courthousenews--2020-07-08--Houston Calls Off Texas GOP Convention Amid Virus Surge

Barring any court intervention , the Texas Republican Party ’ s convention will be online , like the one state Democrats held last month .
( CN ) — The Texas Republican Party said Wednesday it is weighing its legal options after Houston officials canceled the party ’ s biennial convention due to concerns about the coronavirus .
Thousands of Texas Republicans were planning to attend the convention , which was set for July 16 to July 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston .
The party ’ s executive committee voted 40-20 last week to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority downplaying the concerns of health officials , Democrats and dissenting party voters who said it was not a good idea as Houston struggles to tamp down a surge in coronavirus cases .
Harris County , whose seat is Houston , set a record high 997 new Covid-19 cases on July 1 and the number of people hospitalized with the virus in the Texas Medical Center , a southeast Houston district with 21 hospitals and numerous medical research institutions , peaked at 446 on Sunday .
State Republican Chair James Dickey said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous precautions for the biennial convention , including taking the temperature of all attendees , giving them face masks , deep cleaning after every meeting and reconfiguring floor plans to make room for social distancing .
The convention center is owned by the city and operated by the nonprofit Houston First Corp. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday he had instructed Houston First to exercise its contractual right to cancel the convention .
The move marked an about-face for Turner , who last week rejected calls to cancel the event , saying he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizers “ to make wise decisions.
” He also reportedly nixed his authority to cancel the convention on June 30 by doing away an executive order that had barred events with more than 50 people in city-owned buildings .
Dickey said the mayor ’ s move was hypocritical because 60,000 people gathered in downtown Houston on June 2 in a rally and protest over the police killing of Houston native George Floyd .
“ After allowing tens of thousands of protestors to peaceably assemble in the same city , in the same area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and measures we have taken , he is seeking to deny a political party ’ s critical electoral function that should be equally protected under the constitution , ” Dickey said in a statement .
“ It is one thing to be talking about an indoor convention where people are in close proximity with each other for a substantial amount of time rather than walking outside in a protest .
When people are marching and protesting , no one is making lunch/dinner , cleaning up behind them , ” Turner wrote .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the convention last week , the Texas Medical Association withdrew as a sponsor , citing the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the Houston area .
According to data provided by the Texas Medical Center , there were 615 Covid-19 patients in ICU beds in the center ’ s hospitals as of Tuesday .
But its hospitals are far from being overwhelmed with people sickened by the virus like New York City was in April .
Texas did exceed 10,000 new confirmed cases Tuesday for the first time .
Dickey indicated the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get court approval for the convention .
“ Our legal team is assessing the ability of the city to act at this time in this manner and weighing our legal options .
We are prepared to take all necessary steps to proceed in the peaceable exercise of our constitutionally protected rights , ” he said .
The Texas Democratic Party said Mayor Turner had made a sensible decision and took the opportunity for a potshot at Republican Governor Greg Abbott , who has been criticized by both Democrats and his own party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain spread of the virus .
“ Texas is currently experiencing an uncontrolled surge in coronavirus cases due to the utter failure of Republican leadership at the federal and state levels .
Going through with this in-person convention would have been catastrophic and led to even more cases and deaths , ” Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman said in a statement .
Barring any court intervention , the Texas Republican Party ’ s convention will be online , and their Democratic counterparts have shown that approach has its advantages .
Texas Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.5 million in contributions last month during their seven-day virtual convention .

The Texas Republican Party said Wednesday it is weighing its legal options after Houston officials canceled the party’s biennial convention due to concerns about the coronavirus.
(CN) — The Texas Republican Party said Wednesday it is weighing its legal options after Houston officials canceled the party’s biennial convention due to concerns about the coronavirus.
Thousands of Texas Republicans were planning to attend the convention, which was set for July 16 to July 18 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
The party’s executive committee voted 40-20 last week to move forward with the in-person convention, with the majority downplaying the concerns of health officials, Democrats and dissenting party voters who said it was not a good idea as Houston struggles to tamp down a surge in coronavirus cases.
Harris County, whose seat is Houston, set a record high 997 new Covid-19 cases on July 1 and the number of people hospitalized with the virus in the Texas Medical Center, a southeast Houston district with 21 hospitals and numerous medical research institutions, peaked at 446 on Sunday.
A graph of Covid-19 cases in the nine-county Houston region as of July 7. (Image via Texas Medical Center)
State Republican Chair James Dickey said Wednesday the party had planned to take numerous precautions for the biennial convention, including taking the temperature of all attendees, giving them face masks, deep cleaning after every meeting and reconfiguring floor plans to make room for social distancing.
The convention center is owned by the city and operated by the nonprofit Houston First Corp.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Wednesday he had instructed Houston First to exercise its contractual right to cancel the convention.
The move marked an about-face for Turner, who last week rejected calls to cancel the event, saying he would leave it up to the convention organizers “to make wise decisions.”
He also reportedly nixed his authority to cancel the convention on June 30 by doing away an executive order that had barred events with more than 50 people in city-owned buildings.
Dickey said the mayor’s move was hypocritical because 60,000 people gathered in downtown Houston on June 2 in a rally and protest over the police killing of Houston native George Floyd.
“After allowing tens of thousands of protestors to peaceably assemble in the same city, in the same area, without any of the safety precautions and measures we have taken, he is seeking to deny a political party’s critical electoral function that should be equally protected under the constitution,” Dickey said in a statement.
Turner shot back on Twitter.
“It is one thing to be talking about an indoor convention where people are in close proximity with each other for a substantial amount of time rather than walking outside in a protest. When people are marching and protesting, no one is making lunch/dinner, cleaning up behind them,” Turner wrote.
After the party voted to go ahead with the convention last week, the Texas Medical Association withdrew as a sponsor, citing the recent spike in Covid-19 cases in the Houston area.
According to data provided by the Texas Medical Center, there were 615 Covid-19 patients in ICU beds in the center’s hospitals as of Tuesday. But its hospitals are far from being overwhelmed with people sickened by the virus like New York City was in April.
Texas did exceed 10,000 new confirmed cases Tuesday for the first time.
Dickey indicated the party is considering filing a lawsuit to try to get court approval for the convention.
“Our legal team is assessing the ability of the city to act at this time in this manner and weighing our legal options. We are prepared to take all necessary steps to proceed in the peaceable exercise of our constitutionally protected rights,” he said.
The Texas Democratic Party said Mayor Turner had made a sensible decision and took the opportunity for a potshot at Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has been criticized by both Democrats and his own party for seesawing on executive orders meant to contain spread of the virus.
“Texas is currently experiencing an uncontrolled surge in coronavirus cases due to the utter failure of Republican leadership at the federal and state levels. Going through with this in-person convention would have been catastrophic and led to even more cases and deaths,” Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman said in a statement.
Barring any court intervention, the Texas Republican Party’s convention will be online, and their Democratic counterparts have shown that approach has its advantages.
Texas Democrats received a record of more than $1.5 million in contributions last month during their seven-day virtual convention.


courthousenews--2020-07-08--California Sees One-Day Record for Covid Infections

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( CN ) — The rejuvenated coronavirus continued its spread through California as the state reported Wednesday a record single-day increase of nearly 11,700 new cases and added three counties to its budding pandemic watchlist .
Governor Gavin Newsom said the startling number of new infections was inflated by a backlog of tests taken in Los Angeles County from the holiday weekend and noted the seven-day new case average is 8,100 .
Despite spiking hospitalizations statewide , Newsom remained confident the state ’ s over 400 hospitals are equipped to handle a continued increase in Covid-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and variety of backup facilities .
“ We ’ re still in the process of securing more masks but we ’ ve never been better positioned , ” Newsom said .
For much of his hour-long pandemic briefing , Newsom rattled off statistics and efforts the state has made over the last four months to bolster its coronavirus response .
According to Newsom , the state has already delivered 280 million surgical and N-95 masks to hospitals , schools and various industries and has 270 million left .
California , which has spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globe for new mask supplies , is in such good position it ’ s sharing inventory with four other states , Newsom claimed .
During the early stages of the pandemic , the state scrambled to reopen shuttered hospitals and retrofit vacant buildings like a 17,000-seat arena in Sacramento to prepare for an expected wave of sick patients .
While most of the temporary hospital facilities secured in March and April have gone unused , Newsom said the alternative sites are “ warm ” and available if needed .
There are currently 6,100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 % from two weeks ago — accounting for 8 % of the state ’ s total bed capacity .
Meanwhile Covid-19 patients in intensive care units has risen correspondingly , jumping to 1,753 for a two-week increase of 34 % .
To relieve overworked doctors and nurses , Newsom announced an agreement with Vice President Mike Pence for the federal government to send 190 medical workers to the Golden State .
Along with hospitalizations , the 14-day average of new tests returning positive has risen to 7.1 % , up from 5.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Los Angeles , Orange and Riverside have been mainstays on the state ’ s coronavirus watchlist , but northern counties Yolo , San Benito and Napa were added Wednesday , bringing the total to 26 .
The counties on the list must undergo advanced monitoring and develop strategies with the California Department of Public Health , and if they remain on the list for three consecutive days they are required to shut down bars and indoor dining .
Counties land on the list based on a variety of indicators , chiefly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yolo officials said the county has exceeded a benchmark of 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period and drove home the severity of the situation by warning of a dire shortage of ICU beds .
“ As of today , ‘ Yolo County has 0 % of staffed ICU beds available ’ , ” tweeted Christopher Cabaldon , mayor of West Sacramento .
“ This is not a drill.
” California ’ s death toll has now eclipsed the 6,500 mark , sixth most of any state according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the University of Washington predicts the total could surpass 16,800 by November , but the estimate drops significantly to 11,900 with widespread mask usage among the state ’ s 40 million residents .
During a virtual briefing in which he took just six questions from reporters , Newsom said the state is working tirelessly to provide California ’ s over 1,000 school districts with reopening guidance as well as masks and cleaning supplies .
Asked about President Donald Trump ’ s criticism of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control ’ s recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his threat to withhold funding for schools that don ’ t physically open — Newsom said he wasn ’ t “ worried about the latest tweets.
” “ What we need to address is safely reopening schools and we need to make that a foundational principle .
That to me is not negotiable , ” said the Democratic governor .
There was no clear answer Wednesday on when students will return back to the classroom in Los Angeles County as infections and hospitalizations from Covid-19 continue to climb .
LA County ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent weeks and the data points to an increase in community spread .
So far , 123,000 Angelenos have been infected with the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 .
County health officials say they have been working with local school districts for weeks to create the necessary guidelines to reopen schools , which have been closed since March .
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said her office is working with school officials to draft protocols that can give more insight into when students can return to their schools as opposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A portion of a conversation Ferrer had with school officials was leaked to The Los Angeles Times , which reported Ferrer said it would be irresponsible for school administrators to not have a backup plan .
Ferrer doubled down on that during her briefing Wednesday .
“ With the uncertainty everyone sort of needs to have a plan B around the reopening , ” she told reporters .
“ The plan is if there was way too much community transmission there may have to be a much longer period of time for virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools could expect a more definitive answer by the end of July if LA County sees its infection rate drop and stabilize , she said .
LA County has conducted over 1.2 million tests with a 9 % positive return rate .
In the last seven days that rate has ticked up to 10.4 % , according to health officials .
In early June , the county averaged around 1,300 cases , but Ferrer said the most recent data trends show a daily average of 2,400 cases .
Over 2,000 patients were hospitalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ICUs .
Seventeen percent of the ICU patients are on ventilators according to health officials .
On Wednesday , 65 Angelenos died , bringing the county ’ s death toll to 3,642 .
Health officials also said there is a limit to who should be tested and supply can not meet the demand .
“ It is really not feasible or realistic for testing to be done — given with the status of laboratory capacity in the United States — on a scale or scope that could allow us to identify everyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said LA County Health Services director Christina Ghaly .
“ This is not a sustainable approach.
” But Ghaly added efforts are being made to ramp up testing .

The rejuvenated coronavirus continued its spread through California as the state reported Wednesday a record single-day increase of nearly 11,700 new cases and added three counties to its budding pandemic watchlist.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — The rejuvenated coronavirus continued its spread through California as the state reported Wednesday a record single-day increase of nearly 11,700 new cases and added three counties to its budding pandemic watchlist.
Governor Gavin Newsom said the startling number of new infections was inflated by a backlog of tests taken in Los Angeles County from the holiday weekend and noted the seven-day new case average is 8,100. Despite spiking hospitalizations statewide, Newsom remained confident the state’s over 400 hospitals are equipped to handle a continued increase in Covid-19 patients thanks to a healthy stockpile of supplies and variety of backup facilities.
“We’re still in the process of securing more masks but we’ve never been better positioned,” Newsom said.
For much of his hour-long pandemic briefing, Newsom rattled off statistics and efforts the state has made over the last four months to bolster its coronavirus response.
According to Newsom, the state has already delivered 280 million surgical and N-95 masks to hospitals, schools and various industries and has 270 million left. California, which has spent more than a billion dollars scouring the globe for new mask supplies, is in such good position it’s sharing inventory with four other states, Newsom claimed.
During the early stages of the pandemic, the state scrambled to reopen shuttered hospitals and retrofit vacant buildings like a 17,000-seat arena in Sacramento to prepare for an expected wave of sick patients. While most of the temporary hospital facilities secured in March and April have gone unused, Newsom said the alternative sites are “warm” and available if needed.
There are currently 6,100 people hospitalized with the virus — up 44% from two weeks ago — accounting for 8% of the state’s total bed capacity. Meanwhile Covid-19 patients in intensive care units has risen correspondingly, jumping to 1,753 for a two-week increase of 34%.
To relieve overworked doctors and nurses, Newsom announced an agreement with Vice President Mike Pence for the federal government to send 190 medical workers to the Golden State.
Along with hospitalizations, the 14-day average of new tests returning positive has risen to 7.1%, up from 5.1% on June 24.
Southern counties like Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside have been mainstays on the state’s coronavirus watchlist, but northern counties Yolo, San Benito and Napa were added Wednesday, bringing the total to 26.
The counties on the list must undergo advanced monitoring and develop strategies with the California Department of Public Health, and if they remain on the list for three consecutive days they are required to shut down bars and indoor dining. Counties land on the list based on a variety of indicators, chiefly a spike in transmissions and dwindling hospital capacity.
Yolo officials said the county has exceeded a benchmark of 100 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period and drove home the severity of the situation by warning of a dire shortage of ICU beds.
“As of today, ‘Yolo County has 0% of staffed ICU beds available,’” tweeted Christopher Cabaldon, mayor of West Sacramento. “This is not a drill.”
California’s death toll has now eclipsed the 6,500 mark, sixth most of any state according to Johns Hopkins University. An updated projection by the University of Washington predicts the total could surpass 16,800 by November, but the estimate drops significantly to 11,900 with widespread mask usage among the state’s 40 million residents.
During a virtual briefing in which he took just six questions from reporters, Newsom said the state is working tirelessly to provide California’s over 1,000 school districts with reopening guidance as well as masks and cleaning supplies.
Asked about President Donald Trump’s criticism of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s recently released playbook for school reopenings and — and his threat to withhold funding for schools that don’t physically open — Newsom said he wasn’t “worried about the latest tweets.”
“What we need to address is safely reopening schools and we need to make that a foundational principle. That to me is not negotiable,” said the Democratic governor.
There was no clear answer Wednesday on when students will return back to the classroom in Los Angeles County as infections and hospitalizations from Covid-19 continue to climb.
LA County’s rate of infections has ticked up in recent weeks and the data points to an increase in community spread. So far, 123,000 Angelenos have been infected with the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.
County health officials say they have been working with local school districts for weeks to create the necessary guidelines to reopen schools, which have been closed since March. LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said her office is working with school officials to draft protocols that can give more insight into when students can return to their schools as opposed to distance learning in virtual classrooms.
A portion of a conversation Ferrer had with school officials was leaked to The Los Angeles Times, which reported Ferrer said it would be irresponsible for school administrators to not have a backup plan. Ferrer doubled down on that during her briefing Wednesday.
“With the uncertainty everyone sort of needs to have a plan B around the reopening,” she told reporters. “The plan is if there was way too much community transmission there may have to be a much longer period of time for virtual learning.”
Parents and students at K-12 schools could expect a more definitive answer by the end of July if LA County sees its infection rate drop and stabilize, she said.
LA County has conducted over 1.2 million tests with a 9% positive return rate. In the last seven days that rate has ticked up to 10.4%, according to health officials. In early June, the county averaged around 1,300 cases, but Ferrer said the most recent data trends show a daily average of 2,400 cases.
Over 2,000 patients were hospitalized on Wednesday, with 26% in ICUs. Seventeen percent of the ICU patients are on ventilators according to health officials.
On Wednesday, 65 Angelenos died, bringing the county’s death toll to 3,642.
Health officials also said there is a limit to who should be tested and supply cannot meet the demand.
“It is really not feasible or realistic for testing to be done — given with the status of laboratory capacity in the United States — on a scale or scope that could allow us to identify everyone who has the virus every day,” said LA County Health Services director Christina Ghaly. “This is not a sustainable approach.”
But Ghaly added efforts are being made to ramp up testing.


courthousenews--2020-07-08--Come September, NYC Students Will Return to Classrooms in Shifts

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — New York City ’ s 1.1 million public school students will not return to their classrooms full-time in September , Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday , unveiling plans for a “ blended learning ” model that balances online teaching with in-person classes two or three days a week .
With some 1,800 locations , New York City schools have been closed since March 16 due to the novel coronavirus .
As remote online education abruptly replaced in-person classes , de Blasio made thousands of iPads , laptops and tablets available to students over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is worsening in other parts of the country , however , some families and government officials want lockdown measures loosened .
The Democratic de Blasio announced his plan to reopen public schools for the 2020-21 school year in a virtual briefing this morning .
“ When we know that health and safety means social distancing , therefore we have to use a lot more space for fewer kids , it makes very clear , the approach we will use is blended learning , ” de Blasio said , speaking from Manhattan .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in the week , you ’ re learning in person in the classroom ; at other points in a week , you ’ re learning remotely , ” the mayor added .
The mayor presented two proposed plans for the school year .
In the first , schools that have the capacity for 50 % of their students to be in the building at any given time with split their population into two even groups that alternate between two days of remote learning each week and two days of classes in-person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The second model assumes the schools can accommodate only 33 % of their student population at a given time .
Here , there would be one consistent day of the week the student will be in-person , with Monday and Tuesday rotating among groups over a three-week cycle .
Families can opt for fully remote education at any time and will be allowed to transition back into in-person instruction on a quarterly basis , de Blasio said .
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said the optimum class size @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most physical spaces .
At a separate briefing in Albany on Wednesday , Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that state will decide whether schools will reopen in the fall during the first week of August .
Cuomo said the state is consulting with stakeholders on guidance , which will be finalized on July 13 .
The governor noted all of the state ’ s 700 school districts including those in New York City face a July 31 deadline to submit a reopening plan for the state ’ s approval .
Cuomo told reporters Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether and how any school districts reopen .
“ Our institutional systemic drop dead date is the first week in August , so we will make that decision the first week in August , ” Cuomo said .
Cuomo also rebutted President Donald Trump ’ s recent pushes to reopen schools in September .
“ School reopenings are a state decision .
Period , ” Cuomo said during the briefing .
“ That is the law , and that is the way we ’ re going to proceed .
It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States.
” The United Federation of Teachers , a union that represents most public school teachers in New York City , said in tweet Wednesday : “ Re-opening our schools will be a complex and difficult process , but we are not going to be careless with our students , their families , and our educators.
” Speaking by phone on Wednesday , UFT president Michael Mulgrew said today ’ s announcements signaled that the various parties are headed in the right direction of having a thorough plan to safely reopen New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is just step one , we still have a long way to go , that plan is nowhere near finalized , ” Mulgrew said .
“ I think we ’ re all moving toward the same place .
As long as everyone ’ s following the medical and the professional guidelines and not political guidelines , we ’ re going to be fine.
” New York State United Teachers United Teachers , a statewide union with more than 600,000 members , said Wednesday that federal and state funding will be necessary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person education in the state .
“ Health and safety of students , families , educators and other school staff , and equitable access to a high-quality education must be the top priorities in reopening schools .
The federal government ’ s demands that schools reopen without concern for health , safety and equity are simply out of touch , ” New York State United Teachers president Andy Pallotta said a statement .
“ Thankfully here in New York , we know the governor , the Regents and fellow education stakeholders are taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joined by first lady Melania Trump , Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials , President Trump pushed for the reopening of K-12 schools and universities during a roundtable Tuesday at the White House , claiming that “ the moms want it , the dads want it.
” “ We want to get them open quickly , beautifully in the fall , ” Trump said .
“ As you know this is a horrible disease , young people do extraordinarily well.
” Reopening any segment of society remains a controversial issue as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still months , if not years , away .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , said Monday that the U.S. is still “ knee-deep ” in the first wave of infections .
The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged emerging evidence the new coronavirus may be dangerously transmitted through the air in poorly ventilated indoor environments such as bars , churches , schools and meat factories .

New York City’s 1.1 million public school students will not return to their classrooms full-time in September, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, unveiling plans for a “blended learning” model that balances online teaching with in-person classes two or three days a week.
MANHATTAN (CN) — New York City’s 1.1 million public school students will not return to their classrooms full-time in September, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday, unveiling plans for a “blended learning” model that balances online teaching with in-person classes two or three days a week.
With some 1,800 locations, New York City schools have been closed since March 16 due to the novel coronavirus. As remote online education abruptly replaced in-person classes, de Blasio made thousands of iPads, laptops and tablets available to students over the intervening months.
Even as the pandemic is worsening in other parts of the country, however, some families and government officials want lockdown measures loosened. The Democratic de Blasio announced his plan to reopen public schools for the 2020-21 school year in a virtual briefing this morning.
“When we know that health and safety means social distancing, therefore we have to use a lot more space for fewer kids, it makes very clear, the approach we will use is blended learning,” de Blasio said, speaking from Manhattan. “And blended learning simply means at some points in the week, you're learning in person in the classroom; at other points in a week, you're learning remotely,” the mayor added.
The mayor presented two proposed plans for the school year. In the first, schools that have the capacity for 50% of their students to be in the building at any given time with split their population into two even groups that alternate between two days of remote learning each week and two days of classes in-person, with a third in-person day every other week.
The second model assumes the schools can accommodate only 33% of their student population at a given time. Here, there would be one consistent day of the week the student will be in-person, with Monday and Tuesday rotating among groups over a three-week cycle.
Families can opt for fully remote education at any time and will be allowed to transition back into in-person instruction on a quarterly basis, de Blasio said.
New York City Public Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said the optimum class size is between 9 and 12 students in most physical spaces.
At a separate briefing in Albany on Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that state will decide whether schools will reopen in the fall during the first week of August. Cuomo said the state is consulting with stakeholders on guidance, which will be finalized on July 13.
The governor noted all of the state’s 700 school districts including those in New York City face a July 31 deadline to submit a reopening plan for the state’s approval.
Cuomo told reporters Wednesday he has the ultimate authority to say whether and how any school districts reopen. “Our institutional systemic drop dead date is the first week in August, so we will make that decision the first week in August,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo also rebutted President Donald Trump’s recent pushes to reopen schools in September.
“School reopenings are a state decision. Period,” Cuomo said during the briefing. “That is the law, and that is the way we’re going to proceed. It’s not up to the president of the United States.”
The United Federation of Teachers, a union that represents most public school teachers in New York City, said in tweet Wednesday: "Re-opening our schools will be a complex and difficult process, but we are not going to be careless with our students, their families, and our educators."
Speaking by phone on Wednesday, UFT president Michael Mulgrew said today’s announcements signaled that the various parties are headed in the right direction of having a thorough plan to safely reopen New York City’s public schools.
“This is just step one, we still have a long way to go, that plan is nowhere near finalized,” Mulgrew said. “I think we’re all moving toward the same place. As long as everyone’s following the medical and the professional guidelines and not political guidelines, we’re going to be fine.”
New York State United Teachers United Teachers, a statewide union with more than 600,000 members, said Wednesday that federal and state funding will be necessary to implement a safe and equitable return to in-person education in the state.
“Health and safety of students, families, educators and other school staff, and equitable access to a high-quality education must be the top priorities in reopening schools. The federal government’s demands that schools reopen without concern for health, safety and equity are simply out of touch,” New York State United Teachers president Andy Pallotta said a statement. “Thankfully here in New York, we know the governor, the Regents and fellow education stakeholders are taking this seriously,” he added.
Joined by first lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials, President Trump pushed for the reopening of K-12 schools and universities during a roundtable Tuesday at the White House,
claiming that “the moms want it, the dads want it.”
“We want to get them open quickly, beautifully in the fall,” Trump said. “As you know this is a horrible disease, young people do extraordinarily well.”
Reopening any segment of society remains a controversial issue as a vaccination against the novel coronavirus is still months, if not years, away.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said Monday that the U.S. is still “knee-deep” in the first wave of infections.
The World Health Organization on Tuesday acknowledged emerging evidence the new coronavirus may be dangerously transmitted through the air in poorly ventilated indoor environments such as bars, churches, schools and meat factories.


Mental Anguish

SAN ANTONIO — A federal court in Texas dismissed a lawsuit brought against the U.S. government by the estate of @ @ @ @ @ damages after his mother was killed in the 2017 mass shooting in Sutherland Springs , @ @ @ @ @ to state a claim arising from a “ knowing violation of statute .
”

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.


Top Eight

Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the Supreme Court endorsed Trump-ordered exemptions that would let employers deny coverage for birth control if they assert moral objections ; Harvard and MIT sued the Trump administration over a rule that says foreign students must take classes in person to stay in the country ; Religious groups argued against a Belgian law banning ritual animal slaughter before Europe ’ s highest court , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday .
1 . )
Walloping access rights to free birth control in America , the Supreme Court on Wednesday endorsed Trump-ordered exemptions that would let employers deny coverage if they assert moral objections .
2 . )
The Supreme Court on Wednesday found a doctrine that insulates religious institutions from lawsuits over their hiring and firing decisions can extend to religious schools sued by their teachers .
3 . )
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hit the Trump administration with a federal complaint Wednesday over a rule that says foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in the country .
4 . )
A year after the retailer raked in nearly $ 1 billion in sales , Brooks Brothers ended a 200-year run at the top of the menswear market by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday .
5 . )
Chemical giant Bayer said it will reconsider plans to resolve future litigation related to the toxicity of the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup , after a federal judge expressed concerns about the “ propriety and fairness ” of the proposed $ 10 billion settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tense span of roughly two weeks at the height of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations , New York City police officers arrested more than 2,000 protesting racial injustice .
An overview of that data released by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday suggests that those arrests may have proven the protesters ’ point .
7 . )
The Ninth Circuit upheld protections for grizzly bears in the area of Yellowstone National Park Wednesday , staving off plans for trophy hunts in parts of Wyoming and Idaho .
8 . )
Religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law banning ritual animal slaughter before the European Union ’ s highest court on Wednesday , while Belgium denied the law infringes on religious freedom .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the Supreme Court endorsed Trump-ordered exemptions that would let employers deny coverage for birth control if they assert moral objections; Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sued the Trump administration over a rule that says foreign students must take classes in person to stay in the country; Religious groups argued against a Belgian law banning ritual animal slaughter before Europe’s highest court, and more.
Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the Supreme Court endorsed Trump-ordered exemptions that would let employers deny coverage for birth control if they assert moral objections; Harvard and MIT sued the Trump administration over a rule that says foreign students must take classes in person to stay in the country; Religious groups argued against a Belgian law banning ritual animal slaughter before Europe’s highest court, and more.
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National
1.) Walloping access rights to free birth control in America, the Supreme Court on Wednesday endorsed Trump-ordered exemptions that would let employers deny coverage if they assert moral objections.
Little Sisters of the Poor with one of their attorneys outside the U.S. Supreme Court in May 2020 after oral arguments for their case against the contraception mandate in the federal health care law. (Photo courtesy of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty via Courthouse News)
2.) The Supreme Court on Wednesday found a doctrine that insulates religious institutions from lawsuits over their hiring and firing decisions can extend to religious schools sued by their teachers.
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Jack Rodgers/Courthouse News)
3.) Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology hit the Trump administration with a federal complaint Wednesday over a rule that says foreign students must take classes in person to stay in the country.
Students walk near the Widener Library in Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
4.) A year after the retailer raked in nearly $1 billion in sales, Brooks Brothers ended a 200-year run at the top of the menswear market by filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday.
A man passes a Brooks Brothers store on Church St. in lower Manhattan, August 4, 2011 in New York. The store is across the street from the World Trade Center and was heavily damaged on Sept. 11, 2001. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Regional
5.) Chemical giant Bayer said it will reconsider plans to resolve future litigation related to the toxicity of the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup, after a federal judge expressed concerns about the “propriety and fairness” of the proposed $10 billion settlement.
6.) For a particularly tense span of roughly two weeks at the height of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations, New York City police officers arrested more than 2,000 protesting racial injustice. An overview of that data released by New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday suggests that those arrests may have proven the protesters’ point.
A display listing important dates in the Black American historical experience rests on the sidewalk at a protest encampment outside City Hall, Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in New York. New York City lawmakers are holding a high-stakes debate on the city budget as activists demand a $1 billion shift from policing to social services and the city grapples with multibillion-dollar losses because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
7.) The Ninth Circuit upheld protections for grizzly bears in the area of Yellowstone National Park Wednesday, staving off plans for trophy hunts in parts of Wyoming and Idaho.
FILE - In this July 6, 2011, file photo, a grizzly bear roams near Beaver Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyo. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says the federal government is moving forward with plans to restore grizzly bears in the remote North Cascade Mountains of Washington state. (AP Photo/Jim Urquhart, File)
International
8.) Religious groups argued their case against a Belgian law banning ritual animal slaughter before the European Union’s highest court on Wednesday, while Belgium denied the law infringes on religious freedom.


courthousenews--2020-07-09--Australia’s Refuge Offer to Hong Kongers Infuriates China

SYDNEY , Australia ( AFP ) — Australia offered pathways to permanent residency for thousands of people from Hong Kong on Thursday in response to China ’ s crackdown on dissent , drawing a furious reply from Beijing .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was suspending its extradition agreement with the city , and in addition to extending the visas of 10,000 Hong Kongers already in the country , threw open the door to thousands more wanting to start a new life Down Under .
Morrison said the decisions were taken in response to China ’ s imposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law in Hong Kong , which he said “ constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances ” for the semiautonomous territory .
“ Australia is adjusting its laws , our sovereign laws , our sovereign immigration program , things that we have responsibility for and jurisdiction over , to reflect the changes that we ’ re seeing take place there , ” he said during a press conference .
Beijing shot back , condemning the Australian announcements as violations of “ fundamental principles of international relations.
” “ China … reserves the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be borne by Australia , ” warned Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian .
“ Any attempts to suppress China will never succeed.
” Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said China ’ s moves in Hong Kong were discussed earlier Thursday with Australia ’ s “ Five Eyes ” security partners — New Zealand , the United States , Britain and Canada .
The new law , which followed months of pro-democracy protests , is the most radical change in Hong Kong ’ s freedoms since Britain handed the city back to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserve its way of life for 50 years .
China has bristled at widespread global criticism of the law .
Beijing in recent months has imposed tariffs on some Australian imports and impeded trade in other key commodities in response to Australian steps to counter Chinese interference in the country .
China , Australia ’ s biggest trade partner and a competitor for influence in the Pacific , was infuriated when Canberra led calls for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic .
New Zealand is also reviewing its relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday , “ including extradition arrangements , controls on exports of strategic goods , and travel advice.
” Canada has also suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong , and the British government has offered more than 3 million Hong Kongers a broader path to citizenship .
Morrison brushed aside questions about whether the challenge over Hong Kong would lead to further Chinese retaliation .
“ We will make decisions about what ’ s in our interests , and we will make decisions about our laws and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rationally and soberly and consistently , ” he said .
Under the new measures , 10,000 Hong Kong citizens and residents in Australia on student or temporary work visas will be allowed to remain in the country for an additional five years .
“ If you ’ re a temporary visa holder , your visa will be extended to an additional five years from today , in addition to the time you ’ ve already been in Australia , with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and possible permanent residency were also offered to Hong Kong entrepreneurs or skilled workers who wish to relocate to Australia .
“ If there are businesses that wish to relocate to Australia , creating jobs , bringing investment , creating opportunities for Australia , then we will be very proactive in seeking to encourage that , ” he said .
The move echoed Australia ’ s response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown when Canberra offered refuge to thousands of Chinese students and their families .
But it contrasts with the conservative government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Morrison said he did not expect a rush of new visa applications from Hong Kongers , in part due to coronavirus travel restrictions .
He added that it would be “ very disappointing ” if China tried to prevent Hong Kong citizens from taking advantage of the offer .

Australia offered pathways to permanent residency for thousands of people from Hong Kong on Thursday in response to China's crackdown on dissent, drawing a furious reply from Beijing.
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia offered pathways to permanent residency for thousands of people from Hong Kong on Thursday in response to China's crackdown on dissent, drawing a furious reply from Beijing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was suspending its extradition agreement with the city, and in addition to extending the visas of 10,000 Hong Kongers already in the country, threw open the door to thousands more wanting to start a new life Down Under.
Morrison said the decisions were taken in response to China's imposition last week of a tough new security law in Hong Kong, which he said "constitutes a fundamental change of circumstances" for the semiautonomous territory.
"Australia is adjusting its laws, our sovereign laws, our sovereign immigration program, things that we have responsibility for and jurisdiction over, to reflect the changes that we're seeing take place there," he said during a press conference.
Beijing shot back, condemning the Australian announcements as violations of "fundamental principles of international relations."
"China ... reserves the right to take further reactions; all consequences will be borne by Australia," warned Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
"Any attempts to suppress China will never succeed."
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said China's moves in Hong Kong were discussed earlier Thursday with Australia's "Five Eyes" security partners — New Zealand, the United States, Britain and Canada.
The new law, which followed months of pro-democracy protests, is the most radical change in Hong Kong's freedoms since Britain handed the city back to China in 1997 under an agreement designed to preserve its way of life for 50 years.
China has bristled at widespread global criticism of the law.
Beijing in recent months has imposed tariffs on some Australian imports and impeded trade in other key commodities in response to Australian steps to counter Chinese interference in the country.
China, Australia's biggest trade partner and a competitor for influence in the Pacific, was infuriated when Canberra led calls for a probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
New Zealand is also reviewing its relationship with Hong Kong because of the new law, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Thursday, "including extradition arrangements, controls on exports of strategic goods, and travel advice."
Canada has also suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, and the British government has offered more than 3 million Hong Kongers a broader path to citizenship.
Morrison brushed aside questions about whether the challenge over Hong Kong would lead to further Chinese retaliation.
"We will make decisions about what's in our interests, and we will make decisions about our laws and our advisories, and we will do that rationally and soberly and consistently," he said.
Under the new measures, 10,000 Hong Kong citizens and residents in Australia on student or temporary work visas will be allowed to remain in the country for an additional five years.
"If you're a temporary visa holder, your visa will be extended to an additional five years from today, in addition to the time you've already been in Australia, with a pathway to permanent residency at the end of that period," Morrison said.
The five-year visa and possible permanent residency were also offered to Hong Kong entrepreneurs or skilled workers who wish to relocate to Australia.
"If there are businesses that wish to relocate to Australia, creating jobs, bringing investment, creating opportunities for Australia, then we will be very proactive in seeking to encourage that," he said.
The move echoed Australia's response to the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown when Canberra offered refuge to thousands of Chinese students and their families.
But it contrasts with the conservative government's policy of restricting immigration.
Morrison said he did not expect a rush of new visa applications from Hong Kongers, in part due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
He added that it would be "very disappointing" if China tried to prevent Hong Kong citizens from taking advantage of the offer.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-07-09--Health Official Says Trump Rally ‘Likely’ Source of Virus Surge

“ In the past few days , we ’ ve seen almost 500 new cases , and we had several large events just over two weeks ago , so I guess we just connect the dots , ” Tulsa health director Dr. Bruce Dart said .
Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on Monday , a one-day record high , and another 206 cases on Tuesday .
By comparison , during the week before the June 20 Trump rally , there were 76 cases on Monday and 96 on Tuesday .
Although the health department ’ s policy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people may have contracted the virus , Dart said those large gatherings “ more than likely ” contributed to the spike .
“ In the past few days , we ’ ve seen almost 500 new cases , and we had several large events just over two weeks ago , so I guess we just connect the dots , ” Dart said .
Trump ’ s Tulsa rally , his first since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States , attracted thousands of people from around the country .
About 6,200 people gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far fewer than expected .
Dart had urged the campaign to consider pushing back the date of the rally , fearing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases .
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the campaign went to great lengths to ensure that those who attended the rally were protected .
“ There were literally no health precautions to speak of as thousands looted , rioted , and protested in the streets and the media reported that it did not lead to a rise in coronavirus cases , ” Murtaugh said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president ’ s rally was 18 days ago , all attendees had their temperature checked , everyone was provided a mask , and there was plenty of hand sanitizer available for all .
“ It ’ s obvious that the media ’ s concern about large gatherings begins and ends with Trump rallies , ” he said .
Although masks were provided to rally goers , there was no requirement that participants wear them , and most didn ’ t .
A reporter who attended the Trump rally is among those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with six of Trump ’ s campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the rally .
Statewide , Oklahoma health officials on Wednesday reported 673 new confirmed cases of coronavirus , the state ’ s second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic .
The new cases reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health follow a record high of 858 cases that were reported on Tuesday and bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 17,893 .
The actual number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because many people have not been tested and some who get the disease do not show symptoms .
The health department also reported three additional Covid-19 deaths , bringing the statewide death toll to 407 .
In response to the recent surge in coronavirus cases , the cities of Norman and Stillwater have approved mandates that people wear masks in public .
Norman approved its ordinance Tuesday night after a five-hour City Council meeting during which citizens on both sides of the issue spoke .

President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa in late June that drew thousands of participants and large protests “likely” contributed to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases, Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said Wednesday.
Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on Monday, a one-day record high, and another 206 cases on Tuesday. By comparison, during the week before the June 20 Trump rally, there were 76 cases on Monday and 96 on Tuesday.
Although the health department's policy is to not publicly identify individual settings where people may have contracted the virus, Dart said those large gatherings "more than likely" contributed to the spike.
"In the past few days, we've seen almost 500 new cases, and we had several large events just over two weeks ago, so I guess we just connect the dots," Dart said.
Trump's Tulsa rally, his first since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, attracted thousands of people from around the country. About 6,200 people gathered inside the 19,000-seat BOK Center arena — far fewer than expected.
Dart had urged the campaign to consider pushing back the date of the rally, fearing a surge in the number of coronavirus cases.
Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the campaign went to great lengths to ensure that those who attended the rally were protected.
"There were literally no health precautions to speak of as thousands looted, rioted, and protested in the streets and the media reported that it did not lead to a rise in coronavirus cases," Murtaugh said in a statement. "Meanwhile, the president's rally was 18 days ago, all attendees had their temperature checked, everyone was provided a mask, and there was plenty of hand sanitizer available for all.
"It's obvious that the media's concern about large gatherings begins and ends with Trump rallies," he said.
Although masks were provided to rally goers, there was no requirement that participants wear them, and most didn't.
A reporter who attended the Trump rally is among those who have tested positive for Covid-19, along with six of Trump's campaign staffers and two members of the Secret Service who worked in advance of the rally.
Statewide, Oklahoma health officials on Wednesday reported 673 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, the state's second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic.
The new cases reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health follow a record high of 858 cases that were reported on Tuesday and bring the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 17,893. The actual number of infections is thought to be much higher because many people have not been tested and some who get the disease do not show symptoms.
The health department also reported three additional Covid-19 deaths, bringing the statewide death toll to 407.
In response to the recent surge in coronavirus cases, the cities of Norman and Stillwater have approved mandates that people wear masks in public. Norman approved its ordinance Tuesday night after a five-hour City Council meeting during which citizens on both sides of the issue spoke.
By SEAN MURPHY


courthousenews--2020-07-09--National Strike Planned Against Racism & Police Brutality

A broad coalition of union workers will walk off the job in at least 25 cities on July 20 .
NEW YORK ( AP ) — A national coalition of labor unions , along with racial and social justice organizations , will stage a mass walkout from work this month , as part of an ongoing reckoning on systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S .
Dubbed the “ Strike for Black Lives , ” tens of thousands of fast-food , ride-share , nursing home and airport workers in more than 25 cities are expected to walk off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those who can ’ t strike for a full day will walk out for about 8 minutes — the amount of time a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on George Floyd ’ s neck — in remembrance of black men and women who died recently at the hands of police .
The national strike will include worker-led marches through participating cities , organizers said Wednesday .
According to details shared exclusively with The Associated Press , organizers are demanding sweeping action by corporations and government to confront systemic racism in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and career opportunities for many black and Latino workers , who make up a disproportionate number of those earning less than a living wage .
They also stress the need for guaranteed sick pay , affordable health care coverage and better safety measures for low-wage workers who never had the option of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We have to link these fights in a new and deeper way than ever before , ” said Mary Kay Henry , president of the Service Employees International Union , which represents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and Canada .
“ Our members have been on a journey … to understanding why we can not win economic justice without racial justice .
This strike for black lives is a way to take our members ’ understanding about that into the streets , ” Henry told the AP .
Among the strikers ’ specific demands are that corporations and government declare unequivocally that “ Black Lives Matter.
” Elected officials at every level must use executive and legislative power to pass laws that guarantee people of all races can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demands .
Employers must also raise wages and allow workers to unionize to negotiate better health care , sick leave and child-care support .
The service workers union has partnered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters , the American Federation of Teachers , United Farm Workers and the Fight for $ 15 and a Union , which was launched in 2012 by American fast-food workers to push for a higher minimum wage .
Social and racial justice groups taking part include March On , the Center for Popular Democracy , the National Domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lives , a coalition of more than 150 organizations that make up the Black Lives Matter movement .
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson , a strike organizer with the Movement for Black Lives , said corporate giants that have come out in support of the BLM movement amid nationwide protests over police brutality have profited from racial injustice and inequity .
“ They claim to support black lives , but their business model functions by exploiting black labor — passing off pennies as ‘ living wages ’ and pretending to be shocked when Covid-19 sickens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential workers , ” said Henderson , co-executive director of Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center .
“ Corporate power is a threat to racial justice , and the only way to usher in a new economy is by tackling those forces that aren ’ t fully committed to dismantling racism , ” she said in a statement .
Trece Andrews , a black nursing home worker for a Ciena Healthcare-managed retirement home in the Detroit area , said she feels dejected after years of being passed over for promotions .
The 49-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her career stagnation .
“ I ’ ve got 20 years in the game and I ’ m only at $ 15.81 ( per hour ) , ” she said in a telephone interview .
As the single mother of a 13-year-old daughter and caregiver to her father , a cancer survivor , Andrews said inadequate personal protective gear makes her afraid of bringing the coronavirus home from her job .
“ We ’ ve got the coronavirus going on , plus we ’ ve got this thing with racism going on , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re tied together , like some type of segregation , like we didn ’ t have our ancestors and Martin Luther King fighting against these types of things .
It ’ s still alive out here , and it ’ s time for somebody to be held accountable .
It ’ s time to take action.
” The strike continues a decades-old labor rights movement tradition .
Most notably , organizers have drawn inspiration from the Memphis sanitation workers ’ strike over low wages , benefits disparity between black and white employees , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deaths of two black workers in 1968 .
At the end of that two-month strike , some 1,300 mostly black sanitation workers bargained collectively for better wages .
“ Strike for Black Lives ” organizers say they want to disrupt a multigenerational cycle of poverty perpetuated by anti-union and other policies that make it difficult to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions .
Systemic poverty affects 140 million people in the United States , with 62 million people working for less than a living wage , according to the Poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Call for Moral Revival , a strike partnering organization .
An estimated 54 % of black workers and 63 % of Latino workers fall into that category , compared to 37 % of white workers and 40 % of Asian American workers , the group said .
“ The reason why , on July 20th , you ’ re going to see strikes and protests and the walk-offs and socially distanced sit-ins and voter registration outreach is because thousands and thousands of poor , low-wage workers of every race , creed and color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , immigration , climate and other justice fights are all connected , ” the Rev .
William Barber II , co-chair of the Poor People ’ s Campaign , said in a telephone interview .
“ If in fact we are going to take on police violence that kills , then certainly we have to take on economic violence that also kills , ” he said .
Organizers said some striking workers will do more than walk off the job on July 20 .
In Missouri , participants will rally at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key landmark in the protest movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown , a black teenager who was killed by a police officer in 2014 .
The strikers will then march to a memorial site on the spot where Brown was shot and killed .
In Minneapolis , where Floyd was killed on May 25 , nursing home workers will participate in a caravan that will include a stop at the airport .
They ’ ll be joined by wheelchair attendants and cabin cleaners demanding a $ 15-per-hour minimum wage , organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26-year-old McDonald ’ s worker in Oakland , California , and leader in the Fight for $ 15 and a Union , said she and several co-workers tested positive for Covid-19 after employees were not provided proper protective equipment .
As an immigrant from Honduras , Lambert said she understands the black community ’ s urgent fight against police brutality .
“ Our message is that we ’ re all human and we should be treated like humans — we ’ re demanding justice for black and Latino lives , ” she told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking action because words are no longer bringing the results that we need , ” she said .
“ Now is the moment to see changes .
”

A national coalition of labor unions, along with racial and social justice organizations, will stage a mass walkout from work this month, as part of an ongoing reckoning on systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S.
NEW YORK (AP) — A national coalition of labor unions, along with racial and social justice organizations, will stage a mass walkout from work this month, as part of an ongoing reckoning on systemic racism and police brutality in the U.S.
Dubbed the "Strike for Black Lives," tens of thousands of fast-food, ride-share, nursing home and airport workers in more than 25 cities are expected to walk off the job July 20 for a full-day strike. Those who can't strike for a full day will walk out for about 8 minutes — the amount of time a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on George Floyd's neck — in remembrance of black men and women who died recently at the hands of police.
The national strike will include worker-led marches through participating cities, organizers said Wednesday.
According to details shared exclusively with The Associated Press, organizers are demanding sweeping action by corporations and government to confront systemic racism in an economy that chokes off economic mobility and career opportunities for many black and Latino workers, who make up a disproportionate number of those earning less than a living wage. They also stress the need for guaranteed sick pay, affordable health care coverage and better safety measures for low-wage workers who never had the option of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We have to link these fights in a new and deeper way than ever before," said Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 2 million workers in the United States and Canada.
"Our members have been on a journey … to understanding why we cannot win economic justice without racial justice. This strike for black lives is a way to take our members' understanding about that into the streets," Henry told the AP.
Among the strikers' specific demands are that corporations and government declare unequivocally that "Black Lives Matter." Elected officials at every level must use executive and legislative power to pass laws that guarantee people of all races can thrive, according to a list of demands. Employers must also raise wages and allow workers to unionize to negotiate better health care, sick leave and child-care support.
The service workers union has partnered with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the American Federation of Teachers, United Farm Workers and the Fight for $15 and a Union, which was launched in 2012 by American fast-food workers to push for a higher minimum wage.
Social and racial justice groups taking part include March On, the Center for Popular Democracy, the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 organizations that make up the Black Lives Matter movement.
Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, a strike organizer with the Movement for Black Lives, said corporate giants that have come out in support of the BLM movement amid nationwide protests over police brutality have profited from racial injustice and inequity.
"They claim to support black lives, but their business model functions by exploiting black labor — passing off pennies as 'living wages' and pretending to be shocked when Covid-19 sickens those black people who make up their essential workers," said Henderson, co-executive director of Tennessee-based Highlander Research and Education Center.
"Corporate power is a threat to racial justice, and the only way to usher in a new economy is by tackling those forces that aren't fully committed to dismantling racism," she said in a statement.
Trece Andrews, a black nursing home worker for a Ciena Healthcare-managed retirement home in the Detroit area, said she feels dejected after years of being passed over for promotions. The 49-year-old believes racial discrimination plays a part in her career stagnation.
"I've got 20 years in the game and I'm only at $15.81 (per hour)," she said in a telephone interview.
As the single mother of a 13-year-old daughter and caregiver to her father, a cancer survivor, Andrews said inadequate personal protective gear makes her afraid of bringing the coronavirus home from her job.
"We've got the coronavirus going on, plus we've got this thing with racism going on," Andrews said. "They're tied together, like some type of segregation, like we didn't have our ancestors and Martin Luther King fighting against these types of things. It's still alive out here, and it's time for somebody to be held accountable. It's time to take action."
The strike continues a decades-old labor rights movement tradition. Most notably, organizers have drawn inspiration from the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike over low wages, benefits disparity between black and white employees, and inhumane working conditions that contributed to the deaths of two black workers in 1968. At the end of that two-month strike, some 1,300 mostly black sanitation workers bargained collectively for better wages.
"Strike for Black Lives" organizers say they want to disrupt a multigenerational cycle of poverty perpetuated by anti-union and other policies that make it difficult to bargain collectively for better wages and working conditions.
Systemic poverty affects 140 million people in the United States, with 62 million people working for less than a living wage, according to the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, a strike partnering organization. An estimated 54% of black workers and 63% of Latino workers fall into that category, compared to 37% of white workers and 40% of Asian American workers, the group said.
"The reason why, on July 20th, you're going to see strikes and protests and the walk-offs and socially distanced sit-ins and voter registration outreach is because thousands and thousands of poor, low-wage workers of every race, creed and color understand that racial, economic, health care, immigration, climate and other justice fights are all connected," the Rev. William Barber II, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, said in a telephone interview.
"If in fact we are going to take on police violence that kills, then certainly we have to take on economic violence that also kills," he said.
Organizers said some striking workers will do more than walk off the job on July 20. In Missouri, participants will rally at a McDonald's in Ferguson, a key landmark in the protest movement sparked by the death of Michael Brown, a black teenager who was killed by a police officer in 2014. The strikers will then march to a memorial site on the spot where Brown was shot and killed.
In Minneapolis, where Floyd was killed on May 25, nursing home workers will participate in a caravan that will include a stop at the airport. They'll be joined by wheelchair attendants and cabin cleaners demanding a $15-per-hour minimum wage, organizers said.
Angely Rodriguez Lambert, a 26-year-old McDonald's worker in Oakland, California, and leader in the Fight for $15 and a Union, said she and several co-workers tested positive for Covid-19 after employees were not provided proper protective equipment. As an immigrant from Honduras, Lambert said she understands the black community's urgent fight against police brutality.
"Our message is that we're all human and we should be treated like humans — we're demanding justice for black and Latino lives," she told the AP.
"We're taking action because words are no longer bringing the results that we need," she said. "Now is the moment to see changes."
By AARON MORRISON


courthousenews--2020-07-09--Pentagon Chiefs Face Grilling on Use of Military Against Civilians

Top officials at the Pentagon have distanced themselves from President Trump since his staged photo op at Lafayette Square on June 1 .
WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Pentagon ’ s top leaders are going before Congress for the first time in months to face a long list of controversies , including their differences with President Donald Trump over the handling of protests near the White House in June during unrest triggered by the police killing of George Floyd .
The House hearing Thursday will provide the first congressional testimony by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Staff , since March 4 , when they appeared to discuss the administration ’ s defense budget proposal .
That was before the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent and before nationwide civil unrest threw the Pentagon ’ s relations with Trump into crisis .
Trump ’ s push for an aggressive response to the civil unrest led to an extraordinary clash with Esper and Milley , who on June 1 accompanied the president when he walked from the White House to St. John ’ s Church on Lafayette Square , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographers .
That day , a National Guard helicopter was flown at extremely low altitude to disperse protesters from the capital ’ s streets , prompting a Pentagon investigation into whether that was a proper use of military resources .
Esper drew Trump ’ s ire for telling a Pentagon news conference that he opposed invoking the Insurrection Act to permit the president to use the armed forces to put down domestic civil unrest .
Esper said he saw no need for such an extreme measure , a clear counterpoint to Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also made known his regret at having accompanied Trump to the presidential photo op in front of St. John ’ s on the day of the Lafayette Square confrontations .
Milley also expressed regret that he had been part of the scene with Trump .
He said he had been wrong to stride in uniform with Trump past protesters who had been cleared from Lafayette Square by tear gas and batons .
Milley said his presence “ created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.
” “ I should not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Defense University commencement ceremony .
Esper and Milley also are likely to be grilled by members of the House Armed Services Committee on a simmering debate over removing the names of Confederate Army officers from Army bases and banning other Confederate symbols .
That also puts them potentially at odds with Trump , who has said he opposes removing the Confederate names from bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina .
The House and Senate versions of the 2021 defense budget legislation require name changes at 10 Army bases .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it reaches his desk with that provision .
Neither Esper nor Milley has spoken publicly about two other controversies likely to be raised at the House hearing — intelligence reports that Russia offered bounty money to the Taliban in exchange for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan , and White House resistance to allowing the Army to promote Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to the rank of colonel .
Vindman , who played a central role in the impeachment case against Trump , announced Wednesday that he will retire .
A statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a “ campaign of bullying , intimidation , and retaliation ” that meant Vindman ’ s future in the Army would “ forever be limited.
” Vindman ’ s name was on a promotion list sent to Esper this year , according to two officials familiar with the matter .
But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman , one of the officials said .
The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded .
One official said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a month ago , but again was delayed .
A senior defense official said the list was held up by a routine personnel review not related to Vindman .
Esper received the final promotion list on Monday and approved it , with Vindman ’ s name included , and it was expected to be sent to the White House in the next day or two , the defense official said .
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter .
By ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. @

The Pentagon's top leaders are going before Congress for the first time in months to face a long list of controversies, including their differences with President Donald Trump over the handling of protests near the White House in June during unrest triggered by the police killing of George Floyd.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon's top leaders are going before Congress for the first time in months to face a long list of controversies, including their differences with President Donald Trump over the handling of protests near the White House in June during unrest triggered by the police killing of George Floyd.
The House hearing Thursday will provide the first congressional testimony by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, since March 4, when they appeared to discuss the administration's defense budget proposal. That was before the full impact of the coronavirus pandemic became apparent and before nationwide civil unrest threw the Pentagon's relations with Trump into crisis.
Trump's push for an aggressive response to the civil unrest led to an extraordinary clash with Esper and Milley, who on June 1 accompanied the president when he walked from the White House to St. John's Church on Lafayette Square, where he held up a Bible for photographers. That day, a National Guard helicopter was flown at extremely low altitude to disperse protesters from the capital's streets, prompting a Pentagon investigation into whether that was a proper use of military resources.
Esper drew Trump's ire for telling a Pentagon news conference that he opposed invoking the Insurrection Act to permit the president to use the armed forces to put down domestic civil unrest. Esper said he saw no need for such an extreme measure, a clear counterpoint to Trump's threat to use force.
Esper also made known his regret at having accompanied Trump to the presidential photo op in front of St. John's on the day of the Lafayette Square confrontations.
Milley also expressed regret that he had been part of the scene with Trump. He said he had been wrong to stride in uniform with Trump past protesters who had been cleared from Lafayette Square by tear gas and batons. Milley said his presence "created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics."
"I should not have been there," he told a National Defense University commencement ceremony.
Esper and Milley also are likely to be grilled by members of the House Armed Services Committee on a simmering debate over removing the names of Confederate Army officers from Army bases and banning other Confederate symbols. That also puts them potentially at odds with Trump, who has said he opposes removing the Confederate names from bases such as Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
The House and Senate versions of the 2021 defense budget legislation require name changes at 10 Army bases. Trump has said he will veto the bill if it reaches his desk with that provision.
Neither Esper nor Milley has spoken publicly about two other controversies likely to be raised at the House hearing — intelligence reports that Russia offered bounty money to the Taliban in exchange for killing American and coalition troops in Afghanistan, and White House resistance to allowing the Army to promote Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to the rank of colonel.
Vindman, who played a central role in the impeachment case against Trump, announced Wednesday that he will retire. A statement by his attorney accused Trump of engaging in a "campaign of bullying, intimidation, and retaliation" that meant Vindman's future in the Army would "forever be limited."
Vindman's name was on a promotion list sent to Esper this year, according to two officials familiar with the matter. But that list was delayed for weeks because the White House asked for an investigation of Vindman, one of the officials said. The Pentagon did a review and found that any suggestion of misconduct was unfounded. One official said the list was sent again to Esper about a month ago, but again was delayed.
A senior defense official said the list was held up by a routine personnel review not related to Vindman. Esper received the final promotion list on Monday and approved it, with Vindman's name included, and it was expected to be sent to the White House in the next day or two, the defense official said.
The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal personnel matter.
By ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. BALDOR


courthousenews--2020-07-09--129,000 New Virus Cases Reported in US, Brazil & India

The three hardest-hit countries in the world reported single-day new infections of 59,000 in the United States , 45,000 in Brazil and 25,000 in India .
BELGRADE , Serbia ( AP ) — The deadly coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of slowing in the countries with the highest caseloads — the United States , Brazil and India .
Those three nations are accounting for more than 60 % of new cases , according to recent tallies from Johns Hopkins University .
India on Thursday reported 25,000 new infections ; the United States on Wednesday reported nearly 59,000 , just short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier , as President Donald Trump insisted that schools reopen in the fall ; and Brazil reported nearly 45,000 new cases .
Much of Europe appears to have put the worst of the crisis behind it , at least for now .
But Serbia has emerged as a new focus of concern — and of unrest .
On Thursday , the country ’ s crisis team was expected to ban gatherings in the capital , Belgrade , and limit the operations of cafés and night clubs after a spike in infections that officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t clear whether officials would reintroduce a weekend curfew , the initial announcement of which triggered violent protests in Belgrade and three other cities .
Critics accuse President Aleksandar Vucic of letting the crisis spin out of control by lifting tight lockdown measures in order to hold an election on June 21 that tightened his grip on power .
Rock-throwing demonstrators on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings fought hours-long running battles with special police forces who used tear gas to disperse them .
Vucic said in an Instagram post on Thursday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in infections are causing concern in several places around the world , and in some cases are leading to the reintroduction of tough restrictions .
In Australia , which had initial success containing the outbreak , authorities on Thursday reported 179 new cases , most of them in Melbourne , where authorities are battling a resurgence and have imposed a new six-week lockdown .
Victoria state Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said six new cases were from a Melbourne high school which has become the state ’ s largest known cluster , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and hundreds of staff are in quarantine .
Tokyo confirmed more than 220 new cases Thursday , exceeding its record daily increase from mid-April and prompting concerns of widening of the infections .
Tokyo ’ s more than 7,000 cases are about one-third of Japan ’ s total .
“ It ’ s a wake-up call , ” Tokyo Gov .
Yuriko Koike told reporters .
“ We need to use extra caution against the further spread of the infections.
” Experts on Tokyo ’ s virus task force said the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs but rising infections from households , workplaces and parties raised concerns the virus is spreading in the wider community .
Hong Kong moved to tighten social-distancing measures after it reported 42 new infections on Thursday .
Rules for restaurants , bars and fitness centers will be tightened for two weeks starting Saturday .
In India , research by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai shows that the reproduction rate of the virus ticked up in the first week of July to about 1.2 after it had steadily fallen from a peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs to be below one for new cases to start falling .
In the United States , the number of confirmed cases has passed 3 million — meaning nearly one in every 100 people has been confirmed as infected — and the number of deaths has exceeded 134,800 .
Both numbers are the worst in the world .
Trump is determined to reopen America ’ s schools despite the pandemic , and on Wednesday threatened to withhold federal money if school districts don ’ t bring their students back in the fall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials ’ safety guidelines are impractical and too expensive .
Despite Trump ’ s pressure , New York City announced that most of its students would return to classrooms only two or three days a week and would learn online in between .
A growing chorus of public health experts is urging U.S. officials to reconsider how they are reopening the broader economy , and to prioritize schools .
That effort that will likely require closing some other establishments such as bars and gyms to help curb the virus spread and give children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We need to think about what our priorities are as a society , and some other things may just have to wait , ” said Helen Jenkins , an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University .
“ I think there are hard choices having to be made by decisionmakers.
” In Indonesia , the resort island of Bali reopened Thursday after a three-month virus lockdown , allowing local people and stranded foreign tourists to resume public activities before foreign arrivals resume in September .
Beaches and streets on the island emptied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure virus-containment protocols were observed .
Authorities restricted public activities , closed the airport and shut down shops , restaurants and many other places .
The governor said the island will gradually reopen to locals and stranded foreigners .
Indonesians from other parts of the country will be allowed to visit starting July 31 and new foreign arrivals from Sept. 11 .
The move comes as infections continue to surge in Indonesia .

The deadly coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of slowing in the countries with the highest caseloads — the United States, Brazil and India.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The deadly coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of slowing in the countries with the highest caseloads — the United States, Brazil and India.
Those three nations are accounting for more than 60% of new cases, according to recent tallies from Johns Hopkins University. India on Thursday reported 25,000 new infections; the United States on Wednesday reported nearly 59,000, just short of the record 60,000 set a day earlier, as President Donald Trump insisted that schools reopen in the fall; and Brazil reported nearly 45,000 new cases.
Much of Europe appears to have put the worst of the crisis behind it, at least for now. But Serbia has emerged as a new focus of concern — and of unrest. On Thursday, the country's crisis team was expected to ban gatherings in the capital, Belgrade, and limit the operations of cafés and night clubs after a spike in infections that officials say threatens the health system.
It wasn't clear whether officials would reintroduce a weekend curfew, the initial announcement of which triggered violent protests in Belgrade and three other cities. Critics accuse President Aleksandar Vucic of letting the crisis spin out of control by lifting tight lockdown measures in order to hold an election on June 21 that tightened his grip on power.
Rock-throwing demonstrators on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings fought hours-long running battles with special police forces who used tear gas to disperse them. Vucic said in an Instagram post on Thursday that the state will curb unrest.
Flare-ups in infections are causing concern in several places around the world, and in some cases are leading to the reintroduction of tough restrictions.
In Australia, which had initial success containing the outbreak, authorities on Thursday reported 179 new cases, most of them in Melbourne, where authorities are battling a resurgence and have imposed a new six-week lockdown.
Victoria state Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said six new cases were from a Melbourne high school which has become the state's largest known cluster, with 113 people infected. More than 2,000 students and hundreds of staff are in quarantine.
Tokyo confirmed more than 220 new cases Thursday, exceeding its record daily increase from mid-April and prompting concerns of widening of the infections. Tokyo's more than 7,000 cases are about one-third of Japan's total.
"It's a wake-up call," Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike told reporters. "We need to use extra caution against the further spread of the infections."
Experts on Tokyo's virus task force said the majority of recent cases were linked to night clubs but rising infections from households, workplaces and parties raised concerns the virus is spreading in the wider community.
Hong Kong moved to tighten social-distancing measures after it reported 42 new infections on Thursday. Rules for restaurants, bars and fitness centers will be tightened for two weeks starting Saturday.
In India, research by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences in Chennai shows that the reproduction rate of the virus ticked up in the first week of July to about 1.2 after it had steadily fallen from a peak of 1.8 in March. The rate needs to be below one for new cases to start falling.
In the United States, the number of confirmed cases has passed 3 million — meaning nearly one in every 100 people has been confirmed as infected — and the number of deaths has exceeded 134,800. Both numbers are the worst in the world.
Trump is determined to reopen America's schools despite the pandemic, and on Wednesday threatened to withhold federal money if school districts don't bring their students back in the fall. He complained that his own public health officials’ safety guidelines are impractical and too expensive.
Despite Trump's pressure, New York City announced that most of its students would return to classrooms only two or three days a week and would learn online in between.
A growing chorus of public health experts is urging U.S. officials to reconsider how they are reopening the broader economy, and to prioritize schools. That effort that will likely require closing some other establishments such as bars and gyms to help curb the virus spread and give children the best shot at returning to classrooms.
"We need to think about what our priorities are as a society, and some other things may just have to wait," said Helen Jenkins, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University. "I think there are hard choices having to be made by decisionmakers."
In Indonesia, the resort island of Bali reopened Thursday after a three-month virus lockdown, allowing local people and stranded foreign tourists to resume public activities before foreign arrivals resume in September.
Beaches and streets on the island emptied in early April except for special patrols to ensure virus-containment protocols were observed. Authorities restricted public activities, closed the airport and shut down shops, restaurants and many other places.
The governor said the island will gradually reopen to locals and stranded foreigners. Indonesians from other parts of the country will be allowed to visit starting July 31 and new foreign arrivals from Sept. 11.
The move comes as infections continue to surge in Indonesia.
By JOVANA GEC and NICK PERRY