A patron was sitting behind the staff member, but no one was injured.
Police said Zaborowski was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and reckless endangerment as well as being unlawfully in possession of a firearm.
Court documents don’t list a defense attorney for Zaborowski, and a listed number for him couldn’t be found Saturday.