washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Johnson stresses 'sheer might' of UK as he visits Scotland

LONDON ( AP ) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that the United Kingdom ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic has shown the country ’ s “ sheer might ” as he sought during a trip to Scotland on Thursday to underline the bonds that tie the nations of the U.K. together .
Johnson ’ s visit does not include a meeting with Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon , who countered his upbeat tone with a frosty tweet saying the prime minister ’ s presence “ highlights ” the arguments for Scottish independence .
The trip , Johnson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election in December , came as polls have indicated a surge in support for Scottish independence in recent months .
Johnson ’ s itinerary includes visiting businesses that took a financial hit from the pandemic and thanking military personnel for participating in the U.K. ’ s efforts to cope with the virus .
He is expected to emphasize in a speech that being part of the U.K. helped save hundreds of thousands of Scottish jobs during the pandemic .
But Johnson and Sturgeon have often been at odds over their approach to tackling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wales and Northern Ireland , took a more cautious approach to easing lockdown restrictions than the Johnson ’ s government has done in England and recommended nationwide .
Johnson didn ’ t mention those differences ahead of his visit .
“ When I stood on the steps of Downing Street one year ago , I pledged to be a Prime Minister for every corner of the United Kingdom , ” Johnson said .
“ The last six months have shown exactly why the historic and heartfelt bond that ties the four nations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sheer might of our union has been proven once again .
”

LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed Thursday that the United Kingdom’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has shown the country’s “sheer might,” seeking to underline the bonds that tie the nations of the U.K. together as polls indicate rising support for Scottish independence.
Johnson’s visit does not include a meeting with Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, who countered his upbeat tone with a frosty tweet saying the prime minister’s visit “highlights” the arguments for Scotland breaking away from the U.K.
Johnson’s office emphasized ahead of his visit that being part of the U.K. and its economic recovery policies meant Scotland saw 900,000 jobs protected during the pandemic, with the U.K. Treasury granting loans to thousands of Scottish businesses.
But Sturgeon rebuffed that argument, telling reporters Thursday that “none of us should be crowing about this pandemic in a political sense.” She added that while she welcomed financial support from London, it is “not some kind of favor” to Scots.
“Let’s be clear, this is borrowed money and the reason it is coming to the Scottish government from the U.K. government is the U.K. government holds the borrowing powers that Scotland doesn’t hold,” she said.
She also wrote on Twitter: “One of the key arguments for independence is the ability of Scotland to take our own decisions, rather than having our future decided by politicians we didn’t vote for, taking us down a path we haven’t chosen. His presence highlights that.”
The trip, Johnson’s first to Scotland since the general election in December, was meant to mark his first year in office and reiterate Johnson’s pledge last year to be a “prime minister for every corner of the United Kingdom.”
“The last six months have shown exactly why the historic and heartfelt bond that ties the four nations of our country together is so important and the sheer might of our union has been proven once again,” he said in a statement.
Two recent polls have suggested that 54% of those surveyed would like to see Scotland split from the U.K., and predicted that Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party would win a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament next year.
The party almost succeeded in making Scotland independent of the U.K. in 2014, when the “remain” side narrowly won a referendum 55% to 45%. It wants a new independence referendum, but Johnson has said he will not approve one at least until 2024.
The Scottish National Party also opposes Britain’s exit from the European Union, and argues that Scotland should not be dragged out of the EU against its will. Scotland did not vote to leave the bloc during Britain’s 2016 referendum on EU membership.
Johnson and Sturgeon have often been at odds over their approach to tackling the coronavirus. Scotland, along with Wales and Northern Ireland, took a more cautious approach to easing lockdown restrictions than Johnson’s government has done in England and recommended nationwide.
Johnson didn’t mention those differences ahead of his visit, which has him scheduled to visit businesses that took a financial hit from the pandemic and to thank military personnel for participating in the U.K.’s efforts to cope with the virus.
His first stop was Copland Dock, in the northeast town of Stromness. Johnson strode out to meet fishermen and picked up a massive crab in each of his gloved hands. The fishermen told Johnson about their struggles and concerns as British and EU negotiators try to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.
As if to underscore the thorny issue, negotiators in London closed the latest round of trade talks Thursday without any progress - and fishing rights were cited as a stumbling block.
Fishing rights have been complicated and problematic ever since the United Kingdom became an EU member in 1973. While the fishing industry is a fairly small part of the British economy, resentment in the island nation runs deep against EU fishing policies that allow vessels from other member nations to catch stocks in British waters.
With fish stocks in decline, and U.K. fishermen increasingly suffering, the promise of “taking back control’’ with Brexit offered hope of a way forward. Fishermen are still waiting for results.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that much of the fish caught in British waters is sold in the EU, which is not budging on the question of water access.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--North Macedonia: top Albanian summoned on Kosovo war crimes

SKOPJE , North Macedonia ( AP ) - The leader of the main ethnic Albanian party in North Macedonia said he has been invited to appear as a witness at the special international court on alleged crimes during and after the Kosovo ’ s 1998-1999 war , in which he fought .
Ali Ahmeti , leader of the Democratic Union for Integration party in North Macedonia where ethnic Albanians make up at least one-fourth of its 2 million population , posted on Facebook late on Wednesday that The Hague , Netherlands-based Special Prosecutor ’ s office “ invited me to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the KLA ( Kosovo Liberation Army ) and a member of the General Staff.
” Ahmeti , a former KLA founder and member , said he had accepted the invitation “ and made constructive contact and cooperation with officials in The Hague.
” The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor ’ s Office , which has international staff working under Kosovo law , is mandated to look into allegations that KLA members committed war crimes and crimes against humanity .
It has interviewed hundreds of KLA former fighters since early 2019 .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioned for four days in The Hague .
Thaci , former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli and still unidentified others have been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes , including murder , enforced disappearances , persecution and torture during and after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war .
Both men have denied committing any crimes .
A pretrial judge hasn ’ t made a decision on whether to proceed with Thaci ’ s case .
It is still not clear when Ahmeti will testify in The Hague .
“ I am at the disposal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legitimacy of the liberation war of the Albanian people before the genocide of ( Slobodan ) Milosevic ’ s Serb regime , ” Ahmeti wrote .
The fighting killed more than 10,000 people - most of them ethnic Albanian civilians - and 1,641 are still unaccounted for .
It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops .
Kosovo , which is dominated by ethnic Albanians , declared independence from Serbia in 2008 , which Belgrade doesn ’ t recognize .

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) - The leader of the main ethnic Albanian party in North Macedonia said he has been invited to appear as a witness at the special international court on alleged crimes during and after the Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war, in which he fought.
Ali Ahmeti, leader of the Democratic Union for Integration party in North Macedonia where ethnic Albanians make up at least one-fourth of its 2 million population, posted on Facebook late on Wednesday that The Hague, Netherlands-based Special Prosecutor’s office “invited me to testify as one of the founders of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) and a member of the General Staff.”
Ahmeti, a former KLA founder and member, said he had accepted the invitation “and made constructive contact and cooperation with officials in The Hague.”
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office, which has international staff working under Kosovo law, is mandated to look into allegations that KLA members committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. It has interviewed hundreds of KLA former fighters since early 2019.
Last week, Kosovo President Hashim Thaci was questioned for four days in The Hague.
Thaci, former parliamentary speaker Kadri Veseli and still unidentified others have been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearances, persecution and torture during and after the 1998-1999 Kosovo war. Both men have denied committing any crimes.
A pretrial judge hasn’t made a decision on whether to proceed with Thaci’s case.
It is still not clear when Ahmeti will testify in The Hague.
“I am at the disposal of the justice institutions to testify to the legitimacy of the liberation war of the Albanian people before the genocide of (Slobodan) Milosevic’s Serb regime,” Ahmeti wrote.
The fighting killed more than 10,000 people - most of them ethnic Albanian civilians - and 1,641 are still unaccounted for. It ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbian troops.
Kosovo, which is dominated by ethnic Albanians, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Belgrade doesn’t recognize.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Partial unemployment extension, no payroll tax cut in GOP relief package: Mnuchin

Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on Thursday outlined more of the contours of Senate Republicans ’ offer for the next coronavirus relief package , saying there will be a partial extension of juiced-up unemployment benefits and no payroll tax cut in the “ base bill.
” He said a payroll tax cut has merit , but that President Trump ’ s preference is to send out direct payments to Americans to get money out more quickly .
“ It ’ s all about getting money now for kids and jobs , ” Mr. Mnuchin said on CNBC .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would continue , though not at their current $ 600-per-week juiced-up level .
“ It will be based on approximately 70 % wage replacement , ” he said .
Mr. Mnuchin also said the package will include tax credits to try to incentivize companies to hire people .
He said a measure from Sen. John Kennedy , Louisiana Republican , to give states and localities more flexibility on how they can spend $ 150 billion from a previous package is also included .
Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening had outlined some elements of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
Mr. Mnuchin reiterated that there will be $ 105 billion earmarked for schools , some of which will be tied to school reopening plans .
Mr. Mnuchin also said there is $ 25 billion available for coronavirus testing , which includes a $ 16 billion “ top-up ” and $ 9 billion in leftover funds .
Sen. Marco Rubio , Florida Republican , also said Thursday he would be presenting a proposal for another round of small business loan funding through the Paycheck Protection Program .
Mr. Rubio , who chairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the money would be targeted toward companies with 300 employees or fewer and companies in low-income neighborhoods .
Mr. Rubio said the measure would make expenses tied to personal protective equipment and coronavirus protection forgivable .

Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on Thursday outlined more of the contours of Senate Republicans’ offer for the next coronavirus relief package, saying there will be a partial extension of juiced-up unemployment benefits and no payroll tax cut in the “base bill.”
He said a payroll tax cut has merit, but that President Trump’s preference is to send out direct payments to Americans to get money out more quickly.
“It’s all about getting money now for kids and jobs,” Mr. Mnuchin said on CNBC.
He also said that a boost in unemployment benefits would continue, though not at their current $600-per-week juiced-up level.
“It will be based on approximately 70% wage replacement,” he said.
The expanded $600-per-week benefits, which were included in a $2.2 trillion package Congress passed in March, are due to expire at the end of the month.
Republicans have said they don’t want to extend a structure that makes it more lucrative for many people to take the benefits rather than return to work.
Mr. Mnuchin also said the package will include tax credits to try to incentivize companies to hire people.
He said a measure from Sen. John Kennedy, Louisiana Republican, to give states and localities more flexibility on how they can spend $150 billion from a previous package is also included.
“The president is not going to bail out Chicago and New York and other states that, prior to the coronavirus, were mismanaged,” Mr. Mnuchin said. “The Democrats want $900 billion and if we gave them $900 billion they’d probably ask for $1.5 trillion. So I’m not sure we’ll ever completely satisfy them.”
As many conservatives raise concerns about runaway federal spending, Mr. Mnuchin said Mr. Trump is prepared to come back for another round of funding if the White House thinks it’s necessary.
“This virus is like a war,” he said. “We have to make the investment now to make sure that American workers and American businesses can survive.”
The Democrat-led House passed a $3 trillion-plus bill in May that also included a full extension of the $600-per-week benefits through January and another round of direct payments for millions of Americans.
Mr. Mnuchin said there will be liability protections for reopening businesses, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has emphasized is a red line in the negotiations.
“The layman’s language is you can’t have frivolous lawsuits,” Mr. Mnuchin said.
Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening had outlined some elements of the deal they struck with the White House.
Mr. Mnuchin reiterated that there will be $105 billion earmarked for schools, some of which will be tied to school reopening plans.
Mr. Mnuchin also said there is $25 billion available for coronavirus testing, which includes a $16 billion “top-up” and $9 billion in leftover funds.
Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, also said Thursday he would be presenting a proposal for another round of small business loan funding through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Mr. Rubio, who chairs the Senate Small Business Committee, said the money would be targeted toward companies with 300 employees or fewer and companies in low-income neighborhoods.
Mr. Rubio said the measure would make expenses tied to personal protective equipment and coronavirus protection forgivable.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Passenger numbers still low at Norfolk International Airport

NORFOLK , Va. ( AP ) - Virginia ’ s Norfolk International Airport says its passenger numbers for the month @ @ @ @ @ than 75 % compared the same time a year ago .
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ flew out of Norfolk that month because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Last year , @ @ @ @ @ The drop in June is actually not as bad as it was in May , @ @ @ @ @ % .
In April , passenger numbers fell by 94 % .
The drop in @ @ @ @ @ at Richmond ’ s airport for those months .
Meanwhile , Virginia has been added @ @ @ @ @ from which travelers must quarantine after arriving in New York , New Jersey and Connecticut @

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Virginia’s Norfolk International Airport says its passenger numbers for the month of June dropped by more than 75% compared the same time a year ago.
The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that only about 94,000 people flew out of Norfolk that month because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the number was 385,000.
The drop in June is actually not as bad as it was in May, when traffic was down 87%. In April, passenger numbers fell by 94%. The drop in passenger travel was even higher at Richmond’s airport for those months.
Meanwhile, Virginia has been added to the list of states from which travelers must quarantine after arriving in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Bombing at open-air market wounds 20 in northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR , Pakistan ( AP ) - At least 20 people were wounded when a bomb went off at a @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan on Thursday , police said .
The bombing in the town of Parachinar happened @ @ @ @ @ and vegetables from vendors , police official Rehmat Hissain said .
The victims , some @ @ @ @ @ , have been taken to hospital .
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack @ @ @ @ @ in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province , which borders Afghanistan .
The town , west of the @ @ @ @ @ has been targeted by Sunni militant groups several times in recent years , leaving dozens @ @ @ @ @ s former tribal regions have long served as hideouts for the Taliban and other militants @ @ @ @ @ army claim they have cleared the area in recent years but there have still been @ @ @

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - At least 20 people were wounded when a bomb went off at a busy open-air market in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, police said.
The bombing in the town of Parachinar happened as people were buying fruits and vegetables from vendors, police official Rehmat Hissain said. The victims, some of them in critical condition, have been taken to hospital.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in this majority Shiite town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan. The town, west of the provincial capital of Peshawar, has been targeted by Sunni militant groups several times in recent years, leaving dozens dead.
The province’s former tribal regions have long served as hideouts for the Taliban and other militants. The government and the army claim they have cleared the area in recent years but there have still been occasional attacks.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Engineer gets prison for illegally keeping defense secrets

BOSTON ( AP ) - A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for keeping work-related classified national defense documents at his home without proper authorization , federal prosecutors say .
Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin , 67 , an Egyptian-born U.S. citizen , was also sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation and was fined $ 10,000 , according to the U.S. attorney ’ s office in Boston .
He had pleaded guilty in December .
The Sharon man retained 31,000 pages of information that was marked as classified , some of which pertained to U.S. missile defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and altered or obliterated the classification markings on documents , according to prosecutors .
Serageldin was a systems engineer at Raytheon from August 1997 until he was fired in May 2017 .
He had security clearance in order to complete assignments on several defense contracts involving radar technology , prosecutors said .
Raytheon uncovered evidence that Serageldin had violated company security police while investigating him for alleged time card fraud .
After Raytheon raised suspicions to federal authorities about whether Serageldin was being candid about his computer use during an internal investigation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they discovered that he was researching how to delete files from his computer .

BOSTON (AP) - A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for keeping work-related classified national defense documents at his home without proper authorization, federal prosecutors say.
Ahmedelhadi Yassin Serageldin, 67, an Egyptian-born U.S. citizen, was also sentenced Wednesday to one year of probation and was fined $10,000, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Boston. He had pleaded guilty in December.
The Sharon man retained 31,000 pages of information that was marked as classified, some of which pertained to U.S. missile defense and was classified “secret”, and altered or obliterated the classification markings on documents, according to prosecutors.
Serageldin was a systems engineer at Raytheon from August 1997 until he was fired in May 2017. He had security clearance in order to complete assignments on several defense contracts involving radar technology, prosecutors said.
Raytheon uncovered evidence that Serageldin had violated company security police while investigating him for alleged time card fraud.
After Raytheon raised suspicions to federal authorities about whether Serageldin was being candid about his computer use during an internal investigation, agents followed Serageldin to a local library where they discovered that he was researching how to delete files from his computer.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Twitter says attackers read dozens of users' private messages during cyberattack

Twitter acknowledged Wednesday that hackers read dozens of users ’ private messages , including one elected official in the Netherlands , and eight users had their private data downloaded by the attackers .
Alongside the private messages and data downloaded , Twitter said the attackers could view phone numbers , email addresses , previous passwords and other data for the 130 targeted users .
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden and former President Barack Obama had their accounts compromised by hackers .
The attackers do not appear to have read any private messages from Mr. Biden and Mr. Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no other elected officials beyond the Netherlands ’ user that had their private messages accessed .
Twitter said it knew of as many as 36 accounts that had their private messages accessed , thus far .
Twitter also conceded that its employees fell victim to a “ social engineering scheme ” where they were tricked into handing over confidential information and performing specific actions .
“ The attackers successfully manipulated a small number of employees and used their credentials to access Twitter ’ s internal systems , including getting through our two-factor protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s blog on Wednesday evening .
“ As of now , we know that they accessed tools only available to our internal support teams to target 130 Twitter accounts.
” Attackers reset the passwords of 45 users ’ accounts and then took control of the accounts to send tweets that showed messages involving a cryptocurrency scam using Bitcoin .
Twitter did not provide details on how the other accounts ’ were accessed .
Last week ’ s attack was not the first time that malicious actors turned employees into working against Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 showed the federal government charged two former Twitter employees with accessing users ’ personal data at the direction of the Saudi government .
The FBI ’ s San Francisco division has said it is investigating the attack on Twitter , and Twitter has said it is cooperating with law enforcement .
“ We ’ re embarrassed , we ’ re disappointed , and more than anything , we ’ re sorry , ” Twitter wrote on its blog .
“ We know that we must work to regain your trust , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perpetrators to justice .
”

Twitter is acknowledging that hackers in an attack last week read dozens of its users’ private messages, including those of an elected official in the Netherlands, and eight users had their private data downloaded by the hackers.
Twitter also said the attackers could view phone numbers, email addresses, previous passwords and other data for the 130 users who were targeted in the hacking scheme.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden and former President Barack Obama had their accounts compromised. The attackers do not appear to have read any private messages from Mr. Biden or Mr. Obama, as Twitter said it knew of no other elected officials beyond the Netherlands’ user that had their private messages accessed. Twitter said it knew of as many as 36 accounts that had their private messages accessed.
Twitter also conceded that its employees fell victim to a “social engineering scheme” in which they were tricked into handing over confidential information and performing specific actions.
“The attackers successfully manipulated a small number of employees and used their credentials to access Twitter’s internal systems, including getting through our two-factor protections,” Twitter wrote on the company’s blog Wednesday evening. “As of now, we know that they accessed tools only available to our internal support teams to target 130 Twitter accounts.”
The hackers reset the passwords of 45 users’ accounts and then took control of the accounts to send tweets that showed messages involving a cryptocurrency scam using bitcoin. Twitter did not provide details on how the other accounts were accessed.
Last week’s attack was not the first time that malicious actors turned employees into working against Twitter. An unsealed criminal complaint in November 2019 showed the federal government charged two former Twitter employees with accessing users’ personal data at the direction of the Saudi government.
The FBI’s San Francisco division has said it is investigating the Twitter attack. The company has said it is cooperating.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said Thursday his company is working to prevent future insider threats at Twitter.
“We moved quickly to address what happened, and have taken additional steps to improve resiliency against targeted social engineering attempts, implemented numerous safeguards to improve the security of our internal systems, and are working with law enforcement,” Mr. Dorsey said.
“We understand our responsibilities and are committed to earning the trust of all of our stakeholders with our every action, including how we address this security issue.”
• Ryan Lovelace can be reached at rlovelace@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Pakistan returns 200-year-old temple to Sikhs in southwest

QUETTA , Pakistan ( AP ) - A 200-year-old Sikh temple that served as a school for Muslim girls for seven decades was returned to the Sikh community in Quetta , enabling them to worship there for the first time in 73 years , officials said Thursday .
The temple stood empty for a year or two when most Sikhs left Pakistan for neighboring India after the British partitioned the subcontinent into separate nations in 1947 , following two centuries of colonial rule .
Under the government ’ s guardianship , a school was later set up in the temple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Sikhs won a legal battle to have the property returned , temple custodian Govind Singh said .
He said Sikhs living in Quetta were delighted to get back to their temple .
“ This is the best gift for us .
We are grateful to Pakistan and the judiciary for giving it back to us , ” local Sikh leader Jasbir Singh said .
“ For us , it is like a dream come true.
” Singh spoke as jubilant members of the Sikh community , adhering to social distancing rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gathered at the temple to worship .
The temple could not be returned to the Sikhs earlier because of a lingering legal battle between local Sikhs and the provincial government , Singh said .
Abdullah Khilji , an official at the education department in Baluchistan , said hundreds of schoolgirls who were studying at the temple building were relocated to a nearby school where they have since adjusted .
The development comes at a time when Pakistan ’ s tiny Hindu minority is facing resistance from Muslim activists for attempting to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the government approved its construction , but then reversed the decision after Muslims objected .
A council of clerics is currently deliberating whether the temple ’ s construction should be allowed .
However , there has been no other resistance to the construction or renovation of Sikh temples in Pakistan , where the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has supported the construction of one of the largest Sikh shrines to Guru Nanak , the founder of the Sikh religion , which is known as Gurdwara Darbar Sahib .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is located on the Ravi River just 4.5 kilometres ( 3 miles ) from Pakistan ’ s border with India .
The shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border .
Currently , no Indian Sikhs are visiting shrines in Pakistan because of a travel ban imposed by their government to contain the spread of the coronavirus , which has also caused 5,709 deaths and 269,191 infections across Pakistan .
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations and have fought two of their wars since gaining independence from @ @

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) - A 200-year-old Sikh temple that served as a school for Muslim girls for seven decades was returned to the Sikh community in Quetta, enabling them to worship there for the first time in 73 years, officials said Thursday.
The temple stood empty for a year or two when most Sikhs left Pakistan for neighboring India after the British partitioned the subcontinent into separate nations in 1947, following two centuries of colonial rule.
Under the government’s guardianship, a school was later set up in the temple building, which remained functional until recently, when Sikhs won a legal battle to have the property returned, temple custodian Govind Singh said.
He said Sikhs living in Quetta were delighted to get back to their temple.
“This is the best gift for us. We are grateful to Pakistan and the judiciary for giving it back to us,” local Sikh leader Jasbir Singh said. “For us, it is like a dream come true.”
Singh spoke as jubilant members of the Sikh community, adhering to social distancing rules to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, gathered at the temple to worship.
The temple could not be returned to the Sikhs earlier because of a lingering legal battle between local Sikhs and the provincial government, Singh said. Abdullah Khilji, an official at the education department in Baluchistan, said hundreds of schoolgirls who were studying at the temple building were relocated to a nearby school where they have since adjusted.
The development comes at a time when Pakistan’s tiny Hindu minority is facing resistance from Muslim activists for attempting to build a temple in the capital. Initially, the government approved its construction, but then reversed the decision after Muslims objected.
A council of clerics is currently deliberating whether the temple’s construction should be allowed.
However, there has been no other resistance to the construction or renovation of Sikh temples in Pakistan, where the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has supported the construction of one of the largest Sikh shrines to Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, which is known as Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
It’s the second-holiest place in the Sikh faith and is located on the Ravi River just 4.5 kilometres (3 miles) from Pakistan’s border with India.
The shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border.
Currently, no Indian Sikhs are visiting shrines in Pakistan because of a travel ban imposed by their government to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has also caused 5,709 deaths and 269,191 infections across Pakistan.
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations and have fought two of their wars since gaining independence from Britain.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Police investigating latest shooting death in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
( AP ) - Police are investigating Kansas City ’ s latest shooting death as debate roils over a massive federal operation that has sent 225 additional federal agents from four different agencies into the city to combat violent crime .
The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in a residential area in southeastern Kansas City , police said in a news release .
Officers called to the scene found a man with gunshot wounds in the middle of the street , and witnesses told police a pickup truck had sped from the scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later found abandoned and wrecked a short distance away and appeared to have hit other vehicles , police said .
Police had not released the identity of the man killed by Thursday morning .
The death was the city ’ s 111th homicide this year , compared with 80 homicides for the same period last year , according to data compiled by the Kansas City Star .
The federal law enforcement effort - dubbed Operation Legend after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro , who was fatally shot while sleeping in his bed in Kansas City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cooperation with local law enforcement .
Critics and civil rights organizations opposed to the effort have said local officials should handle local crimes and that the increased presence of federal agents could be met with growing distrust by minority residents .

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Police are investigating Kansas City’s latest shooting death as debate roils over a massive federal operation that has sent 225 additional federal agents from four different agencies into the city to combat violent crime.
The shooting happened just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in a residential area in southeastern Kansas City, police said in a news release. Officers called to the scene found Lodiller Styles, 35, with gunshot wounds in the middle of the street. He died at the scene, police said. Witnesses told police a pickup truck had sped from the scene.
A pickup matching that description was later found abandoned and wrecked a short distance away and appeared to have hit other vehicles, police said. No arrests had been made by midmorning Thursday, but police were searching for a suspect.
The death was the city’s 111th homicide this year, compared with 80 homicides for the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Kansas City Star.
The federal law enforcement effort - dubbed Operation Legend after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was fatally shot while sleeping in his bed in Kansas City - is intended to investigate violent crime in cooperation with local law enforcement.
Critics and civil rights organizations opposed to the effort have said local officials should handle local crimes and that the increased presence of federal agents could be met with growing distrust by minority residents.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Boy's drowning death under investigation in Brookings

SIOUX FALLS , S.D .
( AP ) - Police continue to investigate the drowning death of a 10-year-old boy @ @ @ @ @ and are now looking to speak with potential witnesses .
The body of Molu Zarpeleh @ @ @ @ @ a pond July 2 after the boy had been reported missing .
His family said @ @ @ @ @ his bike and failed to return home .
Police discovered his bike and sandals near @ @ @ @ @ Fire Department used pumps to remove about 300,000 gallons of water from the pond and @ @ @ @ @ body .
Police have posted pictures of possible witnesses , hoping they will come forward @

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Police continue to investigate the drowning death of a 10-year-old boy earlier this month in Brookings and are now looking to speak with potential witnesses.
The body of Molu Zarpeleh’s was found in a pond July 2 after the boy had been reported missing. His family said Molu had been out riding his bike and failed to return home. Police discovered his bike and sandals near the pond.
The Brookings Fire Department used pumps to remove about 300,000 gallons of water from the pond and found the boy’s body.
Police have posted pictures of possible witnesses, hoping they will come forward.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Pandemic grips commerce, hits railroader Union Pacific

OMAHA , Neb .
( AP ) - Union Pacific ’ s second-quarter profit fell 28 % from a year @ @ @ @ @ 20 % because of the coronavirus pandemic .
But the railroad company expects improvement in @ @ @ @ @ carload volumes to be down around 10 % compared with 2019 .
The company said @ @ @ @ @ billion from April through June , or $ 1.67 per share , beating Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ FactSet expected earnings of $ 1.56 per share .
Revenue of $ 4.24 billion was @ @ @ @ @ period , slightly below analysts ’ estimates of $ 4.4 billion .
The Omaha , @ @ @ @ @ of track in 23 Western states .

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Union Pacific’s second-quarter profit fell 28% from a year ago as carload revenue tumbled in the coronavirus pandemic.
The railroad expects improvement in the second half with full-year carload volumes to be down around 10% compared with 2019, assuming there isn’t a second wave of virus-related economic shutdowns.
To get to a 10% full-year decline, the company said it expects freight volumes to be down 6% to 8% in the second half as businesses continue to recover. “We’re growing our optimism here in the near term,” CEO Lance Fritz said.
Union Pacific made $1.13 billion from April through June, or $1.67 per share, beating Wall Street estimates. Analysts polled by FactSet expected earnings of $1.56 per share. Revenue of $4.24 billion was down 24% for the period, slightly below Wall Street projections.
In the second quarter big freight users such as automakers were forced to close their factories for weeks in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.
As a result, Union Pacific’s freight revenue fell as pricing gains were offset by lower volumes and decreased revenue from fuel surcharges, the company said Wednesday in a prepared statement.
“We’ve never experienced such a steep and deep decline in our carloads,” Fritz said in an interview. “We’ve really climbed out pretty steadily since, call it early May, which is really encouraging.”
The number of rail cars generating revenue tumbled 20% for the quarter, led by a 64% drop-off in the auto sector. Coal fell 24%, while industrial chemicals and plastics were down 10%. Metals and minerals were off 19%. Empty cars transported by the railroad don’t generate revenue.
Company executives said freight volume is recovering enough for them to start recalling furloughed employees. But Fritz said that due to productivity gains such as running fewer trains that are longer, Union Pacific won’t need as many workers as it did before the pandemic began.
The railroad is getting more engineering work done with fewer people, it’s using fewer locomotives, and fewer cars are needed because they’re traveling more miles per day, he said. The number of trains also has decreased, he said.
“You put that all together, there’s no doubt that when we recover fully and start growing from last year, it’s going to be done with fewer people than we had last year,” he said.
The railroad has cut about 22% of its workforce in the past year and now has about 30,000 full-time workers, which Fritz said will still grow as freight volumes increase.
The railroad’s customers see spotty, slow recoveries, but no significant shutdown like the country went through in March and April, Fritz said. “Given the fact that there is some pent-up demand and there is some restocking that needs to occur, it feels to us like sequentially for sure things are getting better,” he said.
Shares in the railroad, which operates 32,400 miles (52,143 kilometers) of track in 23 Western states, fell 2.6% to $174.71 in late-day trading.
____
This story has been corrected to show that the copany predicts freight volumes to decline 6% to 8% in the second half, not 9% to 10% as the CEO said on a conference call.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Pandemic tough on Argentina's already overworked care givers

BUENOS AIRES , Argentina ( AP ) - Even before the new coronavirus hit , Argentina ’ s health care workers were struggling , most of them often working more than 12 hours a day at multiple jobs to make ends meet amid the country ’ s overheated inflation .
The pandemic has meant even tougher times on the job , providing medical care for the gravely ill and also giving what comfort they can to patients dying of COVID-19 while cut off by quarantine from saying goodbye to family and friends .
Some still go home at night to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others , fearing for loved ones , have moved into hotels .
Some have sent their children to stay with relatives .
Dr. Matías Norte , a surgeon who specializes in cancer cases but is also helping treat COVID-19 cases at the three hospitals where he works , sometimes has to drive an hour to get home to the apartment he shares with his wife , Silvina Cáceres Monié , in the capital .
A kiss and embrace must wait until he showers .
“ When I come in , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything .
You ’ re happy to get home , ” Norte says .
Andrea Cortes , a nurse , also goes home to be with her partner , Ariel , but they have not kissed or embraced in nearly four months .
She hasn ’ t seen her 27-year-old daughter for nearly that long .
Cortes , who puts in an average of 17 hours a day at two hospitals in Buenos Aires , worries constantly about bringing the virus home .
“ That fear and doubt make me hold this distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all over because I love them and I have to take care of them , ” she says .
Doctors , nurses and other health workers account for 7 % of the more than 130,000 confirmed infections reported by Argentina ’ s government .
Juan José Comas tested positive for the coronavirus but never showed any symptoms while he was quarantined at the hospital where he began working as a volunteer when the pandemic began .
He got his medical degree last year but still must do training before taking his resident ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now gotten a crash course in treating patients .
Comas has been sharing a hotel room with three doctors he didn ’ t know since moving out of his parent ’ s home in April to protect them .
“ I went a couple of times to see them behind the gate , ” he says .
It has been three months since nurse Marcela Brancati last saw her 9-year-old daughter , Agostina .
She only gets to watch her daughter through photos sent on WhatsApp by her mother , who is caring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve never been apart so long .
It ’ s very difficult , ” Brancati says .
“ Sometimes she calls me crying .
She can ’ t stand it and she wants to go back ( home ) .
”

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Even before the new coronavirus hit, Argentina’s health care workers were struggling, most of them often working more than 12 hours a day at multiple jobs to make ends meet amid the country’s overheated inflation.
The pandemic has meant even tougher times on the job, providing medical care for the gravely ill and also giving what comfort they can to patients dying of COVID-19 while cut off by quarantine from saying goodbye to family and friends.
Some still go home at night to their families, after taking precautions. Others, fearing for loved ones, have moved into hotels. Some have sent their children to stay with relatives.
Dr. Matías Norte, a surgeon who specializes in cancer cases but is also helping treat COVID-19 cases at the three hospitals where he works, sometimes has to drive an hour to get home to the apartment he shares with his wife, Silvina Cáceres Monié, in the capital. A kiss and embrace must wait until he showers.
“When I come in, it’s such a great joy that you forget everything. You’re happy to get home,” Norte says.
Andrea Cortes, a nurse, also goes home to be with her partner, Ariel, but they have not kissed or embraced in nearly four months. She hasn’t seen her 27-year-old daughter for nearly that long.
Cortes, who puts in an average of 17 hours a day at two hospitals in Buenos Aires, worries constantly about bringing the virus home.
“That fear and doubt make me hold this distance with the family until it’s all over because I love them and I have to take care of them,” she says.
Doctors, nurses and other health workers account for 7% of the more than 130,000 confirmed infections reported by Argentina’s government.
Juan José Comas began working as a volunteer when the pandemic began. He tested positive for the coronavirus with a blood exam and negative with a swab test, meaning that while he had the virus in the past, he no longer did. He never showed any symptoms.
He got his medical degree last year but still must do training before taking his resident’s examination, for which he has now gotten a crash course in treating patients.
Comas has been sharing a hotel room with three doctors he didn’t know since moving out of his parent’s home in April to protect them. “I went a couple of times to see them behind the gate,” he said.
A doctor who shares the room with Comas tested positive and all four had to stay in the hotel in quarantine for 10 days.
It has been three months since nurse Marcela Brancati last saw her 9-year-old daughter, Agostina. She only gets to watch her daughter through photos sent on WhatsApp by her mother, who is caring for the girl.
“We’ve never been apart so long. It’s very difficult,” Brancati says. “Sometimes she calls me crying. She can’t stand it and she wants to go back (home).”


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--California will let absent lawmakers vote during outbreak

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) - California ’ s legislative leaders said Thursday they will let absent lawmakers vote on bills during the final month of the legislative session after at least seven people who work in the state Capitol became infected with the coronavirus , including one assemblyman who had to be hospitalized .
The state Assembly plans to let four legislative leaders cast votes for absent members during floor sessions .
The state Senate will let lawmakers cast votes remotely , but only in committee hearings .
Senators must still be present on the floor to cast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislature had to shut down twice because of the coronavirus , shortening a legislative session where lawmakers have had to make tough choices to close a virus-induced $ 54.3 billion budget shortfall .
A few lawmakers have missed votes for fears of contracting the disease or because they had already been exposed to it .
Some have participated in committee hearings and floor sessions remotely , but none was allowed to vote , as legislative leaders have worried the state Constitution does not allow it .
But with an Aug. 31 deadline to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-year session , lawmakers appear to be making exceptions to avoid another shutdown .
Critics say the new rules will undermine the deliberative process of the Legislature , which is designed for lawmakers to meet in one place where the public can find them and have access to them .
“ This is one of those situations where you have to ask if the cure is worse than the disease .
What does it mean to open the door to such dramatic departures from our democratic traditions , and is it worth it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of legislative affairs at the Center for Advocacy and Policy at the ACLU of California .
Jonathan Mehta Stein , executive director of California Common Cause , a government watchdog group , said they are not opposed to remote voting provided that lawmakers are participating from a known location and safeguards are in place to make sure they are not being influenced by someone off camera .
But he opposed the Assembly ’ s plan to let lawmakers cast votes by proxy .
He said proxies are not allowed to change their vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light that might be important to consider , undermining the deliberative function of the Legislature .
“ If the Assembly ’ s view was that remote voting was not permitted under the Constitution , I don ’ t know how they are allowing proxy voting starting next week , ” Mehta Stein said .
“ I ’ d like to see them make that explanation public.
” Rendon said leaders crafted the rules in consultation with the chief clerk and the Office of Legislative Counsel , saying “ we have determined that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while guarding individual and public health , in a limited fashion and for a limited time.
” The rules will require absent lawmakers to send in their votes the day before a floor session , authorizing one of four legislative leaders to cast votes on their behalf .
Rendon said a quorum of lawmakers will be present on the floor at all times .
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said Senate officials have been testing a remote voting system since March .
The state Assembly in June passed a proposed constitutional amendment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an emergency .
But it drew the ire of government watchdog groups , who said it went too far and would undermine the democratic process .
The proposal stalled in the state Senate .

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California’s legislative leaders said Thursday they will let absent lawmakers vote on bills during the final month of the legislative session after at least seven people who work in the state Capitol became infected with the coronavirus, including one assemblyman who had to be hospitalized.
The state Assembly plans to let four legislative leaders cast votes for absent members during floor sessions. The state Senate will let lawmakers cast votes remotely, but only in committee hearings. Senators must still be present on the floor to cast final votes on bills.
The state Legislature had to shut down twice because of the coronavirus, shortening a legislative session where lawmakers have had to make tough choices to close a virus-induced $54.3 billion budget shortfall. A few lawmakers have missed votes for fears of contracting the disease or because they had already been exposed to it.
Some have participated in committee hearings and floor sessions remotely, but none was allowed to vote, as legislative leaders have worried the state Constitution does not allow it. But with an Aug. 31 deadline to pass bills before the end of the two-year session, lawmakers appear to be making exceptions to avoid another shutdown.
“Extraordinary times require extraordinary measures,” Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon said.
Critics say the new rules will undermine the deliberative process of the Legislature, which is designed for lawmakers to meet in one place where the public can find them and have access to them.
“This is one of those situations where you have to ask if the cure is worse than the disease. What does it mean to open the door to such dramatic departures from our democratic traditions, and is it worth it?” said Kevin Baker, director of legislative affairs at the Center for Advocacy and Policy at the ACLU of California.
Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause, a government watchdog group, said they are not opposed to remote voting provided that lawmakers are participating from a known location and safeguards are in place to make sure they are not being influenced by someone off camera.
But he opposed the Assembly’s plan to let lawmakers cast votes by proxy. He said proxies are not allowed to change their vote if new facts or arguments come to light that might be important to consider, undermining the deliberative function of the Legislature.
“If the Assembly’s view was that remote voting was not permitted under the Constitution, I don’t know how they are allowing proxy voting starting next week,” Mehta Stein said. “I’d like to see them make that explanation public.”
Rendon said leaders crafted the rules in consultation with the chief clerk and the Office of Legislative Counsel, saying “we have determined that this is the best way to continue legislating while guarding individual and public health, in a limited fashion and for a limited time.”
The rules will require absent lawmakers to send in their votes the day before a floor session, authorizing one of four legislative leaders to cast votes on their behalf. Rendon said a quorum of lawmakers will be present on the floor at all times.
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said Senate officials have been testing a remote voting system since March.
The state Assembly in June passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would let lawmakers vote remotely during an emergency. But it drew the ire of government watchdog groups, who said it went too far and would undermine the democratic process. The proposal stalled in the state Senate.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Man guilty of repeated rape of child gets 20-year sentence

URBANA , Ill. ( AP ) - A central Illinois man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison after admitting he repeatedly raped a child a decade ago .
In sentencing Gregory Reed of Mahomet , Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis called him “ sexually dangerous ” man who should never be around children again .
The News-Gazette in Champaign reports Reed , 43 , pleaded guilty last month to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under age 13 between January 2006 and July 2011 .
Champaign County sheriff ’ s investigators became aware of the allegations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the time , Reed was serving a 10-year prison sentence for aggravated child pornography for taking photographs of the girl and her friend as they changed clothing after swimming .
When Reed pleaded guilty , Assistant State ’ s Attorney Kristin Alferink agreed to cap her sentencing recommendation at 20 years .
During the sentencing hearing , sheriff ’ s investigator Tim Beckett testified besides the victim of the ongoing sex assaults , four other girls who were friends of the victim made allegations Reed either touched them inappropriately or talked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s attorney , Assistant Public Defender Matt Ham , argued for the minimum six years for his client , citing a tortured childhood .

URBANA, Ill. (AP) - A central Illinois man was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison after admitting he repeatedly raped a child a decade ago.
In sentencing Gregory Reed of Mahomet , Champaign County Judge Tom Difanis called him “sexually dangerous” man who should never be around children again.
The News-Gazette in Champaign reports Reed, 43, pleaded guilty last month to predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under age 13 between January 2006 and July 2011. Champaign County sheriff’s investigators became aware of the allegations in 2018, when the victim came forward. At the time, Reed was serving a 10-year prison sentence for aggravated child pornography for taking photographs of the girl and her friend as they changed clothing after swimming.
When Reed pleaded guilty, Assistant State’s Attorney Kristin Alferink agreed to cap her sentencing recommendation at 20 years. During the sentencing hearing, sheriff’s investigator Tim Beckett testified besides the victim of the ongoing sex assaults, four other girls who were friends of the victim made allegations Reed either touched them inappropriately or talked about sex with them.
Reed’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Matt Ham, argued for the minimum six years for his client, citing a tortured childhood.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Police arrest 1 in death of man killed by subway train

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A man was arrested on charges of murder and assault in connection with the @ @ @ @ @ was crushed by a subway train following an intervention into an argument , police said @ @ @ @ @ Police Department said Todd Hubbard , 57 , was arrested on Wednesday in the July @ @ @ @ @ , also 57 .
Information on an attorney for Hubbard was not available .
At @ @ @ @ @ s death , police said he had tried to break up an argument between other @ @ @ @ @ somehow ended up on the tracks .
Brown was hit by a southbound train and @ @ @ @ @ scene .

NEW YORK (AP) - A man was arrested on charges of murder and assault in connection with the death of a man who was crushed by a subway train following an intervention into an argument, police said Thursday.
The New York Police Department said Todd Hubbard, 57, was arrested on Wednesday in the July 3 death of Dwayne Brown, also 57. Information on an attorney for Hubbard was not available.
At the time of Brown’s death, police said he had tried to break up an argument between other people on the platform and somehow ended up on the tracks.
Brown was hit by a southbound train and was pronounced dead at the scene.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--California counties approve fines for coronavirus violations

LOS ANGELES - California counties are stepping up enforcement of public health orders as hospitalizations and positive tests for the @ @ @ @ @ of the state .
In the San Francisco Bay area , officials in Marin and @ @ @ @ @ ranging from $ 25 to $ 500 for individuals violating public health orders , including @ @ @ @ @ Supervisors in nearby Sonoma County will consider a similar move .
The virus continues to @ @ @ @ @ California , topping 425,600 confirmed cases .
There were 157 deaths Thursday , the highest @ @ @ @ @ .

LOS ANGELES - California counties are stepping up enforcement of public health orders as hospitalizations and positive tests for the coronavirus skyrocket in many parts of the state.
In the San Francisco Bay area, officials in Marin and Napa counties have approved fines ranging from $25 to $500 for individuals violating public health orders, including failing to wear masks. Supervisors in nearby Sonoma County will consider a similar move.
The virus continues to surge in many parts of California, topping 425,600 confirmed cases. There were 157 deaths Thursday, the highest reported in a single day.
Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a “grim milestone.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--LEADING OFF: Bigger playoffs, new Texas park, Dbacks' MadBum

A look at what ’ s happening around the majors Friday : Baseball may be embarking on a smaller regular-season schedule , but the postseason just got bigger .
Major League Baseball and the players ’ union agreed Thursday to an expanded playoff structure that includes 16 teams instead of the usual 10 .
Since 16 of 30 teams will make the postseason , there ’ s a very good chance that teams with a losing record will be included .
It ’ s just another quirk in a season that ’ s sure to be full of them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , why not try a little something different and make it as exciting as possible , ” Colorado shortstop Trevor Story said .
“ I know it ’ s going to be such a sprint with the 60-game season ; adding more playoff teams will just add to the fire and the excitement and the fandom around the game .
Anything can happen in a 60-game season .
I ’ m all for it.
” The division winners in each league will be the 1-3 seeds , the second-place teams in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more wild cards will be the 7 and 8 seeds .
The first round will be a best-of-three series and the pairings will be 1 vs. 8 , 2-7 , 3-6 and 4-5 .
The higher seed in the first round would host all games .
The sides agreed to decide tiebreaker rules later .
The Texas Rangers officially open Globe Life Field , their new $ 1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof .
And they ’ ll do it with the same starting pitcher from the finale in the old stadium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Colorado Rockies in his first opening day , getting the nod ahead of returning All-Star lefty Mike Minor and Corey Kluber , the two-time AL Cy Young winner acquired in a December trade from Cleveland .
Lynn , who had 246 strikeouts last season , sent the Rangers out of the old stadium with a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees .
While the building will be closed to the public , there will be a few spectators , including the parents and fiance of Rockies rookie outfielder Sam Hilliard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rangers ballparks .
Hilliard ’ s father was diagnosed two years ago with ALS and will get to see his son ’ s first opening day game in the majors and first big league game in Texas .
MLB also gave the Rangers permission for about 150 team employees to watch the stadium ’ s first game from a section above right field near their offices .
Dusty Baker believes the Astros sign-stealing scandal is old news .
It remains to be seen if the rest of baseball agrees .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s new manager said earlier in camp .
“ I hope we don ’ t have to keep rehashing that over and over throughout the course of the year .
It ’ s behind us .
I ’ d like to leave it behind us.
” In Houston ’ s final summer camp tuneup , three of its stars - José Altuve , Alex Bregman and George Springer - were hit by pitches in a game at Kansas City .
The Astros begin their season at home against the Seattle Mariners .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs .
The 71-year-old Baker was hired to replaces Hinch .
It ’ s still a little strange to see big left-hander Madison Bumgarner in a Diamondbacks uniform .
The longtime San Francisco Giants ace is scheduled to make his first start with Arizona when it travels to face the San Diego Padres .
Bumgarner signed an $ 85 million , five-year deal with the D-backs during the offseason after spending 11 years in San Francisco .
He helped the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was the 2014 World Series MVP Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was put on the injured list just hours before he was scheduled to make his ninth opening start of his career against the San Francisco Giants .
Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw ’ s back stiffened up in a weight room workout two days ago .
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner was replaced by 22-year-old Dustin May .
Roberts said Kershaw might be able to return as early as the team ’ s series against the Diamondbacks that @ @ @ @

A look at what’s happening around the majors today:
BIGGER PLAYOFFS
Baseball may be embarking on a smaller regular-season schedule, but the postseason just got bigger.
Major League Baseball and the players’ union agreed Thursday to an expanded playoff structure that includes 16 teams instead of the usual 10. Since 16 of 30 teams will make the postseason, there’s a very good chance that teams with a losing record will be included.
It’s just another quirk in a season that’s sure to be full of them.
“It’s such a unique season, why not try a little something different and make it as exciting as possible,” Colorado shortstop Trevor Story said. “I know it’s going to be such a sprint with the 60-game season; adding more playoff teams will just add to the fire and the excitement and the fandom around the game. Anything can happen in a 60-game season. I’m all for it.”
Sixteen of the 30 teams will advance to a best-of-three first round: the first- and second-place teams in every division and the next two clubs by winning percentage in each league. Those winners move on to the best-of-five Division Series, where the usual format resumes. The final four teams are in best-of-seven League Championship Series, and the pennant winners meet in the best-of-seven World Series.
BRAND NEW HOME
The Texas Rangers officially open Globe Life Field, their new $1.2 billion stadium with a retractable roof. And they’ll do it with the same starting pitcher from the finale in the old stadium across the street.
Lance Lynn faces the Colorado Rockies in his first opening day, getting the nod ahead of returning All-Star lefty Mike Minor and Corey Kluber, the two-time AL Cy Young winner acquired in a December trade from Cleveland. Lynn, who had 246 strikeouts last season, sent the Rangers out of the old stadium with a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees.
While the building will be closed to the public, there will be a few spectators, including the parents and fiance of Rockies rookie outfielder Sam Hilliard, who grew up 10-15 minutes from the Rangers ballparks. Hilliard’s father was diagnosed two years ago with ALS and will get to see his son’s first opening day game in the majors and first big league game in Texas.
MLB also gave the Rangers permission for about 150 team employees to watch the stadium’s first game from a section above right field near their offices.
ASTROS BACK
Dusty Baker believes the Astros sign-stealing scandal is old news. It remains to be seen if the rest of baseball agrees.
“It’s over now,” Houston’s new manager said earlier in camp. “I hope we don’t have to keep rehashing that over and over throughout the course of the year. It’s behind us. I’d like to leave it behind us.”
In Houston’s final summer camp tuneup, three of its stars - José Altuve, Alex Bregman and George Springer - were hit by pitches in a game at Kansas City.
The Astros begin their season at home against the Seattle Mariners. The franchise spent the offseason dealing with the sign-stealing scandal that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs. The 71-year-old Baker was hired to replaces Hinch.
MADBUM WITH D-BACKS
It’s still a little strange to see big left-hander Madison Bumgarner in a Diamondbacks uniform.
The longtime San Francisco Giants ace is scheduled to make his first start with Arizona when it travels to face the San Diego Padres. Bumgarner signed an $85 million, five-year deal with the D-backs during the offseason after spending 11 years in San Francisco.
He helped the Giants win three World Series titles and he was the 2014 World Series MVP
KERSHAW OUT
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was put on the injured list just hours before he was scheduled to make his ninth opening start of his career against the San Francisco Giants.
Manager Dave Roberts said Kershaw’s back stiffened up in a weight room workout two days ago. The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner was replaced by 22-year-old Dustin May. Roberts said Kershaw might be able to return as early as the team’s series against the Diamondbacks that begins July 30.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Roseville man arrested in string of bias crimes

ROSEVILLE , Minn. ( AP ) - A Roseville man has been charged in a string of bias crimes in @ @ @ @ @ police said .
Roseville Deputy Police Chief Erika Scheider said in a news release that @ @ @ @ @ , was arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday with three counts of felony threats of violence @ @ @ @ @ leaving notes threatening violence and arson at homes with signs supporting Black Lives Matter or @ @ @ @ @ said .
All apparently were written by the same person .
Four threatening notes were @ @ @ @ @ June 1 at residences - three in Roseville and one in St. Paul .
In @ @ @ @ @ found a note saying it would be in their interest to remove their “ Black @ @ @ @ @ “ Payback is coming.
” Forensic investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension found @ @ @ @ @ on two letters , the Star Tribune reported .
Scheider said she did not know @ @ @ @ @ who could speak on his behalf .

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) - A Roseville man has been charged in a string of bias crimes in the St. Paul suburb, police said.
Roseville Deputy Police Chief Erika Scheider said in a news release that Kevin Jay Karjalahti, 49, was arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday with three counts of felony threats of violence.
Karjalahti is suspected of leaving notes threatening violence and arson at homes with signs supporting Black Lives Matter or messages of inclusion, Scheider said. All apparently were written by the same person.
Four threatening notes were left from May 29 to June 1 at residences - three in Roseville and one in St. Paul.
In one case, a resident found a note saying it would be in their interest to remove their “Black Lives Matter” sign because “Payback is coming.”
Forensic investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension found fingerprints matching Karjalahti’s on two letters, the Star Tribune reported.
Scheider said she did not know if Karjalahti had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Ex-college basketball coach avoids jail for fatal punch

NEW YORK ( AP ) - A former men ’ s college basketball assistant coach was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation , community service and a fine for fatally punching a man in New York City who pounded on his car ’ s window .
Former Wake Forest assistant coach Jamill Jones , 37 , was sentenced in a Queens court video conference to probation , 1,500 hours of community service and a $ 1,000 fine .
Jones , for the first time , apologized to the victim ’ s family and spoke through tears while addressing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Jones , of North Carolina , was convicted in February of misdemeanor assault for the punch that killed 35-year-old Sandor Szabo in August 2018 .
Szabo , who had earlier in the day attended a family wedding , was walking in Long Island City at night when he banged on the rear window of the vehicle Jones was in , according to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz .
Jones followed Szabo , exited the vehicle and punched him once in the face .
Szabo fell to the ground and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the news release from Katz ’ s office .
Szabo died two days later at a hospital .
Jones testified at his trial that he hit Szabo in self-defense and to protect his then-fiancée , who was with him .
“ This was a tragic incident that ended the life of a man and devastated his family , a violent run-in that should never have happened , ” Katz said in the release .
“ Violence is never the answer to settling a dispute.
” Szabo ’ s family members spoke to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York state laws that precluded prosecutors from charging Jones with a felony , according to the News & Observer .
“ He will always be a murderer , a coward , ” Szabo ’ s mother , Donna Kent , said in court .
“ I believe that if you were the good person you say you are , we wouldn ’ t be here today .
It is said that time heals all wounds .
I disagree ; 718 days have passed , and nothing has gotten easier.
” Jones resigned last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forest basketball team .
“ I have dealt with this day in , and day out .
I ’ ve lost my career , my family , ” Jones said in court .
“ But the one thing that I ’ ve lived for every day is that I pray for this family .
I pray that this family at some point can have peace .
”

NEW YORK (AP) - A former men’s college basketball assistant coach was sentenced Thursday to three years of probation, community service and a fine for fatally punching a man in New York City who pounded on his car’s window.
Former Wake Forest assistant coach Jamill Jones, 37, was sentenced in a Queens court video conference to probation, 1,500 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine. Jones, for the first time, apologized to the victim’s family and spoke through tears while addressing the court, the News & Observer reported.
Jones, of North Carolina, was convicted in February of misdemeanor assault for the punch that killed 35-year-old Sandor Szabo in August 2018.
Szabo, who had earlier in the day attended a family wedding, was walking in Long Island City at night when he banged on the rear window of the vehicle Jones was in, according to the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Jones followed Szabo, exited the vehicle and punched him once in the face. Szabo fell to the ground and hit his head on concrete, according to the news release from Katz’s office. Szabo died two days later at a hospital.
Jones testified at his trial that he hit Szabo in self-defense and to protect his then-fiancée, who was with him.
“This was a tragic incident that ended the life of a man and devastated his family, a violent run-in that should never have happened,” Katz said in the release. “Violence is never the answer to settling a dispute.”
Szabo’s family members spoke to the court Thursday, all criticizing New York state laws that precluded prosecutors from charging Jones with a felony, according to the News & Observer.
“He will always be a murderer, a coward,” Szabo’s mother, Donna Kent, said in court. “I believe that if you were the good person you say you are, we wouldn’t be here today. It is said that time heals all wounds. I disagree; 718 days have passed, and nothing has gotten easier.”
Jones resigned last year from his position with the Wake Forest basketball team.
“I have dealt with this day in, and day out. I’ve lost my career, my family,” Jones said in court. “But the one thing that I’ve lived for every day is that I pray for this family. I pray that this family at some point can have peace.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Judge nixes Roc Nation subpoena in Centene shareholder suit

DOVER , Del .
( AP ) - A Delaware judge presiding over a shareholder lawsuit against a managed care company with prison health care contracts around the country has quashed subpoenas issued against rapper Jay-Z ’ s Roc Nation and the law firm that has represented him for many years .
Attorneys for Centene Corp. argued Thursday that the subpoenas were necessary because they believe that the shareholder suing for access to the company ’ s books and records is improperly acting as surrogate for Jay-Z ’ s Roc Nation , which is backing a federal lawsuit over prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centurion as a defendant .
They noted that an attorney for the same law firm representing the shareholder in Delaware sent a letter to Mississippi officials in January on behalf of Roc Nation stating that it was “ prepared to pursue all potential avenues ” to obtain relief for the Mississippi inmates .
“ I think this was brought in order to put pressure on the company and to gain the attention of top management of the company to either settle or concede the case in Mississippi , ” Centene attorney Paul Lockwood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re trying to show that Roc Nation is actually the force behind this case , and , if they ’ re not , then the subpoena shouldn ’ t be burdensome at all , ” he added .
While ruling that the shareholder must provide Centene with certain information she may have in advance of a September trial , Vice Chancellor Paul Fioravanti quashed the subpoenas against Roc Nation and the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan .
“ The defendant has not persuaded me that this discovery is appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or that there is precedent for it , ” Fioravanti said .
Fioravanti ruled that Centene would be allowed to inquire about the shareholder ’ s true purpose for seeking company records , but that it was not entitled to all the documents it sought .
The types of information he ordered the plaintiff to produce include communications with other Centene shareholders , communications with media and social media outlets , documents referring to communications with Roc Nation and its employees , and documents concerning arrangements with Roc Nation or other third parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attorneys for the shareholder argued that no one involved in the Delaware lawsuit is involved in the Mississippi class action , and that there is no evidence that the shareholder is seeking Centene records for an improper purpose .
“ What matters is what the plaintiff wants out of this and why she is doing this , ” said Dan Silver , an attorney for the shareholder .
The shareholder said in her complaint that she is seeking answers to “ basic questions about grave injustices perpetrated behind prison walls.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prison medical contractor in Delaware and several other states , has a long history of providing inadequate care to inmates around the country .
Centene ’ s failure to address the problems risks jeopardizing Centurion ’ s business and could lead to more lawsuits and government investigations , which would expose stockholders to losses on their investments , the complaint adds .

DOVER, Del. (AP) - A Delaware judge presiding over a shareholder lawsuit against a managed care company with prison health care contracts around the country has quashed subpoenas issued against rapper Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and the law firm that has represented him for many years.
Attorneys for Centene Corp. argued Thursday that the subpoenas were necessary because they believe that the shareholder suing for access to the company’s books and records is improperly acting as surrogate for Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, which is backing a federal lawsuit over prison conditions in Mississippi that names Centene subsidiary Centurion as a defendant.
They noted that an attorney for the same law firm representing the shareholder in Delaware sent a letter to Mississippi officials in January on behalf of Roc Nation stating that it was “prepared to pursue all potential avenues” to obtain relief for the Mississippi inmates.
“I think this was brought in order to put pressure on the company and to gain the attention of top management of the company to either settle or concede the case in Mississippi,” Centene attorney Paul Lockwood said of the shareholder suit.
“We’re trying to show that Roc Nation is actually the force behind this case, and, if they’re not, then the subpoena shouldn’t be burdensome at all,” he added.
While ruling that the shareholder must provide Centene with certain information she may have in advance of a September trial, Vice Chancellor Paul Fioravanti quashed the subpoenas against Roc Nation and the law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.
“The defendant has not persuaded me that this discovery is appropriate in a books and records action, or that there is precedent for it,” Fioravanti said.
Fioravanti ruled that Centene would be allowed to inquire about the shareholder’s true purpose for seeking company records, but that it was not entitled to all the documents it sought. The types of information he ordered the plaintiff to produce include communications with other Centene shareholders, communications with media and social media outlets, documents referring to communications with Roc Nation and its employees, and documents concerning arrangements with Roc Nation or other third parties regarding the payment of fees and expenses.
Attorneys for the shareholder argued that no one involved in the Delaware lawsuit is involved in the Mississippi class action, and that there is no evidence that the shareholder is seeking Centene records for an improper purpose.
“What matters is what the plaintiff wants out of this and why she is doing this,” said Dan Silver, an attorney for the shareholder.
The shareholder said in her complaint that she is seeking answers to “basic questions about grave injustices perpetrated behind prison walls.”
The complaint alleges that Centurion, which is the prison medical contractor in Delaware and several other states, has a long history of providing inadequate care to inmates around the country. Centene’s failure to address the problems risks jeopardizing Centurion’s business and could lead to more lawsuits and government investigations, which would expose stockholders to losses on their investments, the complaint adds.


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Sudan protest movement rejects gov't plans to cut subsidies

CAIRO ( AP ) - Sudan ’ s protest leaders announced Thursday that they oppose the government ’ s economic reform plan to slash fuel subsidies and float the Sudanese currency , raising the specter of unrest as the country makes a fragile transition to democracy .
The rejection came a day after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok , a former senior U.N. economist , announced the gradual lifting of energy subsidies , which eat up 36 % of the government ’ s budget .
It is part of an economic overhaul sought by the International Monetary Fund to lower Sudan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for growth .
The subsidy cuts are already underway , and many people are paying over five times what they did last year to fill up their gas tanks .
The devaluation of the Sudanese pound and the “ complete liberalization of fuel prices will have a negative impact on people ’ s lives , transportation and pensions , ” said a statement from economic experts within the opposition coalition , the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change , or FFC .
“ The pursuit of these policies will force people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the statement said .
Sudan ’ s economy has plunged in recent months , threatening to destabilize the political transition .
In April of last year , a sweeping pro-democracy protest movement , first triggered by soaring bread prices , toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir .
The Sovereign Council , composed of civilian leaders and army generals , is steering Sudan toward democratic elections in 2022 .
Years of mismanagement under al-Bashir , now imprisoned on corruption charges , coupled with harsh U.S. sanctions , brought the economy to its knees .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tailspin , drawing sharp criticism from the opposition coalition .
Now , the coronavirus pandemic is compounding the challenges .
Inflation has hit 136 % .
Public revenues are down 40 % .
The Sudanese pound recently hit a record low on the black market .
Scrambling to rescue the economy , the government reached an initial agreement last month with the IMF and it hosted its first international donors conference , which brought in $ 1.8 billion .
But the help is presumably contingent on an ambitious economic strategy that involves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expensive subsidy system .
To ease the shock , officials are rolling out direct cash payments to poor families .
But Sudan ’ s civil society movement fears the economic adjustments will squeeze the poor and middle class .
If Hamdok presses forward with the changes next month , protesters warn they will go back to the streets .
“ Lifting fuel subsidies is like opening a crater of fire , ” said activist Asil Abdu .
“ The protests need no planning .
People on the street are already about to explode.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this month that pushed out the finance minister , who had spearheaded the unpopular changes required by the IMF to extend Sudan a credit line .
The FFC statement urged the government to cancel the former finance minister ’ s policies and adopt “ a different strategy to tackle the living conditions of ordinary people.
” Although vehicle owners who tend to be more well-off are now hit hardest , many expect the effects of deep energy subsidy cuts to soon trickle down to the poor , as a spike in transportation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other goods .
“ This decision will force authorities into a dramatic confrontation with the masses , ” said FFC activist Adel Keller .
He recalled that al-Bashir ’ s government scrapped fuel subsidies in September 2013 and set off days of riots that left dozens dead .
That violent week - as well as the uprising that overthrew al-Bashir ’ s three-decade rule - should stand as warnings about the consequences of forcing Sudan ’ s most impoverished citizens to subsist on even less , he said .
“ The poor are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests , the ones hurt most , ” Keller said .
“ This government ’ s popularity is declining fast .
”

CAIRO (AP) - Sudan’s protest leaders announced Thursday that they oppose the government’s economic reform plan to slash fuel subsidies and float the Sudanese currency, raising the specter of unrest as the country makes a fragile transition to democracy.
The rejection came a day after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a former senior U.N. economist, announced the gradual lifting of energy subsidies, which eat up 36% of the government’s budget. It is part of an economic overhaul sought by the International Monetary Fund to lower Sudan’s debt and prime the economy for growth.
The subsidy cuts are already underway, and many people are paying over five times what they did last year to fill up their gas tanks.
The devaluation of the Sudanese pound and the “complete liberalization of fuel prices will have a negative impact on people’s lives, transportation and pensions,” said a statement from economic experts within the opposition coalition, the Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, or FFC.
“The pursuit of these policies will force people into a dangerous and unbearable state,” the statement said.
Sudan’s economy has plunged in recent months, threatening to destabilize the political transition. In April of last year, a sweeping pro-democracy protest movement, first triggered by soaring bread prices, toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The Sovereign Council, composed of civilian leaders and army generals, is steering Sudan toward democratic elections in 2022.
Years of mismanagement under al-Bashir, now imprisoned on corruption charges, coupled with harsh U.S. sanctions, brought the economy to its knees. The transitional government has struggled to stop the tailspin, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition coalition.
Now, the coronavirus pandemic is compounding the challenges. Inflation has hit 136%. Public revenues are down 40%. The Sudanese pound recently hit a record low on the black market.
Scrambling to rescue the economy, the government reached an initial agreement last month with the IMF and it hosted its first international donors conference, which brought in $1.8 billion. But the help is presumably contingent on an ambitious economic strategy that involves overhauling the government’s sprawling and expensive subsidy system.
To ease the shock, officials are rolling out direct cash payments to poor families. But Sudan’s civil society movement fears the economic adjustments will squeeze the poor and middle class.
If Hamdok presses forward with the changes next month, protesters warn they will go back to the streets.
“Lifting fuel subsidies is like opening a crater of fire,” said activist Asil Abdu. “The protests need no planning. People on the street are already about to explode.”
Hamdok announced a major Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month that pushed out the finance minister, who had spearheaded the unpopular changes required by the IMF to extend Sudan a credit line.
The FFC statement urged the government to cancel the former finance minister’s policies and adopt “a different strategy to tackle the living conditions of ordinary people.”
Although vehicle owners who tend to be more well-off are now hit hardest, many expect the effects of deep energy subsidy cuts to soon trickle down to the poor, as a spike in transportation costs leads to surges in prices of other goods.
“This decision will force authorities into a dramatic confrontation with the masses,”said FFC activist Adel Keller.
He recalled that al-Bashir’s government scrapped fuel subsidies in September 2013 and set off days of riots that left dozens dead. That violent week - as well as the uprising that overthrew al-Bashir’s three-decade rule - should stand as warnings about the consequences of forcing Sudan’s most impoverished citizens to subsist on even less, he said.
“The poor are always on the front lines of these protests, the ones hurt most,” Keller said. “This government’s popularity is declining fast.”


washingtontimes--2020-07-23--Nebraska got lethal injection drugs from Omaha-area pharmacy

LINCOLN , Neb .
( AP ) - The owner of a pharmacy that provided drugs to Nebraska for use in a 2018 execution expressed remorse Thursday for making the sale , but acknowledged that he knew prison officials wanted them for a lethal injection .
Public records released late Thursday revealed that Community Pharmacy Services , in the Omaha suburb of Gretna , Nebraska , agreed to sell the drugs to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for two payments totaling $ 10,500 .
Community Pharmacy Services owner Kyle Janssen issued a statement minutes after state officials identified his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sell to them again .
“ Community Pharmacy Services has never supplied drugs since then to the Nebraska Department of Corrections or any other department of corrections , not will it ever again , ” Janssen said .
“ I regretted the decision as it does not align with our company ’ s values to provide the best patient care and customer service to the long-term care industry.
” Janssen said the state corrections system contracted with his company to manage its pharmacy operations from 2016 to 2018 .
He said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked him for drugs that were later used in the August 2018 execution of Carey Dean Moore .
“ The company fulfilled that order following all DEA protocols and procedures , and understood the potential use of those drugs , ” Janssen said .
It ’ s not clear if the company ’ s contract services extended beyond 2018 .
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services released records identifying its suppliers after a prolonged legal battle with the Omaha World-Herald , the Lincoln Journal Star and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nebraska sued the state after prison officials refused to release public records identifying its supplier , despite having done so in the past .
The case ended up before the Nebraska Supreme Court , which ordered the corrections department in May to release the records .
Similar legal battles have played out in Arkansas , which last year expanded the secrecy law that shields the identity of its drug supplier .
“ Today is another win for open government and the ACLU was proud to be a part of the effort to shine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lethal injection drugs utilized by the state of Nebraska as it rushed to carry out an execution shrouded in secrecy from start to finish , ” said Danielle Conrad , executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska .
Moore ’ s execution marked the first time that Nebraska had carried out the death penalty since 1997 .
Prison officials were under pressure to carry out an execution after a political fight over capital punishment in Nebraska .
State lawmakers narrowly voted to abolish the death penalty in 2015 , overriding the veto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first year in office .
Death penalty supporters responded to the vote with a petition drive , partially financed by Ricketts , which put the measure on Nebraska ’ s 2016 general election ballot .
The proposal to keep capital punishment won support from 60 % of voters in the overwhelmingly conservative state .
But critics at the time argued that Nebraska wouldn ’ t be able to carry out another execution because of the difficulty in obtaining drugs .
State officials previously spent $ 54,000 to purchased drugs from a middleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to return the money .
This story has been corrected to show that two payments were made totaling $ 10,500 .

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The owner of a pharmacy that provided drugs to Nebraska for use in a 2018 execution expressed remorse Thursday for making the sale, but acknowledged that he knew prison officials wanted them for a lethal injection.
Public records released late Thursday revealed that Community Pharmacy Services, in the Omaha suburb of Gretna, Nebraska, agreed to sell the drugs to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services for two payments totaling $10,500.
Community Pharmacy Services owner Kyle Janssen issued a statement minutes after state officials identified his company as their supplier, vowing never to sell to them again.
“Community Pharmacy Services has never supplied drugs since then to the Nebraska Department of Corrections or any other department of corrections, not will it ever again,” Janssen said. “I regretted the decision as it does not align with our company’s values to provide the best patient care and customer service to the long-term care industry.”
Janssen said the state corrections system contracted with his company to manage its pharmacy operations from 2016 to 2018. He said during the course of the contract prison officials asked him for drugs that were later used in the August 2018 execution of Carey Dean Moore.
“The company fulfilled that order following all DEA protocols and procedures, and understood the potential use of those drugs,” Janssen said.
It’s not clear if the company’s contract services extended beyond 2018.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services released records identifying its suppliers after a prolonged legal battle with the Omaha World-Herald, the Lincoln Journal Star and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska. The newspapers and the ACLU of Nebraska sued the state after prison officials refused to release public records identifying its supplier, despite having done so in the past.
The case ended up before the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ordered the corrections department in May to release the records.
Similar legal battles have played out in Arkansas, which last year expanded the secrecy law that shields the identity of its drug supplier.
“Today is another win for open government and the ACLU was proud to be a part of the effort to shine a bright light on the source of the lethal injection drugs utilized by the state of Nebraska as it rushed to carry out an execution shrouded in secrecy from start to finish,” said Danielle Conrad, executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska.
Moore’s execution marked the first time that Nebraska had carried out the death penalty since 1997.
Prison officials were under pressure to carry out an execution after a political fight over capital punishment in Nebraska. State lawmakers narrowly voted to abolish the death penalty in 2015, overriding the veto of Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts during his first year in office.
Death penalty supporters responded to the vote with a petition drive, partially financed by Ricketts, which put the measure on Nebraska’s 2016 general election ballot.
The proposal to keep capital punishment won support from 60% of voters in the overwhelmingly conservative state. But critics at the time argued that Nebraska wouldn’t be able to carry out another execution because of the difficulty in obtaining drugs. State officials previously spent $54,000 to purchased drugs from a middleman in India who never delivered them and refused to return the money.
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This story has been corrected to show that two payments were made totaling $10,500.
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