courthousenews--2020-09-29--Lawyers for Huawei CFO Call US Extradition Case ‘Egregiously Misleading’

VANCOUVER , British Columbia ( CN ) — Submissions by U.S. authorities in the extradition case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou provided an “ egregiously misleading summary ” of a now infamous PowerPoint presentation given by the embattled Chinese telecom executive in 2013 , Meng ’ s lawyers told a Canadian judge Monday .
Nearly two years after her arrest , Meng returned to a Vancouver courtroom in the latest round of her fight against extradition to the United States on charges of defrauding banking giant HSBC .
Her defense team told British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of potential sanctions risks related to Huawei Technologies ’ business with Iranian affiliate Skycom during a presentation in Hong Kong in 2013 outlining the company ’ s trade compliance program .
In a sparsely attended hearing with seating limited by Covid-19 pandemic measures , lawyer Scott Fenton walked Justice Holmes through the defense team ’ s voluminous materials in the first of five days of so-called Vukelich hearings , which test the “ air of reality ” to allegations of abuse of process or constitutional violations , both familiar lines of attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continually claimed their client ’ s rights were violated during and after her arrest and detention at Vancouver Airport in December 2018 .
Fenton told Holmes that the United States ’ submissions contain enough misstatements and omissions about the case against Meng to either entitle her to the “ blunt instrument ” of staying the proceedings or excluding certain evidence against her .
The requesting state ’ s record of the case , Fenton said , makes “ a stronger case of alleged fraud than the true facts can support.
” Fenton focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSBC executive , known as “ Witness B , ” in Hong Kong in 2013 .
Of 16 slides related to Huawei ’ s trade compliance activities , Fenton told Justice Holmes that the U.S. record and supplementary records of the case wrongfully and tellingly omit statements from the presentation where Meng told the banker of Huawei ’ s relationship with Skycom .
“ It put HSBC on full notice that both Huawei and Skycom were doing business in Iran , ” Fenton said .
“ This informed HSBC that if it chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that commerce in Iran , through its U.S. subsidiary … it risked liability under U.S. sanctions laws.
” Fenton said the United States has a duty of “ full , frank , and fair ” disclosure yet what authorities have provided deprive the court of “ essential context ” of Meng ’ s presentation to HSBC .
Prosecutors didn ’ t include details of a slide where Huawei ’ s relationship to Skycom was referred to as “ controllable , ” which he suggested was hidden from the court because it would “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and by extension Huawei — meant to deceive the bank into potentially running afoul of U.S. sanctions laws .
“ This goes , again , to the heart of the case , ” Fenton said .
“ The court would never know or understand that the material disclosure was made.
” After a break , Holmes heard from Fenton about how Meng was far-removed from any decision by HSBC to process U.S. dollar transactions through its U.S. subsidiary after learning of Huawei ’ s relationship to Skycom in Iran .
“ HSBC has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those U.S. dollars , ” he said .
“ It could choose to take the risk , which apparently it did.
” “ Huawei has no control over how HSBC processes those U.S. dollar transactions , ” he added .
The bank was “ solely in control of those decisions ” on how to process Skycom ’ s U.S. dollar payments through its American subsidiary , he said , despite having a “ risk-free ” alternative system based in Hong Kong known as the Clearing House Automated Transfer System , or CHATS .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , does not include any information about HSBC ’ s options .
“ This is one of the rare cases where there ’ s a breach of the duty of candor , ” Fenton said .
While this week ’ s hearings will not delve into the merits of Meng ’ s abuse of process claims , they set the stage for three weeks of scheduled proceedings set for February .
On Tuesday , the court will hear from Meng ’ s lawyer Frank Addario , who told the court late Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case is that the U.S. incorrectly drew a “ straight line ” from Meng ’ s statements and the “ risk of deprivation ” to the bank .
Moreover , the PowerPoint presentation given by Meng made it clear that Huawei was “ tethered ” to Skycom , contrary to the U.S. record of the case , making it “ so unreliable or defective it should be disregarded.
” This past May , Holmes dealt Meng a blow when she found the alleged conduct met the crucial double-criminality standard , leaving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one fewer option to challenge the extradition bid .

Submissions by U.S. authorities in the extradition case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou provided an “egregiously misleading summary” of a now infamous PowerPoint presentation given by the embattled Chinese telecom executive in 2013, Meng’s lawyers told a Canadian judge Monday.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (CN) — Submissions by U.S. authorities in the extradition case of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou provided an “egregiously misleading summary” of a now infamous PowerPoint presentation given by the embattled Chinese telecom executive in 2013, Meng’s lawyers told a Canadian judge Monday.
Nearly two years after her arrest, Meng returned to a Vancouver courtroom in the latest round of her fight against extradition to the United States on charges of defrauding banking giant HSBC. Her defense team told British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Heather Holmes that HSBC was put on “full notice” of potential sanctions risks related to Huawei Technologies’ business with Iranian affiliate Skycom during a presentation in Hong Kong in 2013 outlining the company’s trade compliance program.
In a sparsely attended hearing with seating limited by Covid-19 pandemic measures, lawyer Scott Fenton walked Justice Holmes through the defense team’s voluminous materials in the first of five days of so-called Vukelich hearings, which test the “air of reality” to allegations of abuse of process or constitutional violations, both familiar lines of attack for Meng’s lawyers who have continually claimed their client’s rights were violated during and after her arrest and detention at Vancouver Airport in December 2018.
Fenton told Holmes that the United States’ submissions contain enough misstatements and omissions about the case against Meng to either entitle her to the “blunt instrument” of staying the proceedings or excluding certain evidence against her. The requesting state’s record of the case, Fenton said, makes “a stronger case of alleged fraud than the true facts can support.”
Fenton focused on a PowerPoint presentation given to an HSBC executive, known as “Witness B,” in Hong Kong in 2013. Of 16 slides related to Huawei’s trade compliance activities, Fenton told Justice Holmes that the U.S. record and supplementary records of the case wrongfully and tellingly omit statements from the presentation where Meng told the banker of Huawei’s relationship with Skycom.
“It put HSBC on full notice that both Huawei and Skycom were doing business in Iran,” Fenton said. “This informed HSBC that if it chose to process any U.S. dollars relating to that commerce in Iran, through its U.S. subsidiary … it risked liability under U.S. sanctions laws.”
Fenton said the United States has a duty of “full, frank, and fair” disclosure yet what authorities have provided deprive the court of “essential context” of Meng’s presentation to HSBC. Prosecutors didn’t include details of a slide where Huawei’s relationship to Skycom was referred to as “controllable,” which he suggested was hidden from the court because it would “undermine” the theory that Meng — and by extension Huawei — meant to deceive the bank into potentially running afoul of U.S. sanctions laws.
“This goes, again, to the heart of the case,” Fenton said. “The court would never know or understand that the material disclosure was made.”
After a break, Holmes heard from Fenton about how Meng was far-removed from any decision by HSBC to process U.S. dollar transactions through its U.S. subsidiary after learning of Huawei’s relationship to Skycom in Iran.
“HSBC has the responsibility to decide how to process those U.S. dollars,” he said. “It could choose to take the risk, which apparently it did.”
“Huawei has no control over how HSBC processes those U.S. dollar transactions,” he added.
The bank was “solely in control of those decisions” on how to process Skycom’s U.S. dollar payments through its American subsidiary, he said, despite having a “risk-free” alternative system based in Hong Kong known as the Clearing House Automated Transfer System, or CHATS. The U.S. record of the case, however, does not include any information about HSBC’s options.
“This is one of the rare cases where there’s a breach of the duty of candor,” Fenton said.
While this week’s hearings will not delve into the merits of Meng’s abuse of process claims, they set the stage for three weeks of scheduled proceedings set for February.
On Tuesday, the court will hear from Meng’s lawyer Frank Addario, who told the court late Monday that the “fundamental flaw” in the case is that the U.S. incorrectly drew a “straight line” from Meng’s statements and the “risk of deprivation” to the bank. Moreover, the PowerPoint presentation given by Meng made it clear that Huawei was “tethered” to Skycom, contrary to the U.S. record of the case, making it “so unreliable or defective it should be disregarded.”
This past May, Holmes dealt Meng a blow when she found the alleged conduct met the crucial double-criminality standard, leaving the telecom executive and her legal team with one fewer option to challenge the extradition bid.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Movement in Covid Stimulus Talks Pushes Markets Higher

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Markets rose dramatically on Monday , building on last week ’ s gains and ignoring prior weeks of losses .
Much of the optimism on Wall Street may be due to inklings that a stimulus deal could finally be imminent .
Over the weekend , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told committee chairs to create a scaled-back coronavirus relief package , according to several news outlets .
The widening window for a stimulus bill before the election , even if such a window remains small , seemed to goose investors Monday .
The Dow Jones Industrial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opening bell , climbing steadily throughout the day to finish at a 410-point increase .
The S & P 500 and Nasdaq saw similar gains of about 1.5 % and 1.8 % , respectively .
However , some analysts predict the party on Wall Street could turn sour just as quickly .
Stephen Innes , chief global market analyst at AXI Trader , wrote in an investor ’ s note that “ lingering optimism around a U.S. stimulus package is getting offset by rising Covid concerns.
” However , Innes added it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dive into tech stock as another quality Covid hedge .
And why not ?
The greater the risk of more draconian stay-at-home measures only increases the use of internet technology.
” Other experts say the upcoming presidential election may also create a drag on Wall Street .
“ Markets are trying to regain their footing , but with so much election uncertainty looming that may take time , ” wrote James Meyer , principal at Tower Bridge Advisors .
“ In the meantime , change caused by the pandemic continues to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidential election.
” Analysts at Oxford Economics noted investors are pricing in greater volatility due to the uncertainty about the upcoming presidential election , that the predicted surge in mail-in votes could delay the election results and thus mute any market reaction even if a winner is quickly declared .
“ We fear a larger risk-off trade if a winner is not quickly declared , ” the analysts wrote .
“ Parallels with the disputed 2000 election between Al Gore and George Bush would be informative , but more severe market disruptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major economic indicators came out Monday , the rest of the week will feature some notable data points and speeches .
On Tuesday , Federal Reserve vice chair Randal Quarles will speak about the stability of the international financial system , while the monthly consumer confidence index will be released and the first of three televised presidential debates will take place that evening .
The following day , ADP ’ s monthly employment report — which many believe will show an uptick in jobs — will release .
The rest of the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment report , updated GDP numbers , data on core inflation , and manufacturing and wholesale inventories .
Another benchmark will be hit very soon and according to some trackers already has : the world surpasses 1 million dead from coronavirus .
More than 33 million have contracted Covid-19 worldwide , according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University .
In the United States alone , more than 7.1 million have been confirmed infected while nearly 205,000 have died .

MANHATTAN (CN) — Markets rose dramatically on Monday, building on last week’s gains and ignoring prior weeks of losses.
Much of the optimism on Wall Street may be due to inklings that a stimulus deal could finally be imminent. Over the weekend, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told committee chairs to create a scaled-back coronavirus relief package, according to several news outlets.
The widening window for a stimulus bill before the election, even if such a window remains small, seemed to goose investors Monday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 300 points at the opening bell, climbing steadily throughout the day to finish at a 410-point increase. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq saw similar gains of about 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively.
However, some analysts predict the party on Wall Street could turn sour just as quickly. Stephen Innes, chief global market analyst at AXI Trader, wrote in an investor’s note that “lingering optimism around a U.S. stimulus package is getting offset by rising Covid concerns.”
However, Innes added it has become “de rigueur for investors to dive into tech stock as another quality Covid hedge. And why not? The greater the risk of more draconian stay-at-home measures only increases the use of internet technology.”
Other experts say the upcoming presidential election may also create a drag on Wall Street. “Markets are trying to regain their footing, but with so much election uncertainty looming that may take time,” wrote James Meyer, principal at Tower Bridge Advisors. “In the meantime, change caused by the pandemic continues to have a greater impact on individual companies than the presidential election.”
Analysts at Oxford Economics noted investors are pricing in greater volatility due to the uncertainty about the upcoming presidential election, that the predicted surge in mail-in votes could delay the election results and thus mute any market reaction even if a winner is quickly declared.
“We fear a larger risk-off trade if a winner is not quickly declared,” the analysts wrote. “Parallels with the disputed 2000 election between Al Gore and George Bush would be informative, but more severe market disruptions are an important risk.”
While no major economic indicators came out Monday, the rest of the week will feature some notable data points and speeches. On Tuesday, Federal Reserve vice chair Randal Quarles will speak about the stability of the international financial system, while the monthly consumer confidence index will be released and the first of three televised presidential debates will take place that evening.
The following day, ADP’s monthly employment report — which many believe will show an uptick in jobs — will release. The rest of the week will be rounded out by the weekly unemployment report, updated GDP numbers, data on core inflation, and manufacturing and wholesale inventories.
Another benchmark will be hit very soon and according to some trackers already has: the world surpasses 1 million dead from coronavirus. More than 33 million have contracted Covid-19 worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. In the United States alone, more than 7.1 million have been confirmed infected while nearly 205,000 have died.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

Sept. 22 , 2020 : News release regarding Riverside court hitting benchmark in criminal jury trials since Covid-19 closures Sept. @ @ @ @ @ of certain civil services and proceedings

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.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Officer Charged in Breonna Taylor Case Pleads Not Guilty

LOUISVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) — The lone Kentucky detective facing charges related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor pleaded not guilty Monday .
Brett Hankison ’ s plea comes five days after a grand jury indicted him on three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into the home of Taylor ’ s neighbors .
If convicted , he could face up to five years in prison on each count .
Hankison ’ s lawyer asked that his client be allowed to keep firearms for self-defense , saying Hankison , who was fired in June , “ has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge turned down the request .
The grand jury declined to charge Hankison or the other two undercover narcotics officers who opened fire inside Taylor ’ s house with her shooting .
The decision not to charge the officers set off protests in Louisville and across the country .
On Monday , Louisville ’ s mayor lifted the curfew put in place after people refused to end their nighttime protests .
Mayor Greg Fischer ’ s statement said the 9 p.m. curfew had served its purpose .
“ We sadly saw some violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers , one of whom remains hospitalized , dealing with complications of his injuries .
But we believe the curfew helped , by ensuring fewer people were out late in the day , ” Fischer said .
Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear said the protests were largely peaceful , with a few people taking advantage of the situation to commit violence .
“ Let me say this , 99.99 % of people that took to the streets or the sidewalks did so peacefully , raised their voices to be heard and we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma and to the pain , ” Beshear said .
Meanwhile , Kentucky state Rep. Lisa Willner , a Louisville Democrat , said Monday that she ’ s starting to craft legislation that would narrow the scope of the state ’ s rioting statute .
Her proposal , which she intends to offer in next year ’ s legislative session , would protect people from being charged with first-degree rioting if they ’ re present but don ’ t engage in destructive or violent actions .
Her response comes after Democratic state Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week while participating in Louisville protests for racial justice .
“ This is not any attempt at all to weaken the current law , ” Willner said in a phone interview .
“ It ’ s just to make sure that people who are peacefully protesting , who are merely exercising their First Amendment rights , are clearly not engaging in rioting.
” Scott was among demonstrators who converged in downtown Louisville to express their disagreement with the grand jury decision .
Many marched along Louisville ’ s streets chanting “ Breonna @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ no justice , no peace.
” Taylor was shot multiple times after her boyfriend opened fire as officers entered her home during a narcotics raid on the night of March 13 , authorities said .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend said he didn ’ t know who was coming in and fired in self-defense .
One officer was wounded .
A coroner ’ s report obtained Monday says Taylor was shot five times and died of multiple gunshot wounds .
It says she was hit in the torso , her upper left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested negative for drugs and alcohol .
Scott , the state ’ s only Black woman representative , was arrested and charged Thursday night with the felony of first-degree rioting as well as unlawful assembly and failure to disperse , which are misdemeanor offenses .
Police said Scott was in a group whose members damaged buildings and set fire to a library .
Scott called the charges “ ludicrous ” and said she would never be involved in setting fire to a library .
She said she was arrested as she walked with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ church .
Kentucky law defines a riot as a public disturbance involving five or more people “ which by tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons or substantially obstructs law enforcement or other government function.
” The law defines first-degree rioting as knowingly participating in a riot that causes injury to a person who is not rioting or causes substantial property damage .
Scott said she and her daughter were driving from a protest to a church that offered refuge to people who would otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blocked their route , so they parked and walked to the church instead .
Officers then converged on them to make arrests before the curfew took effect , Scott said .
“ LMPD swarmed us , ” Scott said .
“ They started yelling , ‘ Circle ’ em , circle ’ em.
’ They wouldn ’ t let us leave to go back to our vehicle .
And they wouldn ’ t let us literally cross the street to get to the church and sanctuary.
” Willner said Scott ’ s arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others have been accused of rioting in the first degree — which is a felony — who are facing loss of voting rights , simply by being present.
” “ We can make the language much clearer so that in order for a person to be convicted for riot in the first degree , it should be clear that they participated in the unlawful action by engaging in violent or destructive acts or by complicitly encouraging others to engage in violent or destructive acts , ” she said .
Republicans have overwhelming majorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By BRUCE SCHREINER , REBECCA REYNOLDS YONKER and PIPER HUDSPETH BLACKBURN Associated Press Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative .
Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues .

The lone Kentucky detective facing charges related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor pleaded not guilty Monday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The lone Kentucky detective facing charges related to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor pleaded not guilty Monday.
Brett Hankison's plea comes five days after a grand jury indicted him on three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into the home of Taylor's neighbors. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison on each count.
Hankison's lawyer asked that his client be allowed to keep firearms for self-defense, saying Hankison, who was fired in June, "has received a number of threats." The judge turned down the request.
The grand jury declined to charge Hankison or the other two undercover narcotics officers who opened fire inside Taylor's house with her shooting. The decision not to charge the officers set off protests in Louisville and across the country.
On Monday, Louisville's mayor lifted the curfew put in place after people refused to end their nighttime protests. Mayor Greg Fischer's statement said the 9 p.m. curfew had served its purpose.
"We sadly saw some violence, including the shooting of two police officers, one of whom remains hospitalized, dealing with complications of his injuries. But we believe the curfew helped, by ensuring fewer people were out late in the day," Fischer said.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the protests were largely peaceful, with a few people taking advantage of the situation to commit violence.
"Let me say this, 99.99% of people that took to the streets or the sidewalks did so peacefully, raised their voices to be heard and we should listen. We should listen to the trauma and to the pain," Beshear said.
Meanwhile, Kentucky state Rep. Lisa Willner, a Louisville Democrat, said Monday that she's starting to craft legislation that would narrow the scope of the state's rioting statute.
Her proposal, which she intends to offer in next year's legislative session, would protect people from being charged with first-degree rioting if they're present but don't engage in destructive or violent actions. Her response comes after Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott was charged with the felony last week while participating in Louisville protests for racial justice.
"This is not any attempt at all to weaken the current law," Willner said in a phone interview. "It's just to make sure that people who are peacefully protesting, who are merely exercising their First Amendment rights, are clearly not engaging in rioting."
Scott was among demonstrators who converged in downtown Louisville to express their disagreement with the grand jury decision. Many marched along Louisville's streets chanting "Breonna Taylor, say her name," and "no justice, no peace."
Taylor was shot multiple times after her boyfriend opened fire as officers entered her home during a narcotics raid on the night of March 13, authorities said. Taylor's boyfriend said he didn't know who was coming in and fired in self-defense. One officer was wounded.
A coroner's report obtained Monday says Taylor was shot five times and died of multiple gunshot wounds. It says she was hit in the torso, her upper left extremity and both lower extremities. She tested negative for drugs and alcohol.
Scott, the state's only Black woman representative, was arrested and charged Thursday night with the felony of first-degree rioting as well as unlawful assembly and failure to disperse, which are misdemeanor offenses.
Police said Scott was in a group whose members damaged buildings and set fire to a library.
Scott called the charges "ludicrous" and said she would never be involved in setting fire to a library. She said she was arrested as she walked with her daughter to the sanctuary of a church.
Kentucky law defines a riot as a public disturbance involving five or more people "which by tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons or substantially obstructs law enforcement or other government function."
The law defines first-degree rioting as knowingly participating in a riot that causes injury to a person who is not rioting or causes substantial property damage.
Scott said she and her daughter were driving from a protest to a church that offered refuge to people who would otherwise be caught violating the curfew when police blocked their route, so they parked and walked to the church instead. Officers then converged on them to make arrests before the curfew took effect, Scott said.
"LMPD swarmed us," Scott said. "They started yelling, 'Circle 'em, circle 'em.' They wouldn't let us leave to go back to our vehicle. And they wouldn't let us literally cross the street to get to the church and sanctuary."
Willner said Scott's arrest "raises the question of how many others have been accused of rioting in the first degree — which is a felony — who are facing loss of voting rights, simply by being present."
"We can make the language much clearer so that in order for a person to be convicted for riot in the first degree, it should be clear that they participated in the unlawful action by engaging in violent or destructive acts or by complicitly encouraging others to engage in violent or destructive acts," she said.
Republicans have overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Kentucky legislature.
By BRUCE SCHREINER, REBECCA REYNOLDS YONKER and PIPER HUDSPETH BLACKBURN Associated Press
Hudspeth Blackburn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Riverside County Judges Pick New Presiding, Assistant Presiding Judges

RIVERSIDE , Calif. ( CN ) — Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso will serve as the Southern California court ’ s next presiding judge starting in 2021 , and Judge Judith Clark will be the next assistant presiding judge .
Both judges were appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and previously worked in the Riverside County District Attorney ’ s Office at some point in their careers .
Like all the other court systems across the nation , Riverside County closed its doors to the public this past March during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Just before resuming jury trials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited entry to the courts , audio livestreams and social distancing with enforcement that masks be worn at all times while in the courthouses .
Monterosso is the court ’ s assistant presiding judge and has been on the bench since 2007 , currently in the criminal division .
A graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law , Monterosso clerked for the late California Supreme Court Associate Justice Allen Broussard .
Monterosso was awarded the Southwest Felony Prosecutor of the Year award in 1998 and 2004 while working with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent 17 years as a prosecutor and ended his time in the DA ’ s office as assistant deputy DA .
His previous assignments in the Riverside court include felony trials , family law and juvenile dependency along with the mental health court and drug court program .
Monterosso has also served as the lead judge with the Southwest Justice Center and the county ’ s court security committee .
Clark , who will start her term as the assistant presiding judge on Jan. 1 , is a graduate from the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bachelor ’ s degree in criminal justice with a minor in addictions from the Metropolitan State College in Denver .
Clark is currently the presiding judge of the county ’ s juvenile court .
Before entering the legal field , she worked as a counselor at two residential treatment centers for minors .
She worked with the DA ’ s office for 16 years , ending her time there as a supervisor of the training and writs and appeals division .
She presides over the dependency calendar in the juvenile court ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to criminal trials and family law .
Both judges will serve two-year terms , having been selected by their fellow jurists in an uncontested election .

Riverside County Judges Pick New Presiding, Assistant Presiding Judges
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CN) — Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso will serve as the Southern California court’s next presiding judge starting in 2021, and Judge Judith Clark will be the next assistant presiding judge.
Both judges were appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and previously worked in the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office at some point in their careers.
Like all the other court systems across the nation, Riverside County closed its doors to the public this past March during the Covid-19 pandemic. Just before resuming jury trials this past June, the court implemented limited entry to the courts, audio livestreams and social distancing with enforcement that masks be worn at all times while in the courthouses.
Monterosso is the court’s assistant presiding judge and has been on the bench since 2007, currently in the criminal division. A graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, Monterosso clerked for the late California Supreme Court Associate Justice Allen Broussard. Monterosso was awarded the Southwest Felony Prosecutor of the Year award in 1998 and 2004 while working with the Riverside DA’s office. He spent 17 years as a prosecutor and ended his time in the DA’s office as assistant deputy DA.
His previous assignments in the Riverside court include felony trials, family law and juvenile dependency along with the mental health court and drug court program. Monterosso has also served as the lead judge with the Southwest Justice Center and the county’s court security committee.
Clark, who will start her term as the assistant presiding judge on Jan. 1, is a graduate from the University of San Diego School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in addictions from the Metropolitan State College in Denver.
Clark is currently the presiding judge of the county’s juvenile court. Before entering the legal field, she worked as a counselor at two residential treatment centers for minors. She worked with the DA’s office for 16 years, ending her time there as a supervisor of the training and writs and appeals division.
“When I first entered the legal profession as an attorney, I had no idea what areas of the law would become a passion for me,” Clark said in an email interview. “Just by happenstance, while serving in the District Attorney’s Office I was never assigned to the juvenile division.”
She presides over the dependency calendar in the juvenile court’s southwest division and was previously assigned to criminal trials and family law.
“I have found these past five years serving as a juvenile court judge to be particularly satisfying and I am sad to step away from this assignment. The approach to juvenile treatment and recidivism (like so many areas of the law) has seen a dramatic shift in recent years,” said Clark.
She said her goals are to help the court “facilitate access to justice” for everyone and “ensure timely judicial hearings, while ensuring the safety of our court staff, our judicial partners and our court users.”
“Given the length of time that I have served on the bench and the variety of assignments I have held as a judicial officer, I felt I could bring a broad perspective and depth of experience to the position,” Clark said.
Both judges will serve two-year terms, having been selected by their fellow jurists in an uncontested election.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Salty Lake, Ponds May Be Gurgling Beneath South Pole on Mars

CAPE CANAVERAL , Fla. ( AP ) — A network of salty ponds may be gurgling beneath Mars ’ South Pole alongside a large underground lake , raising the prospect of tiny , swimming Martian life .
Italian scientists reported their findings Monday , two years after identifying what they believed to be a large buried lake .
They widened their coverage area by a couple hundred miles , using even more data from a radar sounder on the European Space Agency ’ s Mars Express orbiter .
In the latest study appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underground lake , estimated to be 12 miles to 18 miles ( 20 kilometers to 30 kilometers ) across and buried 1 mile ( 1.5 kilometers ) beneath the icy surface .
Even more tantalizing , they ’ ve also identified three smaller bodies of water surrounding the lake .
These ponds appear to be of various sizes and are separate from the main lake .
Roughly 4 billion years ago , Mars was warm and wet , like Earth .
But the red planet eventually morphed into the barren , dry world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Roma Tre University ’ s Sebastian Emanuel Lauro used a method similar to what ’ s been used on Earth to detect buried lakes in the Antarctic and Canadian Arctic .
They based their findings on more than 100 radar observations by Mars Express from 2010 to 2019 ; the spacecraft was launched in 2003 .
All this potential water raises the possibility of microbial life on — or inside — Mars .
High concentrations of salt are likely keeping the water from freezing at this frigid location , the scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Pole is an estimated minus 172 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 113 degrees Celsius ) , and gets gradually warmer with depth .
These bodies of water are potentially interesting biologically and “ future missions to Mars should target this region , ” the researchers wrote .
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute ’ s Department of Science Education .
The AP is solely responsible for all content .

A network of salty ponds may be gurgling beneath Mars' South Pole alongside a large underground lake, raising the prospect of tiny, swimming Martian life.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A network of salty ponds may be gurgling beneath Mars' South Pole alongside a large underground lake, raising the prospect of tiny, swimming Martian life.
Italian scientists reported their findings Monday, two years after identifying what they believed to be a large buried lake. They widened their coverage area by a couple hundred miles, using even more data from a radar sounder on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter.
In the latest study appearing in the journal Nature Astronomy, the scientists provide further evidence of this salty underground lake, estimated to be 12 miles to 18 miles (20 kilometers to 30 kilometers) across and buried 1 mile (1.5 kilometers) beneath the icy surface.
Even more tantalizing, they've also identified three smaller bodies of water surrounding the lake. These ponds appear to be of various sizes and are separate from the main lake.
Roughly 4 billion years ago, Mars was warm and wet, like Earth. But the red planet eventually morphed into the barren, dry world it remains today.
The research team led by Roma Tre University's Sebastian Emanuel Lauro used a method similar to what's been used on Earth to detect buried lakes in the Antarctic and Canadian Arctic. They based their findings on more than 100 radar observations by Mars Express from 2010 to 2019; the spacecraft was launched in 2003.
All this potential water raises the possibility of microbial life on — or inside — Mars. High concentrations of salt are likely keeping the water from freezing at this frigid location, the scientists noted. The surface temperature at the South Pole is an estimated minus 172 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 113 degrees Celsius), and gets gradually warmer with depth.
These bodies of water are potentially interesting biologically and "future missions to Mars should target this region," the researchers wrote.
By MARCIA DUNN Aerospace Writer
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Georgia Election Officials Ordered to Keep Paper Backups of Voter Rolls

The order does not necessitate new training for poll workers and only requires that a paper copy of the voter list be updated at the end of the in-person early voting period to mirror data in the electronic pollbook .
ATLANTA ( CN ) — A federal judge presiding over a lawsuit challenging Georgia ’ s voting system ruled Monday that every polling place in the Peach State must have a paper backup of the list used to check voter eligibility as a safeguard in case electronic pollbooks malfunction on Election Day .
U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan requiring state election officials to provide paper copies of a list showing who is registered to vote and whether they ’ ve submitted an absentee ballot before Nov. 3 is essential to protecting the right to vote in Georgia .
In a 67-page ruling , Totenberg said the plan will help prevent long lines at the polls caused by difficulties with the state ’ s new voter check-in tablets called Poll Pads .
The decision will help mitigate “ the real potential harms that would otherwise likely transpire at precinct polling locations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the combination of new voting equipment issues and old voter data system deficiencies , ” Totenberg wrote .
Voting integrity activists requested the order in August as part of a 2017 lawsuit against state election officials .
The lawsuit originally challenged the integrity of Georgia ’ s old voting machines but has changed into a fight against the state ’ s new voting system , which the activists say features many of the same security vulnerabilities .
The Coalition for Good Governance , a plaintiff in the case , argued that numerous instances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wait in long lines for hours at the polls during the June primary and August runoff election .
Monday ’ s ruling comes after a three-day hearing earlier this month .
Totenberg wrote that Georgia “ has yet to work out the host of bugs afflicting its implementation of an entirely new electronic voting system ” and found that there is “ no indication ” that voters can expect better circumstances in November .
The judge found that evidence suggests the state ’ s technological failures , including problems with electronic pollbooks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned away from their correct polling place or sent to the wrong precincts .
The activists produced evidence showing “ a system wide problem of malfunctioning electronic PollPads ” during the November 2019 elections , when six counties tested the new system , in the June primary election , and in the August 2020 runoff elections , the ruling states .
Totenberg wrote that she entered the order Monday to give election officials ample time to begin preparations to implement the paper pollbooks .
The judge pointed out that the order will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any new protocol and only requires that a paper copy of the voter list be updated at the end of the in-person early voting period to mirror the information in the electronic pollbook .
Georgia ’ s Republican secretary of state is ordered to instruct election superintendents to provide at least one paper backup to each polling place on Election Day .
Totenberg said in Monday ’ s ruling that she plans to issue a later order addressing the activists ’ claims with regard to the voting system ’ s alleged security vulnerabilities @

A federal judge presiding over a lawsuit challenging Georgia’s voting system ruled Monday that every polling place in the Peach State must have a paper backup of the list used to check voter eligibility as a safeguard in case electronic pollbooks malfunction on Election Day.
ATLANTA (CN) — A federal judge presiding over a lawsuit challenging Georgia’s voting system ruled Monday that every polling place in the Peach State must have a paper backup of the list used to check voter eligibility as a safeguard in case electronic pollbooks malfunction on Election Day.
U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg, a Barack Obama appointee, said the backup plan requiring state election officials to provide paper copies of a list showing who is registered to vote and whether they’ve submitted an absentee ballot before Nov. 3 is essential to protecting the right to vote in Georgia.
In a 67-page ruling, Totenberg said the plan will help prevent long lines at the polls caused by difficulties with the state’s new voter check-in tablets called Poll Pads.
The decision will help mitigate “the real potential harms that would otherwise likely transpire at precinct polling locations grappling with the boiling brew created by the combination of new voting equipment issues and old voter data system deficiencies,” Totenberg wrote.
Voting integrity activists requested the order in August as part of a 2017 lawsuit against state election officials. The lawsuit originally challenged the integrity of Georgia’s old voting machines but has changed into a fight against the state’s new voting system, which the activists say features many of the same security vulnerabilities.
The Coalition for Good Governance, a plaintiff in the case, argued that numerous instances of malfunctioning electronic Poll Pads caused voters to wait in long lines for hours at the polls during the June primary and August runoff election.
Monday’s ruling comes after a three-day hearing earlier this month.
Totenberg wrote that Georgia “has yet to work out the host of bugs afflicting its implementation of an entirely new electronic voting system” and found that there is “no indication” that voters can expect better circumstances in November.
The judge found that evidence suggests the state’s technological failures, including problems with electronic pollbooks, have resulted in eligible voters being turned away from their correct polling place or sent to the wrong precincts.
The activists produced evidence showing “a system wide problem of malfunctioning electronic PollPads” during the November 2019 elections, when six counties tested the new system, in the June primary election, and in the August 2020 runoff elections, the ruling states.
Totenberg wrote that she entered the order Monday to give election officials ample time to begin preparations to implement the paper pollbooks.
The judge pointed out that the order will not require poll workers to be trained in any new protocol and only requires that a paper copy of the voter list be updated at the end of the in-person early voting period to mirror the information in the electronic pollbook.
Georgia’s Republican secretary of state is ordered to instruct election superintendents to provide at least one paper backup to each polling place on Election Day.
Totenberg said in Monday’s ruling that she plans to issue a later order addressing the activists’ claims with regard to the voting system’s alleged security vulnerabilities.


Top Eight

Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the global death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 1 million ; A federal judge in Pennsylvania became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against the Postal Service ’ s operational changes ; California wildfires are threatening several towns in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday .
1 . )
Blocking Postmaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operational changes that have caused mail delays ahead of the November election , a federal judge in Pennsylvania became the latest Monday to issue a nationwide injunction against the controversial policy shifts .
2 . )
Just over one-fourth of American adults are turning to YouTube to get their news from both big media organizations and independent producers , according to a Pew Research Center study released Monday .
3 . )
President Donald Trump said from the White House Rose Garden on Monday that the federal government has contracted with health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapid Covid-19 tests for local governments in all 50 states to help them reopen schools .
4 . )
Residents of Santa Rosa , California , who fled their homes ahead of the Tubbs Fire three years ago did so again late Sunday and into Monday as the Glass Fire destroyed buildings and threatened several towns in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties .
5 . )
An Austin-area sheriff was arrested Monday and booked into his own jail for the alleged destruction of video recorded by police docuseries “ Live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of unarmed Black motorist Javier Ambler last year .
6 . )
The global death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 1 million by Monday , a grim milestone in a pandemic that caught much of the world unprepared for a health crisis and left economies reeling , convulsed politics and fundamentally altered the world .
7 . )
A former Kosovo military officer on Monday became the first defendant to be brought before a special court established to try war crimes during the Kosovo War .
8 . )
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 wants to address the court , his lawyers announced Monday .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the global death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 1 million; A federal judge in Pennsylvania became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against the Postal Service’s operational changes; California wildfires are threatening several towns in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties, and more.
Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the global death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 1 million; A federal judge in Pennsylvania became the latest to issue a nationwide injunction against the Postal Service’s operational changes; California wildfires are threatening several towns in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) Blocking Postmaster General Louis DeJoy from moving forward with operational changes that have caused mail delays ahead of the November election, a federal judge in Pennsylvania became the latest Monday to issue a nationwide injunction against the controversial policy shifts.
A forklift operator loads absentee ballots for mailing in Raleigh, N.C., in September 2020. (Gerry Broome/AP)
2.) Just over one-fourth of American adults are turning to YouTube to get their news from both big media organizations and independent producers, according to a Pew Research Center study released Monday.
A YouTube sign is shown across the street from the company's offices in San Bruno, Calif., on April 3, 2018.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
3.) President Donald Trump said from the White House Rose Garden on Monday that the federal government has contracted with health care giant Abbott Laboratories to procure 150 million rapid Covid-19 tests for local governments in all 50 states to help them reopen schools.
FILE- In this Aug. 31, 2020 file photo, Miami-Dade County Public Schools' superintendent Alberto Carvalho glances towards student Emily Acosta as she does school work in her mother's class as he stopped by Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes, Fla. Authorities announced, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, that a 16-year-old student has been arrested for orchestrating a series of network outages and cyberattacks during the first week of school in Florida's largest district. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald via AP, File)
Regional
4.) Residents of Santa Rosa, California, who fled their homes ahead of the Tubbs Fire three years ago did so again late Sunday and into Monday as the Glass Fire destroyed buildings and threatened several towns in the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma counties.
The Glass Fire burns a hillside above Silverado Trail in St. Helena, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
5.) An Austin-area sheriff was arrested Monday and booked into his own jail for the alleged destruction of video recorded by police docuseries “Live PD” of the chase and death of unarmed Black motorist Javier Ambler last year.
Williamson County deputies hold down Javier Ambler as one of them uses a Taser on Ambler’s back during his arrest in Austin, Texas, in March 2019. (Austin Police Department via AP)
International
6.) The global death toll from the novel coronavirus surpassed 1 million by Monday, a grim milestone in a pandemic that caught much of the world unprepared for a health crisis and left economies reeling, convulsed politics and fundamentally altered the world.
The cell phone of gravedigger Rider Sol Sol rests on a white cross marking the grave of a person who died from the new coronavirus, in a cemetery recently developed to bury victims of COVID-19, along a remote road known as “Kilometer 20,” on the outskirts of Pucallpa, in Peru’s Ucayali region, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. These days, with the death count lower, the 48-year-old gravedigger is the only man working most days. “I give thanks to God that I have a job,” he said. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
7.) A former Kosovo military officer on Monday became the first defendant to be brought before a special court established to try war crimes during the Kosovo War.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, Netherlands. (Wikipedia public domain image via Courthouse News)
8.) One of the four men charged with the downing of flight Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 wants to address the court, his lawyers announced Monday.


courthousenews--2020-09-28--Trump Announces Plan to Send 150 Million Rapid Virus Tests to States

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — President Donald Trump said from the White House Rose Garden on Monday that the federal government has contracted with health care giant Abbott Laboratories to procure 150 million rapid Covid-19 tests for local governments in all 50 states to help them reopen schools .
“ Fifty million tests will go to protect the most vulnerable communities , which we ’ ve always promised to do , including 18 million for nursing homes , 15 million for assisted living facilities , 10 million for home health and hospice care agencies and nearly 1 million for historically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The president added that the number of tests being distributed will allow every state to regularly test teachers .
The global death toll for Covid-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus , surpassed 1 million on Monday , including over 200,000 Americans .
Trump claimed during Monday ’ s press briefing that the U.S. has administrated over 100 million tests so far .
“ We ’ ve conducted more tests then the entire European Union and more than all of Latin America combined , ” the president said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at fortifying U.S. schools , in a push to return students to in-person learning .
Trump said 100 million of the rapid tests will be used to help reopen local economies and schools , “ immediately and as fast as they can.
” Joining Trump for the Rose Garden news conference , Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves noted K-12 schools and college campuses have been open in his state for about nine weeks and said the availability of quicker tests will allow for daily testing of staff .
The rapid test produces a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require a computer .
“ And while we have 75 to 80 % of our kids back in the classroom , we want to get 100 % of our kids back in the classroom , ” the Republican governor said .
The U.S. averages about 43,000 new cases per day .
Last week , 22 states saw an increase in the rate of positive cases within their borders , with seven states – Arizona , Colorado , Minnesota , Montana , Texas , Utah and Wyoming – seeing their positive rate grow by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giroir , who has overseen testing as part of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force , said the U.S. will soon have the ability to test about 3 million people per day , with half of those being rapid point-of-care tests .
About 6.5 million tests of Trump ’ s promised 150 million will be shipped this week , he said .
Giroir also briefly demonstrated a rapid point-of-care test , showing those gathered in the Rose Garden that the swab is less intrusive than other methods .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster operations in California , Oregon , Texas and Louisiana , and we have already shipped 2.1 million tests to 7,600 nursing homes , ” Giroir said .
“ Over 900,000 tests to assisted living , 300,000 tests to the Indian Health Service and 339,000 tests to historically Black colleges and universities.
” Vice President Mike Pence lauded the announcement as “ historic.
” He said that in addition to the eventual release of a safe vaccine for Covid-19 , the new shipment of rapid tests is a testament to Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a standing start ” when it came to testing for the virus and the disease ’ s lethality , Pence said , adding the task force knew nothing of the virus ’ coding until mid-February .
The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Trump knew the virus was “ deadly stuff ” by the beginning of February , according to audio recordings by journalist Bob Woodward .
Reporters did not have a chance Monday to further press Trump about a New York Times report published Sunday evening that analyzed two decades Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gleaned from those documents that the president only paid $ 750 in income taxes during his first two years in office and owes more than $ 400 million .
A 2010 refund from the IRS is still under investigation , according to the report .
While Trump received $ 72.9 million in that tax return – his federal income tax from 2005 to 2008 plus interest – the audit the president claims prevents him from releasing his full tax returns could cost more than $ 100 million .
“ But they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not , I would be proud to show you , but that ’ s just fake news , ” the president .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Trump ’ s reported debt reveals national security concerns .
In a statement , the California Democrat also said the Times story provides a window into the measures Trump would use to “ avoid paying his fair share of taxes , while hard working Americans are.
” “ It is a sign of President Trump ’ s disdain for America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abusing the tax code while passing a GOP tax scam for the rich that gives 83 % of the benefits to the wealthiest 1 % , ” she said .

President Donald Trump said from the White House Rose Garden on Monday that the federal government has contracted with health care giant Abbott Laboratories to procure 150 million rapid Covid-19 tests for local governments in all 50 states to help them reopen schools.
WASHINGTON (CN) — President Donald Trump said from the White House Rose Garden on Monday that the federal government has contracted with health care giant Abbott Laboratories to procure 150 million rapid Covid-19 tests for local governments in all 50 states to help them reopen schools.
“Fifty million tests will go to protect the most vulnerable communities, which we’ve always promised to do, including 18 million for nursing homes, 15 million for assisted living facilities, 10 million for home health and hospice care agencies and nearly 1 million for historically Black colleges and universities,” Trump said.
The president added that the number of tests being distributed will allow every state to regularly test teachers.
The global death toll for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, surpassed 1 million on Monday, including over 200,000 Americans. Trump claimed during Monday’s press briefing that the U.S. has administrated over 100 million tests so far.
“We’ve conducted more tests then the entire European Union and more than all of Latin America combined,” the president said.
The flood of testing supplies is aimed at fortifying U.S. schools, in a push to return students to in-person learning. Trump said 100 million of the rapid tests will be used to help reopen local economies and schools, “immediately and as fast as they can.”
Joining Trump for the Rose Garden news conference, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves noted K-12 schools and college campuses have been open in his state for about nine weeks and said the availability of quicker tests will allow for daily testing of staff. The rapid test produces a result within 15 minutes and does not require a computer.
“And while we have 75 to 80% of our kids back in the classroom, we want to get 100% of our kids back in the classroom,” the Republican governor said.
The U.S. averages about 43,000 new cases per day. Last week, 22 states saw an increase in the rate of positive cases within their borders, with seven states – Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Texas, Utah and Wyoming – seeing their positive rate grow by at least 60%.
Admiral Brett Giroir, who has overseen testing as part of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said the U.S. will soon have the ability to test about 3 million people per day, with half of those being rapid point-of-care tests. About 6.5 million tests of Trump’s promised 150 million will be shipped this week, he said.
Giroir also briefly demonstrated a rapid point-of-care test, showing those gathered in the Rose Garden that the swab is less intrusive than other methods.
“We’ve already shipped 65,000 of these to disaster operations in California, Oregon, Texas and Louisiana, and we have already shipped 2.1 million tests to 7,600 nursing homes,” Giroir said. “Over 900,000 tests to assisted living, 300,000 tests to the Indian Health Service and 339,000 tests to historically Black colleges and universities.”
Vice President Mike Pence lauded the announcement as “historic.” He said that in addition to the eventual release of a safe vaccine for Covid-19, the new shipment of rapid tests is a testament to Trump’s leadership.
The Trump administration got “a standing start” when it came to testing for the virus and the disease’s lethality, Pence said, adding the task force knew nothing of the virus’ coding until mid-February. The Washington Post reported earlier this month that Trump knew the virus was “deadly stuff” by the beginning of February, according to audio recordings by journalist Bob Woodward.
Reporters did not have a chance Monday to further press Trump about a New York Times report published Sunday evening that analyzed two decades Trump’s tax returns. The Times gleaned from those documents that the president only paid $750 in income taxes during his first two years in office and owes more than $400 million.
A 2010 refund from the IRS is still under investigation, according to the report. While Trump received $72.9 million in that tax return – his federal income tax from 2005 to 2008 plus interest – the audit the president claims prevents him from releasing his full tax returns could cost more than $100 million.
Trump called the Times report “totally fake news” during a briefing Sunday.
“But they’re under audit and when they’re not, I would be proud to show you, but that’s just fake news,” the president.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Trump’s reported debt reveals national security concerns. In a statement, the California Democrat also said the Times story provides a window into the measures Trump would use to “avoid paying his fair share of taxes, while hard working Americans are.”
“It is a sign of President Trump’s disdain for America’s working families that he has spent years abusing the tax code while passing a GOP tax scam for the rich that gives 83% of the benefits to the wealthiest 1%,” she said.


courthousenews--2020-09-30--Russian Hacker Sentenced for 2012 Data Theft of Linkedin, Dropbox Users

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin to 88 months in prison for stealing more than 100 million user credentials from LinkedIn , Dropbox and Formspring databases in 2012 .
“ I think you ’ re a brilliant guy .
Very smart .
I urge you to apply that brilliance to a lawful profession and do something good with your life other than hacking into computers , ” U.S. District Judge William Alsup said after imposing the sentence he believes takes into account the nearly four years Nikulin has spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic and the fact that he will likely never see his mother again .
The 88 months amounts to a little more than seven years behind bars for Nikulin , who will turn 33 next month .
In 2016 , he was snatched off the streets of Prague , where he spent two years awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face nine criminal counts of computer intrusion , causing damage to a protected computer , aggravated identity theft , trafficking and conspiracy .
A jury convicted him of all counts in July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough evidence to prove that he committed the Dropbox and Formspring hacks for financial gain .
Alsup said Tuesday that he had his doubts about the strength of the government ’ s case throughout the trial .
“ I feel I said things on the record in frustration along the way that may have led the casual observer to think the case was a weak case , ” he said .
“ It ’ s true that while the evidence was coming in at trial that me , the judge , felt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to the jury .
I did have that feeling from time to time.
” But any misgivings he had early on were put to rest during Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Wawrzyniak ’ s closing argument , which Alsup said was one of the best he had heard in 21 years on the federal bench .
“ All of the loose pieces and data points fell into place and it was quite clear the government had a strong case , not a weak case , ” he said .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that Nikulin ’ s case was hurt , not helped , by going to trial .
Nikulin ’ s sentence breaks down to 64 months on counts two , six and eight related to trafficking in unauthorized access devices and causing damage to a protected computer , and 60 months for counts one , four , five and seven related to computer intrusion and conspiracy .
These will all be served concurrently .
He will also serve 24 months for aggravated identity theft .
“ I want to impose a sentence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed is harder on him than anyone in his position , ” Alsup said , adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has made being in prison harder , along with the experience of awaiting trial in a country where he does not speak English and a judicial system with which he is unfamiliar .
“ It ’ s not quite Kafkaesque because he did the crime , but it is harder on him than it is on the ordinary defendant , ” Alsup said .
The judge also seemed particularly affected by the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia and that his mother may not live long enough for him to see her again .
His attorney Valery Nechay said she has had four spinal surgeries and three strokes in recent years .
“ It is very possible she is at the edge of her life and that Mr. Nikulin may never get to see her again .
The weight of the guilt and the pain of being separated from these people who love and need him is far more punitive than any term of imprisonment that this court or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said , arguing for time served .
Nechay added that the psychological distress Nikulin suffered while being held in two foreign jails is enough to deter him from committing another cybercrime .
He longs for walks in the fresh air , raising his daughter , and “ having a peaceful life away from computers.
” Alsup was skeptical .
“ Let ’ s say Mr. Nikulin were released today and went back to Russia .
The only thing he knows how to do is hack into computers .
How can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back there , out of the reach of U.S. authorities , that he wouldn ’ t go back to doing it all over again ?
” Nechay said Nikulin is skilled at vehicle and watch repair and “ can have a bright future ” in Russia .
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kane said it is exceedingly difficult to capture Russian hackers , as Russia does not have an extradition treaty with the United States .
“ It is so unusual for the United States to be able to get an individual like the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many countries from which we can not extradite defendants .
This was a case in which the defendant happened to leave Russia and we were able to have him arrested and extradited , ” she said .
“ It is incredibly important for the hackers of the world to know that they can not act with impunity .
That the United States economy is not their playground .
That we may not catch all of them , but we will catch some of them and when they come here , the punishment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a substantial risk that he will repeat the crime when he goes back to Russia , ” Alsup said .
“ I think I know enough about him to know that he will be very tempted to get back into the hacking business when he gets over there then he ’ ll be beyond the reach of the U.S. ” Alsup also took the severity of Nikulin ’ s crime into account , noting that millions of people likely lost sleep over their compromised accounts .
“ The worry never goes away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know when someone is going to use the information that got stolen.
” Nechay ’ s co-counsel Adam Gasner said the companies , particularly LinkedIn , substantially overestimated their financial losses in remediating the attacks .
Alsup agreed , saying LinkedIn ’ s loss calculation was “ possibly exaggerated ” but that he had no doubt that all three companies suffered significant losses .
He reduced LinkedIn ’ s restitution from the $ 2 million requested to $ 1 million .
Dropbox was awarded $ 514,000 and Formspring $ 20,000 .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though Nikulin was not charged for that intrusion .

A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin to 88 months in prison for stealing more than 100 million user credentials from LinkedIn, Dropbox and Formspring databases in 2012.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced convicted Russian hacker Yevgeniy Nikulin to 88 months in prison for stealing more than 100 million user credentials from LinkedIn, Dropbox and Formspring databases in 2012.
“I think you're a brilliant guy. Very smart. I urge you to apply that brilliance to a lawful profession and do something good with your life other than hacking into computers,” U.S. District Judge William Alsup said after imposing the sentence he believes takes into account the nearly four years Nikulin has spent behind bars awaiting trial, the Covid-19 pandemic and the fact that he will likely never see his mother again.
The 88 months amounts to a little more than seven years behind bars for Nikulin, who will turn 33 next month.
In 2016, he was snatched off the streets of Prague, where he spent two years awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face nine criminal counts of computer intrusion, causing damage to a protected computer, aggravated identity theft, trafficking and conspiracy.
A jury convicted him of all counts in July, but found the government did not present enough evidence to prove that he committed the Dropbox and Formspring hacks for financial gain.
Alsup said Tuesday that he had his doubts about the strength of the government's case throughout the trial.
“I feel I said things on the record in frustration along the way that may have led the casual observer to think the case was a weak case,” he said. “It's true that while the evidence was coming in at trial that me, the judge, felt the case was disjointed and possibly too weak to go to the jury. I did have that feeling from time to time.”
But any misgivings he had early on were put to rest during Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Wawrzyniak’s closing argument, which Alsup said was one of the best he had heard in 21 years on the federal bench.
“All of the loose pieces and data points fell into place and it was quite clear the government had a strong case, not a weak case,” he said.
He also said the defense did an admirable job, but that Nikulin’s case was hurt, not helped, by going to trial.
Nikulin’s sentence breaks down to 64 months on counts two, six and eight related to trafficking in unauthorized access devices and causing damage to a protected computer, and 60 months for counts one, four, five and seven related to computer intrusion and conspiracy. These will all be served concurrently. He will also serve 24 months for aggravated identity theft.
“I want to impose a sentence that would take into account that the time imposed is harder on him than anyone in his position,” Alsup said, adding that the Covid-19 pandemic has made being in prison harder, along with the experience of awaiting trial in a country where he does not speak English and a judicial system with which he is unfamiliar.
“It's not quite Kafkaesque because he did the crime, but it is harder on him than it is on the ordinary defendant,” Alsup said.
The judge also seemed particularly affected by the fact that Nikulin has a 10-year-old daughter in Russia and that his mother may not live long enough for him to see her again. His attorney Valery Nechay said she has had four spinal surgeries and three strokes in recent years.
“It is very possible she is at the edge of her life and that Mr. Nikulin may never get to see her again. The weight of the guilt and the pain of being separated from these people who love and need him is far more punitive than any term of imprisonment that this court or any other can issue to Mr. Nikulin,” she said, arguing for time served.


Bi-State Sage Grouse

SAN FRANCISCO — In a lawsuit filed Tuesday , environmentalists blast the Trump administration for ignoring sound science and withdrawing @ @ @ @ @ bi-state sage grouse as threatened .


Tribal Voting

BISMARCK , N.D. — The Mandan , Hidatsa and Arikara Nation , also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes , @ @ @ @ @ rights by requiring them to return to the reservation to vote according to a federal @ @ @ @ @ by two members .


courthousenews--2020-09-29--LA County Looks for Alternatives to Police-Only Responses to Health Crises

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to overhaul the county ’ s response to residents having health crises , directing officials to design a system that dispatches experts in health and de-escalation — not police — during emergencies .
Advocates for LA County residents experiencing homelessness have long argued that having unarmed workers skilled in addressing substance abuse and mental illness respond to certain 911 calls would be a safer and more appropriate crisis response alternative .
LA County residents who call police during a mental health crisis have for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided medical attention or experiencing an aggressive , and sometimes deadly , response from law enforcement .
Supervisor Janice Hahn said during the board ’ s meeting Tuesday the county ’ s current alternative to a police-only response is falling short .
Hahn cited a Los Angeles Times article on Eric Briceno , a man experiencing mental illness who was killed by LA County Sheriff ’ s Department officers this past March , as evidence of a breakdown in the system .
The department ’ s Mental Evaluation Team , a program that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health expert to answer emergency health calls , failed to respond to Briceno ’ s family ’ s call for support .
Briceno was beaten , pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser at least seven times in his room by officers .
“ This is a problem , ” said Hahn .
“ It ’ s a tragic failure and we need to fix it.
” Hahn has spearheaded the county ’ s efforts to revamp its health crisis response system , introducing a motion approved this past March to begin shaping a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups and health , fire and law enforcement agencies .
The new response system will be rooted in the county ’ s “ care first , jail last ” framework , a set of governing principles recommended by the board ’ s Alternatives To Incarceration work group .
The work group — composed of community organizations , health experts and police accountability advocates — points to fatal police shootings of homeless people with mental illness , such as the 2015 killing of Charly “ Africa ” Keunang in LA ’ s Skid Row @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform .
In June , the Board of Supervisors voted to develop a public phone number similar to 911 that residents can call during a health crisis in order to access both medical and social services .
LA County Department of Mental Health director Jonathan Sherin told supervisors during the virtual board meeting Tuesday that his department now has a direct phone line that police can call during health emergencies to connect residents with services .
Sherin said his department will study how 911 call management can move to a non-police agency that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unarmed , medically trained crisis response units .
“ Institutional inequality is at play in big fashion when it comes to how we respond to communities , ” Sherin told the board .
“ We need to meet health and human service needs in our communities with health and human service responses .
We need to help people who are suffering and get them services , not punishment.
” In a report to the board last month , Sherin said a “ regional crisis call center ” is one of the three components @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response system .
The other two components are a mobile team of trained crisis responders and a network of facilities where people in crisis can be stabilized before being connected to other services .
Under the motion approved Tuesday , the county will hire a consultant to audit its existing crisis response system and propose immediate changes as well as strategies for securing long-term state and federal funding .
The motion calls for a report to the board in 60 days .
In another board action , supervisors approved $ 72 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Incarceration initiative , which will be led by former LA County Superior Court Judge Songhai Armstead .
The project will divert thousands of people away from jails and into health and social service programs , an effort supervisors believe will reduce harm to communities of color and save the county money .
Supervisors cited a University of California , Los Angeles , study released last week found that in 2019 , the county spent $ 154 million booking Black people — who make up 8 % of county residents but represent nearly one-third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody .
“ For far too long , the county has been lopsided in its resource allocation — despite knowing that no one gets well in a cell , ” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said in a statement after the vote .
“ This budget represents a significant step towards balancing investments in community services , health services , as well as accountable and responsible law enforcement services .
”

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to overhaul the county’s response to residents having health crises, directing officials to design a system that dispatches experts in health and de-escalation — not police — during emergencies.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to overhaul the county’s response to residents having health crises, directing officials to design a system that dispatches experts in health and de-escalation — not police — during emergencies.
Advocates for LA County residents experiencing homelessness have long argued that having unarmed workers skilled in addressing substance abuse and mental illness respond to certain 911 calls would be a safer and more appropriate crisis response alternative.
LA County residents who call police during a mental health crisis have for years faced the uncertainty of either being provided medical attention or experiencing an aggressive, and sometimes deadly, response from law enforcement.
Supervisor Janice Hahn said during the board’s meeting Tuesday the county’s current alternative to a police-only response is falling short.
Hahn cited a Los Angeles Times article on Eric Briceno, a man experiencing mental illness who was killed by LA County Sheriff’s Department officers this past March, as evidence of a breakdown in the system.
The department’s Mental Evaluation Team, a program that pairs an officer with a licensed mental health expert to answer emergency health calls, failed to respond to Briceno’s family’s call for support.
Briceno was beaten, pepper-sprayed and hit with a Taser at least seven times in his room by officers.
“This is a problem,” said Hahn. “It's a tragic failure and we need to fix it.”
Hahn has spearheaded the county’s efforts to revamp its health crisis response system, introducing a motion approved this past March to begin shaping a new plan with input from social service groups and health, fire and law enforcement agencies.
The new response system will be rooted in the county’s “care first, jail last” framework, a set of governing principles recommended by the board’s Alternatives To Incarceration work group.
The work group — composed of community organizations, health experts and police accountability advocates — points to fatal police shootings of homeless people with mental illness, such as the 2015 killing of Charly “Africa” Keunang in LA’s Skid Row, as evidence of a system beyond reform.
In June, the Board of Supervisors voted to develop a public phone number similar to 911 that residents can call during a health crisis in order to access both medical and social services.
LA County Department of Mental Health director Jonathan Sherin told supervisors during the virtual board meeting Tuesday that his department now has a direct phone line that police can call during health emergencies to connect residents with services.
Sherin said his department will study how 911 call management can move to a non-police agency that receives calls and determines where to send unarmed, medically trained crisis response units.
“Institutional inequality is at play in big fashion when it comes to how we respond to communities,” Sherin told the board. “We need to meet health and human service needs in our communities with health and human service responses. We need to help people who are suffering and get them services, not punishment.”
In a report to the board last month, Sherin said a “regional crisis call center” is one of the three components of the county’s revamped crisis response system.
The other two components are a mobile team of trained crisis responders and a network of facilities where people in crisis can be stabilized before being connected to other services.
Under the motion approved Tuesday, the county will hire a consultant to audit its existing crisis response system and propose immediate changes as well as strategies for securing long-term state and federal funding.
The motion calls for a report to the board in 60 days.
In another board action, supervisors approved $72 million in initial funding to launch the Alternatives to Incarceration initiative, which will be led by former LA County Superior Court Judge Songhai Armstead.
The project will divert thousands of people away from jails and into health and social service programs, an effort supervisors believe will reduce harm to communities of color and save the county money.
Supervisors cited a University of California, Los Angeles, study released last week found that in 2019, the county spent $154 million booking Black people — who make up 8% of county residents but represent nearly one-third of the jail population — into police custody.
“For far too long, the county has been lopsided in its resource allocation — despite knowing that no one gets well in a cell,” Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said in a statement after the vote. “This budget represents a significant step towards balancing investments in community services, health services, as well as accountable and responsible law enforcement services.”


courthousenews--2020-09-29--Dr. Fauci: ‘Safe and Effective’ Vaccine Likely by Year’s End

( CN ) — Conceding early missteps in the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic , Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that he expects a “ safe and effective ” vaccine to be ready by the end of 2020 that the public should trust “ will have no political influence.
” “ I believe that it will happen , and it will happen likely by the end of this calendar year , November or December .
There are already doses that are being made so we can vaccinate people in an expeditious manner , ” Fauci , the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while speaking as part of this year ’ s virtual Texas Tribune Festival .
While Fauci did not directly criticize President Donald Trump , he said that mixed messages from Washington have resulted in the public questioning the credibility of the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the two government agencies at the forefront of the country ’ s pandemic response .
He added that the vaccine review process “ is a very good process ” that involves independent evaluators known as the Data and Safety Monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethicists and clinicians who are the only individuals with access to data from a clinical trial .
“ They are independent , they are beholden to no one , not to the company , not to the president , not to anybody , ” he said .
As of Tuesday , the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported more than 33 million global cases of Covid-19 , with the United States leading with 5.2 million infections .
The virus , which Fauci said mostly likely originated from a bat infecting a human in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a million people worldwide , including over 205,000 people in the United States .
“ These coronaviruses are very much endemic in bats and bats are the really core of the transmissibility , ” Fauci said .
“ It almost certainly went from a bat to an intermediate host to a human.
” Animal to human infections were responsible for the 2002 SARS pandemic and the MERS outbreak 10 years later , he said .
The difference with Covid-19 is its historic impact .
According to Fauci , up to 40 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms whatsoever , a characteristic of the virus that he says makes it “ the most difficult and most damaging respiratory disease pandemic in the last 102 years since the infamous 1918 pandemic.
” “ We ’ ve never seen anything with this broad range of symptoms from nothing , to mild , to moderate , to severe , to deadly — it ’ s just unprecedented , ” he said .
Fauci , a member of the president ’ s coronavirus task force , said the sobering realities of this novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow community spread .
He added that contact tracing has also been proven problematic because of the high rate of asymptomatic spread , particularly among younger people .
“ We got hit and have been hit bad , ” Fauci , the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease , said .
“ There were some missteps in the beginning .
I think you have to be honest and transparent about that.
” While he said Trump ’ s decision on Jan. 31 to block travel from China “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northeastern part of the country , particularly the New York metro region , was hit badly early on in the pandemic by travelers from northern Italy , France , Spain and the United Kingdom who were originally infected in China .
Fauci also said that CDC testing issues in the early months set the country back and that the lack of a uniform response among states “ worked against us.
” “ It ’ s not an excuse , it ’ s just an explanation of how we now today still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between 600 and 1,000 deaths , ” he said .
While Fauci said that hospitalizations and deaths in the country are heading down , he warned that an uptick in the test positivity rate in parts of the country is a predictor of surges to come , especially as the fall and winter months approach .
“ So now we have to double-down and make sure that we ’ re very conscientious without shutting down — we don ’ t need to shut down — but to do the kind of public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection.
” The monthlong Texas Tribune Festival will wrap Wednesday with a closing keynote featuring journalist and author Bob Woodward .

Conceding early missteps in the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that he expects a “safe and effective” vaccine to be ready by the end of 2020 that the public should trust “will have no political influence.”
(CN) — Conceding early missteps in the government response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that he expects a “safe and effective” vaccine to be ready by the end of 2020 that the public should trust “will have no political influence.”
“I believe that it will happen, and it will happen likely by the end of this calendar year, November or December. There are already doses that are being made so we can vaccinate people in an expeditious manner,” Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said while speaking as part of this year’s virtual Texas Tribune Festival.
While Fauci did not directly criticize President Donald Trump, he said that mixed messages from Washington have resulted in the public questioning the credibility of the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two government agencies at the forefront of the country’s pandemic response.
He added that the vaccine review process “is a very good process” that involves independent evaluators known as the Data and Safety Monitoring Board that includes scientists, statisticians, ethicists and clinicians who are the only individuals with access to data from a clinical trial.
“They are independent, they are beholden to no one, not to the company, not to the president, not to anybody,” he said.
As of Tuesday, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported more than 33 million global cases of Covid-19, with the United States leading with 5.2 million infections. The virus, which Fauci said mostly likely originated from a bat infecting a human in Wuhan, China, has killed more than a million people worldwide, including over 205,000 people in the United States.
“These coronaviruses are very much endemic in bats and bats are the really core of the transmissibility,” Fauci said. “It almost certainly went from a bat to an intermediate host to a human.”
Animal to human infections were responsible for the 2002 SARS pandemic and the MERS outbreak 10 years later, he said. The difference with Covid-19 is its historic impact.
According to Fauci, up to 40 to 45% of all infections have no symptoms whatsoever, a characteristic of the virus that he says makes it “the most difficult and most damaging respiratory disease pandemic in the last 102 years since the infamous 1918 pandemic.”
“We’ve never seen anything with this broad range of symptoms from nothing, to mild, to moderate, to severe, to deadly — it’s just unprecedented,” he said.
Fauci, a member of the president’s coronavirus task force, said the sobering realities of this novel coronavirus made universal mask wearing essential to helping slow community spread. He added that contact tracing has also been proven problematic because of the high rate of asymptomatic spread, particularly among younger people.
“We got hit and have been hit bad,” Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said. “There were some missteps in the beginning. I think you have to be honest and transparent about that.”
While he said Trump’s decision on Jan. 31 to block travel from China “was very helpful,” he said the Northeastern part of the country, particularly the New York metro region, was hit badly early on in the pandemic by travelers from northern Italy, France, Spain and the United Kingdom who were originally infected in China.
Fauci also said that CDC testing issues in the early months set the country back and that the lack of a uniform response among states “worked against us.”
“It’s not an excuse, it’s just an explanation of how we now today still have 40,000 new infections per day and anywhere between 600 and 1,000 deaths,” he said.
While Fauci said that hospitalizations and deaths in the country are heading down, he warned that an uptick in the test positivity rate in parts of the country is a predictor of surges to come, especially as the fall and winter months approach.
“So now we have to double-down and make sure that we’re very conscientious without shutting down — we don’t need to shut down — but to do the kind of public health things that we know work to mitigate infection.”
The monthlong Texas Tribune Festival will wrap Wednesday with a closing keynote featuring journalist and author Bob Woodward.


courthousenews--2020-09-29--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

Sept. 29 , 2020 : Comments requested on changes to local rules , due Nov. 13 Sept. 29 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ by appointment , effective Oct. 1