courthousenews--2020-09-12--Ninth Circuit Overturns Federal Judge’s Ban on Immigration Holds in California

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — The Ninth Circuit overturned a federal judge ’ s ban on immigration holds throughout Southern California on Friday , finding the judge wrongly concluded it is unconstitutional for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to rely solely on information from its own databases in making probable cause determinations for such holds .
“ Throughout the district court ’ s order are a number of sweeping , categorical conclusions about the databases on which ICE relies .
These categorical findings , however , suffer from a key shortcoming : the district court did not make reliability findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relies , ” Judge Milan Smith wrote for the three-judge panel .
In 2018 , U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. found the databases are an unreliable method of determining probable cause when issuing an immigration hold .
A federal class action challenging the constitutionality of the practice was originally brought by Gerardo Gonzalez , a U.S. citizen who had an immigration determiner issued against him based on false information pulled from an ICE database .
Gonzalez , a United States citizen born in Pacoima , was picked up in 2012 on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was detained on a five-day immigration hold by the Los Angeles Sheriff ’ s Department after one ICE database erroneously flagged Mexico as his birthplace .
Following a trial in May 2019 , Birotte entered a final judgment barring ICE from issuing detainers based on inaccurate database results .
Smith , who was joined in his opinion by Judge John Owens , found the scope of Birotte ’ s analysis insufficient .
“ Although trial occurred in May 2019 , the district court anchored its analysis in the databases on which ICE relied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ databases on which ICE relied at that point .
Its unreliability findings , however , concerned only six databases , ” he wrote .
“ In a case concerning the reliability of the databases on which ICE relies to make probable cause determinations , the district court could not make categorical findings of unreliability without actually addressing each database on which ICE relies or explaining why an evaluation of a given database was unnecessary .
Because the court failed to do so , the court erred in concluding that ICE ’ s practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the databases ’ to make probable cause determinations violates the Fourth Amendment.
” The majority also said Birotte ’ s ruling lacked a filing of systemic error in ICE ’ s probable cause determinations based on database searches .
“ The database claim that plaintiffs raise is a challenge to a system of databases on which ICE relies to issue detainers from the Central District for class members .
Thus , to find for plaintiffs on this claim , it was not enough for the district court to identify errors in individual databases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ Instead , the district court had to make findings about and explain how this system of databases.
” “ The court is asking for more factual findings and to resolve some lingering questions it had in reading the court ’ s order , ” ACLU attorney Jennifer Pasquarella said Friday .
“ They are basically asking the district court to go back and reassess in light and make additional findings about the reliability of the databases results in ‘ unreliable ’ probable cause determinations.
” Pasquarella praised the panel ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members have the Fourth Amendment right to a neutral magistrate ’ s assessment of their detention when they are mistaken for non-citizens , under the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s ruling in Gerstein v. Pugh which Milan said applies even in the civil immigration context .
“ Ensuring there is some neutral review of ICE ’ s determinations to arrest someone is really critical , and very I think significant for advancing the rights of individuals who are subject to immigration detainers , ” she said .
Smith , a George W. Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama appointee , were joined on the bench by Circuit Judge Bridget Bade , a Donald Trump appointee .
An ICE spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by press time .

The Ninth Circuit overturned a federal judge’s ban on immigration holds throughout Southern California on Friday, finding the judge wrongly concluded it is unconstitutional for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to rely solely on information from its own databases in making probable cause determinations for such holds.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — The Ninth Circuit overturned a federal judge’s ban on immigration holds throughout Southern California on Friday, finding the judge wrongly concluded it is unconstitutional for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to rely solely on information from its own databases in making probable cause determinations for such holds.
"Throughout the district court’s order are a number of sweeping, categorical conclusions about the databases on which ICE relies. These categorical findings, however, suffer from a key shortcoming: the district court did not make reliability findings for all the databases on which ICE relies,” Judge Milan Smith wrote for the three-judge panel.
In 2018, U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. found the databases are an unreliable method of determining probable cause when issuing an immigration hold. A federal class action challenging the constitutionality of the practice was originally brought by Gerardo Gonzalez, a U.S. citizen who had an immigration determiner issued against him based on false information pulled from an ICE database.
Gonzalez, a United States citizen born in Pacoima, was picked up in 2012 on a felony charge of possession of methamphetamines and was detained on a five-day immigration hold by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department after one ICE database erroneously flagged Mexico as his birthplace.
Following a trial in May 2019, Birotte entered a final judgment barring ICE from issuing detainers based on inaccurate database results.
Smith, who was joined in his opinion by Judge John Owens, found the scope of Birotte’s analysis insufficient.
“Although trial occurred in May 2019, the district court anchored its analysis in the databases on which ICE relied as of December 2017 and identified sixteen databases on which ICE relied at that point. Its unreliability findings, however, concerned only six databases,” he wrote.
“In a case concerning the reliability of the databases on which ICE relies to make probable cause determinations, the district court could not make categorical findings of unreliability without actually addressing each database on which ICE relies or explaining why an evaluation of a given database was unnecessary. Because the court failed to do so, the court erred in concluding that ICE’s practice of relying solely on searches of ‘the databases’ to make probable cause determinations violates the Fourth Amendment.”
The majority also said Birotte’s ruling lacked a filing of systemic error in ICE’s probable cause determinations based on database searches.
"The database claim that plaintiffs raise is a challenge to a system of databases on which ICE relies to issue detainers from the Central District for class members. Thus, to find for plaintiffs on this claim, it was not enough for the district court to identify errors in individual databases on which ICE relies,” Milan wrote. “Instead, the district court had to make findings about and explain how this system of databases.”
“The court is asking for more factual findings and to resolve some lingering questions it had in reading the court’s order,” ACLU attorney Jennifer Pasquarella said Friday. “They are basically asking the district court to go back and reassess in light and make additional findings about the reliability of the databases results in ‘unreliable’ probable cause determinations.”
Pasquarella praised the panel’s finding that Gonzalez and other class members have the Fourth Amendment right to a neutral magistrate’s assessment of their detention when they are mistaken for non-citizens, under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Gerstein v. Pugh which Milan said applies even in the civil immigration context.
"Ensuring there is some neutral review of ICE’s determinations to arrest someone is really critical, and very I think significant for advancing the rights of individuals who are subject to immigration detainers,” she said.
Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, and Owens, a Barack Obama appointee, were joined on the bench by Circuit Judge Bridget Bade, a Donald Trump appointee.
An ICE spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by press time.


courthousenews--2020-09-12--Georgia Democrat Challenging QAnon Supporter Drops Out of House Race

( CN ) — With Election Day weeks away , the Democratic candidate who was running against Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene , a candidate whose inflammatory and conspiratorial statements have garnered national attention , announced he has withdrawn from the race .
In a statement posted to Twitter Friday evening , Kevin Van Ausdal said “ family and personal reasons ” caused him to take steps away from the state and drop out of the race .
“ When I started this , it was because I wanted to talk about what is happening to real people every day and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was making anything better , ” the statement said .
“ This rhetoric has turned into dangerous extremism , like the candidacy of Marjorie Greene.
” Van Ausdal ’ s statement said he was giving the state party a chance to put forward another candidate to face Greene in November .
Greene ’ s expression of fringe political beliefs has been seen as a sign of their rise in prominence .
And during her fledgling political career in the House district that leans red , she developed a reputation of being unapologetic about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Greene has expressed support for the baseless conspiracy QAnon , a pro-Trump conspiracy that alleges he is fighting a cabal of child-sex-trafficking Satan-worshipers , and she has made anti-Muslim and racist videos .
The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement Aug. 12 Greene has not walked back anti-Semitic remarks she has made and has not distanced herself from a white supremacist leader .
In her acceptance speech after she won a runoff primary to be the Republican candidate for the seat in mid-August , Greene called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a bitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Jody Hice took back his endorsement of Greene , President Donald Trump has described Greene as a “ future Republican Star.
” The Democratic Party of Georgia said in a statement that the race for the 14th Congressional District seat now rests in the hands of the Georgia Secretary of State .
“ We thank Mr. Van Ausdal for his service and send him our condolences in this difficult time , ” the party said .
“ We are calling on the Secretary of State to disqualify him from the ballot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) to name a replacement as soon as possible.
” David Boyle , chair of the Walker County Democratic Party that sits in the 14th District , said the district — which stretches from Lookout Mountain in the northwest corner down to the outskirts of Atlanta — is a bit different than the rest of the state .
“ I would not want to be represented by the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene who is an extremist , who is not from the district , who really doesn ’ t know anything about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Greene , who moved into the district to run for office .
Boyle said the predominantly Appalachian area orbits the media market of Chattanooga , Tennessee , relies on Tennessee utilities and tends to get overlooked by the Democratic Party in the state , which focuses most of its efforts on urban areas of Georgia .
For now , Boyle said , local party officials are waiting on what the state party will do , who was in a similar situation recently when it had to quickly field a candidate after the death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a candidate with a young family who did his homework , held good policy positions and spoke well , Boyle said .
“ I think he built a lot of friendships and a lot of connections that will transfer to the next candidate assuming that ’ s someone who is equally attractive , ” Boyle said .
Greene extended best wishes to Van Ausdal in a statement on her Facebook page responding to the news .
“ As the Congresswoman from NW Georgia , ” she wrote , “ I look forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values and helping Donald J. Trump pass an # AmericanFirst agenda !
” The Greene campaign and the Van Ausdal campaign did not return requests for comment .

With Election Day weeks away, the Democratic candidate who was running against Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, a candidate whose inflammatory and conspiratorial statements have garnered national attention, announced he has withdrawn from the race.
(CN) — With Election Day weeks away, the Democratic candidate who was running against Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, a candidate whose inflammatory and conspiratorial statements have garnered national attention, announced he has withdrawn from the race.
In a statement posted to Twitter Friday evening, Kevin Van Ausdal said “family and personal reasons” caused him to take steps away from the state and drop out of the race.
“When I started this, it was because I wanted to talk about what is happening to real people every day and how none of the anger and divisiveness was making anything better,” the statement said. “This rhetoric has turned into dangerous extremism, like the candidacy of Marjorie Greene.”
Van Ausdal’s statement said he was giving the state party a chance to put forward another candidate to face Greene in November.
HOLD FOR STORY-FILE- In this March 3, 2020 file photo, Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to a GOP women's group in Rome, Ga. Greene received the most votes by far in the June 9 Republican primary for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. But she failed to top 50% of votes as required by state law to secure a victory and now faces fellow Republican John Cowan, a neurosurgeon, in a runoff election on Tuesday. (John Bailey/Rome News-Tribune via AP, File)
Greene’s expression of fringe political beliefs has been seen as a sign of their rise in prominence. And during her fledgling political career in the House district that leans red, she developed a reputation of being unapologetic about her past statements.
In the past, Greene has expressed support for the baseless conspiracy QAnon, a pro-Trump conspiracy that alleges he is fighting a cabal of child-sex-trafficking Satan-worshipers, and she has made anti-Muslim and racist videos.
The Anti-Defamation League said in a statement Aug. 12 Greene has not walked back anti-Semitic remarks she has made and has not distanced herself from a white supremacist leader.
In her acceptance speech after she won a runoff primary to be the Republican candidate for the seat in mid-August, Greene called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a bitch.
And while some Republicans such as Rep. Jody Hice took back his endorsement of Greene, President Donald Trump has described Greene as a “future Republican Star.”
The Democratic Party of Georgia said in a statement that the race for the 14th Congressional District seat now rests in the hands of the Georgia Secretary of State.
"We thank Mr. Van Ausdal for his service and send him our condolences in this difficult time,” the party said. “We are calling on the Secretary of State to disqualify him from the ballot and allow the (Democratic Party of Georgia) to name a replacement as soon as possible."
David Boyle, chair of the Walker County Democratic Party that sits in the 14th District, said the district — which stretches from Lookout Mountain in the northwest corner down to the outskirts of Atlanta — is a bit different than the rest of the state.
"I would not want to be represented by the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene who is an extremist, who is not from the district, who really doesn't know anything about the district," Boyle said of Greene, who moved into the district to run for office.
Boyle said the predominantly Appalachian area orbits the media market of Chattanooga, Tennessee, relies on Tennessee utilities and tends to get overlooked by the Democratic Party in the state, which focuses most of its efforts on urban areas of Georgia.
For now, Boyle said, local party officials are waiting on what the state party will do, who was in a similar situation recently when it had to quickly field a candidate after the death of Rep. John Lewis.
Van Ausdal was a candidate with a young family who did his homework, held good policy positions and spoke well, Boyle said.
"I think he built a lot of friendships and a lot of connections that will transfer to the next candidate assuming that's someone who is equally attractive," Boyle said.
Greene extended best wishes to Van Ausdal in a statement on her Facebook page responding to the news.
“As the Congresswoman from NW Georgia,” she wrote, “I look forward to fighting for our Christian, American values and helping Donald J. Trump pass an #AmericanFirst agenda!”
The Greene campaign and the Van Ausdal campaign did not return requests for comment.


courthousenews--2020-09-12--Southern California Foothill Communities Face Wildfire Threat

MONROVIA , Calif. ( CN ) — Ash fell on the Los Angeles County foothill community of Monrovia for a fifth day Friday as the Bobcat Fire burns in the nearby Angeles National Forest .
The air is thick with smoke and the hillsides are pink with fire retardant .
In the nearby canyon , chainsaws roared as firefighters made a defensive line against the wildfire moving toward brush in steep , dry terrain that has not burned in the last 60 years according to the U.S. National Forest Service .
Monrovia resident Stephen Kallin said that at night he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning on the nearby ridgeline .
“ It ’ s kind of weird at night to see it and then in the day I ’ m checking to see if I ’ m still looking at the same mountain , because of all the haze , ” said Kallin .
“ Makes its worse to not know where the fire is.
” During the day , the flames peek out from above the ridge and at night the glow is visible to the roughly 37,000 residents in the city of Monrovia .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an evacuation warning .
On Friday afternoon , Brad Palfrey swept out cobwebs from a rental home he ’ s getting ready for some new tenants , ash mixing with the webs .
He adjusted his mask and busied himself while fire engines and police cruisers drove up the street north of Hillcrest Boulevard in the foothills .
Palfrey has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years and says he ’ s never seen the fires become this active — but he intends to stay until the last moment .
“ Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get back in until the fire is out , ” Palfrey said .
When asked what he will tell the tenants about the ash and the possibility that they might have to leave as soon as they arrive Palfrey answered , “ Hey , we got a 60-year fire coming through.
” The Angeles National Forest located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains has seen multiple fires this season .
Unfortunately for fire crews , the seasonal Santa Ana winds have not arrived yet , meaning the fire season is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the strong winds .
The fire has burned north toward the Angeles Crest Highway , where aircraft have dropped retardant .
But it is also burning south and northeast due to wind gusts .
Unlike other large fire complexes across California which have charred hundreds of thousands of acres over the last month , the Bobcat Fire started less than a week ago and has burned roughly 26,000 acres .
Officials say the fire crossed into the Monrovia city limits on Friday .
The Bobcat Fire is just 6 % contained and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire that also started last month .
The area under the evacuation warning also extends to sections of the foothill communities of Altadena and Sierra Madre .
Residents have been advised to keep their vehicles fully fueled and ready to go in the event winds shift and the fires are picked up off the ridgeline and carried down into the nearby communities The Bobcat Fire isn ’ t the only blaze ravaging the area .
On the western edge of the Angeles National Forest about 75 miles away , the Lake Fire has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That blaze started in late August .

Ash fell on the Los Angeles County foothill community of Monrovia for a fifth day Friday as the Bobcat Fire burns in the nearby Angeles National Forest.
The Bobcat Fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest north of the city of Monrovia in Los Angeles County. (Courthouse News photo / Nathan Solis)
The Bobcat Fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest north of the city of Monrovia in Los Angeles County. (Courthouse News photo / Nathan Solis)
The Bobcat Fire continues to burn in the Angeles National Forest north of the city of Monrovia in Los Angeles County. (Courthouse News photo / Nathan Solis)
MONROVIA, Calif. (CN) — Ash fell on the Los Angeles County foothill community of Monrovia for a fifth day Friday as the Bobcat Fire burns in the nearby Angeles National Forest.
The air is thick with smoke and the hillsides are pink with fire retardant. In the nearby canyon, chainsaws roared as firefighters made a defensive line against the wildfire moving toward brush in steep, dry terrain that has not burned in the last 60 years according to the U.S. National Forest Service.
Monrovia resident Stephen Kallin said that at night he can see exactly where the fire is burning on the nearby ridgeline.
“It’s kind of weird at night to see it and then in the day I’m checking to see if I’m still looking at the same mountain, because of all the haze,” said Kallin. “Makes its worse to not know where the fire is.”
During the day, the flames peek out from above the ridge and at night the glow is visible to the roughly 37,000 residents in the city of Monrovia. A large section of the city is under an evacuation warning.
On Friday afternoon, Brad Palfrey swept out cobwebs from a rental home he’s getting ready for some new tenants, ash mixing with the webs. He adjusted his mask and busied himself while fire engines and police cruisers drove up the street north of Hillcrest Boulevard in the foothills. Palfrey has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years and says he’s never seen the fires become this active — but he intends to stay until the last moment.
“Because once you leave you can’t get back in until the fire is out,” Palfrey said.
Monrovia resident Brad Palfrey cleans the outside of a home that will be rented to new tenants in an area under an evacuation warning as the Bobcat Fire burns in the nearby Angeles National Forest. (Courthouse News photo / Nathan Solis)
When asked what he will tell the tenants about the ash and the possibility that they might have to leave as soon as they arrive Palfrey answered, “Hey, we got a 60-year fire coming through.”
The Angeles National Forest located in the San Gabriel Mountains and Sierra Pelona Mountains has seen multiple fires this season. Unfortunately for fire crews, the seasonal Santa Ana winds have not arrived yet, meaning the fire season is early and moving along just fine without the strong winds.
The fire has burned north toward the Angeles Crest Highway, where aircraft have dropped retardant. But it is also burning south and northeast due to wind gusts.
Unlike other large fire complexes across California which have charred hundreds of thousands of acres over the last month, the Bobcat Fire started less than a week ago and has burned roughly 26,000 acres. Officials say the fire crossed into the Monrovia city limits on Friday.
The Bobcat Fire is just 6% contained and is burning toward a burn scar from another fire that also started last month.
The area under the evacuation warning also extends to sections of the foothill communities of Altadena and Sierra Madre.
Residents have been advised to keep their vehicles fully fueled and ready to go in the event winds shift and the fires are picked up off the ridgeline and carried down into the nearby communities
The Bobcat Fire isn’t the only blaze ravaging the area. On the western edge of the Angeles National Forest about 75 miles away, the Lake Fire has burned 31,000 acres and is nearly contained. That blaze started in late August.


courthousenews--2020-09-12--Trump Looks West, Eyeing New Paths to White House

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Pushing for new roads to reelection , President Donald Trump is going on the offense this weekend in Nevada , which hasn ’ t supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004 .
Trump is defying local authorities by holding public events Saturday and Sunday after officials blocked his initial plans for rallies in Reno and Las Vegas because they would have violated coronavirus health guidelines .
It ’ s the kind of fight that Trump ’ s team relishes and underscores the growing importance of Nevada in Trump ’ s quest for 270 electoral votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks tight in a number of pivotal states .
Trump narrowly lost Nevada in 2016 to Hillary Clinton , and the state has trended further toward the Democrats in the past decade .
But Trump ’ s campaign has invested heavily in the state , relying on its ground game to turn out voters .
Democrats , by contrast , have largely relied on virtual campaign efforts during the pandemic , save for the casino workers ’ Culinary Union , which has sent workers door to door .
“ The Democrats are scared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ momentum , ” said the state GOP chairman , Michael McDonald .
Both candidates have spent about $ 4.5 million in Nevada , while Trump has made $ 5.5 million in future reservations in the state and Biden has allocated $ 2.5 million , according to the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG .
The Trump team originally planned rallies at airport hangars in Reno and Las Vegas , but those were scuttled by due to concerns the campaign would not abide by COVID-19 restrictions .
State Republicans blamed Democratic Gov .
Steve Sisolak for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reelection chances , even though the Reno rally was canceled by airport officials and Las Vegas airport officials said they were never contacted by the campaign .
Sisolak has limited in-person gatherings indoors and outdoors to 50 people since May , a recommendation based on White House reopening guidelines .
Instead , Trump scheduled an event in Minden , about 45 miles ( 72 kilometers ) south of Reno , on Saturday night .
He planned to host a “ Latinos for Trump ” roundtable Sunday morning in Las Vegas , followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in neighboring Henderson .
Privately , the Trump campaign welcomed the fight , believing it highlighted a reelection theme : Trump ’ s insistence that the nation has turned the corner on the pandemic , while Democrats , including Biden and governors , are hurting the nation ’ s economy and psyche with stringent restrictions .
The pandemic , which has killed more than 190,000 Americans , still claims 1,000 lives a day .
“ The fact that Donald Trump is even considering holding these unsafe events in the midst of a global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his poor judgment and complete disregard for Nevadans ’ public health and safety , ” said Madison Mundy of the state Democratic Party .
The White House announced Saturday that Trump will visit California on Monday to receive a briefing on the devastating wildfires racing through the region .
He has largely been silent on the blazes , which Oregon ’ s emergency management director said was a possible “ mass fatality event.
” Some Democrats fear a possible Trump momentum gain in Nevada , with the president showing increasing support from Latinos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important constituencies in the state .
The tightening race in a number of the most contested states has led to a renewed effort for Trump to expand his electoral map .
The campaign has lavished attention on three Great Lakes states that flipped his way narrowly in 2016 .
Several polls earlier this summer suggested Trump may be in trouble , but a handful in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin following the nominating conventions showed a close race .
Polling in North Carolina and Florida also shows a competitive race , and there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona .
Once considered fairly safely in Trump ’ s column , Arizona has been ravaged by the coronavirus and the Trump team has grown worried about a slip in support among the state ’ s older residents .
The president on Monday planned to return to Arizona , which he has visited multiple times since he resumed traveling during the pandemic .
If Arizona slips away , Trump campaign officials privately acknowledge that it would complicate his path to 270 electoral votes .
If he loses Arizona , winning Wisconsin — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retain — would not be enough even if he keeps Florida and North Carolina .
It would require him to win somewhere else , which has led to a renewed focus on Minnesota , New Hampshire and the at-large congressional districts in Nebraska and Maine .
Nevada has become a particular focus , in part because Las Vegas is an appetizing location for Trump to raise money .
He scheduled at least one high-dollar fundraiser there over the weekend — as well as one in Washington before he flies west — as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could fall short of cash .
Couples were asked for $ 150,000 for the Las Vegas fundraiser .
The Republican National Committee said the $ 18 million expected to be raised over the weekend , including from a stop Saturday at his hotel in Washington , would be shared by Trump ’ s campaign , the committee and several state GOP committees .
Trump and Republicans raised $ 210 million in August , a robust sum but far behind the record $ 364.5 million taken in by Biden and his party that month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it has more resources on hand than it did at this time in 2016 , whispers about a financial disadvantage led Trump himself this past week to suggest he may put some of his own fortune into the race .
Nevada ’ s financial health is dependent on the national economy doing well because the state draws so much revenue from tourism .
When the pandemic hit , Nevada ’ s casinos and all gambling shuttered for about 11 weeks , and the state is trimming about one-quarter of its budget at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JONATHAN LEMIRE and SCOTT SONNER Associated Press

Pushing for new roads to reelection, President Donald Trump is going on the offense this weekend in Nevada, which hasn't supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pushing for new roads to reelection, President Donald Trump is going on the offense this weekend in Nevada, which hasn't supported a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.
Trump is defying local authorities by holding public events Saturday and Sunday after officials blocked his initial plans for rallies in Reno and Las Vegas because they would have violated coronavirus health guidelines. It's the kind of fight that Trump's team relishes and underscores the growing importance of Nevada in Trump's quest for 270 electoral votes as the race against Democrat Joe Biden looks tight in a number of pivotal states.
Trump narrowly lost Nevada in 2016 to Hillary Clinton, and the state has trended further toward the Democrats in the past decade. But Trump's campaign has invested heavily in the state, relying on its ground game to turn out voters. Democrats, by contrast, have largely relied on virtual campaign efforts during the pandemic, save for the casino workers' Culinary Union, which has sent workers door to door.
"The Democrats are scared. They know President Trump has the momentum," said the state GOP chairman, Michael McDonald.
Both candidates have spent about $4.5 million in Nevada, while Trump has made $5.5 million in future reservations in the state and Biden has allocated $2.5 million, according to the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG.
The Trump team originally planned rallies at airport hangars in Reno and Las Vegas, but those were scuttled by due to concerns the campaign would not abide by COVID-19 restrictions. State Republicans blamed Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak for trying to hurt the president's reelection chances, even though the Reno rally was canceled by airport officials and Las Vegas airport officials said they were never contacted by the campaign.
Sisolak has limited in-person gatherings indoors and outdoors to 50 people since May, a recommendation based on White House reopening guidelines.
Instead, Trump scheduled an event in Minden, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Reno, on Saturday night. He planned to host a "Latinos for Trump" roundtable Sunday morning in Las Vegas, followed by an evening rally at a manufacturing facility in neighboring Henderson.
Privately, the Trump campaign welcomed the fight, believing it highlighted a reelection theme: Trump's insistence that the nation has turned the corner on the pandemic, while Democrats, including Biden and governors, are hurting the nation's economy and psyche with stringent restrictions. The pandemic, which has killed more than 190,000 Americans, still claims 1,000 lives a day.
"The fact that Donald Trump is even considering holding these unsafe events in the midst of a global pandemic is just the latest example of his poor judgment and complete disregard for Nevadans' public health and safety," said Madison Mundy of the state Democratic Party.
The White House announced Saturday that Trump will visit California on Monday to receive a briefing on the devastating wildfires racing through the region. He has largely been silent on the blazes, which Oregon's emergency management director said was a possible "mass fatality event."
Some Democrats fear a possible Trump momentum gain in Nevada, with the president showing increasing support from Latinos and noncollege educated white voters, two important constituencies in the state.
The tightening race in a number of the most contested states has led to a renewed effort for Trump to expand his electoral map.
The campaign has lavished attention on three Great Lakes states that flipped his way narrowly in 2016. Several polls earlier this summer suggested Trump may be in trouble, but a handful in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin following the nominating conventions showed a close race.
Polling in North Carolina and Florida also shows a competitive race, and there is increasing concern within the Trump campaign about Arizona. Once considered fairly safely in Trump's column, Arizona has been ravaged by the coronavirus and the Trump team has grown worried about a slip in support among the state's older residents.
The president on Monday planned to return to Arizona, which he has visited multiple times since he resumed traveling during the pandemic.
If Arizona slips away, Trump campaign officials privately acknowledge that it would complicate his path to 270 electoral votes. If he loses Arizona, winning Wisconsin — the most likely Midwest state for Trump to retain — would not be enough even if he keeps Florida and North Carolina. It would require him to win somewhere else, which has led to a renewed focus on Minnesota, New Hampshire and the at-large congressional districts in Nebraska and Maine.
Nevada has become a particular focus, in part because Las Vegas is an appetizing location for Trump to raise money. He scheduled at least one high-dollar fundraiser there over the weekend — as well as one in Washington before he flies west — as he looks to assuage growing concerns that he could fall short of cash. Couples were asked for $150,000 for the Las Vegas fundraiser.
The Republican National Committee said the $18 million expected to be raised over the weekend, including from a stop Saturday at his hotel in Washington, would be shared by Trump's campaign, the committee and several state GOP committees.
Trump and Republicans raised $210 million in August, a robust sum but far behind the record $364.5 million taken in by Biden and his party that month. Though the Trump campaign has insisted that it has more resources on hand than it did at this time in 2016, whispers about a financial disadvantage led Trump himself this past week to suggest he may put some of his own fortune into the race.
Nevada's financial health is dependent on the national economy doing well because the state draws so much revenue from tourism. When the pandemic hit, Nevada's casinos and all gambling shuttered for about 11 weeks, and the state is trimming about one-quarter of its budget at a time of sky-high unemployment.
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and SCOTT SONNER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-12--Oxford and AstraZeneca Resume Coronavirus Vaccine Trial

LONDON ( AP ) — Oxford University announced Saturday it was resuming a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca , a move that comes days after the study was suspended following a reported side-effect in a U.K. patient .
In a statement , the university confirmed the restart across all of its U.K. clinical trial sites after regulators gave the go-ahead following the pause on Sunday .
“ The independent review process has concluded and following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and the U.K. regulator , the MHRA , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” it said .
The vaccine being developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca is widely perceived to be one of the strongest contenders among the dozens of coronavirus vaccines in various stages of testing around the world .
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed the restart , saying in a tweet that it was “ good news for everyone ” that the trial is “ back up and running.
” The university said in large trials such as this “ it is expected that some participants will become unwell and every case must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety.
” It said globally some 18,000 people have received its vaccine so far .
Volunteers from some of the worst affected countries — Britain , Brazil , South Africa and the U.S. — are taking part in the trial .
Brazil ’ s health regulator Anvisa on Saturday said it had approved the resumption of tests of the “ Oxford vaccine ” in the South American country after receiving official information from AstraZeneca .
Although Oxford would not disclose information about the patient ’ s illness due to participant confidentiality , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a woman had developed severe neurological symptoms that prompted the pause .
Specifically , the woman is said to have developed symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis , a rare inflammation of the spinal cord .
The university insisted that it is “ committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our studies and will continue to monitor safety closely.
” Pauses in drug trials are commonplace and the temporary hold led to a sharp fall in AstraZeneca ’ s share price following the announcement Tuesday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July for several days after a participant developed neurological symptoms that turned out to be an undiagnosed case of multiple sclerosis that researchers said was unrelated to the vaccine .
During the third and final stage of testing , researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research .
Because of their large size , the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety .
The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot .
Dr. Charlotte Summers , a lecturer in intensive care medicine at the University of Cambridge , said the pause was a sign that the Oxford team was putting safety issues first , but that it led to “ much unhelpful speculation.
” “ To tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic , we need to develop vaccines and therapies that people feel comfortable using , therefore it is vital to maintaining public trust that we stick to the evidence and do not draw conclusions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Scientists and others around the world , including experts at the World Health Organization , have sought to keep a lid on expectations of an imminent breakthrough for coronavirus vaccines , stressing that vaccine trials are rarely straightforward .
Italy ’ s health minister , Roberto Speranza , welcomed the resumption of the vaccine trial , but warned that prudence was still necessary .
“ Science is at work to give the world efficient and secure treatments and vaccines , ” he said .
“ In the meantime , the key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was ground zero for Europe ’ s outbreak , is one of the main countries investing in the AstraZeneca vaccine .
Two other vaccines are in huge , final-stage tests in the United States , one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany ’ s BioNTech .

Oxford University announced Saturday it was resuming a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, a move that comes days after the study was suspended following a reported side-effect in a U.K. patient.
LONDON (AP) — Oxford University announced Saturday it was resuming a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, a move that comes days after the study was suspended following a reported side-effect in a U.K. patient.
In a statement, the university confirmed the restart across all of its U.K. clinical trial sites after regulators gave the go-ahead following the pause on Sunday.
"The independent review process has concluded and following the recommendations of both the independent safety review committee and the U.K. regulator, the MHRA, the trials will recommence in the U.K.," it said.
The vaccine being developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca is widely perceived to be one of the strongest contenders among the dozens of coronavirus vaccines in various stages of testing around the world.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock welcomed the restart, saying in a tweet that it was "good news for everyone" that the trial is "back up and running."
The university said in large trials such as this "it is expected that some participants will become unwell and every case must be carefully evaluated to ensure careful assessment of safety."
It said globally some 18,000 people have received its vaccine so far. Volunteers from some of the worst affected countries — Britain, Brazil, South Africa and the U.S. — are taking part in the trial.
Brazil's health regulator Anvisa on Saturday said it had approved the resumption of tests of the "Oxford vaccine" in the South American country after receiving official information from AstraZeneca.
Although Oxford would not disclose information about the patient's illness due to participant confidentiality, an AstraZeneca spokesman said earlier this week that a woman had developed severe neurological symptoms that prompted the pause. Specifically, the woman is said to have developed symptoms consistent with transverse myelitis, a rare inflammation of the spinal cord.
The university insisted that it is "committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our studies and will continue to monitor safety closely."
Pauses in drug trials are commonplace and the temporary hold led to a sharp fall in AstraZeneca's share price following the announcement Tuesday.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca study had been previously stopped in July for several days after a participant developed neurological symptoms that turned out to be an undiagnosed case of multiple sclerosis that researchers said was unrelated to the vaccine.
During the third and final stage of testing, researchers look for any signs of possible side effects that may have gone undetected in earlier patient research. Because of their large size, the studies are considered the most important study phase for picking up less common side effects and establishing safety. The trials also assess effectiveness by tracking who gets sick and who doesn't between patients getting the vaccine and those receiving a dummy shot.
Dr. Charlotte Summers, a lecturer in intensive care medicine at the University of Cambridge, said the pause was a sign that the Oxford team was putting safety issues first, but that it led to "much unhelpful speculation."
"To tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic, we need to develop vaccines and therapies that people feel comfortable using, therefore it is vital to maintaining public trust that we stick to the evidence and do not draw conclusions before information is available," she said.
Scientists and others around the world, including experts at the World Health Organization, have sought to keep a lid on expectations of an imminent breakthrough for coronavirus vaccines, stressing that vaccine trials are rarely straightforward.
Italy's health minister, Roberto Speranza, welcomed the resumption of the vaccine trial, but warned that prudence was still necessary.
"Science is at work to give the world efficient and secure treatments and vaccines," he said. "In the meantime, the key continues to be our behavior."
Italy, which was ground zero for Europe's outbreak, is one of the main countries investing in the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Two other vaccines are in huge, final-stage tests in the United States, one made by Moderna Inc. and the other by Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech.
By PAN PYLAS Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-12--New Orleans Under Hurricane Watch From Tropical Storm Sally

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) — Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off south Florida , becoming the earliest 18th-named storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season as it enters the Gulf of Mexico amid signs of strengthening further .
In the National Hurricane Center ’ s 5 p.m. forecast , meteorologists said a hurricane watch is in effect for metropolitan New Orleans .
The watcher extends from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida line , including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas in Louisiana and greater New Orleans .
Forecasters said a life-threatening storm surge is possible along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sally emerged from a tropical depression swirling off south Florida , headed Saturday into warm Gulf waters .
It was expected to become a hurricane by late Monday that could threaten a wide swath of the northern Gulf coast early in the week .
It becomes the earliest 18th named storm in a busy tropical season , beating Stan , which formed on Oct. 2 , 2006 .
On Saturday afternoon , gusty winds and heavy rain swept through South Florida due to Sally .
The National Hurricane Center said Sally would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the southern and western parts of the state .
Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph ( 65 kph ) with higher gusts .
Additional strengthening is expected over the coming days .
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane was scheduled to investigate the system late Saturday .
“ Since the system will be traversing very warm waters and through a moist air mass with moderate vertical shear for the next few days , steady strengthening is anticipated , ” forecasters wrote in an earlier advisory .
Sally was located 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naples on Saturday afternoon , according to the hurricane center .
The system was moving to the west at 7 mph ( 11 kph ) .
A tropical storm watch has been extended westward from the Okaloosa/Walton County Line to the Alabama/Florida Border .
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida Border , including Lake Pontchartrain , Lake Maurepas , Lake Borgne in Louisiana — and Mobile Bay , Alabama .
The storm is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches ( 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of Florida , with isolated totals up to 6 inches ( 15 centimeters ) .
Meteorologists warn of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds from southeastern Louisiana to the Alabama coast .
Meanwhile , Tropical Storm Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph ( 110 kph ) and was 460 miles ( 745 kilometers ) southeast of Bermuda , where a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are in effect .
Forecasters said Paulette would become a hurricane later Saturday and drop up to 6 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the territory through Monday , adding that it is expected to be a “ dangerous hurricane ” when it is near Bermuda on Sunday night and Monday .
Tropical Storm Rene weakened in recent hours and was reclassified as a tropical depression .
It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph ( 55 kph ) and was about 1,200 miles ( 1,935 kilometers ) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands .
Forecasters said Rene wasn ’ t expected to strengthen and did not pose any threat to land .

Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off south Florida, becoming the earliest 18th-named storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season as it enters the Gulf of Mexico amid signs of strengthening further.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tropical Storm Sally formed Saturday off south Florida, becoming the earliest 18th-named storm on record in an Atlantic hurricane season as it enters the Gulf of Mexico amid signs of strengthening further.
In the National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. forecast, meteorologists said a hurricane watch is in effect for metropolitan New Orleans. The watcher extends from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida line, including Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas in Louisiana and greater New Orleans.
Forecasters said a life-threatening storm surge is possible along parts of the Gulf Coast beginning Monday.
Sally emerged from a tropical depression swirling off south Florida, headed Saturday into warm Gulf waters. It was expected to become a hurricane by late Monday that could threaten a wide swath of the northern Gulf coast early in the week. It becomes the earliest 18th named storm in a busy tropical season, beating Stan, which formed on Oct. 2, 2006.
On Saturday afternoon, gusty winds and heavy rain swept through South Florida due to Sally.
The National Hurricane Center said Sally would dump heavy rain around the Florida Keys and the southern and western parts of the state. Maximum sustained winds were clocked at 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is expected over the coming days.
An Air Force Hurricane Hunter plane was scheduled to investigate the system late Saturday.
"Since the system will be traversing very warm waters and through a moist air mass with moderate vertical shear for the next few days, steady strengthening is anticipated," forecasters wrote in an earlier advisory.
Sally was located 30 miles (45 kilometers) south-southeast of Naples on Saturday afternoon, according to the hurricane center. The system was moving to the west at 7 mph (11 kph). A tropical storm watch has been extended westward from the Okaloosa/Walton County Line to the Alabama/Florida Border.
A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida Border, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, Lake Borgne in Louisiana — and Mobile Bay, Alabama.
The storm is expected to bring 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain to parts of Florida, with isolated totals up to 6 inches (15 centimeters). Meteorologists warn of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds from southeastern Louisiana to the Alabama coast.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and was 460 miles (745 kilometers) southeast of Bermuda, where a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning are in effect. Forecasters said Paulette would become a hurricane later Saturday and drop up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain on the territory through Monday, adding that it is expected to be a "dangerous hurricane" when it is near Bermuda on Sunday night and Monday.
Tropical Storm Rene weakened in recent hours and was reclassified as a tropical depression. It had maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph) and was about 1,200 miles (1,935 kilometers) east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands. Forecasters said Rene wasn't expected to strengthen and did not pose any threat to land.
By TAMARA LUSH Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-12--10,000 Women March to Demand That Belarus President Resign

KYIV , Ukraine ( AP ) — About 10,000 women marched noisily through the Belarusian capital on Saturday , beating pots and pans and shouting for the resignation of the country ’ s authoritarian president in the 35th consecutive day of large anti-government protests .
Many carried portraits of Maria Kolesnikova , a leader of the opposition Coordination Council that is seeking a new presidential election for the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million people .
She was jailed this week after police tried to force her out of the country .
Her lawyer says Kolesnikova was driven to the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passport and refused to leave Belarus .
Others carried placards reading ” “ You painted my heart with blue pain , ” referring to President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s claim that some women previously had painted themselves to appear to have been bruised by police beatings .
The human rights group Viasna said more than 70 people were detained by police during the march .
Lukashenko refuses to meet with the council , and most of its leaders have been detained or have left the country .
The protests began Aug. 9 after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lukashenko a sixth term in office with 80 % support .
Opponents and some poll workers say the election results were rigged .
Some protesters have displayed bruises from a violent police crackdown in the days after the election , when over 7,000 protesters were detained .
The protests are the largest and most widespread of Lukashenko ’ s 26 years in power .
Sunday demonstrations in the capital of Minsk have repeatedly brought out crowds of more than 100,000 .
Protests have broken out in other major cities in Belarus and strikes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s major state-owned industries , previously a base of support for the embattled 66-year-old leader .
Lukashenko met Saturday with top officials of the country ’ s security agencies .
Throughout the unrest , he has rejected any concessions , has repeatedly accused Belarus ’ western neighbors of preparing to overthrow his government .
In one show of aggressive defiance , he was seen striding with an automatic rifle across the grounds of his presidential residence .
As the protests persist , questions loom about possible action by Russia to prop up his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin on Monday in their first face-to-face contact since the unrest began .
Putin has said he stands ready to send Russian police into Belarus if the protests turn violent , stoking fears that Moscow could use the political dissent as an excuse to annex its neighbor .
The countries have a union agreement envisaging close political , economic and military ties , although Lukashenko has repeatedly expressed concerns that Putin wants Russia to absorb Belarus entirely .

About 10,000 women marched noisily through the Belarusian capital on Saturday, beating pots and pans and shouting for the resignation of the country's authoritarian president in the 35th consecutive day of large anti-government protests.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — About 10,000 women marched noisily through the Belarusian capital on Saturday, beating pots and pans and shouting for the resignation of the country's authoritarian president in the 35th consecutive day of large anti-government protests.
Many carried portraits of Maria Kolesnikova, a leader of the opposition Coordination Council that is seeking a new presidential election for the ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million people. She was jailed this week after police tried to force her out of the country. Her lawyer says Kolesnikova was driven to the border with Ukraine, but tore up her passport and refused to leave Belarus.
Others carried placards reading " "You painted my heart with blue pain," referring to President Alexander Lukashenko's claim that some women previously had painted themselves to appear to have been bruised by police beatings.
The human rights group Viasna said more than 70 people were detained by police during the march.
Lukashenko refuses to meet with the council, and most of its leaders have been detained or have left the country.
The protests began Aug. 9 after a presidential election that officials say handed Lukashenko a sixth term in office with 80% support. Opponents and some poll workers say the election results were rigged. Some protesters have displayed bruises from a violent police crackdown in the days after the election, when over 7,000 protesters were detained.
The protests are the largest and most widespread of Lukashenko's 26 years in power. Sunday demonstrations in the capital of Minsk have repeatedly brought out crowds of more than 100,000. Protests have broken out in other major cities in Belarus and strikes have hit some of the country's major state-owned industries, previously a base of support for the embattled 66-year-old leader.
Lukashenko met Saturday with top officials of the country's security agencies. Throughout the unrest, he has rejected any concessions, has repeatedly accused Belarus' western neighbors of preparing to overthrow his government. In one show of aggressive defiance, he was seen striding with an automatic rifle across the grounds of his presidential residence.
As the protests persist, questions loom about possible action by Russia to prop up his regime. Lukashenko is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in their first face-to-face contact since the unrest began.
Putin has said he stands ready to send Russian police into Belarus if the protests turn violent, stoking fears that Moscow could use the political dissent as an excuse to annex its neighbor. The countries have a union agreement envisaging close political, economic and military ties, although Lukashenko has repeatedly expressed concerns that Putin wants Russia to absorb Belarus entirely.
By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-13--Paulette Rolls Toward Bermuda; Sally Threatens Gulf Coast

MIAMI ( AP ) — Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette , while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast .
Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge , coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda , according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory .
Bermuda ’ s government announced that L.F. Wade International Airport would close Sunday evening , and government buildings would be closed on Monday and Tuesday .
It opened several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained winds of 80 mph ( 130 kph ) as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda , forecasters said .
The biggest threats were strong winds , storm surge , up to 6 inches ( 15 centimeters ) of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents .
The storm was 240 miles ( 385 kilometers ) southeast of the territory Sunday and was moving northwest at 14 mph ( 23 kph ) .
It ’ s the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the center was tracking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New Orleans and surrounding areas , meanwhile , were in the crosshairs of Sally , which was expected to become a hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday – bringing hurricane conditions to a region stretching from from Morgan City , Louisiana , to Ocean Springs , Mississippi .
Tropical storm conditions were expected in the region by Monday .
Louisiana Gov .
John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Saturday , and officials in the New Orleans area issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas outside of levee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustained winds of 60 mph ( 95 kph ) with higher gusts , forecasters said .
Storm surge from Sally was forecast to reach dangerous levels , due in part to the tide .
Up to 11 feet ( 3.4 meters ) of water was predicted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs , Mississippi , including Lake Borgne .
A slow moving storm , Sally could produce rain totals up to 20 inches ( 51 centimeters ) by the middle of the week , forecasters said .
The system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 kph ) early Sunday .
It was centered 135 miles ( 220 kilometers ) west of St. Petersburg , Florida , and 280 miles ( 450 kilometers ) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River .
Heavy rain was battering the southwest coast of Florida , the Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory .
Once a tropical storm , Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday .
Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday , forecasters said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Verde Islands had a high chance of formation , while a disturbance in the Gulf had a low chance of formation .
The Hurricane Center also reported a tropical depression in the central Atlantic that did not appear to threaten land .

Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette, while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast.
MIAMI (AP) — Residents of Bermuda were urged to prepare to protect life and property ahead of Hurricane Paulette, while Tropical Storm Sally threatened to intensify into a hurricane as it approached the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Paulette gained hurricane status late Saturday and was expected to bring storm surge, coastal flooding and high winds to Bermuda, according to a U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory.
Bermuda's government announced that L.F. Wade International Airport would close Sunday evening, and government buildings would be closed on Monday and Tuesday. It opened several shelters for evacuees.
Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph) as the system moved along a curved course toward Bermuda, forecasters said. The biggest threats were strong winds, storm surge, up to 6 inches (15 centimeters) of rain and life-threatening surf and rip currents.
The storm was 240 miles (385 kilometers) southeast of the territory Sunday and was moving northwest at 14 mph (23 kph). It's the strongest in terms of winds of six disturbances the center was tracking in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
New Orleans and surrounding areas, meanwhile, were in the crosshairs of Sally, which was expected to become a hurricane on Monday and reach shore by early Tuesday - bringing hurricane conditions to a region stretching from from Morgan City, Louisiana, to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Tropical storm conditions were expected in the region by Monday.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency Saturday, and officials in the New Orleans area issued a mandatory evacuation order for areas outside of levee protection.
The tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 kph) with higher gusts, forecasters said.
Storm surge from Sally was forecast to reach dangerous levels, due in part to the tide. Up to 11 feet (3.4 meters) of water was predicted from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, including Lake Borgne.
A slow moving storm, Sally could produce rain totals up to 20 inches (51 centimeters) by the middle of the week, forecasters said. The system was moving west-northwest at 13 mph (20 kph) early Sunday. It was centered 135 miles (220 kilometers) west of St. Petersburg, Florida, and 280 miles (450 kilometers) east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Heavy rain was battering the southwest coast of Florida, the Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory.
Once a tropical storm, Rene was forecast to become a remnant low Monday. Tropical Depression Twenty was expected to strengthen this week and become a tropical storm by Tuesday, forecasters said.
A low pressure system near the Cabo Verde Islands had a high chance of formation, while a disturbance in the Gulf had a low chance of formation. The Hurricane Center also reported a tropical depression in the central Atlantic that did not appear to threaten land.


courthousenews--2020-09-13--Israel to Set New Nationwide Lockdown as Virus Cases Surge

JERUSALEM ( AP ) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced a new countrywide lockdown will be imposed amid a stubborn surge in coronavirus cases , with schools and parts of the economy expected to shut down in a bid to bring down infection rates .
Beginning Friday , the start of the Jewish High Holiday season , schools , restaurants , malls and hotels will shut down , among other businesses , and Israelis will face restrictions on movement and on gatherings .
“ Our goal is to stop the increase ( in cases ) and lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally broadcast statement .
“ I know that these steps come at a difficult price for all of us .
This is not the holiday we are used to.
” The tightening of measures marks the second time Israel is being plunged into a lockdown , after a lengthy shutdown in the spring .
That lockdown is credited with having brought down what were much lower infection numbers , but it wreaked havoc on the country ’ s economy , sending unemployment skyrocketing .
The lockdown will remain in place for at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may relax measures if numbers are seen declining .
Israelis typically hold large family gatherings and pack synagogues during the important fast of Yom Kippur later this month , settings that officials feared could trigger new outbreaks .
A sticking point in government deliberations over the lockdown was what prayers would look like during the holidays .
While the details on prayer during the lockdown were not nailed down in the government decision , what were expected to be strict limits on the faithful .
That prompted Israeli Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the government earlier Sunday .
Israel has had more than 150,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,100 deaths .
Given its population of 9 million , the country now has one of the world ’ s worst outbreaks .
It is now seeing more than 4,000 daily cases of the virus .
Israel earned praise for its initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak , moving quickly to seal the country ’ s borders and appearing to bring infections under control .
It has since been criticized for opening businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to spread unchecked .
Much of that criticism has been aimed at Netanyahu , who has faced a public outcry over his handling of the crisis and has seen thousands of protesters descend on his Jerusalem residence every week .
While lauded for his decisive response following the spring outbreak , Netanyahu appeared distracted by politics and personal matters , including his trial for corruption allegations , as infections rose over the summer .
Netanyahu has also been lambasted for seeming to cave to pressure from various interest groups , including most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared to have convinced him to relax a pinpointed , city-based lockdown plan that would have mostly affected ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities .
At the press conference Sunday announcing the lockdown , Netanyahu defended his response , saying Israel ’ s economy had emerged from the first lockdown in a better state than many other developed nations and that while cases were high , the country ’ s coronavirus mortality numbers were lower than other countries with similar outbreaks .
The country ’ s power-sharing government , made up of two rival parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to combat the virus , has also been chided for the new outbreak .
The government has been accused of mismanagement , failing to properly address both the health and economic crises wrought by the virus and leading the country to its second lockdown .
Some government ministers meanwhile have pointed fingers at what they ’ ve called an undisciplined public , who they have accused of violating restrictions against public gatherings and mask wearing .
By TIA GOLDENBERG and ARON HELLER Associated Press

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced a new countrywide lockdown will be imposed amid a stubborn surge in coronavirus cases, with schools and parts of the economy expected to shut down in a bid to bring down infection rates.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced a new countrywide lockdown will be imposed amid a stubborn surge in coronavirus cases, with schools and parts of the economy expected to shut down in a bid to bring down infection rates.
Beginning Friday, the start of the Jewish High Holiday season, schools, restaurants, malls and hotels will shut down, among other businesses, and Israelis will face restrictions on movement and on gatherings.
"Our goal is to stop the increase (in cases) and lower morbidity," Netanyahu said in a nationally broadcast statement. "I know that these steps come at a difficult price for all of us. This is not the holiday we are used to."
The tightening of measures marks the second time Israel is being plunged into a lockdown, after a lengthy shutdown in the spring. That lockdown is credited with having brought down what were much lower infection numbers, but it wreaked havoc on the country's economy, sending unemployment skyrocketing.
The lockdown will remain in place for at least three weeks, at which point officials may relax measures if numbers are seen declining. Israelis typically hold large family gatherings and pack synagogues during the important fast of Yom Kippur later this month, settings that officials feared could trigger new outbreaks.
A sticking point in government deliberations over the lockdown was what prayers would look like during the holidays. While the details on prayer during the lockdown were not nailed down in the government decision, what were expected to be strict limits on the faithful. That prompted Israeli Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman, who represents ultra-Orthodox Jews, to resign from the government earlier Sunday.
Israel has had more than 150,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,100 deaths. Given its population of 9 million, the country now has one of the world's worst outbreaks. It is now seeing more than 4,000 daily cases of the virus.
Israel earned praise for its initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak, moving quickly to seal the country's borders and appearing to bring infections under control. It has since been criticized for opening businesses and schools too quickly and allowing the virus to spread unchecked.
Much of that criticism has been aimed at Netanyahu, who has faced a public outcry over his handling of the crisis and has seen thousands of protesters descend on his Jerusalem residence every week. While lauded for his decisive response following the spring outbreak, Netanyahu appeared distracted by politics and personal matters, including his trial for corruption allegations, as infections rose over the summer.
Netanyahu has also been lambasted for seeming to cave to pressure from various interest groups, including most recently his ultra-Orthodox governing partners, who appeared to have convinced him to relax a pinpointed, city-based lockdown plan that would have mostly affected ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities.
At the press conference Sunday announcing the lockdown, Netanyahu defended his response, saying Israel's economy had emerged from the first lockdown in a better state than many other developed nations and that while cases were high, the country's coronavirus mortality numbers were lower than other countries with similar outbreaks.
The country's power-sharing government, made up of two rival parties who joined forces in a stated aim to combat the virus, has also been chided for the new outbreak. The government has been accused of mismanagement, failing to properly address both the health and economic crises wrought by the virus and leading the country to its second lockdown.
Some government ministers meanwhile have pointed fingers at what they've called an undisciplined public, who they have accused of violating restrictions against public gatherings and mask wearing.
By TIA GOLDENBERG and ARON HELLER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-13--Desperately Fleeing the Burning Hills in Northern California

SACRAMENTO , Calif. ( AP ) — As the flames closed in on tiny Berry Creek in the Sierra Nevada foothills early Wednesday , Misty Spires and her boyfriend hooked a fire hose to a hydrant in a desperate attempt to defend their homes and the town ’ s only laundromat .
They gave up around 4 a.m. when propane tanks began exploding and they were dodging embers “ as big as my feet , ” she said .
But traffic was snarled on the two-lane bridge leading out of town , forcing Spires and others to turn around and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flames .
She helped another man load his motorcycle on the back of her pickup truck before sprinting to safety .
“ It was like a war zone , like standing in the breath of hell , ” she said .
For the second time in two years , fire has destroyed a mountain community in Butte County .
Two years ago it was Paradise , where roughly 19,000 buildings were destroyed and 85 people died in the most destructive wildfire in state history .
This time , it was Berry Creek — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the same remote , rolling heavily forested mountains that locals described as a peaceful , close-knit community .
Dozens of wildfires have been burning for weeks across California and the U.S. West , most sparked by lightning strikes .
But the North Complex Fire in Northern California surprised fire officials by how quickly it spread after smoldering for weeks in a mostly unpopulated region .
Aided by strong winds , steep terrain and miles of dried out foliage , the fire — more than 8 miles ( 13 kilometers ) wide — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This time , Paradise was spared .
Smaller mountain communities such as Berry Creek and Feather Falls were quickly overwhelmed .
Firefighters scrambled to rescue more than 100 people on Tuesday and early Wednesday .
But they couldn ’ t save everyone .
By Saturday , authorities said the fire claimed 12 lives and another 13 remained missing .
Millicent Catarancuic ’ s 5-acre property in Berry Creek was a rescue shelter of sorts .
She had at least four dogs and several cats , many of whom wandered into her yard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Her scattered family had seen much tragedy , but in recent years they had mostly settled at her compound in the hills , where it took a 30-minute drive to get anywhere .
With her sister , Suzan Violet Zurz , and Phil Rubel , an uncle by marriage , the three lived in quietly , caring for animals and playing the card game FreeCell on a desktop computer .
They were not foolhardy with fires , having voluntarily evacuated for others .
Tuesday , they had packed the car and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 7 p.m. , they changed their minds .
They were safe , they assured their families .
Authorities would later find Catarancuic ’ s body near a car , along with those of two others .
Zurz and Rubel are still listed as missing .
But Zurz ’ s son , Zygy Roe-Zurz , fears the worst .
“ It ’ s absolutely devastating to find out the people you love are suddenly and horribly gone , ” he said .
“ We lived all over the world and finally settled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much thought went into being there and it ’ s , just , all gone.
” Spires and her boyfriend , Jonathan Gonzales , were headed to the muddy sandbar north of Lake Oroville , the largest body of water in the area .
Gonzalez knew the area was clear of trees and close to the water and told the drivers caught in the jam getting out of Berry Creek to follow him .
“ He told the others , ‘ If you want to live instead of sitting on this bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ He saved a lot of lives.
” Once there , Spires said most people stayed huddled in their cars .
But others got out and consoled each other .
“ There wasn ’ t much that you can say in that situation but to say , ‘ I ’ m glad you ’ re alive , ' ” Spires said .
While waiting for daylight , she saw horses and other animals run toward the lake as flames licked the hillsides .
Spires moved from Kansas City to Berry Creek two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landscape , creeks and waterfalls that feed into the lake and the mild climate for her mother , who suffers from debilitating arthritis .
Her loved ones all survived the blaze , but she mourned the loss of a town she had come to love .
She also mourned the loss of the Sugar Pine Saloon , a 1940s era bar where people in the community had signed their names in the rafters .
Spires and her boyfriend were working hard to remodel and reopen it .
“ It was a place where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way , ” she said .
“ The whole history is just gone.
” By DAISY NGUYEN and ADAM BEAM Associated Press

As the flames closed in on tiny Berry Creek in the Sierra Nevada foothills early Wednesday, Misty Spires and her boyfriend hooked a fire hose to a hydrant in a desperate attempt to defend their homes and the town's only laundromat.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — As the flames closed in on tiny Berry Creek in the Sierra Nevada foothills early Wednesday, Misty Spires and her boyfriend hooked a fire hose to a hydrant in a desperate attempt to defend their homes and the town's only laundromat.
They gave up around 4 a.m. when propane tanks began exploding and they were dodging embers "as big as my feet," she said. But traffic was snarled on the two-lane bridge leading out of town, forcing Spires and others to turn around and drive down a sandbar to escape the flames.
She helped another man load his motorcycle on the back of her pickup truck before sprinting to safety.
"It was like a war zone, like standing in the breath of hell," she said.
For the second time in two years, fire has destroyed a mountain community in Butte County. Two years ago it was Paradise, where roughly 19,000 buildings were destroyed and 85 people died in the most destructive wildfire in state history.
This time, it was Berry Creek — an unincorporated town of about 1,200 people in the same remote, rolling heavily forested mountains that locals described as a peaceful, close-knit community.
Dozens of wildfires have been burning for weeks across California and the U.S. West, most sparked by lightning strikes. But the North Complex Fire in Northern California surprised fire officials by how quickly it spread after smoldering for weeks in a mostly unpopulated region.
Aided by strong winds, steep terrain and miles of dried out foliage, the fire — more than 8 miles (13 kilometers) wide — quickly roared into Butte County on Tuesday.
This time, Paradise was spared. Smaller mountain communities such as Berry Creek and Feather Falls were quickly overwhelmed. Firefighters scrambled to rescue more than 100 people on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
But they couldn't save everyone.
By Saturday, authorities said the fire claimed 12 lives and another 13 remained missing.
Millicent Catarancuic's 5-acre property in Berry Creek was a rescue shelter of sorts. She had at least four dogs and several cats, many of whom wandered into her yard and never left after finding a loving home.
Her scattered family had seen much tragedy, but in recent years they had mostly settled at her compound in the hills, where it took a 30-minute drive to get anywhere. With her sister, Suzan Violet Zurz, and Phil Rubel, an uncle by marriage, the three lived in quietly, caring for animals and playing the card game FreeCell on a desktop computer.
They were not foolhardy with fires, having voluntarily evacuated for others. Tuesday, they had packed the car and were getting ready to leave when, about 7 p.m., they changed their minds. They were safe, they assured their families.
Authorities would later find Catarancuic's body near a car, along with those of two others. Zurz and Rubel are still listed as missing. But Zurz's son, Zygy Roe-Zurz, fears the worst.
"It's absolutely devastating to find out the people you love are suddenly and horribly gone," he said. "We lived all over the world and finally settled in a place. So much work and so much thought went into being there and it's, just, all gone."
Spires and her boyfriend, Jonathan Gonzales, were headed to the muddy sandbar north of Lake Oroville, the largest body of water in the area. Gonzalez knew the area was clear of trees and close to the water and told the drivers caught in the jam getting out of Berry Creek to follow him.
"He told the others, 'If you want to live instead of sitting on this bridge follow me,'" she said. "He saved a lot of lives."
Once there, Spires said most people stayed huddled in their cars. But others got out and consoled each other.
"There wasn't much that you can say in that situation but to say, 'I'm glad you're alive,'" Spires said.
While waiting for daylight, she saw horses and other animals run toward the lake as flames licked the hillsides.
Spires moved from Kansas City to Berry Creek two years ago, drawn to its verdant landscape, creeks and waterfalls that feed into the lake and the mild climate for her mother, who suffers from debilitating arthritis. Her loved ones all survived the blaze, but she mourned the loss of a town she had come to love.
She also mourned the loss of the Sugar Pine Saloon, a 1940s era bar where people in the community had signed their names in the rafters. Spires and her boyfriend were working hard to remodel and reopen it.
"It was a place where the whole community was involved in some way," she said. "The whole history is just gone."
By DAISY NGUYEN and ADAM BEAM Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-09-13--2 California Deputies Shot in Apparent Ambush in Patrol Car

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) — Authorities searched Sunday for a gunman who shot and wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff ’ s deputies who were sitting in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew an angry response from the president and sparked an anti-police protest outside the hospital where the deputies were being treated .
The 31-year-old female deputy and 24-year-old male deputy underwent surgery Saturday evening , Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a late-night news conference .
Both graduated from the academy 14 months ago , he said .
The deputies were shot while sitting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station and were able to radio for help , the sheriff said .
Villanueva , whose department has come under fire during recent protests over racial unrest , expressed frustration over anti-police sentiment as he urged people to pray for the deputies .
“ It pisses me off .
It dismays me at the same time , ” he said .
The department tweeted video of the shooting that shows a person open fire through the passenger-side window of the patrol car .
“ The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department stated .
The video sparked reaction from President Trump who responded on Twitter , “ Animals that must be hit hard !
” “ This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice , ” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden tweeted .
“ Violence of any kind is wrong ; those who commit it should be caught and punished.
” A handful of protesters gathered outside the the hospital where the injured deputies were being treated .
The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergency room , Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told the TV station KABC .
“ Unacceptable behavior .
The hospital should be a sanctuary , we should leave hospitals alone , ” he said .
Mendez and members of his group gathered nearby in prayer for the wounded deputies .
“ To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling “ We hope they die ” referring to 2 LA Sheriff ’ s ambushed today in # Compton : DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the sheriff ’ s department tweeted .
“ People ’ s lives are at stake when ambulances can ’ t get through.
” A radio reporter who was near the protest scene was taken into custody .
The sheriff ’ s department later tweeted that the reporter interfered with the arrest of a male protester .
“ The female adult , who was later identified as a member of the press , did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released , Josie Huang , a reporter for public radio station KPCC , a National Public Radio affiliate , said on Twitter that she had seen the statements from sheriff ’ s officials and had “ thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest.
” A video Huang said she shot moments before her arrest showed two men carrying red , black and green flags and shouting at deputies outside the hospital while a few other people stood by recording on their cellphones .
The executive editor of the station , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest and said her reporter appeared to be wearing her credentials and had shouted her KPCC affiliation .
NPR ’ s Editorial Director Nancy Barnes said the network was “ appalled ” by the arrest of a reporter doing her job .
Meanwhile , the search for the gunman continued .
Capt .
Kent Wegener said officers were blanketing the area in search of the suspect seen on the video opening fire with a pistol .
“ We have a very , very generic description , ” he said .
The incident happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Compton sheriff ’ s station south of downtown Los Angeles .
The U.S. Justice Department would assist sheriff ’ s investigators with “ all federal tools available , ” spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Twitter .
Protesters have railed against the LA Sheriff ’ s Department for weeks over recent shootings by deputies , including the killing of a man on a bicycle last month .
“ Of course , there ’ s an important conversation going on about policing in this country , but these are folks who put their lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we will find justice for them , ” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on CNN Sunday .

Authorities searched Sunday for a gunman who shot and wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies who were sitting in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew an angry response from the president and sparked an anti-police protest outside the hospital where the deputies were being treated.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities continued the manhunt Monday for a gunman who shot and wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies as they sat in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew an angry response from the president and sparked an anti-police protest outside the hospital where the deputies were being treated.
The 31-year-old female officer, who is a mother of a 6-year old boy, and 24-year-old male officer underwent surgery Saturday evening, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a late-night news conference. Both graduated from the police academy 14 months ago, he said.
In a Facebook interview with the City of Refuge Church in Los Angeles on Sunday, Villanueva said the female deputy provided medical care to the other deputy and called in on the radio that they were shot.
“God bless, it looks like they’re going to be able to recover,” said Villanueva. “They survived the worst.”
The officers were shot while sitting in their patrol car at a Metro rail station and were able to radio for help, the sheriff said. Villanueva, whose department has come under fire during recent protests over racial unrest, expressed frustration over anti-police sentiment as he urged people to pray for the deputies.
“It pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time,” he said.
The department tweeted video of the shooting that shows a person open fire through the passenger-side window of the patrol car.
“The gunman walked up on the deputies and opened fire without warning or provocation,” the department stated.
The suspect is described as a Black man between the ages of 28-30, last seen wearing dark clothing according to the sheriff’s department. The county is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the suspect.
The video sparked reaction from President Donald Trump, who on Twitter called the suspect “Animals that must be hit hard!”
His 2020 presidential election rival Joe Biden also took to Twitter to slam the shooting.
“This cold-blooded shooting is unconscionable and the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” the former vice president tweeted. “Violence of any kind is wrong; those who commit it should be caught and punished.”
On Saturday, a handful of protesters gathered outside the hospital where the injured officers are being treated. The protesters tried to provoke deputies stationed outside and at one point were prevented from entering the emergency room, Bishop Juan Carlos Mendez with the Churches in Action group told TV station KABC.
“Unacceptable behavior. The hospital should be a sanctuary, we should leave hospitals alone,” he said. Mendez and members of his group had gathered nearby to pray for the wounded officers.
“To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling “We hope they die” referring to 2 LA Sheriff’s ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL,” the sheriff’s department tweeted. “People’s lives are at stake when ambulances can’t get through.”
A radio reporter who was near the protest scene was taken into custody. The sheriff’s department later tweeted that the reporter interfered with the arrest of a male protester.
“The female adult, who was later identified as a member of the press, did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person,” the department stated.
After being released, public radio station KPCC reporter Josie Huang said on Twitter that she had seen the statements from sheriff’s officials and had “thoughts and videos to share soon after a little rest.”
A video Huang said she shot moments before her arrest showed two men carrying red, black and green flags and shouting at deputies outside the hospital while a few other people stood by recording on their cellphones.
Huang and another unidentified person were arrested for obstruction of justice according to the sheriff’s department. Video footage shared by Huang and other news outlets from outside St. Francis Medical Center in the city of Lynwood showed deputies wrestle Huang to the ground and handcuff her before taking her to a police cruiser.
“I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies shout ‘back up,’” Huang wrote on Twitter after she was released from police custody. “Within seconds, I was getting shoved around. There was nowhere to back up.”
In the video footage, Huang can be heard identifying herself as a reporter and repeats her radio station’s call letters. After her phone was knocked to the ground the video continues as Huang calls out, “You guys are hurting me.”
Huang said she was held in custody for five hours and officers did not let her put her face mask back up while she was handcuffed.
LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose district includes south LA, requested that the Inspector General launch an investigation into Huang’s arrest.
On Monday, Villanueva told LA news station KTLA that Huang was wearing an ID issued by her company and not “a press pass.”
“She’s yelling ‘KPCC, KPCC,’ but unfortunately, that’s not a household name,” Villanueva said.
The executive editor of the station, Megan Garvey, expressed outrage over the arrest and said her reporter appeared to be wearing her credentials and had shouted being with KPCC, an NPR affiliate. NPR’s editorial director Nancy Barnes said the network was “appalled” by the arrest of a reporter doing her job.
Meanwhile, the search for the gunman continues.
Capt. Kent Wegener said officers were blanketing the area in search of the suspect seen on the video opening fire with a pistol.
“We have a very, very generic description,” he said.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. a short distance from the Compton sheriff’s station south of downtown Los Angeles.
The U.S. Justice Department would assist sheriff’s investigators with “all federal tools available,” spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said on Twitter.
Protesters have railed against the LA Sheriff’s Department for weeks over recent shootings by officers, including the killing of a man on a bicycle last month.
“Of course, there’s an important conversation going on about policing in this country, but these are folks who put their lives on the line for us, and we will find justice for them,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told CNN on Sunday.
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press
Courthouse News reporter Nathan Solis contributed to the report.


Stiffed Students

BUTTE , Mont .
— Montana State University faces a class action brought by students complaining they paid full tuition @ @ @ @ @ 2020 semester but did not receive partial refunds when the pandemic ended the school year @ @

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.


GEO Group

SAN DIEGO — Pretrial detainees accuse the for-profit prison runner GEO Group of responding violently to a sit-in over plans @ @ @ @ @ facility in Arizona with no precautions or social distancing amid a surge in coronavirus cases @