courthousenews--2020-06-23--Environmentalists Urge Feds to Dump Approval of Alaska Gas Pipeline

( CN ) — Environmentalists have asked the Trump administration to reconsider a recent decision to allow the construction of an 800-mile pipeline that will make it easier to export liquified natural gas to Asia .
The Chickaloon Traditional Village Council and environmental organizations filed a formal request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday , asking the agency to rehear the application for the LNG Alaska project .
If built , the project will send natural gas from the northern part of the state to the south , where it can be shipped to customers in Asia .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sierra Club said the commission failed to consider climate change and endangered species , including polar bears , Cook Inlet beluga whales and North Pacific right whales .
“ It makes no sense to fuel climate change to export American fuel to Asia , ” said Kristen Monsell , a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity .
“ This risky project would be a disaster for Alaska , our climate and its endangered wildlife.
” The natural gas fields in question are north of the Arctic Circle and figure to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign markets annually .
If completed , the pipeline would send 3.9 billion cubic-feet of gas per day to a treatment facility in Prudhoe Bay .
As it is used , the gas could emit about 76 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere , equivalent to 20 coal-fired power plants .
“ Even those who support this project should be appalled at how dismissively FERC has treated its numerous significant impacts on Alaska and the climate , telling the public essentially not to look behind the curtain , ” said Erin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The agency needs to scrap its order and start over.
” In its approval , the commission noted a rigorous process that included extensive environmental analysis .
“ The final EIS finds that , while some impacts would be permanent and significant , such as impacts on permafrost , most impacts would not be significant or would be reduced to less-than significant levels with the implementation of avoidance , minimization , and mitigation measures recommended in the final EIS39 and adopted by this order , ” the regulatory commission said in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also disagreed with the Center for Biological Diversity ’ s characterization that the project would harm Alaskan taxpayers by exporting most of the disinterred natural gas .
“ We note that the project would have economic and local/regional public benefits , including increased employment opportunities and household income from both project construction and operation , ” the authorization reads .
But critics note a Trump-appointed commissioner criticized the project for its inordinate impact on climate .
“ The commission once again refuses to consider the consequences its actions have for climate change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the five FERC commissioners .
“ Claiming that a project ’ s environmental impacts are acceptable while at the same time refusing to assess the significance of the project ’ s impact on the most important environmental issue of our time is not reasoned decision making.
” The center said the construction of the treatment facility near Cook Inlet means an increase in large tanker ships , which will inevitably have impacts on right whales and beluga whales .
The commission did say that tanker traffic in Cook Inlet would increase by 75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate change due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere .
The Last Frontier is warming twice as fast as elsewhere , and the permafrost that fills broad swaths of the vast land tracts that comprise the state is already thawing .
The project is slated to cost $ 43 billion .

Environmentalists have asked the Trump administration to reconsider a recent decision to allow the construction of an 800-mile pipeline that will make it easier to export liquified natural gas to Asia.
(CN) — Environmentalists have asked the Trump administration to reconsider a recent decision to allow the construction of an 800-mile pipeline that will make it easier to export liquified natural gas to Asia.
The Chickaloon Traditional Village Council and environmental organizations filed a formal request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday, asking the agency to rehear the application for the LNG Alaska project. If built, the project will send natural gas from the northern part of the state to the south, where it can be shipped to customers in Asia.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club said the commission failed to consider climate change and endangered species, including polar bears, Cook Inlet beluga whales and North Pacific right whales.
“It makes no sense to fuel climate change to export American fuel to Asia,” said Kristen Monsell, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “This risky project would be a disaster for Alaska, our climate and its endangered wildlife.”
The natural gas fields in question are north of the Arctic Circle and figure to provide 20 million tons of condensed fuel to foreign markets annually.
If completed, the pipeline would send 3.9 billion cubic-feet of gas per day to a treatment facility in Prudhoe Bay. As it is used, the gas could emit about 76 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equivalent to 20 coal-fired power plants.
“Even those who support this project should be appalled at how dismissively FERC has treated its numerous significant impacts on Alaska and the climate, telling the public essentially not to look behind the curtain,” said Erin Whalen, an attorney at Earthjustice. “The agency needs to scrap its order and start over.”
In its approval, the commission noted a rigorous process that included extensive environmental analysis.
“The final EIS finds that, while some impacts would be permanent and significant, such as impacts on permafrost, most impacts would not be significant or would be reduced to less-than significant levels with the implementation of avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures recommended in the final EIS39 and adopted by this order,” the regulatory commission said in its authorization of the project.
The regulator also disagreed with the Center for Biological Diversity’s characterization that the project would harm Alaskan taxpayers by exporting most of the disinterred natural gas.
“We note that the project would have economic and local/regional public benefits, including increased employment opportunities and household income from both project construction and operation,” the authorization reads.
But critics note a Trump-appointed commissioner criticized the project for its inordinate impact on climate.
“The commission once again refuses to consider the consequences its actions have for climate change,” said James Glick, one of the five FERC commissioners. “Claiming that a project’s environmental impacts are acceptable while at the same time refusing to assess the significance of the project’s impact on the most important environmental issue of our time is not reasoned decision making.”
The center said the construction of the treatment facility near Cook Inlet means an increase in large tanker ships, which will inevitably have impacts on right whales and beluga whales.
The commission did say that tanker traffic in Cook Inlet would increase by 75%.
Alaska is particularly susceptible to climate change due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Last Frontier is warming twice as fast as elsewhere, and the permafrost that fills broad swaths of the vast land tracts that comprise the state is already thawing.
The project is slated to cost $43 billion.


courthousenews--2020-06-23--Missouri Court Slashes $4.7 Billion Award in Baby Powder Case

ST. LOUIS ( CN ) — A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday upheld a jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson over damages caused by its talcum powder products , but reduced the award from $ 4.7 billion to $ 2.1 billion .
The unanimous decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals ’ Eastern District came in the case of 22 women who claimed they developed ovarian cancer from using Johnson & Johnson ’ s talc-based baby powder .
Slashing the jury award down from $ 4.69 billion , the court revised it to $ 500 million in actual damages and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m pleased that all three judges agreed , ” plaintiffs ’ attorney Eric Holland said in an interview .
“ I ’ m also pleased that they so carefully looked at the evidence and I was so impressed with how they were able to dive into what amounted to a 6,000-page record in what was a six-week trial and come up with what happened here .
Very impressive work.
” Johnson & Johnson announced on May 19 that it would stop selling its talc baby powder in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical products giant faces more than 19,000 lawsuits regarding its talc powder products , according to Reuters .
“ We are grateful to the court for their time ; however , we continue to believe this was a fundamentally flawed trial , grounded in a faulty presentation of the facts , and will pursue further review of this case by the Supreme Court of Missouri , ” Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Kim Montagnino said in an emailed statement .
“ We deeply sympathize with anyone suffering from cancer , which is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain confident that our talc is safe , asbestos free , and does not cause cancer.
” But the three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals found differently in its 83-page opinion .
The court noted that expert testimony showed Johnson & Johnson knew that its talc baby powder contained asbestos “ since the 1970s or earlier ” and that its talc supplier Rio Tinto Minerals warned that there was no safe level of asbestos exposure and that any presence of asbestos in its talc “ would be a serious problem.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ further showed defendants worked tirelessly to ensure the industry adopted testing protocols not sensitive enough to detect asbestos in every talc sample.
” It also showed that Johnson & Johnson knew of alternative , more reliable methods for detecting asbestos but “ aggressively recommended ” that the Food and Drug Administration adopt less reliable standards to promote its own interests .
Presiding Judge Philip M. Hess wrote that “ there was significant reprehensibility in defendants ’ conduct.
” “ The harm suffered by plaintiffs was physical , not just economic , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and suffered from ovarian cancer .
Plaintiffs underwent chemotherapy , hysterectomies , and countless other surgeries .
These medical procedures caused them to experience symptoms such as hair loss , sleeplessness , mouth sores , loss of appetite , seizures , nausea , neuropathy , and other infections .
Several plaintiffs died , and surviving plaintiffs experience recurrences of cancer and fear of relapse.
” The judge added that the jury ’ s finding “ supports that defendants ’ exposure of consumers to asbestos over several decades was done with reckless disregard of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They nailed the conduct of Johnson & Johnson that supported the jury ’ s finding of punitive damages , ” Holland , the plaintiffs ’ attorney , said in an interview .
“ They pointed out the long , long history of Johnson & Johnson ’ s knowledge that there was asbestos in the product , their extensive efforts at rigging the tests so the tests would not show it , and their attempts to influence the regulators and basically hide the evidence from people that there was asbestos in the product.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the appeals court ruled that the trial court erred in not granting Johnson & Johnson ’ s motion for dismissal on two of the plaintiff ’ s claims due to lack of jurisdiction .
Holland said he is reviewing all the legal options available with those plaintiffs .
While he is happy with the ruling , Holland called it a bittersweet day because 11 of the 22 plaintiffs did not live to see the ruling .
He said he spoke to several of those families after the ruling was issued .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” the attorney said .
“ It ’ s an important day for the surviving family to see that it has come to this point now .
”

A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday upheld a jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson over damages caused by its talcum powder products, but reduced the award from $4.7 billion to $2.1 billion.
ST. LOUIS (CN) — A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday upheld a jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson over damages caused by its talcum powder products, but reduced the award from $4.7 billion to $2.1 billion.
The unanimous decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals’ Eastern District came in the case of 22 women who claimed they developed ovarian cancer from using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder.
Slashing the jury award down from $4.69 billion, the court revised it to $500 million in actual damages and $1.62 billion in punitive damages.
FILE - In this April 15, 2011, file photo, a bottle of Johnson's baby powder is displayed. Johnson & Johnson is ending production of its iconic talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder, which has been embroiled in thousands of lawsuits claiming it caused cancer. The world’s biggest maker of health care products said Tuesday, May 19, 2020 that the discontinuation only affects the U.S. and Canada, where demand has been declining. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
“I’m pleased that all three judges agreed,” plaintiffs’ attorney Eric Holland said in an interview. “I’m also pleased that they so carefully looked at the evidence and I was so impressed with how they were able to dive into what amounted to a 6,000-page record in what was a six-week trial and come up with what happened here. Very impressive work.”
Johnson & Johnson announced on May 19 that it would stop selling its talc baby powder in the United States and Canada. The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical and medical products giant faces more than 19,000 lawsuits regarding its talc powder products, according to Reuters.
“We are grateful to the court for their time; however, we continue to believe this was a fundamentally flawed trial, grounded in a faulty presentation of the facts, and will pursue further review of this case by the Supreme Court of Missouri,” Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Kim Montagnino said in an emailed statement. “We deeply sympathize with anyone suffering from cancer, which is why the facts are so important. We remain confident that our talc is safe, asbestos free, and does not cause cancer.”
But the three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals found differently in its 83-page opinion.
The court noted that expert testimony showed Johnson & Johnson knew that its talc baby powder contained asbestos “since the 1970s or earlier” and that its talc supplier Rio Tinto Minerals warned that there was no safe level of asbestos exposure and that any presence of asbestos in its talc “would be a serious problem.”
The ruling noted that plaintiffs’ evidence “further showed defendants worked tirelessly to ensure the industry adopted testing protocols not sensitive enough to detect asbestos in every talc sample.” It also showed that Johnson & Johnson knew of alternative, more reliable methods for detecting asbestos but “aggressively recommended” that the Food and Drug Administration adopt less reliable standards to promote its own interests.
Presiding Judge Philip M. Hess wrote that “there was significant reprehensibility in defendants’ conduct.”
“The harm suffered by plaintiffs was physical, not just economic,” Hess wrote. “Plaintiffs each developed and suffered from ovarian cancer. Plaintiffs underwent chemotherapy, hysterectomies, and countless other surgeries. These medical procedures caused them to experience symptoms such as hair loss, sleeplessness, mouth sores, loss of appetite, seizures, nausea, neuropathy, and other infections. Several plaintiffs died, and surviving plaintiffs experience recurrences of cancer and fear of relapse.”
The judge added that the jury’s finding “supports that defendants’ exposure of consumers to asbestos over several decades was done with reckless disregard of the health and safety of others.”
Judges Kurt S. Odenwald and Lisa P. Page concurred.
“They nailed the conduct of Johnson & Johnson that supported the jury’s finding of punitive damages,” Holland, the plaintiffs’ attorney, said in an interview. “They pointed out the long, long history of Johnson & Johnson’s knowledge that there was asbestos in the product, their extensive efforts at rigging the tests so the tests would not show it, and their attempts to influence the regulators and basically hide the evidence from people that there was asbestos in the product.”
The original damages figure was reduced after the appeals court ruled that the trial court erred in not granting Johnson & Johnson’s motion for dismissal on two of the plaintiff’s claims due to lack of jurisdiction. Holland said he is reviewing all the legal options available with those plaintiffs.
While he is happy with the ruling, Holland called it a bittersweet day because 11 of the 22 plaintiffs did not live to see the ruling. He said he spoke to several of those families after the ruling was issued.
“It’s an important day for them,” the attorney said. “It’s an important day for the surviving family to see that it has come to this point now.”


courthousenews--2020-06-23--Senate Judiciary Considers Holding China Accountable for US Covid-19 Losses

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Senate Judiciary Committee members Tuesday discussed amending the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act in order to hold China accountable for injury , losses and damages related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus .
“ The bottom line is the wet markets in China have been a breeding ground for pandemics and Americans are asking the question , what will it take to make China change ?
” Chairman Lindsey Graham , a South Carolina Republican said .
“ At what point in time do we need to put on the table new ideas to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China.
” The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act was first drafted in 1976 and deals with assessing liability to a country ’ s government and when that entity can be sued in a U.S. court .
Members heard from a panel of witnesses Tuesday , including Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch , who said China was culpable for losses related to Covid-19 — a virus that has taken the lives of more than 121,000 Americans , according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker .
“ The coronavirus has killed , caused serious medical harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American way of life , ” Fitch testified .
“ We must hold China accountable now so that they and all other nation-states will know that we will not allow them to act with impunity ; that when they inflict damage on the American people , we will not turn a diplomatic blind eye but will use whatever tools we have at our disposal to seek justice.
” A class action suit filed in Florida and another filed in Nevada in March , seeking to recoup damages to businesses and individuals as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named the People ’ s Republic of China as a defendant .
Another suit , filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi , looks to hold Chinese officials liable for violating the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act .
According to Fitch , China ’ s actions “ demonstrate that they created an environment ripe for the need , ” for personal protective equipment , then distorted the demand and supply of that equipment , “ to its own unjust enrichment.
” China ’ s failure to contain the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Washington and Lee University law professor Russell Miller .
“ Another theory is concerned with the conduct of the Chinese government before the health crisis emerged , ” Miller testified .
“ The essence of this allegation is that the Chinese government has moved slowly to establish an effective food and drug regulatory regime .
Not surprisingly , China ’ s less effectively regulated food and drug market has produced one health crisis after the other.
” The committee ’ s ranking Democrat from California , Dianne Feinstein , said in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for U.S. officials to examine when determining the culpability of China , especially when it came to the question of concealing evidence about Covid-19 .
However , she said , the actions of President Donald Trump ’ s administration should also be examined .
“ The actions of the Trump administration may even play a role in whether China can , or should , be held legally responsible for harms within the United States , ” Feinstein said .
“ For example , how can China be held accountable for decisions made before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more vulnerable ?
It was the Trump administration , not China , that cut funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and disbanded an office within the National Security Council that focused on responding to global public health threats.
” Chimene Keitner , a professor of international law at The University of California Hastings College of Law , testified that , “ any scholar or practitioner with working knowledge of the law of foreign sovereign immunity , ” would have seen the filings in Florida and Nevada and assess “ that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a U.S. court , ” for those suits .
Keitner also testified that modifying foreign immunity protections could call into question American culpability for virus outbreaks , noting the outbreak of the H1N1 flu in 2009 and its contested origin .
While it is unlikely Chinese officials will face civil litigation , she testified , journalists , researchers and activists should continue to call into question actions by federal officials in the U.S. “ There is an understandable human impulse to assign blame , but — especially in the United States — the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the executive branch ’ s response makes focusing on China counter-productive at this point , ” she testified .
The Senate Judiciary committee is likely to continue hearing testimony on this issue , as the Stop COVID Act of 2020 , a bill which alters the parameters of Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act , is considered in the Senate .

Senate Judiciary Committee members Tuesday discussed amending the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act in order to hold China accountable for injury, losses and damages related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Senate Judiciary Committee members Tuesday discussed amending the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act in order to hold China accountable for injury, losses and damages related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
“The bottom line is the wet markets in China have been a breeding ground for pandemics and Americans are asking the question, what will it take to make China change?” said Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican. “At what point in time do we need to put on the table new ideas to stop a recurring event: pandemics coming from China.”
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act was first drafted in 1976 and deals with assessing liability to a country’s government and when that entity can be sued in a U.S. court.
Members heard from a panel of witnesses Tuesday, including Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who said China was culpable for losses related to Covid-19 — a virus that has taken the lives of more than 121,000 Americans, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
“The coronavirus has killed, caused serious medical harm, destroyed businesses and functionally altered the American way of life,” Fitch testified. “We must hold China accountable now so that they and all other nation-states will know that we will not allow them to act with impunity; that when they inflict damage on the American people, we will not turn a diplomatic blind eye but will use whatever tools we have at our disposal to seek justice.”
A class action suit filed in Florida and another filed in Nevada in March, seeking to recoup damages to businesses and individuals as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, named the People’s Republic of China as a defendant.
Another suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, looks to hold Chinese officials liable for violating the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act. According to Fitch, China’s actions “demonstrate that they created an environment ripe for the need,” for personal protective equipment, then distorted the demand and supply of that equipment, “to its own unjust enrichment.”
China’s failure to contain the virus could amount to transboundary harm, according to Washington and Lee University law professor Russell Miller.
“Another theory is concerned with the conduct of the Chinese government before the health crisis emerged,” Miller testified. “The essence of this allegation is that the Chinese government has moved slowly to establish an effective food and drug regulatory regime. Not surprisingly, China’s less effectively regulated food and drug market has produced one health crisis after the other.”
The committee’s ranking Democrat from California, Dianne Feinstein, said in an opening statement Tuesday there was a lot for U.S. officials to examine when determining the culpability of China, especially when it came to the question of concealing evidence about Covid-19. However, she said, the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration should also be examined.
“The actions of the Trump administration may even play a role in whether China can, or should, be held legally responsible for harms within the United States,” Feinstein said. “For example, how can China be held accountable for decisions made before the pandemic that made the United States more vulnerable? It was the Trump administration, not China, that cut funds for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and disbanded an office within the National Security Council that focused on responding to global public health threats.”
Chimene Keitner, a professor of international law at The University of California Hastings College of Law, testified that, “any scholar or practitioner with working knowledge of the law of foreign sovereign immunity,” would have seen the filings in Florida and Nevada and assess “that there is no basis for jurisdiction in a U.S. court,” for those suits.
Keitner also testified that modifying foreign immunity protections could call into question American culpability for virus outbreaks, noting the outbreak of the H1N1 flu in 2009 and its contested origin. While it is unlikely Chinese officials will face civil litigation, she testified, journalists, researchers and activists should continue to call into question actions by federal officials in the U.S.
“There is an understandable human impulse to assign blame, but — especially in the United States — the contributory negligence evident in many aspects of the executive branch’s response makes focusing on China counter-productive at this point,” she testified.
The Senate Judiciary committee is likely to continue hearing testimony on this issue, as the Stop Covid Act of 2020, a bill which alters the parameters of Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, is considered in the Senate.


courthousenews--2020-06-23--Pence Kicks Off Faith Tour in Red Milwaukee Suburb

PEWAUKEE , Wis. ( CN ) — Vice President Mike Pence launched his “ Faith in America ” rally tour in a Milwaukee suburb Tuesday , returning to a reliably conservative area of a key battleground state to drum up enthusiasm among the president ’ s base less than five months from the election .
Pence and his entourage were greeted with sunny , temperate weather and hundreds of supporters Tuesday at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee , part of a belt of staunchly red counties immediately surrounding Milwaukee ’ s Democratic stronghold that President Donald Trump ’ s re-election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of vulnerability .
Trump carried Waukesha County by around 28 points in the 2016 presidential election , but in 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney won the county by about 35 points .
Some local conservatives in the Badger State with both grassroots and establishment support have not fared terribly well in recent elections .
Democratic Governor Tony Evers beat two-term incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker , who appeared at Tuesday ’ s rally , as part of a blue wave in the 2018 midterms that resulted in liberals taking every statewide office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court Judge Jill Karofsky comfortably beat conservative Justice Daniel Kelly in a contest for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court , despite the fact that Kelly is a longtime denizen of Wisconsin ’ s conservative inner circle who earned repeated endorsements from Trump .
At the rally in Pewaukee on Tuesday , supporters of the Trump-Pence ticket lined up to have their temperatures taken and receive single-use surgical masks from health care workers acting on behalf of the Trump campaign , seemingly indicating the campaign and supporters alike are cognizant of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic .
Ticket buyers were also required to sign a waiver releasing the Trump campaign from liability if any attendee should contract the coronavirus at the event , a legal measure also taken at Trump ’ s somewhat underwhelming but nevertheless controversial rally in Tulsa on Saturday .
The Badger State has been without any overriding state-level public health guidelines since the conservative-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court ended the governor ’ s Covid-19 lockdown order in mid-May .
Since then , Wisconsin ’ s 72 counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic in piecemeal fashion .
On June 4 , Waukesha County upped its recommendation for large gatherings from 50 to 100 people , well under the combined tally of Trump supporters , media and law enforcement at Tuesday ’ s rally .
A representative with Waukesha County clarified Tuesday that the county does not currently have an order in place regarding the coronavirus and that the large gatherings guideline is simply a recommendation to provide businesses with the flexibility to operate during the pandemic .
Before the rally , Trump supporter Dave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make America Great Again ” hats , colorful campaign T-shirts and flags , and paper masks bearing the president ’ s face .
Dickson , who is originally from Florida , told Courthouse News he has been organizing on Trump ’ s behalf since at least the 2016 South Carolina primary , a race Trump won with just over 32 % support on his way to an upset victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton that fall .
“ Trump ’ s been a real anomaly , ” Dickson said .
“ He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need a businessman to run the country .
It ’ s a lot better than the alternative , ” he said in reference to career politicians like former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Dickson said Tuesday he does not understand how anyone could support Biden .
Trump ’ s history as a businessman and his focus on the economy also resonated with a supporter named Bill , who chose not to reveal his last name .
Bill , who lives in Pewaukee , said that he has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I said to my wife 20 years ago , ‘ this guy should be president , ’ ” he said .
Trump ’ s candor and lack of concern for how he appears to those who do not support him are also something Bill favors .
“ He doesn ’ t care who he offends as long as he gets the job done , ” he said .
“ He ’ s not out to make friends.
” Not everyone who turned out Tuesday did so to show support for Trump and Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrator from the nearby town of Slinger , came out to protest the rally , standing alone near the side of the road in front of the Ingleside Hotel .
Stamatakos held a sign with two sides .
One side had a picture of Trump overlaid with a biohazard symbol situated above text reading “ Toxic to America.
” The reverse side sported block letters reading “ Hijacked by Impostors ” below the GOP elephant symbol , flipped upside down .
Stamatakos , who described himself as an “ old white man , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Clinton in 2016 after becoming disenchanted with the GOP ’ s fierce opposition to the Affordable Care Act , one of the signature pieces of legislation passed during the Obama years .
As someone who has worked in health care and specialized in Medicare in one capacity or another for the past 30 years , Stamakatos said responses like that to issues of public health helped turn a “ socially responsible conservative ” away from the Grand Old Party .
Stamakatos does not think much of Trump personally .
“ He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interested in doing what is necessary for his financial position , ” Stamakatos said , going on to opine that Trump is only in it “ to enrich himself and his buddies.
” After initial comments and anecdotes from Walker , an invocation of prayer , the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem , Kellyanne Conway , a counselor and former campaign manager to the president appearing in her personal capacity , offered warm-up remarks that painted the 2020 election as a choice between the past in Biden and the future in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1:30 p.m. after passing through an adjacent overflow room at the Ingleside Hotel holding roughly 100 supporters who could not fit in the main ballroom while adhering to social distancing measures .
“ It is great to be back in the Badger State as we celebrate faith in America , ” Pence said .
The vice president made reference to Trump winning Wisconsin in 2016 , the first time a Republican presidential candidate won the state since Ronald Reagan won his second term in 1984 .
The president upset Clinton in the Badger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Four years ago a movement was born , made up of everyday Americans from every walk of life , ” Pence said .
“ Here in Wisconsin , you believed we could be strong again , you believed we could be prosperous again.
” Pence went on to run the gamut of recurring Trump campaign themes , including the fight for religious freedom and the right to bear arms , creating good-paying jobs , helping Americans with American problems first , and a prevailing ethos of action over talk .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police , Pence acknowledged historic turbulence in the nation that has put the Trump administration on “ virtually a wartime footing.
” Pence applauded Trump ’ s response to the Covid-19 pandemic , despite the fact that his administration ’ s response has faced widespread criticism for acting too nonchalantly and being devoid of organization after he publicly dismissed the virus as a nonthreat in its early days .
The vice president also made reference to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheering on Wisconsin ’ s school choice program that provides vouchers for kids to attend private schools in lieu of remaining in the local public school system .
Pence had earlier in the day appeared with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and others at an event at Waukesha STEM Academy .
With regard to international protests calling for an end to systemic racism and unchecked brutality in American policing spurred by Floyd ’ s death , Pence took the opportunity to salute law enforcement and the importance of the rule of law .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened to George Floyd , ” Pence said , “ but there ’ s also no excuse for the rioting and looting.
” The former Indiana governor compared reactions to the protests from Biden and from Trump , painting Biden as soft on crime in an overall thread echoing the law-and-order rhetoric that has become a cornerstone of Trump ’ s brand .
“ Biden put out a press release , ” he said .
“ Trump put out the National Guard.
” Referencing some protesters ’ calls to reimagine the role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police departments ’ resources to more community-based initiatives , Pence said “ we ’ re listening , we ’ re learning , and we ’ re leading , but we ’ re not going to defund the police.
” The crowd in the Ingleside Hotel ballroom met the vice president ’ s remarks with enthusiastic acclamation across the board , peppering their applause with cheers of “ four more years !
” and “ USA !
” Pence then turned to the importance of the American judiciary in crystallizing Trump policies into law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his 200th judge this week .
However , Pence asserted that “ we need more conservatives on the Supreme Court of the United States ” in reference to two recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions seen as losses for the Trump administration .
One decision temporarily blocked the president from winding down the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals , or DACA , program for certain immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children , and the other expanded Title VII protections for LGBTQ workers .
Pence finished his speech by touting the importance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s path forward , remarking that “ we live by the words of our national motto : In God We Trust.
” Members of the crowd waved Bibles in the air as Pence patted Trump on the back for religion-related moves like relocating the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem , and for generally standing without apology for the sanctity of human life .
The vice president said “ it was my great honor to cast the tie-breaking vote to allow states like Wisconsin to defund Planned Parenthood , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some abortion services .
The crowd jeered when Pence mentioned that Biden is endorsed by Planned Parenthood .
Pence also mentioned that St. John ’ s Episcopal Church in Washington was vandalized again on Monday after suffering damage from a fire during demonstrations reacting to Floyd ’ s death .
The church was thrust into the national spotlight recently due to a highly controversial photo op of the president holding up a Bible in front of it , an opportunity secured after protestors in nearby Lafayette Square were dispersed with tear gas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the so-called silent majority to be silent no more .
“ Four more years means more support for our troops , four more years means more jobs , four more years means more judges…and it will take at least four more years to drain that swamp , ” he said .
The president is scheduled to appear at Fincantieri Marinette Marine , a shipbuilding firm in the small northeastern Wisconsin town of Marinette , on Thursday before a town hall event in Green Bay featuring Fox News commentator and faithful Trump stalwart Sean @ @

Vice President Mike Pence launched his “Faith in America” rally tour in a Milwaukee suburb Tuesday, returning to a reliably conservative area of a key battleground state to drum up enthusiasm among the president’s base less than five months from the election.
PEWAUKEE, Wis. (CN) — Vice President Mike Pence launched his “Faith in America” rally tour in a Milwaukee suburb Tuesday, returning to a reliably conservative area of a key battleground state to drum up enthusiasm among the president’s base less than five months from the election.
Pence and his entourage were greeted with sunny, temperate weather and hundreds of supporters Tuesday at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, part of a belt of staunchly red counties immediately surrounding Milwaukee’s Democratic stronghold that President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign seeks to retain despite some signs of vulnerability.
Trump carried Waukesha County by around 28 points in the 2016 presidential election, but in 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney won the county by about 35 points.
Some local conservatives in the Badger State with both grassroots and establishment support have not fared terribly well in recent elections. Democratic Governor Tony Evers beat two-term incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker, who appeared at Tuesday’s rally, as part of a blue wave in the 2018 midterms that resulted in liberals taking every statewide office.
In April, liberal-leaning Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky comfortably beat conservative Justice Daniel Kelly in a contest for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, despite the fact that Kelly is a longtime denizen of Wisconsin’s conservative inner circle who earned repeated endorsements from Trump.
At the rally in Pewaukee on Tuesday, supporters of the Trump-Pence ticket lined up to have their temperatures taken and receive single-use surgical masks from health care workers acting on behalf of the Trump campaign, seemingly indicating the campaign and supporters alike are cognizant of the inherent risks in carrying out large gatherings in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Ticket buyers were also required to sign a waiver releasing the Trump campaign from liability if any attendee should contract the coronavirus at the event, a legal measure also taken at Trump’s somewhat underwhelming but nevertheless controversial rally in Tulsa on Saturday.
The Badger State has been without any overriding state-level public health guidelines since the conservative-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court ended the governor’s Covid-19 lockdown order in mid-May.
Since then, Wisconsin’s 72 counties and hundreds of municipalities have been tackling the pandemic in piecemeal fashion. On June 4, Waukesha County upped its recommendation for large gatherings from 50 to 100 people, well under the combined tally of Trump supporters, media and law enforcement at Tuesday’s rally.
Attendees line up to get temperature checks and single-use masks ahead of Vice President Mike Pence’s “Faith in America” rally in Pewaukee, Wis., on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Joe Kelly)
A representative with Waukesha County clarified Tuesday that the county does not currently have an order in place regarding the coronavirus and that the large gatherings guideline is simply a recommendation to provide businesses with the flexibility to operate during the pandemic.
Before the rally, Trump supporter Dave Dickson worked a merch table selling “Make America Great Again” hats, colorful campaign T-shirts and flags, and paper masks bearing the president’s face.
Dickson, who is originally from Florida, told Courthouse News he has been organizing on Trump’s behalf since at least the 2016 South Carolina primary, a race Trump won with just over 32% support on his way to an upset victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton that fall.
“Trump’s been a real anomaly,” Dickson said. “He’s a businessman, I think we need a businessman to run the country. It’s a lot better than the alternative,” he said in reference to career politicians like former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Dickson said Tuesday he does not understand how anyone could support Biden.
“I respect Joe Biden, but he’s past it,” Dickson said.
Trump’s history as a businessman and his focus on the economy also resonated with a supporter named Bill, who chose not to reveal his last name.


courthousenews--2020-06-23--Stocks Edge Up, Helped by Rosy Remarks on Trade With China

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Markets posted minor gains on Tuesday , overcoming initial jitters over a U.S.-China trade deal that proved to be less a dead albatross and more of a possum .
At the closing bell , the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 130 points , a 0.5 % increase .
The S & P 500 gained slightly less , while the Nasdaq posted a new high mark of 10,131 points .
Investors began the day ’ s trading still rattled due to comments on Monday from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro , who said the U.S.-China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During an interview on Fox News about increasing political tensions with China , Navarro was asked whether the trade deal was over .
“ It ’ s over , yes , ” he said .
Hours later , however , President Trump overruled Navarro — who later recanted his own statements , saying Fox News had taken him “ wildly out of context ” — and said the deal was still on .
“ The China Trade Deal is fully intact , ” President Trump tweeted Monday evening after stock futures sharply plummeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to the terms of the Agreement !
” On Tuesday , National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow helped play clean-up , saying that China has “ picked up its game ” on buying commodities and stopping intellectual property theft .
“ I think he misspoke , ” Kudlow said of Navarro .
“ The trade deal is on .
No question about it.
” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said on Tuesday that the deal was alive , adding he was sure China could live up to its end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S.-China trade war has damaged markets , sometimes eclipsing the economic collapse and death toll from the pandemic .
Earlier this year markets fell after Beijing announced a new national security rule in Hong Kong that threatened the city ’ s autonomy .
Investors have since worried about increasingly tough talk from the White House over the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ Trump is foremost focused on the economy , ” said Gary Hufbauer , a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics .
“ My thinking is that Trump is doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , because if it is fading why not put out another huge tariff ?
” Hufbauer called it likely that both Kudlow and Mnuchin are the glue that keeps the deal in place .
“ They know that if you heighten the trade war with China , you will hurt the U.S. economy , ” Hufbauer said .
“ They will string it out unless it is a visible failure.
” The likelihood of China meeting the deal ’ s Phase 1 terms — to purchase an additional $ 200 billion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has grown cloudy .
China has tight control over its agricultural sector , but it the economic slowdown has tightened demand for U.S. imports .
Others say the trade deal is unlikely to merely collapse , even if the terms are unreachable .
“ The kerfuffle over Navarro ’ s comments show that although the administration is still committed to the Phase One deal for political purposes , its overall Chinese policy has moved in a hardline direction as a result of the pandemic , ” Scott Kennedy , senior adviser at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in an email .
“ No longer is there an effort to use pressure to push China to change in a way more amenable to the U.S .
Instead , the dominant focus is on containing China , making it weaker and more isolated , ” he wrote .
Meanwhile , Joe Biden has taken sharper aim at Trump over the China trade deal .
In a new advertisement , the Biden campaign said the president “ lost a trade war that he started ” and “ got played ” by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep whipping China for the election and not let Biden get ahead of him on that point , ” Hufbauer said .
Despite the tensions with China , markets have had some good economic indicators to help them along .
The purchasing manufacturers index for June released by IHS Markit showed improvement among manufacturers during the second quarter , rising from 39.8 to 49.6 .
The survey also showed further cuts to workforce numbers in June , but at a “ modest rate , ” and many manufacturers reported the return of furloughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with an alarming rate of collapse but output and jobs are now falling at far more modest rates in both the manufacturing and service sectors , ” said Chris Williamson , chief business economist at IHS Markit .
“ The coming months will therefore see the focus turn to just how much recovery momentum the economy can muster to recoup this lost output.
” The construction industry has shown promise , too .
An index released jointly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USG Corp. found that confidence in new business and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter remains low .
About 60 % of builders still report a significant backlog of work , however , and 1 in 3 builders say they will hire more workers in the next six months .
“ No industry has been immune to the devastating impact of Covid-19 , ” Neil Bradley , executive vice president at the Chamber of Commerce , said in a statement .
“ However , the commercial construction industry appears poised for a quick recovery and a return to growth.
” The Census Bureau also reported on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % in May from April , which was also nearly 13 % higher than sales in May 2019 .

Markets posted minor gains on Tuesday, overcoming initial jitters over a U.S.-China trade deal that proved to be less a dead albatross and more of a possum.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Markets posted minor gains on Tuesday, overcoming initial jitters over a U.S.-China trade deal that proved to be less a dead albatross and more of a possum.
At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 130 points, a 0.5% increase. The S&P 500 gained slightly less, while the Nasdaq posted a new high mark of 10,131 points.
Investors began the day’s trading still rattled due to comments on Monday from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who said the U.S.-China trade deal was a dead duck.
During an interview on Fox News about increasing political tensions with China, Navarro was asked whether the trade deal was over. “It’s over, yes,” he said.
Hours later, however, President Trump overruled Navarro — who later recanted his own statements, saying Fox News had taken him “wildly out of context” — and said the deal was still on.
“The China Trade Deal is fully intact,” President Trump tweeted Monday evening after stock futures sharply plummeted. “Hopefully they will continue to live up to the terms of the Agreement!”
On Tuesday, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow helped play clean-up, saying that China has “picked up its game” on buying commodities and stopping intellectual property theft. “I think he misspoke,” Kudlow said of Navarro. “The trade deal is on. No question about it.”
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said on Tuesday that the deal was alive, adding he was sure China could live up to its end of the bargain.
The potential for a new U.S.-China trade war has damaged markets, sometimes eclipsing the economic collapse and death toll from the pandemic. Earlier this year markets fell after Beijing announced a new national security rule in Hong Kong that threatened the city’s autonomy. Investors have since worried about increasingly tough talk from the White House over the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Trump is foremost focused on the economy,” said Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “My thinking is that Trump is doing his best to hold the China deal together, because if it is fading why not put out another huge tariff?”
Hufbauer called it likely that both Kudlow and Mnuchin are the glue that keeps the deal in place. “They know that if you heighten the trade war with China, you will hurt the U.S. economy,” Hufbauer said. “They will string it out unless it is a visible failure.”
The likelihood of China meeting the deal’s Phase 1 terms — to purchase an additional $200 billion in U.S. agricultural products and other items — has grown cloudy. China has tight control over its agricultural sector, but it the economic slowdown has tightened demand for U.S. imports.
Others say the trade deal is unlikely to merely collapse, even if the terms are unreachable.
“The kerfuffle over Navarro’s comments show that although the administration is still committed to the Phase One deal for political purposes, its overall Chinese policy has moved in a hardline direction as a result of the pandemic,” Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said in an email.
“No longer is there an effort to use pressure to push China to change in a way more amenable to the U.S. Instead, the dominant focus is on containing China, making it weaker and more isolated,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden has taken sharper aim at Trump over the China trade deal. In a new advertisement, the Biden campaign said the president “lost a trade war that he started” and “got played” by the communist regime.
“Trump needs to keep whipping China for the election and not let Biden get ahead of him on that point,” Hufbauer said.
Despite the tensions with China, markets have had some good economic indicators to help them along.
The purchasing manufacturers index for June released by IHS Markit showed improvement among manufacturers during the second quarter, rising from 39.8 to 49.6. The survey also showed further cuts to workforce numbers in June, but at a “modest rate,” and many manufacturers reported the return of furloughed staff.
“The second quarter started with an alarming rate of collapse but output and jobs are now falling at far more modest rates in both the manufacturing and service sectors,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. “The coming months will therefore see the focus turn to just how much recovery momentum the economy can muster to recoup this lost output.”
The construction industry has shown promise, too.
An index released jointly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USG Corp. found that confidence in new business and revenue expectations among contractors during the second quarter remains low. About 60% of builders still report a significant backlog of work, however, and 1 in 3 builders say they will hire more workers in the next six months.
“No industry has been immune to the devastating impact of Covid-19,” Neil Bradley, executive vice president at the Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. “However, the commercial construction industry appears poised for a quick recovery and a return to growth.”
The Census Bureau also reported on Tuesday that sales of single-family houses rose 16.6% in May from April, which was also nearly 13% higher than sales in May 2019.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Planned Parenthood Sues Iowa Over Abortion Waiting Period

DES MOINES , Iowa ( CN ) — Planned Parenthood of the Heartland sued Iowa on Tuesday claiming a state law passed on June 14 requiring women to wait 24 hours before obtaining an abortion violates the equal protection provision of the Iowa Constitution .
Planned Parenthood seeks a temporary injunction preventing enforcement of the law that becomes effective July 1 if signed by Governor Kim Reynolds , a Republican .
The Iowa General Assembly , with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats but one opposed , passed an amendment in the early hours of the final day of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abortion to wait 24 hours after an initial appointment and make a trip to a health center to receive an ultrasound and state-mandated materials .
In its complaint filed Tuesday in Johnson County Court , Planned Parenthood says the amendment offers women no benefits but will “ severely and abruptly burden their access to abortion.
” This will be particularly burdensome for low-income women , victims of partner violence or sexual assault , and women seeking abortions that involve a severe fetal abnormality , the complaint states .
“ By imposing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislature does not impose on any other medical procedure — the amendment conveys that the legislature believes women are not competent to make considered , appropriate medical decisions for themselves and their families , and must instead be forced by the state to reconsider their medical decisions , ” the complaint states .
“ This mandatory delay reflects and perpetuates the false and discriminatory stereotype that women do not understand the nature of the abortion procedure , do not think carefully about their decision , and/or are less capable of making informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men.
” Joined as a plaintiff by Dr. Jill Meadows , its medical director , Planned Parenthood sued the governor and the Iowa Board of Medicine , which would enforce the new law .
The plaintiffs are represented by Rita Bettis Austen , legal director of the ACLU of Iowa .
“ This legislation is billed as a 24-hour waiting period law , but make no mistake — in many cases , it will delay a person ’ s ability to get an abortion by weeks , ” Erin Davison-Rippey , Iowa executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a statement Tuesday .
“ Many of our patients must drive four or more hours one-way for abortion services , so this legislation will only create more hurdles to getting care .
It ’ s already hard enough for many Iowans to access abortion services , especially in the middle of a global pandemic .
This is clearly a political ploy to create barriers to sexual and reproductive health care in Iowa.
” A spokesman for Reynolds did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The governor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion , is expected to sign the bill , as she identified it as a legislative priority .
State Rep. Sandy Salmon , R-Janesville , was quoted during the legislative debate as saying the 24-hour delay would cause women to change their minds about seeking an abortion .
“ Iowans want to see unborn lives protected , ” she said .
“ This bill is a big step in that direction.
” The legislation requiring a 24-hour delay is a reprise of a bill passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2017 requiring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down as unconstitutional by the Iowa Supreme Court , which ruled that the right to abortion is a fundamental right under the due process clause of the Iowa Constitution .
That decision split the seven-member court 5-2 .
In the meantime , four justices of the court who were in the majority have been replaced by new members appointed by Reynolds .

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland sued Iowa on Tuesday claiming a state law passed on June 14 requiring women to wait 24 hours before obtaining an abortion violates the equal protection provision of the Iowa Constitution.
DES MOINES, Iowa (CN) — Planned Parenthood of the Heartland sued Iowa on Tuesday claiming a state law passed on June 14 requiring women to wait 24 hours before obtaining an abortion violates the equal protection provision of the Iowa Constitution.
Planned Parenthood seeks a temporary injunction preventing enforcement of the law that becomes effective July 1 if signed by Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican.
The Iowa General Assembly, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats but one opposed, passed an amendment in the early hours of the final day of the session that would require women seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours after an initial appointment and make a trip to a health center to receive an ultrasound and state-mandated materials.
In its complaint filed Tuesday in Johnson County Court, Planned Parenthood says the amendment offers women no benefits but will “severely and abruptly burden their access to abortion.”
This will be particularly burdensome for low-income women, victims of partner violence or sexual assault, and women seeking abortions that involve a severe fetal abnormality, the complaint states.
“By imposing a delay on abortion — a delay that the legislature does not impose on any other medical procedure — the amendment conveys that the legislature believes women are not competent to make considered, appropriate medical decisions for themselves and their families, and must instead be forced by the state to reconsider their medical decisions,” the complaint states.
“This mandatory delay reflects and perpetuates the false and discriminatory stereotype that women do not understand the nature of the abortion procedure, do not think carefully about their decision, and/or are less capable of making informed decisions about their health care than are men.”
Joined as a plaintiff by Dr. Jill Meadows, its medical director, Planned Parenthood sued the governor and the Iowa Board of Medicine, which would enforce the new law. The plaintiffs are represented by Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa.
“This legislation is billed as a 24-hour waiting period law, but make no mistake — in many cases, it will delay a person's ability to get an abortion by weeks,” Erin Davison-Rippey, Iowa executive director of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement Tuesday.
“Many of our patients must drive four or more hours one-way for abortion services, so this legislation will only create more hurdles to getting care. It's already hard enough for many Iowans to access abortion services, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. This is clearly a political ploy to create barriers to sexual and reproductive health care in Iowa.”
A spokesman for Reynolds did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The governor, who has repeatedly expressed her opposition to abortion, is expected to sign the bill, as she identified it as a legislative priority.
State Rep. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville, was quoted during the legislative debate as saying the 24-hour delay would cause women to change their minds about seeking an abortion. “Iowans want to see unborn lives protected,” she said. “This bill is a big step in that direction.”
The legislation requiring a 24-hour delay is a reprise of a bill passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2017 requiring a 72-hour wait. That law was struck down as unconstitutional by the Iowa Supreme Court, which ruled that the right to abortion is a fundamental right under the due process clause of the Iowa Constitution.
That decision split the seven-member court 5-2. In the meantime, four justices of the court who were in the majority have been replaced by new members appointed by Reynolds.


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Missouri Supreme Court Revives Bid for Expanded Voting

JEFFERSON CITY , Mo .
( CN ) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday revived a lawsuit seeking to expand absentee voting for this year ’ s primary and general elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
In a unanimous en banc ruling , the supreme court remanded three of the four counts in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to the circuit judge who had dismissed them this month .
The ACLU abandoned the other count on appeal .
“ The circuit court should have overruled the motion to dismiss and should not have undertaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ claims in ruling on that motion , ” according to the 9-page opinion .
“ Because the merits of the petition were not before the circuit court on the state ’ s motion to dismiss , the circuit court erred in entering a judgment on the merits.
” Sophia Lakin , deputy director of the voting rights project for the ACLU , lauded the decision .
“ It reaffirms our argument that this is a serious health crisis , ” said Lakin , who presented the ACLU ’ s case to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the state declined comment , citing state policy of not discussing pending litigation .
The ACLU , ACLU of Missouri and Missouri Voter Protection Coalition filed the lawsuit on April 17 seeking to make absentee mail-in ballots available to all eligible voters in Missouri .
It was filed on behalf of the NAACP of Missouri , the League of Women Voters of Missouri and several individual voters .
Missouri law requires voters to provide an excuse to vote absentee .
One of the allowable reasons is “ incapacity or confinement due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plaintiffs sought a ruling clarifying that all eligible voters who are confining themselves to avoid contracting or spreading Covid-19 may invoke the confinement-due-to-illness reason for absentee voting .
A state judge rejected that request in May , prompting the appeal .
Since then , Missouri ’ s Republican-dominated Legislature passed Senate Bill 631 , which expanded mail-in voting options and narrowed the legal grounds for the ACLU ’ s case .
Gov .
Mike Parson , a Republican , signed the bill into law June 4 and it took effect immediately .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circuit court can address the significant changes in circumstances that have occurred after the petition was filed and the judgment dismissing the petition was entered , i.e.
, the governor ’ s executive orders , the statutory changes in SB 631 that are now in effect , ” the supreme court ruled .
Lakin said the bill , which allows for those in at-risk groups for Covid-19 to allow to vote by mail without signature verification , does not go far enough .
For example , caregivers for at-risk people are not exempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Missouri ) are going up , ” Lakin said in an interview .
“ I think they had a record day over the weekend , and I think the state argued that they were expected to go down.
” Missouri set single-day records for new Covid-19 cases on both Saturday and Sunday , with more than 800 cases reported over the weekend .
Michael Wolff , a former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and professor emeritus and former dean of St. Louis University Law School , wrote a memorandum of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities and voters .
The memo , which is also signed by 80 Missouri Bar members , states that while there is no case law construing statutory reasons for voting absentee , contemporary cases before the state ’ s high court can provide guidance on the issue .
“ The question the court was asking when the case went up is , did the passage of Senate Bill 631 moot the case ?
” Wolff said in an interview .
“ I think it ’ s pretty clear that it did not moot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voters who are under the age of 65 and don ’ t have any of the conditions covered by the bill , they can still be confined due to illness even if they don ’ t have asthma or heart disease or lung disease or something else that ’ s listed in the new law.
” Wolff said the wording of the law is key .
“ The law doesn ’ t say you have to have symptoms , ” Wolff said .
“ It doesn ’ t say you have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be confined due to illness .
Not an illness .
Not your illness .
Just due to Illness.
” While the trial judge ruled against the ACLU on merits , the supreme court ’ s remand might have sent a message .
“ The judge might take the signal that the supreme court wants him to do a ruling on the merits , and if they really thought he was right about what he said , why wouldn ’ t they just affirm and be done with it ?
” Wolff said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a realistic chance of prevailing.
” But time is of the essence .
Absentee ballots for the August primary went out on the same day that the supreme court handed down its ruling .
Wolff said it is not likely that a case can be tried and possibly appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court or Missouri Court of Appeals in time for the August election , but the November election is definitely in play given an expedited schedule .
Lakin is preparing for just that .
“ We are caucusing tonight to plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday revived a lawsuit seeking to expand absentee voting for this year’s primary and general elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CN) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday revived a lawsuit seeking to expand absentee voting for this year’s primary and general elections due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a unanimous en banc ruling, the Supreme Court remanded three of the four counts in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to the circuit judge who had dismissed them this month. The ACLU abandoned the other count on appeal.
“The circuit court should have overruled the motion to dismiss and should not have undertaken any analysis of the merits of petitioners’ claims in ruling on that motion,” according to the 9-page opinion. “Because the merits of the petition were not before the circuit court on the state’s motion to dismiss, the circuit court erred in entering a judgment on the merits.”
Sophia Lakin, deputy director of the voting rights project for the ACLU, lauded the decision.
“It reaffirms our argument that this is a serious health crisis,” said Lakin, who presented the ACLU’s case to the Supreme Court on June 16.
A spokesman for the state declined comment, citing state policy of not discussing pending litigation.
The ACLU, ACLU of Missouri and Missouri Voter Protection Coalition filed the lawsuit on April 17 seeking to make absentee mail-in ballots available to all eligible voters in Missouri. It was filed on behalf of the NAACP of Missouri, the League of Women Voters of Missouri and several individual voters.
Missouri law requires voters to provide an excuse to vote absentee. One of the allowable reasons is “incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability.”
The plaintiffs sought a ruling clarifying that all eligible voters who are confining themselves to avoid contracting or spreading Covid-19 may invoke the confinement-due-to-illness reason for absentee voting. A state judge rejected that request in May, prompting the appeal.
Since then, Missouri’s Republican-dominated Legislature passed Senate Bill 631, which expanded mail-in voting options and narrowed the legal grounds for the ACLU’s case. Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, signed the bill into law June 4 and it took effect immediately.
“On remand, the parties and the circuit court can address the significant changes in circumstances that have occurred after the petition was filed and the judgment dismissing the petition was entered, i.e., the governor’s executive orders, the statutory changes in SB 631 that are now in effect,” the Supreme Court ruled.
Lakin said the bill, which allows for those in at-risk groups for Covid-19 to allow to vote by mail without signature verification, does not go far enough. For example, caregivers for at-risk people are not exempt.
“The numbers (for Covid-19 in Missouri) are going up,” Lakin said in an interview. “I think they had a record day over the weekend, and I think the state argued that they were expected to go down.”
Missouri set single-day records for new Covid-19 cases on both Saturday and Sunday, with more than 800 cases reported over the weekend.
Michael Wolff, a former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and professor emeritus and former dean of St. Louis University Law School, wrote a memorandum of law regarding the lawsuit to interested election authorities and voters. The memo, which is also signed by 80 Missouri Bar members, states that while there is no case law construing statutory reasons for voting absentee, contemporary cases before the state’s high court can provide guidance on the issue.
“The question the court was asking when the case went up is, did the passage of Senate Bill 631 moot the case?” Wolff said in an interview. “I think it’s pretty clear that it did not moot the case, because for the category of voters who are under the age of 65 and don't have any of the conditions covered by the bill, they can still be confined due to illness even if they don’t have asthma or heart disease or lung disease or something else that's listed in the new law.”
Wolff said the wording of the law is key.
“The law doesn't say you have to have symptoms,” Wolff said. “It doesn't say you have to be sick. It says you have to be confined due to illness. Not an illness. Not your illness. Just due to Illness.”
While the trial judge ruled against the ACLU on merits, the Supreme Court’s remand might have sent a message.
“The judge might take the signal that the Supreme Court wants him to do a ruling on the merits, and if they really thought he was right about what he said, why wouldn’t they just affirm and be done with it?” Wolff said. “I think the plaintiffs have a realistic chance of prevailing.”
But time is of the essence. Absentee ballots for the August primary went out on the same day that the Supreme Court handed down its ruling.
Wolff said it is not likely that a case can be tried and possibly appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court or Missouri Court of Appeals in time for the August election, but the November election is definitely in play given an expedited schedule.
Lakin is preparing for just that.
“We are caucusing tonight to plan our next move,” she said.


Gas Explosions

BOSTON — Columbia Gas of Massachusetts , which pleaded guilty in February for violating safety standards resulting in explosions that @ @ @ @ @ 22 , was ordered by a federal judge in the state Tuesday to pay a @ @ @ @ @ $ 53 million .

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.


Bill Cosby Appeal

HARRISBURG , Pa. — Bill Cosby can appeal two issues in his sexual assault case , the Pennsylvania Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ consider whether allegations of uncharged misconduct with five women were properly allowed during trial and @ @ @ @ @ allow evidence from a civil case against Cosby .


Polling Places

FRESNO , Calif. — Under the terms of a settlement agreement in federal court in California , Fresno County will @ @ @ @ @ of Fresno to be a designated voter ballot drop-box location for at least four years @ @ @ @ @ as a polling place because it refused to cover up Black Lives Matter banners on @ @ @


Execution Attempt

CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit denied habeas relief to a death row inmate finding that a second execution attempt would @ @ @ @ @ unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment .
Ohio first tried to execute Romell Broom by @ @ @ @ @ could not maintain a viable IV connection to his veins .


Price-Gouging Investigations

FRANKFORT , Ky. — A federal court in Kentucky granted a preliminary injunction to the Online Merchant ’ s Guild @ @ @ @ @ price-gouging by Amazon retailers .
The state attorney general ’ s investigations and threats of @ @ @ @ @ extraterritorial effect on interstate commerce .
”


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Los Angeles Education Officials Reject Call to Slash School Police Budget

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — In a contentious hearing Tuesday , the Los Angeles Unified School District board rejected multiple police reform proposals , including a study into whether the second largest school district in the country still needs police and a plan that would have cut the district ’ s police department budget by 90 % over three years .
After an 11-hour hearing , the Board of Education — which oversees a district serving more than 600,000 students — failed to agree on a path forward .
For weeks , black students in LAUSD , their parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Board of Education to enact policing reforms as mass protests against police violence swept the nation .
Students Deserve , an LAUSD student-led organization , demanded the board reduce funding for the LA School Police Department , which its members claim contributes to a learning environment that is anti-black and detrimental to student achievement .
The $ 70 million budget for the nearly 470-member school police force — the largest in the nation — makes up about 1 % of the school district ’ s roughly $ 8 billion budget , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and outside the board meeting voiced their opposition to having LASPD officers patrol their campuses .
LAUSD graduate and former Board of Education student member Tyler Okeke said at the hearing officials should acknowledge the fear of police expressed by students and their families .
“ We ’ re not interested in reexamining or reimagining police in our schools , ” Okeke said .
“ We think they have no productive role in our schools .
No amount of de-escalation training changes the need that students need counselors not handcuffs.
” Speakers at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel to support board member Mónica Garcia ’ s motion to slash next school year ’ s police budget by 50 % and eventually by at least 90 % total by the 2023–2024 term .
Garcia said before the vote her proposal would free up funds for more health services for students .
“ Removing police is not going to solve the problem of underfunding of schools or systemic racism , ” Garcia said at the hearing .
“ This is a chance to transition away from police to another safety strategy.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Los Angeles — the labor union representing LAUSD educators — urged board members to consider the comprehensiveness of students ’ demands .
“ When they spoke about random police searches they were not believed .
When they spoke about pepper spray they were not believed , ” Myart-Cruz said regarding past student advocacy .
“ Now we ’ re standing here today trying to re-envision something for our youth .
Our students are not suspects.
” But the seven-member board voted down Garcia ’ s proposal , with some members saying it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond effectively to any future disasters .
The panel also rejected board member Jackie Goldberg ’ s proposal to implement a hiring freeze at the school police department — amounting to an estimated $ 20 million budget cut — and to remove police from school campuses while launching a study on whether police are needed at schools .
LASPD Chief Todd Chamberlain told the board he acknowledges nationwide calls for police reform but that school police play a critical role in keeping campuses safe .
“ If you take away police , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re still going to have people victimized , ” Chamberlain said .
“ You ’ ll still have crime and still have an environment that ’ s not safe.
” Board member George McKenna accused student activists of repeating inaccurate talking points from “ outside ” groups and painting an inaccurate portrayal of police .
McKenna , a former school principal in the district also said students have exaggerated accounts of experiencing police violence on their campuses .
“ Police are being unfairly demonized , ” McKenna said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential.
” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said at the hearing he ’ s sympathetic to calls for changing the role of police in schools but will not immediately support the demand to eliminate policing from campuses .
“ Those looking for a simple answer will be disappointed because I don ’ t think one exists , ” Beutner told the board .
“ If the real objective of this conversation is to look at systemic bias , we will have to take a broader perspective because this is about more than school police.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely leaves the issue to be addressed by a taskforce set up by Beutner , which is slated to deliver its report next month .
Beutner said last week he will recommend the board ban LASPD officers from firing pepper spray at students and using the carotid holds on them .
Garcia ’ s proposal acknowledged the Black Lives Matter movement was the impetus for her motion and also cited a 2018 University of California , Los Angeles , study that found black students at LAUSD were disproportionately affected by over-policing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that black youth accounted for 25 % of all arrests but only 8 % of enrolled students , according to 2014–2017 data .
A Students Deserve survey released last week of current and former students in the district found 86 % supported their demand and that almost half had experienced random police searches in school .
LAUSD graduate Jorge Hernandez told the board their vote should not be influenced by the nationwide protests against police violence .
“ If you want to solve the crisis , look deep , ” Hernandez said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look to low-hanging fruit in the middle of a political crisis.
” Susan Martinez , a mental health counselor for the district , urged the board to maintain officers ’ role as co-responders to student crises .
“ We need more mental health but not in the absence of safety , ” Martinez said .
“ I ’ m asking for reform not to eliminate.
” Martinez told Courthouse News some schools have resisted having police respond to health crises but that mental health professionals ultimately make the call on whether to hospitalize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalize students when there isn ’ t a need there , ” Martinez said .
School district police officers and their supporters at the meeting frequently painted an image of a city in the grips of gang violence and school shootings .
“ Defunding our department is not the solution , ” said a LASPD sergeant .
“ We need safety for our youth , otherwise they ’ ll end up drugged up.
” Gil Gamez , president of the LA School Police Association , told the board removing police from schools could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ You guys are all good people , you do not deserve to have blood on your hands , ” Gamez said .
LASPD officer David Hernandez told the board school shootings and gang violence are actively prevented by campus police .
“ We are ready to give our lives to protect students , ” Hernandez said .
“ I pray we never need guns in school .
But we still have evil out there.
” With Garcia , Goldberg and McKenna ’ s proposals failing , the board now faces an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disheartened that all motions failed and that the board must address students ’ legitimate concerns about police violence .
“ To some kids , the police uniform is a sign of safety .
To others , the police uniform is a symbol of the harassment that is a common feature for kids in Southern California , ” Goldberg said .
“ It didn ’ t just start now .
We have a real problem in policing.
” The board will take up discussion on the upcoming school year ’ s budget during next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicate when it would revisit the issue of school police .
A spokesperson for Students Deserve did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the board ’ s action Tuesday .

In a contentious hearing Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District board rejected multiple police reform proposals, including a study into whether the second largest school district in the country still needs police and a plan that would have cut the district’s police department budget by 90% over three years.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — In a contentious hearing Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District board rejected multiple police-reform proposals, including a study into whether the second largest school district in the country still needs police and a plan that would have cut the district’s police department budget by 90% over three years.
After an 11-hour hearing, the Board of Education — which oversees a district serving more than 600,000 students — failed to agree on a path forward.
For weeks, black students in LAUSD, their parents and Black Lives Matter-LA members have called on the Board of Education to enact policing reforms as mass protests against police violence swept the nation.
Students Deserve, an LAUSD student-led organization, demanded the board reduce funding for the LA School Police Department, which its members claim contributes to a learning environment that is anti-black and detrimental to student achievement.
The $70 million budget for the nearly 470-member school police force — the largest in the nation — makes up about 1% of the school district’s roughly $8 billion budget, according to district data.
Students in and outside the board meeting voiced their opposition to having LASPD officers patrol their campuses.
LAUSD graduate and former Board of Education student member Tyler Okeke said at the hearing officials should acknowledge the fear of police expressed by students and their families.
“We’re not interested in reexamining or reimagining police in our schools,” Okeke said. “We think they have no productive role in our schools. No amount of de-escalation training changes the need that students need counselors not handcuffs.”
Speakers at a rally outside the meeting urged the panel to support board member Mónica Garcia’s motion to slash next school year’s police budget by 50% and eventually by at least 90% total by the 2023–24 term.
Garcia said before the vote her proposal would free up funds for more health services for students.
“Removing police is not going to solve the problem of underfunding of schools or systemic racism,” Garcia said at the hearing. “This is a chance to transition away from police to another safety strategy.”
Cecily Myart-Cruz, president-elect of United Teachers of Los Angeles — the labor union representing LAUSD educators — urged board members to consider the comprehensiveness of students’ demands.
“When they spoke about random police searches they were not believed. When they spoke about pepper spray they were not believed,” Myart-Cruz said regarding past student advocacy. “Now we’re standing here today trying to re-envision something for our youth. Our students are not suspects.”
But the seven-member board voted down Garcia’s proposal, with some members saying it jeopardizes the district’s ability to respond effectively to any future disasters.
The panel also rejected board member Jackie Goldberg’s proposal to implement a hiring freeze at the school police department — amounting to an estimated $20 million budget cut — and to remove police from school campuses while launching a study on whether police are needed at schools.
LASPD Chief Todd Chamberlain told the board he acknowledges nationwide calls for police reform but that school police play a critical role in keeping campuses safe.
“If you take away police, what you’re gonna have, you’re still going to have people victimized,” Chamberlain said. “You’ll still have crime and still have an environment that's not safe.”
Board member George McKenna accused student activists of repeating inaccurate talking points from “outside” groups and painting an inaccurate portrayal of police.
McKenna, a former school principal in the district also said students have exaggerated accounts of experiencing police violence on their campuses.
“Police are being unfairly demonized,” McKenna said. “I can tell you now school police are essential.”


courthousenews--2020-06-24--Trump Rally Fills Megachurch With Young Conservatives

PHOENIX ( CN ) — President Donald Trump addressed a rowdy crowd of mostly young supporters Tuesday afternoon at a rally in one of the nation ’ s virus hotspots , bringing his roadshow to Phoenix , Arizona , just days after the state reported 3,001 new Covid-19 cases .
Masks were rare in the crowd in a city where face coverings are required in public but the 2,000-seat Dream City Church was packed .
A sea of Make America Great Again hats greeted the president in a state where he is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden by double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his speech with a nod to Fox ratings for his Saturday rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , and quickly derided the “ radical left ” for requiring conformity and destroying the nation ’ s history by toppling monuments to our past .
“ They hate our history , they hate our values , and they hate everything we prize as Americans , ” the president told the crowd of 2,000-plus at the megachurch in north Phoenix .
“ The left-wing mob is trying to demolish our heritage so they can replace it with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , ” Trump said .
“ They ’ re tearing down statues , desecrating monuments , and purging dissenters .
It ’ s not the behavior of a peaceful political movement .
It ’ s the behavior of totalitarians and tyrants.
” Donald Trump Jr. introduced his father after a brief speech in which he chided Biden as “ China ’ s MVP ” and wondered why the former vice president didn ’ t tell President Barack Obama if he knew how to solve America ’ s economic , racial and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you knew how to do all these things , you would have done it in the first 50 years of your Washington career , ” he said .
Karen Bedonie , 46 , was at the rally with her five daughters and three sons .
The Navajo Nation member , a former Republican candidate in Arizona ’ s 3rd Congressional District , does not believe the Covid-19 numbers the state is reporting for the Navajo Nation .
“ I don ’ t know anyone who has tested positive in my family or any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s just numbers .
They say that we ’ re a hot spot , but I don ’ t believe it.
” Bedonie thinks the biggest impact of Covid-19 is economic .
She recently permanently closed a flower shop she owned in Farmington , New Mexico .
“ We ’ re in a fight to save our president and also save our country , ” she said .
Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez criticized the president in a Zoom news conference a few hours before the rally .
“ Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and today Trump is coming into town for a pep rally .
What a disgrace , ” Perez said .
“ He should be visiting health care providers and other front-line workers .
This is the wrong time and the wrong place to bring together people for a political vanity process.
” The Arizona Department of Health Services reported a peak of 3,001 new Covid-19 cases statewide last Wednesday and 1,384 deaths as of Tuesday .
Trump , who toured the border wall near Yuma , Arizona , before the rally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. from Mexico .
The president announced completion of more than 200 miles of 30-foot border wall , sparking a short chant of “ Build the wall !
” from the crowd .
On the novel coronavirus that has swept the nation and knee-capped the economy , Trump blamed China , with whom he had just completed trade agreements when the virus hit .
Trump called the virus the “ Wuhan virus , ” the “ China virus , ” and finally after prompting from the crowd , the “ Kung flu.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , lamenting that the coronavirus pandemic hit before the nation could benefit from them .
“ The ink wasn ’ t dry when we got hit by the plague , so I ’ m not too happy about that.
” Trump touted recent Wall Street gains , 2.5 million jobs added last month nationwide , and his administration ’ s response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ Not a single American who needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator , ” the president said .
He claimed the November election will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , largely because of mail-in ballots , which he believes are prone to fraud .
“ Where are these ballots going ?
Who ’ s getting them ?
Who ’ s not getting them ?
” he asked .
“ Who ’ s signing ?
Will they be forged , counterfeited in the millions by foreign powers ?
It ’ s going to be fraud.
” About two dozen protesters gathered in a designated free speech area at the church entrance before the rally .
One Trump supporter with a megaphone mocked protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging them to fight .
None did , with dozens of police standing nearby , although a few protesters briefly verbally confronted the man .
Tori Howell , 18 , was in the protest crowd holding a handmade “ Students Against Trump ” sign .
She will not support the president in the first election she will vote in , especially on the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote , she said .
“ He doesn ’ t stand with women .
He doesn ’ t stand with minorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are more separated , more divided than ever , and I will not support him , ” Howell said .
A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest of a few dozen people stood at a corner two blocks from the church after the rally ended but Phoenix police quickly declared that gathering “ illegal , ” announcing the decision on a loudspeaker .
About 50 police cars slowly moved down the street , following the protesters as they left the area under threat of arrest .
The rally was sponsored by Students for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among more than 2,000 nationwide on its website .
Their goal is to educate students about free markets , small government , and other hallmarks of conservative politics , according to the website .

President Donald Trump addressed a rowdy crowd of mostly young supporters Tuesday afternoon at a rally at the heart of one of the nation’s virus hotspots, bringing his roadshow to Phoenix, Arizona, just days after the state reported 3,001 new Covid-19 cases.
PHOENIX (CN) — President Donald Trump addressed a rowdy crowd of mostly young supporters Tuesday afternoon at a rally in one of the nation’s virus hotspots, bringing his roadshow to Phoenix, Arizona, just days after the state reported 3,001 new Covid-19 cases.
Masks were rare in the crowd in a city where face coverings are required in public but the 2,000-seat Dream City Church was packed. A sea of Make America Great Again hats greeted the president in a state where he is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden by double digits in some polls.
Trump opened his speech with a nod to Fox ratings for his Saturday rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and quickly derided the “radical left” for requiring conformity and destroying the nation’s history by toppling monuments to our past.
“They hate our history, they hate our values, and they hate everything we prize as Americans,” the president told the crowd of 2,000-plus at the megachurch in north Phoenix.
“The left-wing mob is trying to demolish our heritage so they can replace it with a new oppressive regime that they alone control,” Trump said. “They’re tearing down statues, desecrating monuments, and purging dissenters. It’s not the behavior of a peaceful political movement. It’s the behavior of totalitarians and tyrants.”
Donald Trump Jr. introduced his father after a brief speech in which he chided Biden as “China’s MVP” and wondered why the former vice president didn’t tell President Barack Obama if he knew how to solve America’s economic, racial and other problems.
“You would think if you knew how to do all these things, you would have done it in the first 50 years of your Washington career,” he said.
Karen Bedonie, 46, was at the rally with her five daughters and three sons. The Navajo Nation member, a former Republican candidate in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District, does not believe the Covid-19 numbers the state is reporting for the Navajo Nation.
“I don’t know anyone who has tested positive in my family or any extended family,” she said. “It’s just numbers. They say that we’re a hot spot, but I don’t believe it.”
Bedonie thinks the biggest impact of Covid-19 is economic. She recently permanently closed a flower shop she owned in Farmington, New Mexico.
“We’re in a fight to save our president and also save our country,” she said.
Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez criticized the president in a Zoom news conference a few hours before the rally.
“Over 1,300 Arizonans have already lost their lives, and today Trump is coming into town for a pep rally. What a disgrace,” Perez said. “He should be visiting health care providers and other front-line workers. This is the wrong time and the wrong place to bring together people for a political vanity process.”
The Arizona Department of Health Services reported a peak of 3,001 new Covid-19 cases statewide last Wednesday and 1,384 deaths as of Tuesday.
Trump, who toured the border wall near Yuma, Arizona, before the rally, touted his efforts to block access to the U.S. from Mexico. The president announced completion of more than 200 miles of 30-foot border wall, sparking a short chant of “Build the wall!” from the crowd.
On the novel coronavirus that has swept the nation and knee-capped the economy, Trump blamed China, with whom he had just completed trade agreements when the virus hit. Trump called the virus the “Wuhan virus,” the “China virus,” and finally after prompting from the crowd, the “Kung flu.”
Trump praised his trade deals with China, lamenting that the coronavirus pandemic hit before the nation could benefit from them.
"The ink wasn't dry when we got hit by the plague, so I'm not too happy about that."
Trump touted recent Wall Street gains, 2.5 million jobs added last month nationwide, and his administration’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Not a single American who needed a ventilator has been denied a ventilator,” the president said.
He claimed the November election will be the most corrupt in U.S. history, largely because of mail-in ballots, which he believes are prone to fraud.
“Where are these ballots going? Who’s getting them? Who’s not getting them?” he asked. “Who’s signing? Will they be forged, counterfeited in the millions by foreign powers? It’s going to be fraud.”
About two dozen protesters gathered in a designated free speech area at the church entrance before the rally. One Trump supporter with a megaphone mocked protesters, chiding them with homophobic taunts and challenging them to fight. None did, with dozens of police standing nearby, although a few protesters briefly verbally confronted the man.
A few dozen protesters waved signs at passing cars outside the rally. (Courthouse News photo / Brad Poole)
Tori Howell, 18, was in the protest crowd holding a handmade “Students Against Trump” sign. She will not support the president in the first election she will vote in, especially on the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, she said.
“He doesn’t stand with women. He doesn’t stand with minorities. He loses kids in ICE. Obviously we are more separated, more divided than ever, and I will not support him,” Howell said.
A peaceful Black Lives Matter protest of a few dozen people stood at a corner two blocks from the church after the rally ended but Phoenix police quickly declared that gathering “illegal,” announcing the decision on a loudspeaker. About 50 police cars slowly moved down the street, following the protesters as they left the area under threat of arrest.
The rally was sponsored by Students for Trump, which lists 21 Arizona chapters among more than 2,000 nationwide on its website. Their goal is to educate students about free markets, small government, and other hallmarks of conservative politics, according to the website.