courthousenews--2020-08-11--Markets Lose Their Steam After 7-Day Hot Streak

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — The August stock market rally sputtered Tuesday as weakness in Big Tech shares drove the Dow Jones Industrial Average to finish down 0.38 % after it was up about 300 points for most of the day .
For the first time in eight days , the S & P 500 fell as well .
Despite dropping 0.8 % , however , the index is still just 54 points shy of a new all-time high .
The Nasdaq suffered most , falling 1.69 % as a rotation continued from technology to companies poised to benefit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Quincy Krosby , chief market strategist at Prudential Financial , however , this rotation “ helps the overall health of the market.
” “ That ’ s what ’ s important now and what ’ s needed , ” Krosby said .
Airlines had been flying high yesterday , with American , United and Delta all up more than 7 % on reopening hopes .
Delta was up another 1 % today but the other carriers were grounded , each losing almost 2 % .
Another travel company , Airbnb , announced plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year-end , suggesting it feels bullish about the resumption of consumer travel .
Investors were buoyed early in the day by indications that coronavirus infections are subsiding as well as an announcement by Russia that it has registered a vaccine , even though the vaccine hasn ’ t completed its clinical trials and none of the research has been made public .
“ The vaccine showed high efficacy and safety , ” Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko claimed in a news release .
“ All volunteers developed high titers of antibodies to Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the vaccine on state television and said that one of his daughters had taken it .
But many U.S. scientists were skeptical .
“ Not sure what Russia is up to but I certainly would not take a vaccine that hasn ’ t been tested in Phase III , ” tweeted Florian Krammer , a microbiology professor at New York ’ s Mount Sinai Hospital .
“ Nobody knows if it ’ s safe or if it works .
They are putting HCWs and their population at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abbreviation for health care workers .
Vaccine research is underway at many labs , including Pfizer , Johnson & Johnson , Merck , AstraZeneca , Moderna , Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline .
As earnings season continued , Simon Property Group , the country ’ s largest mall owner , reported net income of $ 254.2 million , or 83 cents a share , well below analysts ’ estimates of 98 cents .
On the bright side , though , the company said it had collected 73 % of its rents from retailers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their doors .
Its stock rose 2.55 % .
CEO David Simon said the company would continue trying to acquire distressed retailers such as J.C. Penney and Brooks Brothers .
“ We ’ re acquiring inventory at or below cost , ” he said , because “ there ’ s profit in there.
” Simon rejected the idea that the company was merely “ buying into these retailers to pay us rent.
” SoftBank Group announced an $ 11.8 billion net profit , primarily due to a sale of its stake in mobile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vision Fund , the world ’ s largest technology investment pool .
But the company ’ s ADRs ended the day down 3.58 % .
Founder Masayoshi Son said the company planned to stockpile cash to weather the coronavirus crisis .
“ Defense is essential in a battle , ” he said , recounting how a Japanese warlord named Nobunaga used fences to help samurai soldiers defend themselves against enemies on horseback .
“ For SoftBank , which has various debts , defense is cash.
” Sysco Corp. , a leading restaurant supplier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a 42 % decline from last year , and an adjusted loss of 29 cents a share .
The figures beat analysts ’ estimates of $ 8.19 billion and 39 cents .
The stock rose 1.23 % .
Stock photography company Shutterstock plummeted almost 15 % after announcing that founder Jon Oringer planned to sell $ 200 million worth of shares and the company itself planned to sell enough to raise an additional $ 50 million .
Shares of video conferencing company Zoom also plunged , finishing down 7.58 % after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has sold its stake in the company .
Zoom ’ s stock , which rocketed higher in the early days of the pandemic , is down 15.6 % over the last four days , perhaps another indicator that investors believe the worst of the crisis is over .
Uber and Lyft continued to react to a Monday ruling in California that ordered them to start classifying more than 100,000 drivers as employees rather than independent contractors and give them full employment benefits , including overtime and unemployment insurance .
The ruling is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of drivers want to work independently ” an Uber spokesperson said .
“ When over 3 million Californians are without a job , our elected leaders should be focused on creating work , not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression.
” Uber stock was down 3.28 % today .
Lyft was down 1.29 % .

The August stock market rally sputtered Tuesday as weakness in Big Tech shares drove the Dow Jones Industrial Average to finish down 0.38% after it was up about 300 points for most of the day.
MANHATTAN (CN) — The August stock market rally sputtered Tuesday as weakness in Big Tech shares drove the Dow Jones Industrial Average to finish down 0.38% after it was up about 300 points for most of the day.
For the first time in eight days, the S&P 500 fell as well. Despite dropping 0.8%, however, the index is still just 54 points shy of a new all-time high.
The Nasdaq suffered most, falling 1.69% as a rotation continued from technology to companies poised to benefit from a continued reopening.
As noted by Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial, however, this rotation “helps the overall health of the market.”
“That’s what’s important now and what’s needed,” Krosby said.
Airlines had been flying high yesterday, with American, United and Delta all up more than 7% on reopening hopes. Delta was up another 1% today but the other carriers were grounded, each losing almost 2%.
Another travel company, Airbnb, announced plans to begin public trading as soon as year-end, suggesting it feels bullish about the resumption of consumer travel.
Investors were buoyed early in the day by indications that coronavirus infections are subsiding as well as an announcement by Russia that it has registered a vaccine, even though the vaccine hasn’t completed its clinical trials and none of the research has been made public.
“The vaccine showed high efficacy and safety,” Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko claimed in a news release. “All volunteers developed high titers of antibodies to Covid-19 while none of them had serious complications.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the vaccine on state television and said that one of his daughters had taken it.
But many U.S. scientists were skeptical. “Not sure what Russia is up to but I certainly would not take a vaccine that hasn’t been tested in Phase III,” tweeted Florian Krammer, a microbiology professor at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital.
“Nobody knows if it’s safe or if it works. They are putting HCWs and their population at risk,” Krammer said, using an abbreviation for health care workers.
Vaccine research is underway at many labs, including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline.
As earnings season continued, Simon Property Group, the country’s largest mall owner, reported net income of $254.2 million, or 83 cents a share, well below analysts’ estimates of 98 cents.
On the bright side, though, the company said it had collected 73% of its rents from retailers and 91% of its tenants had reopened their doors. Its stock rose 2.55%.
CEO David Simon said the company would continue trying to acquire distressed retailers such as J.C. Penney and Brooks Brothers. “We’re acquiring inventory at or below cost,” he said, because “there’s profit in there.” Simon rejected the idea that the company was merely “buying into these retailers to pay us rent.”
SoftBank Group announced an $11.8 billion net profit, primarily due to a sale of its stake in mobile carrier Sprint and a rebound in its Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology investment pool. But the company’s ADRs ended the day down 3.58%.
Founder Masayoshi Son said the company planned to stockpile cash to weather the coronavirus crisis.
“Defense is essential in a battle,” he said, recounting how a Japanese warlord named Nobunaga used fences to help samurai soldiers defend themselves against enemies on horseback. “For SoftBank, which has various debts, defense is cash.”
Sysco Corp., a leading restaurant supplier, posted revenue of $8.87 billion, a 42% decline from last year, and an adjusted loss of 29 cents a share. The figures beat analysts’ estimates of $8.19 billion and 39 cents. The stock rose 1.23%.
Stock photography company Shutterstock plummeted almost 15% after announcing that founder Jon Oringer planned to sell $200 million worth of shares and the company itself planned to sell enough to raise an additional $50 million.
Shares of video conferencing company Zoom also plunged, finishing down 7.58% after a regulatory filing became public indicating that Salesforce has sold its stake in the company.
Zoom’s stock, which rocketed higher in the early days of the pandemic, is down 15.6% over the last four days, perhaps another indicator that investors believe the worst of the crisis is over.
Uber and Lyft continued to react to a Monday ruling in California that ordered them to start classifying more than 100,000 drivers as employees rather than independent contractors and give them full employment benefits, including overtime and unemployment insurance. The ruling is on hold pending appeal.
“The vast majority of drivers want to work independently” an Uber spokesperson said. “When over 3 million Californians are without a job, our elected leaders should be focused on creating work, not trying to shut down an entire industry during an economic depression.”
Uber stock was down 3.28% today. Lyft was down 1.29%.


courthousenews--2020-08-11--Fulfilling a Debate Promise, Biden Picks Kamala Harris as Running Mate

( CN ) — Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate Tuesday , upholding a debate promise to pick a woman to round out his ticket .
“ Back when Kamala was attorney general , she worked closely with Beau , ” Biden tweeted Tuesday , referring to his oldest son .
“ I watched as they took on the big banks , lifted up working people , and protected women and kids from abuse .
I was proud then , and I ’ m proud now to have her as my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died of brain cancer in 2015 after embarking on a political career that included a stop as Delaware ’ s attorney general .
If Biden and Harris prove successful in their bid to unseat Republican incumbent President Donald Trump on Nov. 3 , Harris would be the first female vice president — and the first vice president of color — in U.S. history .
Biden has also indicated that he believes Harris is ready to be president from day one , something he stressed was important as the former vice president turns 78 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their first appearance as a ticket at a campaign event in Delaware on Wednesday .
Harris tweeted out her eagerness to tackle the job on Tuesday , saying Biden can unify the country .
“ I ’ m honored to join him as our party ’ s nominee for Vice President , and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief , ” Harris said .
Biden pledged to select a woman as vice president this past March , after it became increasingly clear that the Democratic Party — which made racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public and private sectors a major focus — would come down to a nomination battle between two older white men , Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont .
Long the favorite , Harris brings diversity and youth to the Democratic ticket , both of which are seen as sorely needed on Biden ’ s ticket .
Unlike others vying to be Biden ’ s running mate , Harris has extensive political experience , serving as California ’ s attorney general and then as the Golden State ’ s junior U.S. senator — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first Indian American to represent the state in the Senate .
She defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in 2016 to replace outgoing Senator Barbara Boxer .
Harris was never considered a lock for the ticket , partly because she and Biden locked horns early and often during the primary season .
In the first debate , Harris attacked Biden for his opposition to school busing programs and for working with segregationists during his career .
People with the Biden campaign have said the attack and Harris ’ subsequent downplaying of it had created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal rapport very high .
Biden ’ s decision seems to indicate both parties have moved on from the earlier conflict .
In addition to noting her work during the Great Recession with his son , Biden also praised Harris ’ work on the Senate Judiciary Committee where she took on issues related to corruption , election interference and women ’ s rights .
“ Kamala doesn ’ t hesitate to take on powerful people and powerful interests , and that ’ s exactly the kind of leader Joe wants by his side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soul of the nation , ” the Biden campaign said Tuesday .
“ We saw what happened to Hillary Clinton , NWPC co-founder Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro as they sought the presidency and vice presidency .
They were viciously attacked by those who did not want to see a woman in one of the most powerful positions in this country , ” the group said in a statement .
“ The members of the NWPC look forward to supporting Senator Harris through our caucuses across the country .
We will defend her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump campaign blasted the choice of Harris in a release issued Tuesday , saying Harris was a hypocrite and a tool of the radical left .
“ Not long ago , Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received .
Clearly , Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals , as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor , in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat Party , ” the Trump campaign said in a statement .
Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , the daughter of an Indian immigrant who left her homeland to pursue a degree in economics at UC Berkeley .
Harris ’ father was an economics professor at Stanford who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica .
After spending part of her childhood in Montreal , Harris returned to the United States to attend Howard University .
She earned a law degree from UC Hastings School of Law .
She began her career as a prosecutor for the Alameda County District Attorney ’ s Office , but soon left to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Francisco District Attorney ’ s Office .
Harris began her political career in 2003 , becoming San Francisco ’ s DA by beating an incumbent .
She was the top cop in San Francisco until she ran to become California ’ s top cop in 2011 .
During her time as both DA and attorney general , Harris argued for the prosecution of parents of truant children , one of several positions she took as prosecutor that earned the ire of progressives during the 2020 primaries , as reform of the criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in America became a major issue .
Nonetheless , Harris garnered endorsements from a range of prominent Democratic politicians during her run including Boxer , Senator Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi .
Other candidates the Biden campaign vetted include Susan Rice , a former ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration , and Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois .
Rice tweeted out her support on Tuesday .
“ I warmly congratulate Senator Kamala Harris on her selection as Joe Biden ’ s Vice Presidential running mate , ” Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign trail .
”

Fulfilling a Debate Promise, Biden Picks Kamala Harris as Running Mate
(CN) — Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate Tuesday, upholding a debate promise to pick a woman to round out his ticket.
“Back when Kamala was attorney general, she worked closely with Beau,” Biden tweeted Tuesday, referring to his oldest son. “I watched as they took on the big banks, lifted up working people, and protected women and kids from abuse. I was proud then, and I'm proud now to have her as my partner in this campaign.”
Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015 after embarking on a political career that included a stop as Delaware's attorney general.
If Biden and Harris prove successful in their bid to unseat Republican incumbent President Donald Trump on Nov. 3, Harris would be the first female vice president — and the first vice president of color — in U.S. history.
Biden has also indicated that he believes Harris is ready to be president from day one, something he stressed was important as the former vice president turns 78 in November. The pair will make their first appearance as a ticket at a campaign event in Delaware on Wednesday.
Harris tweeted out her eagerness to tackle the job on Tuesday, saying Biden can unify the country.
“I'm honored to join him as our party's nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief,” Harris said.
Biden pledged to select a woman as vice president this past March, after it became increasingly clear that the Democratic Party — which made racial diversity at the highest levels of the public and private sectors a major focus — would come down to a nomination battle between two older white men, Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont.
Long the favorite, Harris brings diversity and youth to the Democratic ticket, both of which are seen as sorely needed on Biden’s ticket. Unlike others vying to be Biden’s running mate, Harris has extensive political experience, serving as California’s attorney general and then as the Golden State’s junior U.S. senator — becoming the first African American and the first Indian American to represent the state in the Senate. She defeated fellow Democrat Loretta Sanchez in 2016 to replace outgoing Senator Barbara Boxer.
Harris was never considered a lock for the ticket, partly because she and Biden locked horns early and often during the primary season. In the first debate, Harris attacked Biden for his opposition to school busing programs and for working with segregationists during his career. People with the Biden campaign have said the attack and Harris' subsequent downplaying of it had created trust issues with Biden, who ranks personal rapport very high. Biden’s decision seems to indicate both parties have moved on from the earlier conflict.
In addition to noting her work during the Great Recession with his son, Biden also praised Harris’ work on the Senate Judiciary Committee where she took on issues related to corruption, election interference and women’s rights.
“Kamala doesn’t hesitate to take on powerful people and powerful interests, and that’s exactly the kind of leader Joe wants by his side to rebuild this country and restore the soul of the nation,” the Biden campaign said Tuesday.
The National Women's Political Caucus praised Biden's choice but urged caution.
"We saw what happened to Hillary Clinton, NWPC co-founder Shirley Chisholm and Geraldine Ferraro as they sought the presidency and vice presidency. They were viciously attacked by those who did not want to see a woman in one of the most powerful positions in this country," the group said in a statement. "The members of the NWPC look forward to supporting Senator Harris through our caucuses across the country. We will defend her and she will feel our support."
The Trump campaign blasted the choice of Harris in a release issued Tuesday, saying Harris was a hypocrite and a tool of the radical left.
“Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received. Clearly, Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals, as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor, in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat Party," the Trump campaign said in a statement.
Harris, 55, grew up in Oakland, California, the daughter of an Indian immigrant who left her homeland to pursue a degree in economics at UC Berkeley. Harris’ father was an economics professor at Stanford who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica.
After spending part of her childhood in Montreal, Harris returned to the United States to attend Howard University. She earned a law degree from UC Hastings School of Law.
She began her career as a prosecutor for the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, but soon left to work at various positions in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
Harris began her political career in 2003, becoming San Francisco’s DA by beating an incumbent. She was the top cop in San Francisco until she ran to become California’s top cop in 2011.
During her time as both DA and attorney general, Harris argued for the prosecution of parents of truant children, one of several positions she took as prosecutor that earned the ire of progressives during the 2020 primaries, as reform of the criminal justice system and its orientation toward minority populations in America became a major issue.
Nonetheless, Harris garnered endorsements from a range of prominent Democratic politicians during her run including Boxer, Senator Dianne Feinstein and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Other candidates the Biden campaign vetted include Susan Rice, a former ambassador to the United Nations during the Obama administration, and Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.
Rice tweeted out her support on Tuesday.
“I warmly congratulate Senator Kamala Harris on her selection as Joe Biden’s Vice Presidential running mate,” Rice said. “Senator Harris is a tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign trail.”


Medicaid Fraud

AUSTIN — A Texas trial court ruled Dr. Richard Malouf is liable to the state for $ 16.5 million for @ @ @ @ @ the former operator of orthodontics clinics who committed 1,842 violations of the Texas Medicaid Fraud @ @ @ @ @ media attention for building a massive waterpark in the backyard of his 37,000-square-foot mansion in @ @

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


Gun Laws

NEW YORK — The Second Circuit affirmed a ruling that New York ’ s gun licensing laws — which , @ @ @ @ @ applicants to prove their “ good moral character , ” — do not violate the @ @ @ @ @ in the case brought by the Libertarian Party of Erie County and nine New York @ @ @ @ @ any “ law-abiding responsible citizen ” who applied for a license to have a firearm @ @ @ @ @ it , the court wrote .


Police Killing

DALLAS — Former police officer Roy Oliver — who fired his rifle five times into a car and killed unarmed @ @ @ @ @ — was properly convicted of murder , an appeals court in Texas ruled .
Oliver @ @ @ @ @ was sentenced to 15 years ’ confinement .


Immigration Detention

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — A federal court in California enjoined the City of McFarland and for-profit prison firm Geo Group @ @ @ @ @ at two private prisons .
Adding or transferring detainees at this time could spread Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ ” about whether the city sufficiently allowed the public to be heard during public meetings @ @ @ @


TurboTax

SAN FRANCISCO — Reversing a district court ruling , the Ninth Circuit determined a class action against TurboTax-maker Intuit should @ @ @ @ @ The class claims the company tricked them into paying for its tax-preparation services when they @ @ @ @ @ tax-filing option .


courthousenews--2020-08-12--Los Angeles County Reports 5,000th Covid-19 Death

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Just five months after a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization , Los Angeles County reported its 5,000th Covid-19 death on Tuesday .
One of the deaths reported Tuesday was a person under 29 years old , according to health officials .
“ This is a reminder that the risk for all of us is real and that no matter how young you are , this virus can be deadly , ” said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer in a statement .
Officials announced 63 new deaths in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one day after officials said they were “ cautiously optimistic ” because of a decline in hospitalizations and the death rate .
In total , 211,808 confirmed infections of Covid-19 and 5,057 deaths have been recorded in the county since the onset of the pandemic in early March .
“ L.A .
County has hit a tragic milestone today — more than 5,000 of our friends , family , neighbors and co-workers have died because of COVID-19 , ” Ferrer said .
“ This is heartbreaking and reminds us of the human toll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to the many families that have lost a loved one to this pandemic.
” The death toll data in LA County has fluctuated in recent days with 19 deaths reported Monday , 10 reported Sunday .
On Saturday , there were 51 deaths , according to the county health department .
More than half ( 60 % ) of all infections in the county are among people between the ages of 18–49 .
On Tuesday , health officials reported 1,440 new confirmed infections , but that data carries an asterisk due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electronic laboratory system .
That likely has led to an undercounting in LA County and has prompted health officials to ask people who have received positive results to contact the county and self-report their test results to better track the spread of the virus .
The backlog is expected to be cleared up later in the week .
In total , 1.9 million tests have been administered in LA County , with a daily average of around 18,000 tests per day .
According to public health data , deaths are on a downward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mortality rate has been among Latino and Black residents .
East of LA County , Riverside County reported 1,393 new infections and four new deaths , while nearby Orange County reported 1,051 new infections and 10 new deaths .

Just five months after a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization, Los Angeles County reported its 5,000th Covid-19 death on Tuesday.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Just five months after a global pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization, Los Angeles County reported its 5,000th Covid-19 death on Tuesday.
One of the deaths reported Tuesday was a person under 29 years old, according to health officials.
“This is a reminder that the risk for all of us is real and that no matter how young you are, this virus can be deadly,” said LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer in a statement.
Officials announced 63 new deaths in the last 24 hours in LA County, one day after officials said they were “cautiously optimistic” because of a decline in hospitalizations and the death rate. In total, 211,808 confirmed infections of Covid-19 and 5,057 deaths have been recorded in the county since the onset of the pandemic in early March.
"L.A. County has hit a tragic milestone today — more than 5,000 of our friends, family, neighbors and co-workers have died because of COVID-19,” Ferrer said. “This is heartbreaking and reminds us of the human toll of this pandemic. Our hearts go out to the many families that have lost a loved one to this pandemic.”
The death toll data in LA County has fluctuated in recent days with 19 deaths reported Monday, 10 reported Sunday. On Saturday, there were 51 deaths, according to the county health department.
More than half (60%) of all infections in the county are among people between the ages of 18–49. On Tuesday, health officials reported 1,440 new confirmed infections, but that data carries an asterisk due to a backlog with a state’s electronic laboratory system.
That likely has led to an undercounting in LA County and has prompted health officials to ask people who have received positive results to contact the county and self-report their test results to better track the spread of the virus. The backlog is expected to be cleared up later in the week.
In total, 1.9 million tests have been administered in LA County, with a daily average of around 18,000 tests per day. According to public health data, deaths are on a downward trend since late July. The highest mortality rate has been among Latino and Black residents. East of LA County, Riverside County reported 1,393 new infections and four new deaths, while nearby Orange County reported 1,051 new infections and 10 new deaths.


courthousenews--2020-08-12--Ilhan Omar Wins Minnesota Primary Race

Ilhan Omar Wins Minnesota Primary Race

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( CN ) — U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar handily beat a Democratic primary challenger in her Minnesota congressional district Tuesday , ending one of the most heavily-financed U.S. House races in the state ’ s history .
With 98.7 % of precincts reporting , Omar commanded 57.3 % of the vote by 10:00 p.m. Central Time Tuesday night , leading her strongest challenger , Antone Melton-Meaux , by 18 points .
Omar took to Twitter to celebrate her victory .
“ In Minnesota , we know that organized people will always beat organized money , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement didn ’ t just win .
We earned a mandate for change .
Despite outside efforts to defeat us , we once again broke turnout records .
Despite the attacks , our support has only grown.
” Melton-Meaux , an arbitrator by trade and a political newcomer , conceded the race at his campaign headquarters in Minneapolis shortly after 9 p.m. , according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune .
He thanked his supporters on Twitter early in the evening .
A Democratic primary victory in the 5th district is a near-guarantee of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s last Republican representative left office in 1963 , and Minnesota ’ s Democratic Farmer Labor Party has firmly held the seat ever since .
Omar has been a dynamic and controversial figure in Minneapolis since her election in 2018 .
A member of the all-women of color “ Squad ” in Congress , her support for progressive causes like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal , and her endorsement of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders , have gained her a fervent base of supporters but have also made her a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Omar ’ s national and international entanglements drew critique from Melton-Meaux , whose campaign slogan was “ focused on the fifth.
” Melton-Meaux and supporters have also levied accusations of antisemitism at Omar for her critiques of Israeli-U.S. relations .
They have also critiqued Omar ’ s spotty attendance record , which she attributes to deaths in her family and the fact that Congress takes votes on Muslim holidays .
Omar ’ s father died of Covid-19 in July .
Meanwhile , Omar has called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ campaign has at hand , much of it from traditionally Republican donors .
With each campaign raising over $ 4 million , money became a focus of discussion for both campaigns late in the race , and both campaigns also face Federal Elections Commission complaints against them .
A victory would make Omar the third of four “ Squad ” members to win contested primaries this year .
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan have already won their contested primaries .
Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts does not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sept. 1 primary .
Early tallies also showed party endorsements carrying weight in major contested primaries around the state , with Republican Jason Lewis and Democrat Tina Smith dominating their primaries for the U.S. Senate seat Smith was appointed to in 2017 and won in 2018 .
Republican state Senator Michelle Fischbach , who won her party ’ s endorsement to face Democrat Collin Peterson in the state ’ s 3rd House District , had 59.78 % of the vote at 9:40 p.m. , while two-time candidate Dave Hughes and newcomer Noel Collis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respectively .
Fischbach won the GOP endorsement at a fiercely contested virtual convention , a victory which Hughes has said was the result of dirty politics .
Peterson , a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition , led conservative Democrat Alycia Gruenhaugen with 76 % of votes and 44 % of precincts reporting .
And in a not-unexpected turn , longtime Democratic Representative Betty McCollum of the 4th District held a commanding lead over a stable of contenders , despite some unconventional campaigning by her opponents .
State races had one notable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of America-endorsed Omar Fateh defeating state Senator Jeff Hayden in Senate District 62 , which includes the location where George Floyd was killed on May 25 .
Fateh beat the two-term senator and assistant minority leader to the DFL endorsement at caucuses and convention in February , a process which Hayden quickly denounced .
Afterward , Floyd ’ s death loomed large in Fateh ’ s campaign when he briefly suspended campaigning to protest and clean up the debris of rioting and burned buildings in the wake of Floyd ’ s death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mail-in ballots , the state does not expect final results Tuesday night .
Those ballots — 637,463 as of Monday , with over 100,000 more sent to rural residents by default — have a two-day grace period to be counted .
Secretary of State Steve Simon ’ s office reported Monday that over 423,000 mail-in ballots had already been received and processed .

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar was holding a comfortable lead over challenger Antone Melton-Meaux in the primary race for Minnesota's Democratic 5th Congressional District Tuesday night.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CN) — U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar handily beat a Democratic primary challenger in her Minnesota congressional district Tuesday, ending one of the most heavily-financed U.S. House races in the state's history.
With 98.7% of precincts reporting, Omar commanded 57.3% of the vote by 10 p.m. CT Tuesday night, leading her strongest challenger, Antone Melton-Meaux, by 18 points.
Omar took to Twitter to celebrate her victory. “In Minnesota, we know that organized people will always beat organized money,” she wrote. “Tonight, our movement didn’t just win. We earned a mandate for change. Despite outside efforts to defeat us, we once again broke turnout records. Despite the attacks, our support has only grown.”
Melton-Meaux, an arbitrator by trade and a political newcomer, conceded the race at his campaign headquarters in Minneapolis shortly after 9 p.m., according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He thanked his supporters on Twitter early in the evening.
A Democratic primary victory in the 5th district is a near-guarantee of reelection for Omar. The district’s last Republican representative left office in 1963, and Minnesota’s Democratic Farmer Labor Party has firmly held the seat ever since.
Omar has been a dynamic and controversial figure in Minneapolis since her election in 2018. A member of the all-women of color “Squad" in Congress, her support for progressive causes like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, and her endorsement of former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, have gained her a fervent base of supporters but have also made her a high-profile target for right-wingers including President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Omar’s national and international entanglements drew critique from Melton-Meaux, whose campaign slogan was “focused on the fifth.” Melton-Meaux and supporters have also levied accusations of antisemitism at Omar for her critiques of Israeli-U.S. relations. They have also critiqued Omar's spotty attendance record, which she attributes to deaths in her family and the fact that Congress takes votes on Muslim holidays. Omar’s father died of Covid-19 in July.
Meanwhile, Omar has called into question the millions of dollars Melton-Meaux’ campaign has at hand, much of it from traditionally Republican donors.
With each campaign raising over $4 million, money became a focus of discussion for both campaigns late in the race, and both campaigns also face Federal Elections Commission complaints against them.
A victory would make Omar the third of four “Squad” members to win contested primaries this year. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan have already won their contested primaries. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts does not have an opponent in that state’s Sept. 1 primary.
Early tallies also showed party endorsements carrying weight in major contested primaries around the state, with Republican Jason Lewis and Democrat Tina Smith dominating their primaries for the U.S. Senate seat Smith was appointed to in 2017 and won in 2018.
Republican state Senator Michelle Fischbach, who won her party’s endorsement to face Democrat Collin Peterson in the state’s 3rd House District, had 59.78% of the vote at 9:40 p.m., while two-time candidate Dave Hughes and newcomer Noel Collis trailed at 21% and 14% respectively. Fischbach won the GOP endorsement at a fiercely contested virtual convention, a victory which Hughes has said was the result of dirty politics.
Peterson, a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition, led conservative Democrat Alycia Gruenhaugen with 76% of votes and 44% of precincts reporting.
And in a not-unexpected turn, longtime Democratic Representative Betty McCollum of the 4th District held a commanding lead over a stable of contenders, despite some unconventional campaigning by her opponents.
State races had one notable upset with first-time candidate and Democratic Socialists of America-endorsed Omar Fateh defeating state Senator Jeff Hayden in Senate District 62, which includes the location where George Floyd was killed on May 25. Fateh beat the two-term senator and assistant minority leader to the DFL endorsement at caucuses and convention in February, a process which Hayden quickly denounced. Afterward, Floyd’s death loomed large in Fateh’s campaign when he briefly suspended campaigning to protest and clean up the debris of rioting and burned buildings in the wake of Floyd’s death.
With hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans requesting mail-in ballots, the state does not expect final results Tuesday night. Those ballots — 637,463 as of Monday, with over 100,000 more sent to rural residents by default — have a two-day grace period to be counted. Secretary of State Steve Simon’s office reported Monday that over 423,000 mail-in ballots had already been received and processed.


courthousenews--2020-08-12--Apple Must Pay Over $506 Million in 4G LTE Patent Dispute

MARSHALL , Texas ( CN ) — A federal jury in East Texas Tuesday ordered Apple to pay over $ 506 million for infringing on 4G LTE patents controlled by intellectual property owner PanOptis in the country ’ s first patent jury trial since the Covid-19 shutdown in March .
The jury concluded five of Plano-based PanOptis ’ patents were infringed by Apple ’ s wireless products and ordered $ 506.2 million in damages as a royalty for past sales .
U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap held the trial in person with social distancing and face mask use being enforced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the option to increase damages by up to triple since the jury concluded the infringement was willful .
PanOptis sued in February 2019 , claiming Apple refused to pay licensing fees for the use of the technology in its iPhone , iPad and Apple Watch products .
Apple argued at trial that the patents were invalid but the jury concluded the company failed to prove “ by clear and convincing evidence ” that any of PanOptis ’ claims were invalid .
Attorneys for Apple and PanOptis did not immediately respond to requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appeal .
The company said in a statement that PanOptis accumulates patents “ simply to harass the industry ” and “ only serve to stifle innovation and harm consumers.
” The verdict comes one year after Apple closed its two stores in Plano and Frisco within the Eastern District of Texas .
Media reports suggested the closures were aimed at halting new “ patent troll ” lawsuits in a jurisdiction famed for how friendly it is to patent plaintiffs .
Apple opened a new store several miles south at the Galleria Dallas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern District of Texas .
Tuesday ’ s verdict comes more than seven years after Apple was ordered in the Eastern District to pay over $ 368 million for its FaceTime feature infringing on two patents owned by VirnetX .
In a third case in 2018 , a federal jury in the Eastern District awarded VirnetX over $ 503 million from Apple for infringing on four additional patents .
The judge in the case later tossed the award , concluding two of the patents relate to FaceTime , not Apple ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the lawsuit .
The Fifth Circuit later ordered a new trial on damages that was to begin next week , but the trial judge on Monday postponed the proceedings until October due to the still-raging pandemic .

A federal jury in East Texas Tuesday ordered Apple to pay over $506 million for infringing on 4G LTE patents controlled by intellectual property owner PanOptis in the country’s first patent jury trial since the Covid-19 shutdown in March.
MARSHALL, Texas (CN) — A federal jury in East Texas Tuesday ordered Apple to pay over $506 million for infringing on 4G LTE patents controlled by intellectual property owner PanOptis in the country’s first patent jury trial since the Covid-19 shutdown in March.
The jury concluded five of Plano-based PanOptis’ patents were infringed by Apple’s wireless products and ordered $506.2 million in damages as a royalty for past sales. U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap held the trial in person with social distancing and face mask use being enforced in the courtroom. He now has the option to increase damages by up to triple since the jury concluded the infringement was willful.
PanOptis sued in February 2019, claiming Apple refused to pay licensing fees for the use of the technology in its iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch products. Apple argued at trial that the patents were invalid but the jury concluded the company failed to prove “by clear and convincing evidence” that any of PanOptis’ claims were invalid.
Attorneys for Apple and PanOptis did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday evening. Apple is expected to appeal.
The company said in a statement that PanOptis accumulates patents “simply to harass the industry” and “only serve to stifle innovation and harm consumers.”
The verdict comes one year after Apple closed its two stores in Plano and Frisco within the Eastern District of Texas. Media reports suggested the closures were aimed at halting new “patent troll” lawsuits in a jurisdiction famed for how friendly it is to patent plaintiffs. Apple opened a new store several miles south at the Galleria Dallas mall that is under the jurisdiction of the Northern District of Texas.
Tuesday’s verdict comes more than seven years after Apple was ordered in the Eastern District to pay over $368 million for its FaceTime feature infringing on two patents owned by VirnetX. In a third case in 2018, a federal jury in the Eastern District awarded VirnetX over $503 million from Apple for infringing on four additional patents. The judge in the case later tossed the award, concluding two of the patents relate to FaceTime, not Apple’s VPN On Demand feature at the center of the lawsuit. The Fifth Circuit later ordered a new trial on damages that was to begin next week, but the trial judge on Monday postponed the proceedings until October due to the still-raging pandemic.


Model Officer

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles police officer , now fired , fondled a dead woman ’ s breasts and @ @ @ @ @ , the woman ’ s family says in a lawsuit filed Tuesday .


Distance Learning

SAN DIEGO — The all-male private Catholic St. Augustine High School complains California Governor Gavin Newsom ’ s public health @ @ @ @ @ are forced to learn via “ inadequate ” Zoom sessions for the foreseeable future because @ @ @ @ @ “ education pods ” for in-person learning .


courthousenews--2020-08-13--Panel Revives Taxpayer Suit Over Orange County Jailhouse Informant Scheme

( CN ) — Orange County ’ s district attorney and sheriff must face a lawsuit seeking to end a jailhouse informant program in operation for decades after a California appeals court panel unanimously ruled Wednesday that a group of county residents have sufficient taxpayer and public interest standing to bring their claims .
Three Orange County residents and community group People for the Ethical Operation of Prosecutors and Law Enforcement said in their 2018 lawsuit that the agencies ’ snitch program eroded their Southern California community ’ s faith in the criminal legal system ’ s ability to deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the agencies have operated a clandestine program in county jails that used confidential informants to coerce confessions and other information from incarcerated people , the lawsuit said , adding that informants were paid or rewarded with sentence reductions .
The information extracted by informants — who used threats of violence and murder to glean details from targets — was later presented as fact during at least 140 criminal proceedings in Orange County Superior Court , the lawsuit said .
In one case detailed in the lawsuit , informants culled details that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested on an attempted murder charge .
By law , the DA ’ s office and sheriff ’ s department were required to relay this information to Vega and his attorney but didn ’ t for fear of exposing their informant program .
Vega remained in prison for nearly two years .
The scandal resulted in new trials or new sentences in several high-profile cases and derailed the county ’ s prosecution of the area ’ s deadliest mass murderer — Scott Dekraai , who massacred eight people at a hair salon in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tony Rackauckas — the district attorney at the time who was a named defendant in the suit — said in a statement in response to the lawsuit that the program was legal and necessary for prosecuting dangerous criminals .
County attorneys representing Rackauckas , whom plaintiffs said was actively concealing the existence of the program , argued the case could not go forward since it would interfere with ongoing criminal prosecutions .
Orange County Superior Court Judge Glenda Sanders agreed and dismissed the complaint in 2019 , ruling that residents lacked standing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public interest .
On appeal , attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Munger , Tolles & Olson argued plaintiffs ’ tax dollars were unjustly bankrolling an illegal program that constitutes “ waste and illegal expenditures of public funds ” during the course of official duties .
“ In holding that plaintiffs lacked standing as taxpayers and in the public interest , the superior court told Orange County residents that they are entirely unable to challenge Defendants ’ unconstitutional and illegal actions , ” plaintiffs ’ attorneys said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compelling enough for Associate Justice Raymond J. Ikola of Southern California ’ s Fourth Appellate District , who on Wednesday reversed Sanders ’ judgment and ruled plaintiffs have standing to pursue their claims for a writ of mandate .
“ The operative complaint describes a surveillance program in flagrant disregard of the government ’ s constitutional duties and limitations , ” Ikola wrote in the 22-page published opinion .
“ We would be hard pressed to think of a more outrageous constitutional violation .
Plainly , the constitutional rights the CI program is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to due process and the assistance of counsel , among others — are public rights that every citizen has an interest in upholding.
” Plaintiffs ’ complaint meets the burden of stating a cause of action since the county ’ s confidential informant program is ongoing and is not barred by the statute of limitations for the same reason , Ikola found .
The ACLU did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling by press time .
Ikola also rejected the county ’ s claims that the case would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the opinion that the complaint can not request any orders in active criminal cases .
“ Instead , as we interpret the complaint , it seeks orders to restrain ongoing programs and policies that are systematically violating defendants ’ constitutional rights , ” Ikola wrote .
“ The existence of policies and programs that systematically violate constitutional rights may be attacked without directly interfering in any particular criminal proceeding.
” Ikola also ordered Orange County to pay the plaintiffs ’ legal fees stemming from the appeal .
A spokesperson for current Orange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately respond to a request for comment .
Acting Presiding Justice Richard D. Fybel and Associate Justice David A. Thompson rounded out the panel and joined in concurrence .

Orange County’s district attorney and sheriff must face a lawsuit seeking to end a jailhouse informant program in operation for decades after a California appeals court panel unanimously ruled Wednesday that a group of county residents have sufficient taxpayer and public interest standing to bring their claims forward.
(CN) — Orange County’s district attorney and sheriff must face a lawsuit seeking to end a jailhouse informant program in operation for decades after a California appeals court panel unanimously ruled Wednesday that a group of county residents have sufficient taxpayer and public interest standing to bring their claims.
Three Orange County residents and community group People for the Ethical Operation of Prosecutors and Law Enforcement said in their 2018 lawsuit that the agencies’ snitch program eroded their Southern California community’s faith in the criminal legal system’s ability to deliver justice.
For at least 30 years, the agencies have operated a clandestine program in county jails that used confidential informants to coerce confessions and other information from incarcerated people, the lawsuit said, adding that informants were paid or rewarded with sentence reductions.
The information extracted by informants — who used threats of violence and murder to glean details from targets — was later presented as fact during at least 140 criminal proceedings in Orange County Superior Court, the lawsuit said.
In one case detailed in the lawsuit, informants culled details that would have exonerated Luis Vega, a 14-year-old arrested on an attempted murder charge. By law, the DA’s office and sheriff’s department were required to relay this information to Vega and his attorney but didn’t for fear of exposing their informant program. Vega remained in prison for nearly two years.
The scandal resulted in new trials or new sentences in several high-profile cases and derailed the county’s prosecution of the area’s deadliest mass murderer — Scott Dekraai, who massacred eight people at a hair salon in Seal Beach, California, in 2011.
Tony Rackauckas — the district attorney at the time who was a named defendant in the suit — said in a statement in response to the lawsuit that the program was legal and necessary for prosecuting dangerous criminals.
County attorneys representing Rackauckas, whom plaintiffs said was actively concealing the existence of the program, argued the case could not go forward since it would interfere with ongoing criminal prosecutions.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Glenda Sanders agreed and dismissed the complaint in 2019, ruling that residents lacked standing to bring the suit as taxpayers or in the public interest.
On appeal, attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson argued plaintiffs’ tax dollars were unjustly bankrolling an illegal program that constitutes “waste and illegal expenditures of public funds” during the course of official duties.
“In holding that plaintiffs lacked standing as taxpayers and in the public interest, the superior court told Orange County residents that they are entirely unable to challenge Defendants’ unconstitutional and illegal actions,” plaintiffs’ attorneys said in their appeal.
The argument was compelling enough for Associate Justice Raymond J. Ikola of Southern California’s Fourth Appellate District, who on Wednesday reversed Sanders’ judgment and ruled plaintiffs have standing to pursue their claims for a writ of mandate.
“The operative complaint describes a surveillance program in flagrant disregard of the government’s constitutional duties and limitations,” Ikola wrote in the 22-page published opinion. “We would be hard pressed to think of a more outrageous constitutional violation. Plainly, the constitutional rights the CI program is alleged to have violated — the rights to due process and the assistance of counsel, among others — are public rights that every citizen has an interest in upholding.”
Plaintiffs’ complaint meets the burden of stating a cause of action since the county’s confidential informant program is ongoing and is not barred by the statute of limitations for the same reason, Ikola found.
The ACLU did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling by press time.
Ikola also rejected the county’s claims that the case would impede any pending criminal cases, writing in the opinion that the complaint cannot request any orders in active criminal cases.
“Instead, as we interpret the complaint, it seeks orders to restrain ongoing programs and policies that are systematically violating defendants’ constitutional rights,” Ikola wrote. “The existence of policies and programs that systematically violate constitutional rights may be attacked without directly interfering in any particular criminal proceeding.”
Ikola also ordered Orange County to pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees stemming from the appeal.
A spokesperson for current Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Acting Presiding Justice Richard D. Fybel and Associate Justice David A. Thompson rounded out the panel and joined in concurrence.


courthousenews--2020-08-12--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

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Deliberate Indifference

ATLANTA — A man ’ s deliberate-indifference claim against a police officer who left him in an unventilated , hot @ @ @ @ @ not have been dismissed , the 11th Circuit ruled .
The officer found the man @ @ @ @ @ in the van , denied his request for water , and left the man in @ @ @ @ @ to the sheriff ’ s office .


courthousenews--2020-08-12--Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Rollback of Migratory Bird Protection

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Sprinkling her ruling with the wisdom of literary lawyer Atticus Finch , an Alabama-born federal judge stopped President Trump ’ s Interior Department from declaring open season on practices that endanger migratory birds .
“ It is not only a sin to kill a mockingbird , it is also a crime , ” U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni , quoting the novel “ To Kill a Mockingbird ” and federal law , wrote in the introduction of her 31-page ruling .
“ That has been the letter of the law for the past century , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of the Interior has its way , many mockingbirds and other migratory birds that delight people and support ecosystems throughout the country will be killed without legal consequence.
” Born in Lee County , Alabama , Judge Caproni grew up a 2.5-hour drive away from the hometown of Harper Lee , the literary pride of the “ Cotton State ” whose novel stands as an icon of fictional civil rights lawyering .
Since Barack Obama appointed her to New York ’ s federal bench in 2013 , Caproni ’ s droll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasionally has made their mark on her cases .
The latest of this pantheon involves the Trump administration ’ s bid three years ago to reinterpret the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 , aimed at “ saving from indiscriminate slaughter ” migratory birds in the United States , United Kingdom and Canada .
Ratified by Congress more than a century ago , the treaty banning hunting , taking or killing migratory birds — or even attempting to do so — received a stealthy reinterpretation by the Interior Department ’ s Solicitor Daniel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koch Industries employee , Jorjani wrote a decision permitting “ incidental ” killings , an allowance that quickly disarmed punishment for bird deaths and devastated certain nesting areas .
The Natural Resources Defense Council , which led a coalition of environmental groups and states opposing the policy , applauded Caproni ’ s ruling .
“ This decision confirms that Interior ’ s utter failure to uphold the conservation mandate of the U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service simply can not stand up in a court of law , ” the NRDC ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ The MBTA protects millions of birds and the Trump administration ’ s reckless efforts to rollback bird protections to benefit polluters don ’ t fool anyone.
” Judge Caproni blocked the Trump administration ’ s revision of the treaty as a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act .
“ Even if Congress did not foresee that modern industrial activity would one day threaten protected migratory bird populations , that does not justify disregarding the statute ’ s unambiguous language , ” she wrote .
Since the change in late 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treaty ’ s enforcement has stalled across the nation .
That has meant a lack of liability to the people and entities that allowed snowy owls to be electrocuted by uninsulated power lines in Delaware , Maryland , Tennessee and North Dakota ; the avian life drowned by oil spills in Massachusetts , Idaho and Washington ; and dove chicks thrown into a tree shredder by landscapers in San Diego , the NRDC says .
The Interior Department has let companies skate on this conduct if shown to be incidental , but Caproni @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and kill a bird without that intent .
“ Surely yes , ” she wrote , answering her own question , “ a child throwing rocks at birds in a pond to see them fly does just that when one of those rocks strikes and kills a bird.
” That was the lesson Atticus Finch tried to impart upon his children in a passage of the novel that Judge Caproni quoted early in her ruling .
“ Mockingbirds don ’ t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a footnote of the ruling , observes .
“ They don ’ t eat up people ’ s gardens , don ’ t nest in corncribs , they don ’ t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us .
That ’ s why it ’ s a sin to kill a mockingbird.
” The Interior Department insisted that U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service , its subagency , remains committed to preserving the birds .
“ Today ’ s opinion undermines a commonsense interpretation of the law and runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political spectrum , to de-criminalize unintentional conduct , ” Interior ’ s press secretary Ben Goldey wrote in a statement .
In his regular broadsides against renewable energy , Trump routinely claims that wind turbines cause cancer and are a “ bird graveyard.
” There is no evidence linking windmills to cancer , and coal power—which Trump champions—kills millions more birds than the some 140,000 and 500,000 that collide with wind turbines annually .

Sprinkling her ruling with the wisdom of literary lawyer Atticus Finch, an Alabama-born federal judge stopped President Trump’s Interior Department from declaring open season on practices that endanger migratory birds.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Sprinkling her ruling with the wisdom of literary lawyer Atticus Finch, an Alabama-born federal judge stopped President Trump’s Interior Department from declaring open season on practices that endanger migratory birds.
“It is not only a sin to kill a mockingbird, it is also a crime,” U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, quoting the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” and federal law, wrote in the introduction of her 31-page ruling.
“That has been the letter of the law for the past century,” it continues. “But if the Department of the Interior has its way, many mockingbirds and other migratory birds that delight people and support ecosystems throughout the country will be killed without legal consequence.”
Born in Lee County, Alabama, Judge Caproni grew up a 2.5-hour drive away from the hometown of Harper Lee, the literary pride of the Cotton State whose novel stands as an icon of fictional civil rights lawyering.
Since Barack Obama appointed her to New York’s federal bench in 2013, Caproni’s droll wit and remnants of her Southern dialect occasionally have made their mark on her cases.
The latest of this pantheon involves the Trump administration’s bid three years ago to reinterpret the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, aimed at “saving from indiscriminate slaughter” migratory birds in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
Ratified by Congress more than a century ago, the treaty banning hunting, taking or killing migratory birds — or even attempting to do so — received a stealthy reinterpretation by the Interior Department’s Solicitor Daniel Jorjani in late 2017.
A former Koch Industries employee, Jorjani wrote a decision permitting “incidental” killings, an allowance that quickly disarmed punishment for bird deaths and devastated certain nesting areas.
The Natural Resources Defense Council, which led a coalition of environmental groups and states opposing the policy, applauded Caproni’s ruling.
“This decision confirms that Interior’s utter failure to uphold the conservation mandate of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service simply cannot stand up in a court of law,” the NRDC’s senior attorney Katie Umekubo wrote in a statement. “The MBTA protects millions of birds and the Trump administration’s reckless efforts to rollback bird protections to benefit polluters don’t fool anyone.”
Judge Caproni blocked the Trump administration’s revision of the treaty as a violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.
“Even if Congress did not foresee that modern industrial activity would one day threaten protected migratory bird populations, that does not justify disregarding the statute’s unambiguous language,” she wrote.
Since the change in late 2017, environmental groups have reported that the treaty’s enforcement has stalled across the nation.
That has meant a lack of liability to the people and entities that allowed snowy owls to be electrocuted by uninsulated power lines in Delaware, Maryland, Tennessee and North Dakota; the avian life drowned by oil spills in Massachusetts, Idaho and Washington; and dove chicks thrown into a tree shredder by landscapers in San Diego, the NRDC says.
The Interior Department has let companies skate on this conduct if shown to be incidental, but Caproni asked the government whether one can target and kill a bird without that intent.
“Surely yes,” she wrote, answering her own question, “a child throwing rocks at birds in a pond to see them fly does just that when one of those rocks strikes and kills a bird.”
That was the lesson Atticus Finch tried to impart upon his children in a passage of the novel that Judge Caproni quoted early in her ruling.
“Mockingbirds don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy,” the novel’s passage, quoted in a footnote of the ruling, observes. “They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
The Interior Department insisted that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, its subagency, remains committed to preserving the birds.
“Today’s opinion undermines a commonsense interpretation of the law and runs contrary to recent efforts, shared across the political spectrum, to de-criminalize unintentional conduct,” Interior’s press secretary Ben Goldey wrote in a statement.
In his regular broadsides against renewable energy, Trump routinely claims that wind turbines cause cancer and are a "bird graveyard." There is no evidence linking windmills to cancer, and coal power — which Trump champions — kills millions more birds than the some 140,000 and 500,000 that collide with wind turbines annually.


Demo Reel

LOS ANGELES — A federal court in California ruled in favor of actress Jessica Haid on copyright claims relating to @ @ @ @ @ the movie “ Nowhereland ” on her demo reel without permission from the director .
@ @ @ @ @ , only uses a limited portion of the film and does not interfere with the @ @ @ @ @


Higher Education

NEW YORK — A federal court in New York denied City University of New York faculty and staff members ’ @ @ @ @ @ to reinstate 2,800 adjuncts whose appointments were not renewed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .


Emergency Funds

TRENTON , N.J. — New Jersey ’ s Covid-19 Emergency Bond Act is constitutional , a state ’ s supreme @ @ @ @ @ authorizes the state to borrow up to $ 9.9 billion to make up for the @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .


Absentee Voting

NASHVILLE — A federal court in Tennessee denied a motion to enjoin the state from enforcing an election law provision @ @ @ @ @ distributing absentee ballot-related forms .


courthousenews--2020-08-12--LA County May Be Flattening the Covid Curve, But the End Is a Long Way Off

( CN ) — Los Angeles County has plodded into August with some progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus , but health officials say the data shows the county of 10 million residents is right back where it was in May .
LA County reported 2,428 new confirmed infections Wednesday , though nearly 700 of those were carryover from a backlog in the state ’ s reporting according to LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer .
In total , 58 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours bringing the death toll to 5,109 .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus .
Most infections in the last few months are being spread by younger adults aged 18 to 49 .
That population saw an explosive growth in positive cases in mid-June , said health officials .
And while hospitalizations are trending down — as are deaths among elderly people — outbreaks continue to occur .
LA County managed to bend the curve on the spread of infections , but because the virus has outlived the summer break health officials say in-person classes at universities and colleges must be delayed and limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people living on campuses .
When asked to take an educated guess on when the rate of spread could slow to the point where LA County could meet the threshold to resume in-person classes , Ferrer said she doesn ’ t have a crystal ball .
“ I would be hopeful if we work really hard and we get closer to October and the rate has really come down , ” she said , and again touted the importance of physical distancing , infection control and face masks .
“ The first thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new virus in this county we ’ ve now twice figured out how to slow the spread , ” said Ferrer .
What ’ s not helping are people throwing parties and refusing to wear masks .
“ We have example after example after example , ” said Ferrer .
“ The bars may be closed but as you ’ ve seen people have decided ‘ That doesn ’ t mean we can ’ t get together , we can ’ t have music , we can ’ t do our dancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we can ’ t sing , we ’ re going to figure that out.
’ And I say you ’ re figuring that out on the backs of other people.
” The transmission rate in LA County has slightly decreased but does not mean transmission has stopped , according to health officials .
Last week , modeling data showed 1 in 510 persons in LA County were currently infected and infectious to others .
This week ’ s data shows that has dropped to 1 in 725 .
According to the data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County have been infected with Covid-19 but many of those may not show any symptoms , according to Roger Lewis , the director of Covid-19 demand modeling with the county ’ s health services department .
Across the state , Covid-19 hospitalizations and the number of intensive care patients are down double digits compared to the end of July , leading Governor Gavin Newsom to give an optimistic pandemic briefing Wednesday .
Newsom said hospitalizations have dropped 19 % and ICU patients 16 % since July 29 .
“ An indication that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Newsom told reporters .
Of the 11,645 new positive cases , Newsom added that over half come from the 295,000 case backlog counties are currently clearing .
The backlog caused by a glitch within the state ’ s infectious disease database ultimately led the state ’ s top public health official to abruptly resign over the weekend .
Newsom expects the rest of the backlog cases to be returned by individual counties over the next couple days and the state will update its positivity rate accordingly .
California has now conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , along with 10,648 total deaths .
Technological problems aren ’ t the only things that hampered California ’ s response to the novel coronavirus .
Like other states and the nation , a lack of medical supplies during the early stages of the pandemic plagued California .
To supply millions of essential workers and the state ’ s over 400 hospitals , Newsom at taxpayers ’ expense has been forced to sign billion-dollar agreements with Chinese countries for masks at high markups .
But the meager stockpile carried a high human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new study the state could have prevented thousands of new infections and even deaths among frontline workers .
“ We conservatively estimate that at least 20,860 essential worker-related Covid-19 cases may have been avoidable if proper PPE had been available , ” states the University of California , Berkeley Labor Center study .
“ It is likely that dozens of deaths among essential workers could have been avoided with proper use of PPE had an adequate stockpile been in place prior to the pandemic start.
” The center claims the scramble for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state $ 93 million due to inflated costs and additional unemployment claims .
It found prices states are paying for a variety of items jumped dramatically compared to pre-pandemic , for example the cost per N-95 mask jumped 465 % and surgical mask 1,100 % .
Given the damage the virus has done to the state ’ s coffers and its once-robust economy , Newsom spent much of the hourlong briefing detailing the various actions the state has taken to boost the economy , such as extending tax deadlines and allowing small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales tax payments .
He also called on lawmakers to act swiftly in the final weeks of the legislative session and send him bills relating to eviction relief , foreclosure programs and expanded worker protections .
Last month , state Democrats introduced a sweeping $ 100 billion relief package they claim can be achieved without raising taxes .
Lawmakers have until the end of the month to approve new legislation , although Newsom could end up calling for a special session if they run out of time .
“ We have to roll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package across the finish line , ” Newsom said .

Los Angeles County has plodded into August with some progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, but health officials say the data shows the county of 10 million residents is right back where it was in May.
(CN) — Los Angeles County has plodded into August with some progress in slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus, but health officials say the data shows the county of 10 million residents is right back where it was in May.
LA County reported 2,428 new confirmed infections Wednesday, though nearly 700 of those were carryover from a backlog in the state’s reporting according to LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer. In total, 58 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours bringing the death toll to 5,109.
So far, 214,197 Angelenos have tested positive for the virus.
Most infections in the last few months are being spread by younger adults aged 18 to 49. That population saw an explosive growth in positive cases in mid-June, said health officials.
And while hospitalizations are trending down — as are deaths among elderly people — outbreaks continue to occur.
LA County managed to bend the curve on the spread of infections, but because the virus has outlived the summer break health officials say in-person classes at universities and colleges must be delayed and limits must be placed on the number of people living on campuses.
When asked to take an educated guess on when the rate of spread could slow to the point where LA County could meet the threshold to resume in-person classes, Ferrer said she doesn’t have a crystal ball.
"I would be hopeful if we work really hard and we get closer to October and the rate has really come down,” she said, and again touted the importance of physical distancing, infection control and face masks.
“The first thing that makes me feel hopeful is with a new virus in this county we’ve now twice figured out how to slow the spread,” said Ferrer.
What’s not helping are people throwing parties and refusing to wear masks.
“We have example after example after example,” said Ferrer. “The bars may be closed but as you’ve seen people have decided ‘That doesn’t mean we can’t get together, we can’t have music, we can’t do our dancing, we can’t be loud, we can’t sing, we’re going to figure that out.’ And I say you’re figuring that out on the backs of other people.”
The transmission rate in LA County has slightly decreased but does not mean transmission has stopped, according to health officials. Last week, modeling data showed 1 in 510 persons in LA County were currently infected and infectious to others. This week’s data shows that has dropped to 1 in 725.
According to the data, 1 in 8 persons in LA County have been infected with Covid-19 but many of those may not show any symptoms, according to Roger Lewis, the director of Covid-19 demand modeling with the county’s health services department.
Across the state, Covid-19 hospitalizations and the number of intensive care patients are down double digits compared to the end of July, leading Governor Gavin Newsom to give an optimistic pandemic briefing Wednesday.
Newsom said hospitalizations have dropped 19% and ICU patients 16% since July 29.
“An indication that we are turning the corner on this pandemic,” Newsom told reporters.
Of the 11,645 new positive cases, Newsom added that over half come from the 295,000 case backlog counties are currently clearing.
The backlog caused by a glitch within the state’s infectious disease database ultimately led the state’s top public health official to abruptly resign over the weekend. Newsom expects the rest of the backlog cases to be returned by individual counties over the next couple days and the state will update its positivity rate accordingly.
California has now conducted over 9.3 million tests and confirmed 586,000 cases, along with 10,648 total deaths.
Technological problems aren’t the only things that hampered California’s response to the novel coronavirus. Like other states and the nation, a lack of medical supplies during the early stages of the pandemic plagued California. To supply millions of essential workers and the state’s over 400 hospitals, Newsom at taxpayers’ expense has been forced to sign billion-dollar agreements with Chinese countries for masks at high markups.
But the meager stockpile carried a high human toll as well, as according to a new study the state could have prevented thousands of new infections and even deaths among frontline workers.
“We conservatively estimate that at least 20,860 essential worker-related Covid-19 cases may have been avoidable if proper PPE had been available,” states the University of California, Berkeley Labor Center study. “It is likely that dozens of deaths among essential workers could have been avoided with proper use of PPE had an adequate stockpile been in place prior to the pandemic start.”
The center claims the scramble for N-95 masks and gloves ultimately cost the state $93 million due to inflated costs and additional unemployment claims. It found prices states are paying for a variety of items jumped dramatically compared to pre-pandemic, for example the cost per N-95 mask jumped 465% and surgical mask 1,100%.
Given the damage the virus has done to the state’s coffers and its once-robust economy, Newsom spent much of the hourlong briefing detailing the various actions the state has taken to boost the economy, such as extending tax deadlines and allowing small businesses to defer up to $50,000 in sales tax payments. He also called on lawmakers to act swiftly in the final weeks of the legislative session and send him bills relating to eviction relief, foreclosure programs and expanded worker protections.
Last month, state Democrats introduced a sweeping $100 billion relief package they claim can be achieved without raising taxes. Lawmakers have until the end of the month to approve new legislation, although Newsom could end up calling for a special session if they run out of time.
“We have to roll up our sleeves now and get this package across the finish line,” Newsom said.


courthousenews--2020-08-12--Biden and Harris Make First Appearance as Running Mates

( CN ) — An effusive Joe Biden made his first appearance with his running mate Kamala Harris at Dupont High School in Wilmington , Delaware , on Wednesday , ramping up the 2020 presidential campaign season .
The presumptive Democratic nominee and his pick for vice president both made a case for why they should supplant President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as the heads of the executive branch .
“ We don ’ t have to accept the failed government of Donald Trump and Mike Pence , and in 83 days we will have a chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris said .
Harris is the first Black and first Asian-American woman to ever appear on a major-party presidential ticket , a fact Democrats say is crucial as the United States continues to grapple with issues surrounding racial equity .
“ I want to recognize the heroic and ambitious women who came before me , whose resilience and determination make my presence today here possible , ” she said .
Biden said Harris was a perfect person to join him on the Democratic ticket as the presidential election looms .
“ Kamala is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced and she ’ s a proven fighter for the backbone of this country , the middle class , ” Biden said .
“ She ’ s ready for the job from day one.
” Biden noted Wednesday was the third anniversary of the 2017 clash between white supremacists peaceful protesters in Charlottesville , Virginia .
He said he decided that day to run for president , after Trump said those on both sides of the issue were “ very fine people.
” “ It was a wakeup call for the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s why I decided to run.
” It was no mistake that Biden invoked the anniversary of a sitting U.S. president calling avowed white supremacists “ fine people ” as he introduced the first black woman to appear on a presidential ticket .
Biden used the event to lay out a case against Trump too , saying the administration ’ s mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic is responsible for the economic difficulties the country continues to experience .
Harris also hit out at Trump burnishing her bona fides as a running mate who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early and often on the campaign trail .
“ This is a moment of real consequence , ” Harris said .
“ The economy , our health , our children and the kind of county we want to live in … it ’ s all on the line.
” The appearance marked the first live event for the Democratic Party in five months since the coronavirus first prompted several states to shut down and forced Biden to retreat to his home in Delaware where he has preferred remote interviews to in-person events traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pool report , a couple hundred supporters gathered outside the high school gymnasium , waving signs including one that said “ Representation matters.
” The decision to select Harris has been widely hailed in Democratic circles , as the 55-year-old junior Senator from California brings youth and diversity to the ticket that offsets Biden ’ s reputation as a staid standard-bearer for the Democratic establishment .
Harris is firmly entrenched in the moderate wing of the party , which may risk alienating the Bernie Sanders acolytes in the progressive wing .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-empt the Trump campaign from trying to paint Biden and Harris as handmaidens to a revolutionary brand of socialism .
Both have emphasized the need for American politics to restore a sense of decency , with Harris mentioning Charlottesville as a turning point for Biden and for the country .

An effusive Joe Biden made his first appearance with his running mate Kamala Harris at Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, ramping up the 2020 presidential campaign season.
(CN) — An effusive Joe Biden made his first appearance with his running mate Kamala Harris at Dupont High School in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, ramping up the 2020 presidential campaign season.
The presumptive Democratic nominee and his pick for vice president both made a case for why they should supplant President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence as the heads of the executive branch.
“We don’t have to accept the failed government of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, and in 83 days we will have a chance to choose a better future,” Harris said.
Harris is the first Black and first Asian-American woman to ever appear on a major-party presidential ticket, a fact Democrats say is crucial as the United States continues to grapple with issues surrounding racial equity.
“I want to recognize the heroic and ambitious women who came before me, whose resilience and determination make my presence today here possible,” she said.
Biden said Harris was a perfect person to join him on the Democratic ticket as the presidential election looms.
“Kamala is smart, tough, she’s experienced and she’s a proven fighter for the backbone of this country, the middle class,” Biden said. “She’s ready for the job from day one.”
Biden noted Wednesday was the third anniversary of the 2017 clash between white supremacists peaceful protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia. He said he decided that day to run for president, after Trump said those on both sides of the issue were “very fine people.”
“It was a wakeup call for the country,” Biden said. “That’s why I decided to run.”
It was no mistake that Biden invoked the anniversary of a sitting U.S. president calling avowed white supremacists “fine people” as he introduced the first black woman to appear on a presidential ticket.
Biden used the event to lay out a case against Trump too, saying the administration’s mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic is responsible for the economic difficulties the country continues to experience.
Harris also hit out at Trump burnishing her bona fides as a running mate who can press the case against the incumbent early and often on the campaign trail.
“This is a moment of real consequence,” Harris said. “The economy, our health, our children and the kind of county we want to live in ... it’s all on the line.”
The appearance marked the first live event for the Democratic Party in five months since the coronavirus first prompted several states to shut down and forced Biden to retreat to his home in Delaware where he has preferred remote interviews to in-person events traditional to a campaign.
According to the pool report, a couple hundred supporters gathered outside the high school gymnasium, waving signs including one that said “Representation matters.”
The decision to select Harris has been widely hailed in Democratic circles, as the 55-year-old junior Senator from California brings youth and diversity to the ticket that offsets Biden’s reputation as a staid standard-bearer for the Democratic establishment.
Harris is firmly entrenched in the moderate wing of the party, which may risk alienating the Bernie Sanders acolytes in the progressive wing. However, her political orientation will also serve to pre-empt the Trump campaign from trying to paint Biden and Harris as handmaidens to a revolutionary brand of socialism.
Both have emphasized the need for American politics to restore a sense of decency, with Harris mentioning Charlottesville as a turning point for Biden and for the country.


courthousenews--2020-08-13--Evacuations Ordered as Lake Fire Spreads in Angeles National Forest

( CN ) — An explosive forest fire in Los Angeles County grew to over 10,000 acres in just a few hours on Wednesday , forcing residents to flee from their homes .
The Lake Fire burning in the Lake Hughes area of the Angeles National Forest was first reported as a brush fire around 3:30 pm .
Within minutes the fire grew to 100 acres , according to Angeles Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia .
Within another few hours , the blaze grew to several thousand acres .
“ The gusty winds , low humidities , and hot temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather conditions to the mountains and Antelope Valley , ” according to the Angeles National Forest service in an afternoon press release .
Garcia described the situation as “ pretty explosive fire behavior ” at an evening briefing .
The fire is early in the typical fire season and was not aided by the strong Santa Ana Winds that pass through the region .
But by Wednesday evening , the winds picked up and spread the fire , causing what appeared to be a fire tornado .
Fire officials expect the fire to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evacuated in the Lake Hughes community in northwest LA County .
Hundreds of structures , including homes , are threatened .
There have been no reported injuries but multiple reports have said some homes were burning in Lake Hughes .
Captain Rod Schaffer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’ s Department said due to the ongoing Covid-19 protocols , anyone forced to leave their home can not stay in any temporary shelters usually set up by the Red Cross .
The Red Cross said residents will have to stay in their cars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearby relatives or can ’ t find a hotel .
Firefighters from multiple fire agencies across southern California responded to the Lake Fire , which is 0 % contained and remains erratic .
In total , nine helicopters are surveying the fire , six air tankers are in the air , 500 firefighters are on the ground and more are on the way , Garcia said .
The large smoke plume could be seen from multiple areas of LA County , including the Venice Beach neighborhood and Pasadena about 60 miles away .

An explosive forest fire in Los Angeles County that grew to over 10,000 acres in just a few hours on Wednesday saw its growth slow overnight thanks to cloud cover and monsoonal moisture blanketing the southland.
(CN) — An explosive forest fire in Los Angeles County that grew to over 10,000 acres in just a few hours on Wednesday saw its growth slow overnight thanks to cloud cover and monsoonal moisture blanketing the southland.
By Thursday morning, the Lake Fire had grown to 10,500 acres and forced the evacuation of some residents. And while the weather is helping firefighters now, a heatwave is on the horizon that will bring triple-digit temperatures and low humidity for the weekend and into next week.
The blaze, burning in the Lake Hughes area of the Angeles National Forest was first reported as a brush fire around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Within minutes the fire grew to 100 acres, according to Angeles Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia. The blaze exploded to several thousand acres within hours.
Over 5,000 structures are threatened by the fire and at least three have been destroyed as of Thursday morning, but it’s not clear if any were homes. The fire is burning through steep terrain and creating spot fires that expand the blaze through the area, according to fire officials. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The fire continues to threaten the communities of Lake Hughes, Leona Valley, Lake Elizabeth, Pine Canyon, Quail Lake, Three Points, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It is burning through an area of the forest that has not seen a fire in the last century.
Garcia described the situation as “pretty explosive fire behavior” at a Wednesday evening briefing.
The fire is early in the typical fire season and was not aided by the strong Santa Ana Winds that rake the region in the autumn months. But by Wednesday evening, the winds picked up and spread the fire, causing what appeared to be a fire tornado. Winds of up to 25 miles an hour also kicked up in the area Thursday afternoon.
“We did have firefighters actively fighting the fires all night,” said Osby. “We can say that many structures were saved because of the actions of the firefighters last night.”
Captain Rod Schaffer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said due to the ongoing Covid-19 protocols, anyone forced to leave their home cannot stay in temporary shelters usually set up by the Red Cross. The Red Cross said residents will have to stay in their cars overnight if they do not have any nearby relatives or can’t find a hotel.
A firefighters battles the Lake Fire near Lake Hughes in the Angeles National Forest on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, north of Los Angeles , Calif. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Firefighters from multiple fire agencies across southern California responded to the Lake Fire, which is 0% contained and remains erratic.
In total, 173 fire engines, 13 hand crews, 4 bulldozers, 5 water tankers and 3 helicopters are actively battling the fire. And 1,059 firefighters are involved in those efforts according to the LA County Fire Department.
The large smoke plume could be seen from multiple areas of LA County, including the Venice Beach neighborhood and Pasadena about 60 miles away.
As is often the case during fire seasons that have grown in duration over the last several decades, the Lake Fire is burning up federally owned land.
Nearly half of California’s 100 million acres are managed by the federal government, including the Angeles National Forest — one of the most fire-prone areas in the country.
California politicians have long contended the federal government should be more proactive in managing forests but have largely been unsuccessful in pushing President Donald Trump and Congress in recent years to boost the U.S. Forest Service’s fire prevention budget.
But the sides made progress Thursday as they announced a new partnership intended to reduce fuels and improve the health of millions of acres of forestland.
Under the agreement, the state and forest service plan to treat at least 1 million acres per year, develop a 20-year prevention game plan, implement new “ecologically sound” tactics including more prescribed burns, and find green strategies to recycle timber and waste.
“Wildfires don’t stop at jurisdictional boundaries,” said Governor Gavin Newsom in a statement. “As we respond to wildfires in real-time this summer, improving coordination between the major stewards of California’s forested land will help us protect communities and restore forest health across California.”
To the east in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the Apple Fire has so far burned 33,400 acres since it began 12 days ago. Steep rugged terrain means firefighters aren't able to physically access pockets of the fire, so helicopters are doing water drops to suppress the flames.
Evacuation orders in the area have been lifted, but the San Gorgonio Wilderness remains closed.


Montana Ethics

HELENA , Mont .
— The Montana Supreme Court ruled that the state ’ s political practices agency was justified @ @ @ @ @ that claimed the agency ’ s deputy made statements to a radio station that constituted @ @ @ @ @ court found that the statements could reasonably be interpreted as a defense of a state @ @