westernjournal--2020-12-21--Whistleblower Calls Out World Health Organization’s Censoring of COVID Report: ‘I Couldn’t Be Silent

Whistleblower Calls Out World Health Organization’s Censoring of COVID Report: ‘I Couldn’t Be Silent’

The U.N. epidemiologist who denounced the World Health Organization ’ s withdrawal of a report on Italy ’ s coronavirus response says he is suffering retaliation for having spoken out and is calling for the agency to live up to its obligations to protect whistleblowers .
Dr. Francesco Zambon said he filed an internal ethics complaint with the WHO in May after he said he was pressured by a senior WHO official to falsify data to obscure that Italy hadn ’ t updated its influenza pandemic preparedness plan since 2006 .
In an interview with The Associated Press , Zambon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fight with the WHO but now feels he is being isolated professionally for having followed WHO regulations to report alleged misconduct .
“ I couldn ’ t be silent , ” he said .
“ I ’ m doing this because I believe in the WHO and because I believe in the values of the WHO .
One of them is integrity.
” TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI Zambon , the WHO ’ s chief field coordinator for Italy and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the authors of a WHO report examining how Italy responded when it became the epicenter of the European outbreak in late February .
The report was aimed at helping other countries prepare as the virus spread globally , but it hit a sensitive nerve because it noted that Italy went into the crisis with an out-of-date pandemic plan and that its initial reaction was “ improvised , chaotic and creative.
” The WHO pulled the report from its website on May 14 , a day after it went up , and never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained “ factual inaccuracies ” but hasn ’ t said what they were .
Zambon has said the only inaccuracy was an out-of-date timeline of the virus in China that he removed immediately , but the report was never reuploaded or distributed .
The scandal over the report ’ s withdrawal has made headlines in Italy amid suggestions that the WHO yanked the report to spare the government criticism , embarrassment and liability .
In the interview , Zambon said he was pressured to fudge the fact that Italy hadn ’ t updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He cited a May 11 email from Dr. Ranieri Guerra , an assistant director-general at the WHO who was working as a liaison with the Italian government , telling him to “ correct ” the date to show that the plan had been “ last updated in 2016.
” He said Guerra followed up with a phone call that he described as threatening .
Guerra had been in charge of prevention at the Italian Health Ministry from 2014 to 2017 and wrote the then-minister that the plan needed to be updated .
Zambon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s request because the 2016-2017 plan was the same as the 2006 one .
“ We couldn ’ t really say that the plan was updated because it was not true , ” he said .
Guerra declined repeated requests for comment to AP .
In an interview with La7 television Sunday , he said the earlier plan was considered “ current ” up until the release of new WHO guidelines in 2018 , by which time he had left the ministry .
RELATED : World Health Organization 's Message for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the 2006 plan contains holes in its implementation phases that critics say could help explain Italy ’ s critical shortage of protective equipment and chaotic initial response to COVID-19 .
Guerra also denied he exerted any pressure on Zambon and said he couldn ’ t fire him because he reports to a different WHO chain of command .
The WHO didn ’ t immediately respond to requests about the status of Zambon ’ s complaint .
The organization has previously said it has mechanisms to handle internal issues and disputes .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken with Italian prosecutors investigating the government ’ s response , in defiance of WHO guidelines .
A Nov. 1 email from the WHO ’ s legal department , reported by state-run RAI television ’ s “ Report ” program , noted that the U.N. agency was facing several lawsuits and parliamentary inquiries into COVID-19 .
“ We need to be mindful not to set a precedent or to implicitly waive any of the immunities applicable to WHO by attending such hearings , ” the email said .
Italian public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report was even in the works , suggesting a communications breakdown between the U.N. agency and the government .
As WHO liaison to the government , Guerra was given a detailed outline of the report on April 14 to share with the government , but it ’ s not clear how broadly it was shared or if he followed up .
Dr. Giovanni Rezza , head of infectious disease at Italy ’ s Superior Institute of Health , said he didn ’ t see anything in the report that was terribly problematic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If anyone is going to look for possible responsibility , clearly this concerns the period in which the plan wasn ’ t updated , ” he told a briefing on Dec. 12 .
“ Naturally one can do a self-criticism , but I didn ’ t find any reason to censor the report , ” he said .
“ I ’ m shocked if that ’ s what happened.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The U.N. epidemiologist who denounced the World Health Organization’s withdrawal of a report on Italy’s coronavirus response says he is suffering retaliation for having spoken out and is calling for the agency to live up to its obligations to protect whistleblowers.
Dr. Francesco Zambon said he filed an internal ethics complaint with the WHO in May after he said he was pressured by a senior WHO official to falsify data to obscure that Italy hadn’t updated its influenza pandemic preparedness plan since 2006.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Zambon said he never wanted to enter into a fight with the WHO but now feels he is being isolated professionally for having followed WHO regulations to report alleged misconduct.
“I couldn’t be silent,” he said.
“I’m doing this because I believe in the WHO and because I believe in the values of the WHO. One of them is integrity.”
Zambon, the WHO’s chief field coordinator for Italy and its regions during the pandemic, was one of the authors of a WHO report examining how Italy responded when it became the epicenter of the European outbreak in late February.
The report was aimed at helping other countries prepare as the virus spread globally, but it hit a sensitive nerve because it noted that Italy went into the crisis with an out-of-date pandemic plan and that its initial reaction was “improvised, chaotic and creative.”
The WHO pulled the report from its website on May 14, a day after it went up, and never republished it. The WHO said it contained “factual inaccuracies” but hasn’t said what they were. Zambon has said the only inaccuracy was an out-of-date timeline of the virus in China that he removed immediately, but the report was never reuploaded or distributed.
The scandal over the report’s withdrawal has made headlines in Italy amid suggestions that the WHO yanked the report to spare the government criticism, embarrassment and liability.
Do you trust the World Health Organization? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 0% (1 Votes) No: 100% (306 Votes)
In the interview, Zambon said he was pressured to fudge the fact that Italy hadn’t updated its pandemic preparedness plan since 2006.
He cited a May 11 email from Dr. Ranieri Guerra, an assistant director-general at the WHO who was working as a liaison with the Italian government, telling him to “correct” the date to show that the plan had been “last updated in 2016.” He said Guerra followed up with a phone call that he described as threatening.
Guerra had been in charge of prevention at the Italian Health Ministry from 2014 to 2017 and wrote the then-minister that the plan needed to be updated.
Zambon said he refused to cede to Guerra’s request because the 2016-2017 plan was the same as the 2006 one. “We couldn’t really say that the plan was updated because it was not true,” he said.
Guerra declined repeated requests for comment to AP. In an interview with La7 television Sunday, he said the earlier plan was considered “current” up until the release of new WHO guidelines in 2018, by which time he had left the ministry.
But the 2006 plan contains holes in its implementation phases that critics say could help explain Italy’s critical shortage of protective equipment and chaotic initial response to COVID-19.
Guerra also denied he exerted any pressure on Zambon and said he couldn’t fire him because he reports to a different WHO chain of command.
The WHO didn’t immediately respond to requests about the status of Zambon’s complaint. The organization has previously said it has mechanisms to handle internal issues and disputes.
Both Guerra and Zambon, meanwhile, have spoken with Italian prosecutors investigating the government’s response, in defiance of WHO guidelines.
A Nov. 1 email from the WHO’s legal department, reported by state-run RAI television’s “Report” program, noted that the U.N. agency was facing several lawsuits and parliamentary inquiries into COVID-19.
“We need to be mindful not to set a precedent or to implicitly waive any of the immunities applicable to WHO by attending such hearings,” the email said.
Italian public health officials have said they had no idea the WHO report was even in the works, suggesting a communications breakdown between the U.N. agency and the government.
As WHO liaison to the government, Guerra was given a detailed outline of the report on April 14 to share with the government, but it’s not clear how broadly it was shared or if he followed up.
Dr. Giovanni Rezza, head of infectious disease at Italy’s Superior Institute of Health, said he didn’t see anything in the report that was terribly problematic, much less worthy of censorship.
“If anyone is going to look for possible responsibility, clearly this concerns the period in which the plan wasn’t updated,” he told a briefing on Dec. 12.
“Naturally one can do a self-criticism, but I didn’t find any reason to censor the report,” he said. “I’m shocked if that’s what happened.”
[jwplayer 15RE9dlp]
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--Judge Rules Convicted Rapist Has Right to Taxpayer-Funded Sex Change, Spot in Women’s Prison

There ’ s no consistent body of evidence that sexual reassignment has mental health benefits .
There ’ s no body of evidence it ’ s necessary .
There ’ s no reasonable argument to be made that taxpayers should shoulder the cost for the surgery if someone ’ s in jail .
There ’ s even less of an argument to be made that , if there ’ s no legislation explicitly stating those taxpayers should be forced to foot the bill for sexual reassignment surgery , that an inmate ’ s legal right to a free sex change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the law .
All of these facts are incontrovertibly true .
None of them , when stated publicly , are popular in the mainstream media or liberal circles .
Which , one deduces , is part of the reason that convicted child rapist Mark Campbell , who identifies as a female named Nicole Campbell , has been declared to have a legal right to a sex-change operation paid for by taxpayers in the state of Wisconsin .
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , U.S. District Judge James Peterson ordered the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campbell and suggested he be housed in a women ’ s prison until the procedure could be arranged .
“ The rights of transgender persons and sex reassignment surgery remain politically controversial , even outside the prison context , ” wrote Peterson , who was nominated to the bench by then-President Barack Obama in 2013 .
TRENDING : Bob Ehrlich : Here 's One of the Most Insightful Replies a NeverTrumper Ever Sent Me “ And some members of the public are outraged at any effort to improve the health and well being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But the true public interest lies in alleviating needless suffering by those who are dependent on the government for their care.
” Such is the nature of Campbell ’ s suffering , Peterson felt , that not providing the surgery violated the inmate ’ s Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment .
Because there ’ s only one doctor in Wisconsin who ’ s qualified to handle the operation , Campbell will have to wait a year or more for the procedure .
The ruling was the latest chapter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual reassignment surgery from the state .
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections didn ’ t argue whether Campbell suffered from gender dysphoria , a condition that causes emotional distress to those who believe they were born as the incorrect gender .
In fact , according to the Journal Sentinel , the department has allowed the 49-year-old to receive hormone treatments in prison , where he ’ s serving a 34-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter .
He ’ s also allowed to wear articles of women ’ s clothing inside the Racine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison , the Journal Sentinel reported .
However , according to the newspaper , corrections officials argue Campbell doesn ’ t fit the criteria for sex-change surgery , which are stringent even for those who haven ’ t been convicted of a crime .
One of the criteria involves living for a year as the other gender in the real world — something that ’ s impossible in the confines of a men ’ s correctional facility .
According to the Journal Sentinel , “ Peterson said denying the surgery by summarily citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campbell ’ s ] serious medical needs , a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
” RELATED : Here 's How the Establishment Media Is Using Mayor Pete To Erase Trump 's Legacy “ He gave particular consideration to the testimony of Cynthia Osborne , a social worker and sex therapist who has evaluated more than 200 inmates of gender dysphoria .
She concluded the ‘ real life experience ’ requirement before surgery may not be so important or relevant for someone like Campbell , who had experienced it before prison , has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully live as a woman for several years in prison , and faces many more years of incarceration.
” There are stringent requirements for sexual reassignment surgery for a reason , however , and they ’ re supposed to dissuade people with mental issues from getting the procedure .
In this context , Campbell ’ s crimes should raise eyebrows — especially if Osborne is counting any experience Campbell had living as a woman before prison in his favor .
By the time Campbell pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his 10-year-old daughter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history that included three prior felonies , one of which was an assaultive crime , ” according to an appeals court ruling from 2009 .
“ The court also determined the evidence indicated Campbell completely lacked boundaries for his sexual behavior and concluded the offense was part of a pattern of sexual abuse .
It examined Campbell ’ s job , residential , and relationship histories , concluding all were unstable.
” The court also noted he showed a “ lack of remorse , empathy , or responsibility for his actions.
” Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal complaint , repeated brutal sexual assault on his daughter and exposing her to pornographic videos and magazines , according to RiverTowns.net .
I say this not to make a child rapist seem any worse than he already is ( which is difficult ) or to spoil your breakfast .
Instead , I want to drive home the fact the diagnostic criteria assume one is living as the opposite gender in a functional manner .
Given what we know about his life and crimes before he went behind bars , the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 2008 sentencing and the 2013 commencement of his legal fight to get the state of Wisconsin to pay for his gender reassignment surgery made him functional enough would be risible if it weren ’ t so infuriating .
Even if one is to take a dispassionate look at this , however — to take a prisoner-centric view of whether or not Wisconsinites should pay for gender reassignment surgery for Campbell — one should still come to the same conclusion .
In a 2016 review of whether sex reassignment surgery should be covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare and Medicaid Services found that , “ [ b ] ased on a thorough review of the clinical evidence available at this time , there is not enough evidence to determine whether gender reassignment surgery improves health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with gender dysphoria.
” “ There were conflicting ( inconsistent ) study results — of the best designed studies , some reported benefits while others reported harms .
The quality and strength of evidence were low due to the mostly observational study designs with no comparison groups , potential confounding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reported positive outcomes were exploratory type studies ( case-series and case-control ) with no confirmatory follow-up.
” This , mind you , is for non-incarcerated individuals who are in compos mentis and aren ’ t sex offenders — and even then , there ’ s no evidence this surgery is beneficial to its recipient .
The people of Wisconsin shouldn ’ t have to pay for a child rapist to get a sex change .
This isn ’ t being punitive for the offender .
There ’ s no scientific proof this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dysphoria , no Eighth Amendment right to an elective operation with unproven efficacy and no body of evidence that says this is part of an “ effort to improve the health and well being of inmates.
” No matter what judges like James Peterson declare .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

There’s no consistent body of evidence that sexual reassignment has mental health benefits. There’s no body of evidence it’s necessary. There’s no reasonable argument to be made that taxpayers should shoulder the cost for the surgery if someone’s in jail.
There’s even less of an argument to be made that, if there’s no legislation explicitly stating those taxpayers should be forced to foot the bill for sexual reassignment surgery, that an inmate’s legal right to a free sex change can be found in a Jesuitical parsing of the law.
All of these facts are incontrovertibly true. None of them, when stated publicly, are popular in the mainstream media or liberal circles. Which, one deduces, is part of the reason that convicted child rapist Mark Campbell, who identifies as a female named Nicole Campbell, has been declared to have a legal right to a sex-change operation paid for by taxpayers in the state of Wisconsin.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, U.S. District Judge James Peterson ordered the state of Wisconsin to provide the surgery to Campbell and suggested he be housed in a women’s prison until the procedure could be arranged.
“The rights of transgender persons and sex reassignment surgery remain politically controversial, even outside the prison context,” wrote Peterson, who was nominated to the bench by then-President Barack Obama in 2013.
“And some members of the public are outraged at any effort to improve the health and well being of inmates,” he continued.
“But the true public interest lies in alleviating needless suffering by those who are dependent on the government for their care.”
Such is the nature of Campbell’s suffering, Peterson felt, that not providing the surgery violated the inmate’s Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
Because there’s only one doctor in Wisconsin who’s qualified to handle the operation, Campbell will have to wait a year or more for the procedure.
Should the public have to pay for this surgery? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 0% (4 Votes) No: 100% (1352 Votes)
The ruling was the latest chapter in Campbell’s seven-year quest to receive sexual reassignment surgery from the state.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections didn’t argue whether Campbell suffered from gender dysphoria, a condition that causes emotional distress to those who believe they were born as the incorrect gender. In fact, according to the Journal Sentinel, the department has allowed the 49-year-old to receive hormone treatments in prison, where he’s serving a 34-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter.
He’s also allowed to wear articles of women’s clothing inside the Racine Correctional Institute, a men’s prison, the Journal Sentinel reported.
However, according to the newspaper, corrections officials argue Campbell doesn’t fit the criteria for sex-change surgery, which are stringent even for those who haven’t been convicted of a crime. One of the criteria involves living for a year as the other gender in the real world — something that’s impossible in the confines of a men’s correctional facility.
According to the Journal Sentinel, “Peterson said denying the surgery by summarily citing policy amounted to deliberate indifference of [Campbell’s] serious medical needs, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.”
“He gave particular consideration to the testimony of Cynthia Osborne, a social worker and sex therapist who has evaluated more than 200 inmates of gender dysphoria. She concluded the ‘real life experience’ requirement before surgery may not be so important or relevant for someone like Campbell, who had experienced it before prison, has done all that [he] can to successfully live as a woman for several years in prison, and faces many more years of incarceration.”
There are stringent requirements for sexual reassignment surgery for a reason, however, and they’re supposed to dissuade people with mental issues from getting the procedure. In this context, Campbell’s crimes should raise eyebrows — especially if Osborne is counting any experience Campbell had living as a woman before prison in his favor.
By the time Campbell pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his 10-year-old daughter in 2007, “he had a criminal history that included three prior felonies, one of which was an assaultive crime,” according to an appeals court ruling from 2009.
“The court also determined the evidence indicated Campbell completely lacked boundaries for his sexual behavior and concluded the offense was part of a pattern of sexual abuse. It examined Campbell’s job, residential, and relationship histories, concluding all were unstable.”
The court also noted he showed a “lack of remorse, empathy, or responsibility for his actions.” Those actions involved, according to the original criminal complaint, repeated brutal sexual assault on his daughter and exposing her to pornographic videos and magazines, according to RiverTowns.net.
I say this not to make a child rapist seem any worse than he already is (which is difficult) or to spoil your breakfast. Instead, I want to drive home the fact the diagnostic criteria assume one is living as the opposite gender in a functional manner.
Given what we know about his life and crimes before he went behind bars, the idea that the intervening five years between Campbell’s 2008 sentencing and the 2013 commencement of his legal fight to get the state of Wisconsin to pay for his gender reassignment surgery made him functional enough would be risible if it weren’t so infuriating.
Even if one is to take a dispassionate look at this, however — to take a prisoner-centric view of whether or not Wisconsinites should pay for gender reassignment surgery for Campbell — one should still come to the same conclusion.
In a 2016 review of whether sex reassignment surgery should be covered under Medicare plans, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that, “[b]ased on a thorough review of the clinical evidence available at this time, there is not enough evidence to determine whether gender reassignment surgery improves health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with gender dysphoria.”
“There were conflicting (inconsistent) study results — of the best designed studies, some reported benefits while others reported harms. The quality and strength of evidence were low due to the mostly observational study designs with no comparison groups, potential confounding, and small sample sizes. Many studies that reported positive outcomes were exploratory type studies (case-series and case-control) with no confirmatory follow-up.”
This, mind you, is for non-incarcerated individuals who are in compos mentis and aren’t sex offenders — and even then, there’s no evidence this surgery is beneficial to its recipient.
The people of Wisconsin shouldn’t have to pay for a child rapist to get a sex change. This isn’t being punitive for the offender. There’s no scientific proof this surgery is a sound treatment for gender dysphoria, no Eighth Amendment right to an elective operation with unproven efficacy and no body of evidence that says this is part of an “effort to improve the health and well being of inmates.”
No matter what judges like James Peterson declare.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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Helping Hand

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Bradley Cooper's latest role has not gone down well with everyone, particularly with regard to his use of a prosthetic nose.


westernjournal--2020-12-21--Massive Manhunt Underway After Suspect Allegedly Shoots Police Officer While Handcuffed

Police have launched an extensive manhunt for a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of a western Pennsylvania police officer .
The McKeesport police officer was shot three times in the neck and torso Sunday , according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .
The 32-year-old officer , who has been with the force for four years , was not identified .
Police Chief Adam Alfer said the officer was hospitalized in stable condition .
Police are seeking Koby Lee Francis , 22 , of McKeesport in connection with the shooting .
TRENDING : Bob Ehrlich : Here 's One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sent Me The incident began when Francis was served with a protection from abuse order , the Post-Gazette reported .
Roughly an hour after he was served with the order , police saw him sitting outside the residence of the individual who had sought protection from Francis , police said .
Francis was taken into custody , and a weapon was taken from his vehicle .
Police said Francis was searched for weapons but none was found .
While he was being transported to the police station , Francis kicked out a window @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was riding .
Upon arrival at the station , the officer taking Francis into custody opened the door of the car .
At that point , the officer was shot three times , according to WPXI-TV .
Police believe Francis had hidden the gun on his person .
The wounded officer radioed in to the station that he had been shot .
Security footage showed Francis , still handcuffed , running away , authorities said .
Although Francis was handcuffed with his arms behind him , in the video his hands were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When he is detained , Francis will face charges of criminal attempted homicide , flight to avoid apprehension and aggravated assault , the report said .
The hunt for Francis is being led by the Allegheny County Police Department with assistance from U.S. marshals , the McKeesport police , the Allegheny County Sheriff ’ s Office , the Pennsylvania State Police , the state Attorney General ’ s Office and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police , according to the Post-Gazette .
Officials also asked that the officer and his colleagues be remembered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous , and residents of the region have been warned not to approach him but to call a tip line — 1-833-255-8477 — if they see him .
Media accounts reported that Francis had multiple run-ins with the law in the past .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Police have launched an extensive manhunt for a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of a western Pennsylvania police officer.
The McKeesport police officer was shot three times in the neck and torso Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 32-year-old officer, who has been with the force for four years, was not identified. Police Chief Adam Alfer said the officer was hospitalized in stable condition.
Police are seeking Koby Lee Francis, 22, of McKeesport in connection with the shooting.
SEARCH FOR SUSPECT ONGOING: A manhunt is underway this morning for Koby Francis, the alleged suspect accused of shooting a McKeesport Police officer on Sunday. More: https://t.co/yvzpBDykj7 pic.twitter.com/8GIjOUYwne — KDKA (@KDKA) December 21, 2020
The incident began when Francis was served with a protection from abuse order, the Post-Gazette reported. Roughly an hour after he was served with the order, police saw him sitting outside the residence of the individual who had sought protection from Francis, police said.
Francis was taken into custody, and a weapon was taken from his vehicle.
Police said Francis was searched for weapons but none was found.
While he was being transported to the police station, Francis kicked out a window of the police vehicle in which he was riding.
Upon arrival at the station, the officer taking Francis into custody opened the door of the car. At that point, the officer was shot three times, according to WPXI-TV.
This is the information @AlleghenyCoPD put out regarding Koby Francis—the man they say shot & injured a McKeesport police officer Sunday.@KDKA pic.twitter.com/Epq58sv5Ct — Jennifer Borrasso (@JenBorrasso) December 21, 2020
Police believe Francis had hidden the gun on his person.
The wounded officer radioed in to the station that he had been shot. Security footage showed Francis, still handcuffed, running away, authorities said.
Although Francis was handcuffed with his arms behind him, in the video his hands were in front of him, police said.
When he is detained, Francis will face charges of criminal attempted homicide, flight to avoid apprehension and aggravated assault, the report said.
Police searching vehicles leaving McKeesport for Koby Francis. If you have information on him you are encouraged to call police. #wpxi pic.twitter.com/CJU2dWcees — Ryan (@WPXIPhotogRyan) December 21, 2020
The hunt for Francis is being led by the Allegheny County Police Department with assistance from U.S. marshals, the McKeesport police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, the state Attorney General’s Office and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, according to the Post-Gazette.
Officials also asked that the officer and his colleagues be remembered in prayers.
Asking that everyone direct prayers towards the McKeesport Police Department and the officer involved in an incident earlier today. Police officers have an extremely difficult job. They often put themselves in very dangerous situation in service of others. — Austin Davis (@RepDavis35) December 20, 2020
Francis is considered armed and dangerous, and residents of the region have been warned not to approach him but to call a tip line — 1-833-255-8477 — if they see him.
Media accounts reported that Francis had multiple run-ins with the law in the past.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--Chinese Company Tested Facial Recognition Software That Can Alert Police When Uighurs Are Present

Picture this alternative reality : In 2003 , as the Iraq War wages and we ’ re just two years removed from 9/11 , Microsoft develops facial recognition technology that can pinpoint individuals in crowds from ethnic subgroups known to be capable of terrorism .
Our country is at war .
We just lost nearly 3,000 people in the single most destructive terror attack in modern history .
We were still in the grip , however irrationally , of the fear that another 9/11 was just around the corner .
With some breakthrough software deployed at our airports , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our lives just became a lot safer .
A cause for celebration , right ?
Of course not .
All but the most strident security hawks would scream discrimination .
Our civil rights were being trampled , minorities were being singled out — and for what ?
Is there any evidence this would have stopped a terror attack ?
It ’ s beyond the pale to even consider .
Huawei , a Chinese company that is the world ’ s biggest producer of telecommunications equipment , is doing this exact hypothetical .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in a country where the minority it is identifying — ethnic Uighurs , Turkic people , generally Muslim , who hail from Xinjiang province — can be put into re-education camps simply for being who they are .
And yet , this didn ’ t exactly set off alarm bells across the world .
TRENDING : Joe Biden 's Niece Caroline Receives Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI The first sign something was up came Dec. 8 from The Washington Post , which reported that “ Huawei has tested facial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uighur alarms ’ to government authorities when its camera systems identify members of the oppressed minority group , according to an internal document that provides further details about China ’ s artificial-intelligence surveillance regime .
“ A document signed by Huawei representatives — discovered by the research organization IPVM and shared exclusively with The Washington Post — shows that the telecommunications firm worked in 2018 with the facial recognition start-up Megvii to test an artificial-intelligence camera system that could scan faces in a crowd and estimate each person ’ s age , sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sent to authorities and could potentially flag them for police surveillance and put them at risk for detention .
And this wasn ’ t a matter of months of investigative reporting — which isn ’ t to say The Post didn ’ t do a bang-up job .
However , it ’ s worth noting that a document detailing all of this could be found on Huawei ’ s website .
For whatever it ’ s worth , the document was removed after the companies were contacted about it .
Glenn Schloss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the program “ is simply a test and it has not seen real-world application .
Huawei only supplies general-purpose products for this kind of testing .
We do not provide custom algorithms or applications.
” That ’ s not quite what China said about targeting Uighurs .
According to The Post , “ Chinese officials have said such systems reflect the country ’ s technological advancement , and that their expanded use can help government responders and keep people safe .
But to international rights advocates , they are a sign of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a way to identify unfavorable members of society and squash public dissent.
” The Post said China ’ s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
RELATED : China Takes Page from Democrats ' History , Reportedly Using Slave Labor To Harvest Cotton If the whole thing sounds scary , Maya Wang , of the advocacy group Human Rights Watch , says it goes even further than that .
“ China ’ s surveillance ambition goes way , way , way beyond minority persecution , ” Wang told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of minorities is obviously not exclusive to China .
… And these systems would lend themselves quite well to countries that want to criminalize minorities.
” And make no mistake : This is hardly just proof of concept stuff .
“ People don ’ t go to the trouble of building expensive systems like this for nothing , ” said Jonathan Frankle , a researcher in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
“ These aren ’ t people burning money for fun .
If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very specific reason in mind .
And that reason is very clear.
” Meanwhile , a Sunday follow-up in the Post found this was hardly the only tech product Huawei had used to detect a person ’ s race .
You would think this passage would elicit rage in the United States , and yet it didn ’ t : “ Protests on the scale of Black Lives Matter would be nearly impossible to organize in mainland China — partly because of these very surveillance technologies .
“ One of the products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment supplier Vikor can send an alert if a crowd starts to form , according to a marketing presentation .
The alert can be set for clusters of three , six , 10 , 20 or 50 people.
” Also not worrisome : “ In the United States , police have also sought to use some technologies , such as facial recognition , to investigate crimes but have stopped short of publicly adopting technologies to analyze people ’ s voices and ethnicities .
In the wake of nationwide protests over the summer against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IBM banned police from using their facial recognition technology .
( Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Post . )
” And no one really cares — with some exceptions .
French soccer player Antoine Griezmann , who has been a Huawei brand ambassador since 2017 , announced Dec. 10 that he would end his relationship with the company .
“ I take this opportunity to invite Huawei to not just deny these accusations , ” Griezmann said in an Instagram post , “ but to take concrete actions as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repression , and to use its influence to contribute to the respect of human and women ’ s rights in society.
” He ’ s one of the few pushing Huawei or China , however .
What a surprise .
Meanwhile , let this be any American company and the hue and cry would be deafening .
Again , what a surprise .
What we need is a presumptive president-elect who will stand up to Huawei and to Beijing .
What ’ s clear is that we don ’ t have one .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Picture this alternative reality: In 2003, as the Iraq War wages and we’re just two years removed from 9/11, Microsoft develops facial recognition technology that can pinpoint individuals in crowds from ethnic subgroups known to be capable of terrorism.
Our country is at war. We just lost nearly 3,000 people in the single most destructive terror attack in modern history. We were still in the grip, however irrationally, of the fear that another 9/11 was just around the corner. With some breakthrough software deployed at our airports, all courtesy of our biggest tech company, our lives just became a lot safer. A cause for celebration, right?
Of course not. All but the most strident security hawks would scream discrimination. Our civil rights were being trampled, minorities were being singled out — and for what? Is there any evidence this would have stopped a terror attack? It’s beyond the pale to even consider.
Huawei, a Chinese company that is the world’s biggest producer of telecommunications equipment, is doing this exact hypothetical. Not only that, the company is doing it in a country where the minority it is identifying — ethnic Uighurs, Turkic people, generally Muslim, who hail from Xinjiang province — can be put into re-education camps simply for being who they are.
And yet, this didn’t exactly set off alarm bells across the world.
The first sign something was up came Dec. 8 from The Washington Post, which reported that “Huawei has tested facial recognition software that could send automated ‘Uighur alarms’ to government authorities when its camera systems identify members of the oppressed minority group, according to an internal document that provides further details about China’s artificial-intelligence surveillance regime.
“A document signed by Huawei representatives — discovered by the research organization IPVM and shared exclusively with The Washington Post — shows that the telecommunications firm worked in 2018 with the facial recognition start-up Megvii to test an artificial-intelligence camera system that could scan faces in a crowd and estimate each person’s age, sex and ethnicity.”
That then would be sent to authorities and could potentially flag them for police surveillance and put them at risk for detention.
And this wasn’t a matter of months of investigative reporting — which isn’t to say The Post didn’t do a bang-up job. However, it’s worth noting that a document detailing all of this could be found on Huawei’s website.
Should Huawei be sanctioned for this? Yes No
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For whatever it’s worth, the document was removed after the companies were contacted about it.
Glenn Schloss, a Huawei spokesman, told The Post that the program “is simply a test and it has not seen real-world application. Huawei only supplies general-purpose products for this kind of testing. We do not provide custom algorithms or applications.”
That’s not quite what China said about targeting Uighurs.
According to The Post, “Chinese officials have said such systems reflect the country’s technological advancement, and that their expanded use can help government responders and keep people safe. But to international rights advocates, they are a sign of China’s dream of social control — a way to identify unfavorable members of society and squash public dissent.”
The Post said China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
If the whole thing sounds scary, Maya Wang, of the advocacy group Human Rights Watch, says it goes even further than that.
“China’s surveillance ambition goes way, way, way beyond minority persecution,” Wang told The Post, but “the persecution of minorities is obviously not exclusive to China. … And these systems would lend themselves quite well to countries that want to criminalize minorities.”
And make no mistake: This is hardly just proof of concept stuff.
“People don’t go to the trouble of building expensive systems like this for nothing,” said Jonathan Frankle, a researcher in the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “These aren’t people burning money for fun. If they did this, they did it for a very specific reason in mind. And that reason is very clear.”
Meanwhile, a Sunday follow-up in the Post found this was hardly the only tech product Huawei had used to detect a person’s race.
You would think this passage would elicit rage in the United States, and yet it didn’t: “Protests on the scale of Black Lives Matter would be nearly impossible to organize in mainland China — partly because of these very surveillance technologies.
“One of the products jointly offered by Huawei and Chinese surveillance equipment supplier Vikor can send an alert if a crowd starts to form, according to a marketing presentation. The alert can be set for clusters of three, six, 10, 20 or 50 people.”
Also not worrisome: “In the United States, police have also sought to use some technologies, such as facial recognition, to investigate crimes but have stopped short of publicly adopting technologies to analyze people’s voices and ethnicities. In the wake of nationwide protests over the summer against police abuse, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM banned police from using their facial recognition technology. (Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Post.)”
And no one really cares — with some exceptions.
French soccer player Antoine Griezmann, who has been a Huawei brand ambassador since 2017, announced Dec. 10 that he would end his relationship with the company.
“I take this opportunity to invite Huawei to not just deny these accusations,” Griezmann said in an Instagram post, “but to take concrete actions as quickly as possible to condemn this mass repression, and to use its influence to contribute to the respect of human and women’s rights in society.”
He’s one of the few pushing Huawei or China, however. What a surprise.
Meanwhile, let this be any American company and the hue and cry would be deafening. Again, what a surprise.
What we need is a presumptive president-elect who will stand up to Huawei and to Beijing. What’s clear is that we don’t have one.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--DOJ Accuses US Company Executive of Censoring Americans at China’s Behest, Federal Arrest Warrant Is

DOJ Accuses US Company Executive of Censoring Americans at China’s Behest, Federal Arrest Warrant Issued

An employee of the video giant Zoom partnered with the Chinese government to disrupt video meetings this spring that were held to commemorate the 1989 uprising at Tiananmen Square .
The Justice Department has charged Xinjiang Jin with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer a means of identification .
Jin , who was based in China , “ allegedly participated in a scheme to disrupt a series of meetings in May and June 2020 held to commemorate the June 4 , 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in the PRC [ People ’ s Republic of China ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news release Friday .
“ The meetings were conducted using a videoconferencing program provided by Company-1 , and were organized and hosted by U.S-based individuals , including individuals residing in the Eastern District of New York , ” it said .
Although the Justice Department did not name the company , Zoom issued a statement in response indicating it was cooperating with the investigation .
TRENDING : MN Senator/Physician Blows Whistle : The Bizarre , Non-COVID Types of Deaths Being Blamed on COVID According to the criminal complaint against him , Jin monitored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political subjects the country ’ s Communist Party does not want to be discussed .
Jin told China ’ s government which of its citizens were participating in the calls and also pinpointed non-Chinese citizens on the calls , the complaint said .
During May and June , the complaint said , Jin shut down at least four calls , including video memorial calls with dissidents who survived the 1989 post-protest crackdown and had fled to the United States .
In its news release , the Justice Department focused heavily on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to operate there .
“ No company with significant business interests in China is immune from the coercive power of the Chinese Communist Party , ” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement .
“ The Chinese Communist Party will use those within its reach to sap the tree of liberty , stifling free speech in China , the United States and elsewhere about the Party ’ s repression of the Chinese people , ” Demers said .
“ For companies with operations in China , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executives being coopted to further repressive activity at odds with the values that have allowed that company to flourish here.
” Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme said in a statement , “ The allegations in the complaint lay bare the Faustian bargain that the PRC government demands of U.S. technology companies doing business within the PRC ’ s borders , and the insider threat that those companies face from their own employees in the PRC .
“ As alleged , Jin worked closely with the PRC government and members of PRC intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political and religious speech of users of the platform of a U.S. technology company .
Jin willingly committed crimes , and sought to mislead others at the company , to help PRC authorities censor and punish U.S. users ’ core political speech merely for exercising their rights to free expression .
“ The charges announced today make clear that employees working in the PRC for U.S. technology companies make those companies — and their users — vulnerable to the malign influence of the PRC government.
” RELATED : Trump Signs Law Paving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Booted from US Stock Exchanges The Justice Department said Jin did not act alone but since January 2019 worked with others to use U.S.-based systems “ to censor the political and religious speech of individuals located in the United States and around the world at the direction and under the control of officials of the PRC government.
” The Justice Department said China used the information it received to exact revenge for breaking its rules , which forbid mention of the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students .
“ PRC authorities took advantage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and intimidate participants residing in the PRC , or PRC-based family members of meeting participants , ” the DOJ said in the release .
“ PRC authorities temporarily detained at least one person who planned to speak during a commemoration meeting .
“ In another case , PRC authorities visited family members of a participant in the meetings and directed them to tell the participant to cease speaking out against the PRC government and rather to support socialism and the CCP.
” In its statement , Zoom said , “ We support the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American interests from foreign influence.
” “ We have also been conducting a thorough internal investigation , and we terminated for violating company policies the China-based former employee charged in this matter .
We have also placed other employees on administrative leave pending the completion of our investigation , ” the company said .
Zoom said that in 2019 , China required it to name a lead person in that country to ensure no Chinese laws were broken by Zoom and its users , and in response the company appointed Jin to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

An employee of the video giant Zoom partnered with the Chinese government to disrupt video meetings this spring that were held to commemorate the 1989 uprising at Tiananmen Square.
The Justice Department has charged Xinjiang Jin with conspiracy to commit interstate harassment and unlawful conspiracy to transfer a means of identification.
Jin, who was based in China, “allegedly participated in a scheme to disrupt a series of meetings in May and June 2020 held to commemorate the June 4, 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in the PRC [People’s Republic of China],” the DOJ said in a news release Friday.
“The meetings were conducted using a videoconferencing program provided by Company-1, and were organized and hosted by U.S-based individuals, including individuals residing in the Eastern District of New York,” it said.
Although the Justice Department did not name the company, Zoom issued a statement in response indicating it was cooperating with the investigation.
According to the criminal complaint against him, Jin monitored video calls coming into China for discussions of political subjects the country’s Communist Party does not want to be discussed.
Jin told China’s government which of its citizens were participating in the calls and also pinpointed non-Chinese citizens on the calls, the complaint said.
During May and June, the complaint said, Jin shut down at least four calls, including video memorial calls with dissidents who survived the 1989 post-protest crackdown and had fled to the United States.
In its news release, the Justice Department focused heavily on the way China’s rulers require companies to operate there.
“No company with significant business interests in China is immune from the coercive power of the Chinese Communist Party,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement.
“The Chinese Communist Party will use those within its reach to sap the tree of liberty, stifling free speech in China, the United States and elsewhere about the Party’s repression of the Chinese people,” Demers said. “For companies with operations in China, like that here, this reality may mean executives being coopted to further repressive activity at odds with the values that have allowed that company to flourish here.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Seth D. DuCharme said in a statement, “The allegations in the complaint lay bare the Faustian bargain that the PRC government demands of U.S. technology companies doing business within the PRC’s borders, and the insider threat that those companies face from their own employees in the PRC.
“As alleged, Jin worked closely with the PRC government and members of PRC intelligence services to help the PRC government silence the political and religious speech of users of the platform of a U.S. technology company. Jin willingly committed crimes, and sought to mislead others at the company, to help PRC authorities censor and punish U.S. users’ core political speech merely for exercising their rights to free expression.
“The charges announced today make clear that employees working in the PRC for U.S. technology companies make those companies — and their users — vulnerable to the malign influence of the PRC government.”
The Justice Department said Jin did not act alone but since January 2019 worked with others to use U.S.-based systems “to censor the political and religious speech of individuals located in the United States and around the world at the direction and under the control of officials of the PRC government.”
The Justice Department said China used the information it received to exact revenge for breaking its rules, which forbid mention of the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy students.
“PRC authorities took advantage of information provided by Jin to retaliate against and intimidate participants residing in the PRC, or PRC-based family members of meeting participants,” the DOJ said in the release. “PRC authorities temporarily detained at least one person who planned to speak during a commemoration meeting.
“In another case, PRC authorities visited family members of a participant in the meetings and directed them to tell the participant to cease speaking out against the PRC government and rather to support socialism and the CCP.”
In its statement, Zoom said, “We support the U.S. Government’s commitment to protect American interests from foreign influence.”
“We have also been conducting a thorough internal investigation, and we terminated for violating company policies the China-based former employee charged in this matter. We have also placed other employees on administrative leave pending the completion of our investigation,” the company said.
Zoom said that in 2019, China required it to name a lead person in that country to ensure no Chinese laws were broken by Zoom and its users, and in response the company appointed Jin to the post.
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--Barr Announces New Charges in Infamous Bombing That Killed 270 People

The Justice Department announced new charges Monday against a Libyan bombmaker in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie , Scotland , an attack that killed 259 people in the air and 11 on the ground .
The charges were announced on the 32nd anniversary of the bombing and in the final news conference of Attorney General William Barr ’ s tenure , underscoring his personal attachment to a case that unfolded during his first stint at the Justice Department .
He had announced an earlier set of charges against two other Libyan intelligence officials in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago , vowing that the investigation would continue .
Though Barr had not appeared at a news conference in months , he led this one two days before his departure as a career bookend .
In presenting new charges , the Justice Department is revisiting a case that deepened the chasm between the United States and Libya , laid bare the threat of international terrorism more than a decade before the Sept. 11 attacks and produced global investigations and punishing sanctions .
TRENDING : MN Senator/Physician Blows Whistle : The Bizarre , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID The case against the alleged bombmaker , Abu Agela Masud Kheir Al-Marimi , is for now more theoretical than practical since Masud is not in U.S. custody , but it is nonetheless one of the more consequential counterterrorism prosecutions brought by the Trump administration Justice Department .
“ At long last , this man responsible for killing Americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes , ” Barr said .
A breakthrough in the investigation came when U.S. officials in 2017 received a copy of an interview that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s intelligence service , had given to Libyan law enforcement several years earlier after being taken into custody following the collapse of the regime of the country ’ s leader , Col. Moammar Gadhafi .
In that interview , U.S. officials said , Masud admitted building the bomb in the Pan Am attack and working with the two other defendants to carry it out .
He also revealed that he had been summoned by a Libyan intelligence official to a meeting in Tripoli and asked whether the “ suitcases ” were finished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libyan intelligence official charged in the U.S. in connection with the Lockerbie bombing , he would be the first to stand trial in an American courtroom .
After Barr in 1991 announced charges against the two other men , Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah , the Libyan government balked at turning them over , skeptical the men could receive a fair trial .
In 1992 , the U.N. Security Council imposed arms sales and air travel sanctions against Libya to prod Gadhafi into surrendering the two suspects .
Libya ultimately turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Scottish judges sitting in a Netherlands court as part of a special arrangement .
Al-Megrahi was convicted while Fhimah was acquitted of all charges .
Al-Megrahi was given a life sentence , but Scottish authorities released him on humanitarian grounds in 2009 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer .
He later died in Tripoli .
The Pan Am flight exploded over Lockerbie less than an hour after takeoff from London on Dec. 21 , 1988 , en route to New York City and then Detroit .
Among the 190 Americans on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home for Christmas after a semester abroad .
The attack was the latest flare of tension between Libya and the West .
In the years before the flight , for instance , Libya was blamed for the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque that killed two American soldiers and injured dozens of others .
It wasn ’ t until 2003 that Gadhafi and Libya accepted responsibility for the Pan Am disaster , with the country reaching a $ 2.7 billion compensation deal with the victims ’ families .
Sanctions were lifted and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and restored diplomatic relations .
Besides Barr , another key figure in the Lockerbie investigation was Robert Mueller , who was the Justice Department ’ s criminal chief at the time the first set of charges was announced .
Mueller would later become FBI director and special counsel in charge of the investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign .
The Russia probe produced a rift between the men after Mueller complained to Barr that he had mischaracterized the gravity of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter that he made public before the investigative report was released .
Barr said Monday that he did not invite Mueller to be present for the announcement of the new charges .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Justice Department announced new charges Monday against a Libyan bombmaker in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, an attack that killed 259 people in the air and 11 on the ground.
The charges were announced on the 32nd anniversary of the bombing and in the final news conference of Attorney General William Barr’s tenure, underscoring his personal attachment to a case that unfolded during his first stint at the Justice Department.
He had announced an earlier set of charges against two other Libyan intelligence officials in his capacity as acting attorney general nearly 30 years ago, vowing that the investigation would continue.
Though Barr had not appeared at a news conference in months, he led this one two days before his departure as a career bookend.
In presenting new charges, the Justice Department is revisiting a case that deepened the chasm between the United States and Libya, laid bare the threat of international terrorism more than a decade before the Sept. 11 attacks and produced global investigations and punishing sanctions.
The case against the alleged bombmaker, Abu Agela Masud Kheir Al-Marimi, is for now more theoretical than practical since Masud is not in U.S. custody, but it is nonetheless one of the more consequential counterterrorism prosecutions brought by the Trump administration Justice Department.
“At long last, this man responsible for killing Americans and many others will be subject to justice for his crimes,” Barr said.
A breakthrough in the investigation came when U.S. officials in 2017 received a copy of an interview that Masud, an explosives expert for Libya’s intelligence service, had given to Libyan law enforcement several years earlier after being taken into custody following the collapse of the regime of the country’s leader, Col. Moammar Gadhafi.
In that interview, U.S. officials said, Masud admitted building the bomb in the Pan Am attack and working with the two other defendants to carry it out. He also revealed that he had been summoned by a Libyan intelligence official to a meeting in Tripoli and asked whether the “suitcases” were finished.
Are you glad that Barr announced more charges in this case? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 92% (33 Votes) No: 8% (3 Votes)
While Masud is now the third Libyan intelligence official charged in the U.S. in connection with the Lockerbie bombing, he would be the first to stand trial in an American courtroom.
After Barr in 1991 announced charges against the two other men, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah, the Libyan government balked at turning them over, skeptical the men could receive a fair trial.
In 1992, the U.N. Security Council imposed arms sales and air travel sanctions against Libya to prod Gadhafi into surrendering the two suspects. Libya ultimately turned them over for prosecution before a panel of Scottish judges sitting in a Netherlands court as part of a special arrangement.
Al-Megrahi was convicted while Fhimah was acquitted of all charges. Al-Megrahi was given a life sentence, but Scottish authorities released him on humanitarian grounds in 2009 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He later died in Tripoli.
The Pan Am flight exploded over Lockerbie less than an hour after takeoff from London on Dec. 21, 1988, en route to New York City and then Detroit. Among the 190 Americans on board were 35 Syracuse University students flying home for Christmas after a semester abroad.
The attack was the latest flare of tension between Libya and the West. In the years before the flight, for instance, Libya was blamed for the bombing of a West Berlin discotheque that killed two American soldiers and injured dozens of others.
It wasn’t until 2003 that Gadhafi and Libya accepted responsibility for the Pan Am disaster, with the country reaching a $2.7 billion compensation deal with the victims’ families.
Sanctions were lifted and, in 2006, the Bush administration removed Libya from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and restored diplomatic relations.
Besides Barr, another key figure in the Lockerbie investigation was Robert Mueller, who was the Justice Department’s criminal chief at the time the first set of charges was announced.
Mueller would later become FBI director and special counsel in charge of the investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.
The Russia probe produced a rift between the men after Mueller complained to Barr that he had mischaracterized the gravity of his team’s findings in a letter that he made public before the investigative report was released.
Barr said Monday that he did not invite Mueller to be present for the announcement of the new charges.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--In 1 Major US City, Overdose Deaths Far Outpace Deaths from COVID

This month , San Francisco — along with most of the rest of California — was placed into a sweeping lockdown more restrictive than anything the state has seen since the COVID-19 crisis began in the spring .
According to The Associated Press , the lockdown was triggered by a drop in intensive care capacity ; as soon as beds in ICU fell below 15 percent in certain areas of the state , measures that “ include strict closures for businesses and a ban on gathering with anyone outside of your own household ” were put into place .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least Sunday .
The entire state of California will be hit hard , of course .
It ’ s not just the virus .
The economic and personal misery are also taking a toll .
Nowhere is it being felt more acutely than San Francisco , where 621 people have died of drug overdoses since the beginning of the year compared with 173 who have died from COVID-19 , according to a separate AP report .
Furthermore , from January to the beginning of November , 3,000 individuals were administered Narcan — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people back from the brink of death .
TRENDING : MN Senator/Physician Blows Whistle : The Bizarre , Non-COVID Types of Deaths Being Blamed on COVID “ The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project , a city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco ’ s response to overdose , or return to refill their supply , ” the AP reported .
“ Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported , they are probably a major undercount.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overdose deaths in 2020 had already outpaced 2019 ’ s death total by August .
At that point , 470 had died from overdoses , more than the 441 who died in all of 2019 .
This isn ’ t to say the COVID-19 lockdowns are solely to blame .
The powerful opiate fentanyl , which can be 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin , has contributed to a long-term trend of increasing overdose deaths in the city , from 222 in 2017 to the situation at present .
However , data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocaine have been significant drivers in overdose deaths .
The AP reported many of the deaths occurred in low-income apartment buildings or city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless .
“ Others died on sidewalks , in alleyways and parks around the city , ” the AP reported .
Several factors were cited by the AP related to the COVID-19 lockdowns , including disruptions in treatment services and individuals who would normally be revived by others using in isolation .
RELATED : Committee Recommends Renaming Abraham Lincoln High School for the Most Insane Reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco ’ s economy has been particularly hard-hit by the COVID lockdowns is something that has to be looked at .
According to data from the World Economic Forum released in October , 49 percent of small businesses in the city had closed , with lower-income , at-risk communities hit the hardest .
This was the most of any city looked at by the World Economic Forum .
Only two other cities — New Orleans with 45 percent of small businesses closed and Honolulu with 41 percent closed — had numbers above 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that , at the time of the report , “ New Orleans and the Bay Area are still experiencing rates of small business closures that are almost double the national median.
” In August , meanwhile , SFGate reported that 54 percent of the city ’ s storefronts had closed due to the pandemic .
San Francisco is hardly alone , either .
Data released Dec. 17 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 81,000 individuals had died of drug overdoses in the year ending in May .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the months preceding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic , the latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the pandemic , ” a news release from the CDC read .
“ The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard , ” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a statement .
“ As we continue the fight to end this pandemic , it ’ s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering from unintended consequences.
” In short , cities around the country don ’ t have the slightest idea of how to deal with the combination of economic desolation and social isolation caused by COVID-19 lockdown policies .
Beyond that , recovery communities such as Narcotics Anonymous have been hit hard by social distancing regulations , which make in-person meetings all but impossible .
Zoom meetings and telemedicine can only do so much , particularly when dealing with at-risk communities .
San Francisco ’ s website outlining its lockdown procedures has a familiar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page : “ Stay home .
Save lives.
” For those with a substance abuse problem , left without jobs , without community and with little hope , those words ring hollow .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

This month, San Francisco — along with most of the rest of California — was placed into a sweeping lockdown more restrictive than anything the state has seen since the COVID-19 crisis began in the spring.
According to The Associated Press, the lockdown was triggered by a drop in intensive care capacity; as soon as beds in ICU fell below 15 percent in certain areas of the state, measures that “include strict closures for businesses and a ban on gathering with anyone outside of your own household” were put into place. They’re scheduled to run until at least Sunday.
The entire state of California will be hit hard, of course. It’s not just the virus. The economic and personal misery are also taking a toll.
Nowhere is it being felt more acutely than San Francisco, where 621 people have died of drug overdoses since the beginning of the year compared with 173 who have died from COVID-19, according to a separate AP report.
Furthermore, from January to the beginning of November, 3,000 individuals were administered Narcan — a drug that counteracts opioid overdoses and brings people back from the brink of death.
“The data reflects the number of times people report using Narcan to the Drug Overdose Prevention and Education Project, a city-funded program that coordinates San Francisco’s response to overdose, or return to refill their supply,” the AP reported.
“Officials at the DOPE Project said that since the numbers are self-reported, they are probably a major undercount.”
According to the San Francisco Examiner, overdose deaths in 2020 had already outpaced 2019’s death total by August. At that point, 470 had died from overdoses, more than the 441 who died in all of 2019.
This isn’t to say the COVID-19 lockdowns are solely to blame. The powerful opiate fentanyl, which can be 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin, has contributed to a long-term trend of increasing overdose deaths in the city, from 222 in 2017 to the situation at present.
However, data released by city officials shows methamphetamine and cocaine have been significant drivers in overdose deaths.
2020 09_OCME Overdose Report by Joe Eskenazi
The AP reported many of the deaths occurred in low-income apartment buildings or city-funded hotel rooms for the homeless.
“Others died on sidewalks, in alleyways and parks around the city,” the AP reported.
Several factors were cited by the AP related to the COVID-19 lockdowns, including disruptions in treatment services and individuals who would normally be revived by others using in isolation.
However, the fact that San Francisco’s economy has been particularly hard-hit by the COVID lockdowns is something that has to be looked at.
According to data from the World Economic Forum released in October, 49 percent of small businesses in the city had closed, with lower-income, at-risk communities hit the hardest.
This was the most of any city looked at by the World Economic Forum. Only two other cities — New Orleans with 45 percent of small businesses closed and Honolulu with 41 percent closed — had numbers above 40 percent.
Do you believe COVID lockdowns save lives? Yes No
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The World Economic Forum also said that, at the time of the report, “New Orleans and the Bay Area are still experiencing rates of small business closures that are almost double the national median.”
In August, meanwhile, SFGate reported that 54 percent of the city’s storefronts had closed due to the pandemic.
San Francisco is hardly alone, either. Data released Dec. 17 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 81,000 individuals had died of drug overdoses in the year ending in May.
“While overdose deaths were already increasing in the months preceding the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the latest numbers suggest an acceleration of overdose deaths during the pandemic,” a news release from the CDC read.
“The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard,” CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a statement.
“As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways. We need to take care of people suffering from unintended consequences.”
In short, cities around the country don’t have the slightest idea of how to deal with the combination of economic desolation and social isolation caused by COVID-19 lockdown policies.
Well done democrats — Frank Cyphers ?? (@WrkClsHero) December 20, 2020
Beyond that, recovery communities such as Narcotics Anonymous have been hit hard by social distancing regulations, which make in-person meetings all but impossible. Zoom meetings and telemedicine can only do so much, particularly when dealing with at-risk communities.
San Francisco’s website outlining its lockdown procedures has a familiar slogan plastered across the top of the page: “Stay home. Save lives.”
For those with a substance abuse problem, left without jobs, without community and with little hope, those words ring hollow.
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westernjournal--2020-12-21--BLM Protesters Crash Christmas Charity in Middle of Raising Money To Fight Childhood Cancer

When considering the social upheaval of the 1960s , for instance , the left has managed to package the parts favorable to the liberals in a neat little box : The March on Washington .
Bobby Kennedy eulogizing Martin Luther King .
George Wallace in the schoolhouse door .
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley ’ s police beating protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention as demonstrators chanted , “ The whole world is watching.
” What the left has managed to excise from this package , meanwhile , is stuff like the Weather Underground , a left-wing terror organization that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Panthers , now lionized as a symbol of black militant struggle , was a group that financed much of its activities through extortion and protection rackets .
There were the countless failed utopian visions , the minds left permanently adrift thanks to chemically aided “ consciousness expansion , ” the wreckage left by the free love movement and the idea that sex could ( and should ) be divorced from any concept of love , monogamy or marriage — all of these have been deftly left on the cutting room floor .
TRENDING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zero Jail Time After Pleading Guilty to DUI Instead , the decade is branded as one of peace , flower power and the triumph of love and justice .
The reassuring tones of Robert Redford ’ s voice can narrate it , informing us all just how righteous it all was .
It ’ s safe to call the period we ’ re living through now the greatest social upheaval since the 1960s , but how how the left will manage to package it will be a bit messier .
There are still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to elide over the parts that aren ’ t “ mostly peaceful , ” but social media keeps receipts .
Like , for instance , what happened in West Allis , Wisconsin , on Friday night .
Since 1984 , neighbors in West Allis have come together to create “ Candy Cane Lane ” — a strip of houses brightly festooned with elaborate Christmas decorations , all to benefit childhood cancer research .
For 35 years , the event was a way to come together and celebrate the season , all while raising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 36 , it apparently became an appropriate venue for a Black Lives Matter protest , because nothing engenders sympathy for a cause like crashing a cancer benefit at Christmas time .
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , the protest was organized by Peoples Revolution , a group that ’ s been one of the chief organizers of demonstrations that have taken place in the Milwaukee area for 200 straight days but clearly hasn ’ t been getting the kind of attention it was back in the salad days of the summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ black lives matter ” and “ black children matter ” — as though a group dedicated to children ’ s cancer research needs to be told that .
There ’ s a 30-minute livestream of the group ’ s march through Candy Cane Lane that ’ s archived on social media , just in case this was chicken soup for your soul and you ’ re looking for more of it .
I ’ m pretty sure there are enough clips of antifa members in Portland harassing innocent pedestrians and motorists that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep you occupied , however .
RELATED : BLM Leaders Come Out Against Prominent Biden Cabinet Pick The Journal Sentinel makes clear that there weren ’ t reports of violence or vandalism .
West Allis Deputy Police Chief Chris Marks told the newspaper there were no arrests or citations .
What ’ s also made clear — particularly from viewing the 30-minute version of the march — is that the group ’ s presence was more menacing than just a peaceful protest .
At times , the demonstrators blocked the movement of traffic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car hoods or harassment of individual motorists , it was clear the intention was to impede vehicles on Candy Cane Lane .
These weren ’ t people standing on the sidelines .
In yet more proof that emotions on Twitter bear little resemblance to those of normal human beings , these were some of the reactions to the People ’ s Revolution crashing a fundraiser for children ’ s cancer right before Christmas : This wasn ’ t the totality of the reaction , of course , or even the majority — but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw this footage and were willing to politically co-sign what was happening here is a troubling sign of where we are as a country .
There was , of course , a more reasonable vein of reaction to Friday ’ s incident , represented here by former Wisconsin GOP Gov .
Scott Walker : For what it ’ s worth , this was the majority ’ s take on Friday ’ s “ protest ” on most social media — yet the fact remains that there ’ s a vocal minority that saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finally .
Those people who wanted to drive through a Christmas lights display to help benefit a cancer charity had it coming , the privileged suckers.
” So far this year , Candy Cane Lane has raised $ 121,000 for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer .
The People ’ s Revolution , meanwhile , managed to scare potential visitors off and … that ’ s it .
That ’ s the message .
Candy Cane Lane raised money for childhood cancer .
The protesters targeted the event because it got them attention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people got the message that “ black lives matter.
” We ’ ve gotten the hint .
Nobody in that procession was introduced to the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday .
Plenty were turned off .
And that ’ s the thing about social media .
In a decade or two , when we look back on this period , conservatives won ’ t have to search for the footage that was left on the cutting room floor .
Social media is forever .
For every starry-eyed liberal who talks about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ force for good , all conservatives need to do is point to videos like this — and those who defended the marchers .
This is the ugly side of our current social upheaval — and this time , it can ’ t be ignored .
Let ’ s see Robert Redford narrate his way out of this one .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Messaging matters.
When considering the social upheaval of the 1960s, for instance, the left has managed to package the parts favorable to the liberals in a neat little box: The March on Washington. Bobby Kennedy eulogizing Martin Luther King.
George Wallace in the schoolhouse door. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s police beating protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention as demonstrators chanted, “The whole world is watching.”
What the left has managed to excise from this package, meanwhile, is stuff like the Weather Underground, a left-wing terror organization that perpetrated dozens of bombings. The Black Panthers, now lionized as a symbol of black militant struggle, was a group that financed much of its activities through extortion and protection rackets.
There were the countless failed utopian visions, the minds left permanently adrift thanks to chemically aided “consciousness expansion,” the wreckage left by the free love movement and the idea that sex could (and should) be divorced from any concept of love, monogamy or marriage — all of these have been deftly left on the cutting room floor.
Instead, the decade is branded as one of peace, flower power and the triumph of love and justice. The reassuring tones of Robert Redford’s voice can narrate it, informing us all just how righteous it all was.
It’s safe to call the period we’re living through now the greatest social upheaval since the 1960s, but how how the left will manage to package it will be a bit messier. There are still the gatekeepers who are more than willing to elide over the parts that aren’t “mostly peaceful,” but social media keeps receipts. Like, for instance, what happened in West Allis, Wisconsin, on Friday night.
Since 1984, neighbors in West Allis have come together to create “Candy Cane Lane” — a strip of houses brightly festooned with elaborate Christmas decorations, all to benefit childhood cancer research. For 35 years, the event was a way to come together and celebrate the season, all while raising money for a good cause.
In year 36, it apparently became an appropriate venue for a Black Lives Matter protest, because nothing engenders sympathy for a cause like crashing a cancer benefit at Christmas time.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the protest was organized by Peoples Revolution, a group that’s been one of the chief organizers of demonstrations that have taken place in the Milwaukee area for 200 straight days but clearly hasn’t been getting the kind of attention it was back in the salad days of the summer of our discontent.
Thus, this:
#BlackLivesMatter at Candy Cane Lane in West Allis pic.twitter.com/s5iXATLHH2 — Lori Nickel (@LoriNickel) December 19, 2020
The group chanted “black lives matter” and “black children matter” — as though a group dedicated to children’s cancer research needs to be told that.
There’s a 30-minute livestream of the group’s march through Candy Cane Lane that’s archived on social media, just in case this was chicken soup for your soul and you’re looking for more of it. I’m pretty sure there are enough clips of antifa members in Portland harassing innocent pedestrians and motorists that you haven’t yet watched to keep you occupied, however.
The Journal Sentinel makes clear that there weren’t reports of violence or vandalism. West Allis Deputy Police Chief Chris Marks told the newspaper there were no arrests or citations.
What’s also made clear — particularly from viewing the 30-minute version of the march — is that the group’s presence was more menacing than just a peaceful protest. At times, the demonstrators blocked the movement of traffic; while there was no banging on car hoods or harassment of individual motorists, it was clear the intention was to impede vehicles on Candy Cane Lane. These weren’t people standing on the sidelines.
In yet more proof that emotions on Twitter bear little resemblance to those of normal human beings, these were some of the reactions to the People’s Revolution crashing a fundraiser for children’s cancer right before Christmas:
This is awesome. — Be Like Bob—Stay Home (@WausauBob) December 19, 2020
It reminds people who think everything is just sparkly Christmas lights that others are still seeking justice. — MilwaukeeForever (@MilwaukeeForev1) December 19, 2020
This wasn’t the totality of the reaction, of course, or even the majority — but the fact there were Twitter users who saw this footage and were willing to politically co-sign what was happening here is a troubling sign of where we are as a country.
There was, of course, a more reasonable vein of reaction to Friday’s incident, represented here by former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker:
Disrupting a #Christmas tradition that raises $ to fight childhood cancer shows that these riots are really about chaos and destruction. Totally wrong. https://t.co/gAZqzhXYsi — Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) December 19, 2020
For what it’s worth, this was the majority’s take on Friday’s “protest” on most social media — yet the fact remains that there’s a vocal minority that saw this and thought: “Well, finally. Those people who wanted to drive through a Christmas lights display to help benefit a cancer charity had it coming, the privileged suckers.”
So far this year, Candy Cane Lane has raised $121,000 for Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. The People’s Revolution, meanwhile, managed to scare potential visitors off and … that’s it. That’s the message.
Candy Cane Lane raised money for childhood cancer. The protesters targeted the event because it got them attention. It doesn’t mean that more people got the message that “black lives matter.” We’ve gotten the hint. Nobody in that procession was introduced to the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday. Plenty were turned off.
Do actions like this destroy sympathy for the cause they're supposed to be supporting? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 96% (1142 Votes) No: 4% (48 Votes)
And that’s the thing about social media. In a decade or two, when we look back on this period, conservatives won’t have to search for the footage that was left on the cutting room floor. Social media is forever.
For every starry-eyed liberal who talks about the Black Lives Matter movement as an unadulterated force for good, all conservatives need to do is point to videos like this — and those who defended the marchers.
This is the ugly side of our current social upheaval — and this time, it can’t be ignored.
Let’s see Robert Redford narrate his way out of this one.
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* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-12-21--Here’s How Dogs Are Helping Nursing Home Residents Through Pandemic Isolation

Eileen Nagle sees her family in video chats and drive-by visits , but that hasn ’ t made up for the lack of warm hugs in the nine months since the pandemic led her nursing home to shut its doors to visitors .
“ Zeus is a friendly little snowball , very happy , ” said Nagle , 79 , after the peppy bichon frise paid a visit to her room at Hebrew Home at Riverdale , overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx .
“ Petting and playing with the dogs breaks up the day and gets you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hebrew Home has had a pet therapy program for 20 years ; tiny Zeus and gentle giant Marley the Great Dane are the current snugglers in residence .
Now , the activities department is expanding the canine corps with two new recruits in training to give residents more of the affectionate physical contact that has become so scarce and precious in the coronavirus era .
“ It ’ s uplifting to have Zeus come and visit me , especially with COVID and being restricted to my room , ” said 80-year-old Jeff Philipson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through Zeus ’ silky white fur while the dog clambered on his bed .
“ I talk on the phone every day with my daughter and my son , but that ’ s as good as it can get for now.
” TRENDING : Bob Ehrlich : Here 's One of the Most Insightful Replies a NeverTrumper Ever Sent Me When the pandemic lockdown began in March , dog therapy was suspended along with most other activities at the nursing home .
“ I decided we needed to re-energize the pet visiting program @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed , ” said Daniel Reingold , founder of the pet therapy program and president and CEO of RiverSpring Health , the nonprofit operator of the 103-year-old Hebrew Home .
“ They ’ ve been on the floors bringing happiness and unconditional love to residents and staff alike.
” The dogs belong to staff members who bring them to work every day .
But the program doesn ’ t allow just any dog .
“ It has to be a combination of the right owner , right dog and right temperament , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Kida , is one of the new recruits .
“ The dogs have to be assessed , follow basic commands and be able to cope with wheelchairs , elevators , medication carts and all the other things they ’ ll encounter on a floor.
” Cats are also used in the pet therapy program — but only robotic ones .
Hebrew Home has numerous lifelike animatronic cats that purr and meow as residents hold them in their laps and stroke their fur .
“ The cats are especially soothing to people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director of therapeutic activities , primary dog handler and owner of Marley .
“ The love of an animal is incredible , ” Farrell said .
“ It releases endorphins , reduces blood pressure , reduces anxiety .
For people here who had animals in their life history , seeing dogs triggers memories and opens communication.
” RELATED : Two Dogs Found Trapped Underwater Inside Septic Tank , Woman Rushes To Save Them While Farrell has to remain 6 feet away from residents and wear a face mask and plastic shield , Marley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they pet him .
“ To break through the social distancing barrier is really important , ” Farrell said .
“ It ’ s one of the only ways they ’ re able to touch another living being and gain satisfaction from that physical connection.
” But it ’ s not just about petting a dog , said Olivia Cohen , dog handler and assistant director of the therapeutic activities program .
For some residents , the interaction can break down barriers and open communication and emotional expression , she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with anxiety and having trouble coping with the new environment when she moved into the home .
“ Nothing would get through to her to help her , ” Cohen said .
“ But when I brought the dog to her , her complete affect changed from crying to having her face light up and telling stories about her own experiences.
” For resident Elizabeth Pagan , dog visits are a welcome respite from the isolation she has endured since she ’ s been restricted to FaceTime visits with her children , grandchildren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means a lot to me , makes me feel good when I pet the dogs , ” said Pagan , who ’ s recovering from a stroke .
“ My favorite is Marley .
He gives me a lot of comfort.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Eileen Nagle sees her family in video chats and drive-by visits, but that hasn’t made up for the lack of warm hugs in the nine months since the pandemic led her nursing home to shut its doors to visitors.
Enter Zeus.
“Zeus is a friendly little snowball, very happy,” said Nagle, 79, after the peppy bichon frise paid a visit to her room at Hebrew Home at Riverdale, overlooking the Hudson River in the Bronx. “Petting and playing with the dogs breaks up the day and gets you to forget about yourself for a while.”
Hebrew Home has had a pet therapy program for 20 years; tiny Zeus and gentle giant Marley the Great Dane are the current snugglers in residence. Now, the activities department is expanding the canine corps with two new recruits in training to give residents more of the affectionate physical contact that has become so scarce and precious in the coronavirus era.
“It’s uplifting to have Zeus come and visit me, especially with COVID and being restricted to my room,” said 80-year-old Jeff Philipson, beaming as he ran his fingers through Zeus’ silky white fur while the dog clambered on his bed. “I talk on the phone every day with my daughter and my son, but that’s as good as it can get for now.”
When the pandemic lockdown began in March, dog therapy was suspended along with most other activities at the nursing home.
“I decided we needed to re-energize the pet visiting program since there’s no outside visitation allowed,” said Daniel Reingold, founder of the pet therapy program and president and CEO of RiverSpring Health, the nonprofit operator of the 103-year-old Hebrew Home.
“They’ve been on the floors bringing happiness and unconditional love to residents and staff alike.”
The dogs belong to staff members who bring them to work every day. But the program doesn’t allow just any dog.
“It has to be a combination of the right owner, right dog and right temperament,” said Reingold, whose own rescue dog, Kida, is one of the new recruits.
“The dogs have to be assessed, follow basic commands and be able to cope with wheelchairs, elevators, medication carts and all the other things they’ll encounter on a floor.”
Cats are also used in the pet therapy program — but only robotic ones. Hebrew Home has numerous lifelike animatronic cats that purr and meow as residents hold them in their laps and stroke their fur.
“The cats are especially soothing to people with dementia,” said Catherine Farrell, director of therapeutic activities, primary dog handler and owner of Marley.
“The love of an animal is incredible,” Farrell said. “It releases endorphins, reduces blood pressure, reduces anxiety. For people here who had animals in their life history, seeing dogs triggers memories and opens communication.”
While Farrell has to remain 6 feet away from residents and wear a face mask and plastic shield, Marley can plop his head on their beds as they pet him.
“To break through the social distancing barrier is really important,” Farrell said. “It’s one of the only ways they’re able to touch another living being and gain satisfaction from that physical connection.”
But it’s not just about petting a dog, said Olivia Cohen, dog handler and assistant director of the therapeutic activities program. For some residents, the interaction can break down barriers and open communication and emotional expression, she said.
Cohen recalls one woman who was struggling with anxiety and having trouble coping with the new environment when she moved into the home.
“Nothing would get through to her to help her,” Cohen said. “But when I brought the dog to her, her complete affect changed from crying to having her face light up and telling stories about her own experiences.”
For resident Elizabeth Pagan, dog visits are a welcome respite from the isolation she has endured since she’s been restricted to FaceTime visits with her children, grandchildren and terrier-dachshund mix Ruby.
“It means a lot to me, makes me feel good when I pet the dogs,” said Pagan, who’s recovering from a stroke. “My favorite is Marley. He gives me a lot of comfort.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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