courthousenews--2020-07-22--LA County Leaders OK Antiracism Mandate for Services, Policy-Making

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Policies on education , law enforcement , health care and housing in Los Angeles County will be guided by a mandate to rid civic infrastructure of racism and systemic bias that create harm for residents of color , according to a proposal approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors .
The first-of-its-kind proposal takes aim at LA County policies that have fueled disparities in housing and education , led to poor health for low-income residents and shaped conditions that have filled jails with disproportionate numbers of Black residents .
When slavery was abolished , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were engrained in the fabric of American society through the implementation of systems like the Black codes and Jim Crow laws , according the motion by LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas .
Those ideologies continue to shape civic life and prop up the structural barriers that sustain wealth inequality in the county , according to the motion .
“ The legacy of the intentional structuring of opportunity , implementation of policies and practices , and assignment of value based solely on skin color and other physical characteristics , has created and continues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the motion says .
“ The United States has reached an inflection point and it is time for every jurisdiction in the nation to collectively and publicly confront this country ’ s history , beginning with the acknowledgement of its actions and inactions toward African Americans over the last 400 years.
” The board ’ s approval of the proposal triggers a far-reaching assessment of how county policies and services may be upholding racism and preventing Black county workers from advancing to higher positions in their respective departments .
Supervisor Hilda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday is a tribute to Rep. John Lewis , the civil rights leader and Democratic congressman from Georgia who died Friday .
Taking to Twitter , Supervisor Janice Hahn said the board ’ s action shows the county is committing itself to an antiracist framework for policy-making .
“ We talk a lot about institutional racism , ” Hahn said Tuesday .
“ It ’ s time we look at our own institutions , how they ’ ve failed Black residents , & how we can improve them for new generations.
” Voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mass incarceration and poorly funded schools in Black communities can all be traced back to structural racism in the county and across the nation , Ridley-Thomas said in the motion .
“ As a result of these conditions , African Americans have systematically experienced unequal access to the foundational aspects of this nation that are universally envisioned as essential to building strong individuals , families , and communities , ” the motion says .
Black people also represent nearly 30 % of the overall population in LA County jails and more than 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the LA Homeless Services Authority Homeless Count of 2019 .
And Black people account for 11 % of LA County ’ s deaths from the novel coronavirus but represent only 9 % of the county ’ s over 10 million residents , according to LA County Department of Public Health data .
To further support its antiracist agenda , the board also voted Tuesday to draft a November 2020 ballot measure that would ask voters to set a 10 % limit for county general fund expenditures on law enforcement and the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county charter puts that power in the hands of the voters so that we may never go back to the ways things were , ” Solis said in a statement .
In other board action Tuesday , supervisors voted to extend an agreement with the California Community Foundation to provide legal defense for undocumented immigrants in LA County .
The $ 1.5 million contract will fund legal defense services for undocumented immigrants who are facing deportation .
In a statement , LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said that while she opposed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the nation ’ s “ broken ” immigration system .
“ It is the responsibility of the federal government to support states and counties in their efforts to address the costs of illegal immigration , and we should focus our energy on supporting comprehensive immigration reform at the national level , ” Barger said .
Supervisors also voted unanimously to extend an existing eviction moratorium in LA County until Sept. 30 .
The county ’ s temporary moratorium , which first went into effect in March , bans evictions for all residential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis .
LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl , author of the motion , said in a statement the moratorium extension is critical for supporting residents who lost income due to the pandemic .
“ More than 90 % of renters have continued to pay some or all of their rent during this terribly difficult time , ” Kuehl said .
“ Unfortunately , the virus has forced us to slow our economic recovery and many people are still out of work or working reduced hours .
”

Policies on education, law enforcement, health care and housing in Los Angeles County will be guided by a mandate to rid civic infrastructure of racism and systemic bias that create harm for residents of color, according to a proposal approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Policies on education, law enforcement, health care and housing in Los Angeles County will be guided by a mandate to rid civic infrastructure of racism and systemic bias that create harm for residents of color, according to a proposal approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.
The first-of-its-kind proposal takes aim at LA County policies that have fueled disparities in housing and education, led to poor health for low-income residents and shaped conditions that have filled jails with disproportionate numbers of Black residents.
When slavery was abolished, the ideologies that upheld the racist institution were engrained in the fabric of American society through the implementation of systems like the Black codes and Jim Crow laws, according the motion by LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas.
Those ideologies continue to shape civic life and prop up the structural barriers that sustain wealth inequality in the county, according to the motion.
“The legacy of the intentional structuring of opportunity, implementation of policies and practices, and assignment of value based solely on skin color and other physical characteristics, has created and continues to mete out unfair disadvantages to African Americans,” the motion says.
“The United States has reached an inflection point and it is time for every jurisdiction in the nation to collectively and publicly confront this country’s history, beginning with the acknowledgement of its actions and inactions toward African Americans over the last 400 years.”
The board’s approval of the proposal triggers a far-reaching assessment of how county policies and services may be upholding racism and preventing Black county workers from advancing to higher positions in their respective departments.
Supervisor Hilda Solis said the board’s action Tuesday is a tribute to Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights leader and Democratic congressman from Georgia who died Friday.
Taking to Twitter, Supervisor Janice Hahn said the board’s action shows the county is committing itself to an antiracist framework for policy-making.
“We talk a lot about institutional racism,” Hahn said Tuesday. “It's time we look at our own institutions, how they've failed Black residents, & how we can improve them for new generations.”
Voter suppression, over-policing, housing discrimination, mass incarceration and poorly funded schools in Black communities can all be traced back to structural racism in the county and across the nation, Ridley-Thomas said in the motion.
“As a result of these conditions, African Americans have systematically experienced unequal access to the foundational aspects of this nation that are universally envisioned as essential to building strong individuals, families, and communities,” the motion says.
Black people also represent nearly 30% of the overall population in LA County jails and more than 34% of people experiencing homelessness, according to the LA Homeless Services Authority Homeless Count of 2019.
And Black people account for 11% of LA County’s deaths from the novel coronavirus but represent only 9% of the county’s over 10 million residents, according to LA County Department of Public Health data.
To further support its antiracist agenda, the board also voted Tuesday to draft a November 2020 ballot measure that would ask voters to set a 10% limit for county general fund expenditures on law enforcement and the court system.
“This proposed amendment to the county charter puts that power in the hands of the voters so that we may never go back to the ways things were,” Solis said in a statement.
In other board action Tuesday, supervisors voted to extend an agreement with the California Community Foundation to provide legal defense for undocumented immigrants in LA County.
The $1.5 million contract will fund legal defense services for undocumented immigrants who are facing deportation.
In a statement, LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said that while she opposed the motion, she empathizes with immigrants impacted by the nation’s “broken” immigration system.
“It is the responsibility of the federal government to support states and counties in their efforts to address the costs of illegal immigration, and we should focus our energy on supporting comprehensive immigration reform at the national level,” Barger said.
Supervisors also voted unanimously to extend an existing eviction moratorium in LA County until Sept. 30. The county’s temporary moratorium, which first went into effect in March, bans evictions for all residential and commercial tenants impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.
LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, author of the motion, said in a statement the moratorium extension is critical for supporting residents who lost income due to the pandemic.
“More than 90% of renters have continued to pay some or all of their rent during this terribly difficult time,” Kuehl said. “Unfortunately, the virus has forced us to slow our economic recovery and many people are still out of work or working reduced hours.”


courthousenews--2020-07-23--California State University Trustees OK Ethnic Studies Mandate for Undergrads

( CN ) — In the largest shakeup of its academic system in decades , the California State University Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to require all undergraduates to take an ethnic studies or social justice course to graduate .
But the move was opposed by advocates of robust ethnic studies programs who say the mandate dilutes their goals .
The requirement , affecting some 430,000 undergraduates taking courses across CSU ’ s 23-campus system , will take effect beginning in 2023 .
A majority of the 25-member board voted to approve an amendment — proposed by the office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the California code of regulations that will update general education requirements for undergraduates .
The move came after the board ’ s Committee on Educational Policy approved the proposal on Tuesday .
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said in a statement after the vote the requirement will better equip graduates to address the complexities of the world ’ s problems in a comprehensive way .
“ This action , by the CSU and for the CSU , lifts ethnic studies to a place of prominence in our curriculum , connects it with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oppressed groups , and advances the field by applying the lens of social justice.
” White said .
Five trustees on the full board — including two longtime social justice activists and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond , who is Black — voted against the measure , saying it defines ethnic studies too broadly and includes little input from faculty .
Trustees , including Silas Abrego , criticized the measure for leaving room for students meet the credit requirement with social justice courses , meaning they may never take an ethnic studies course .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at California State University , Northridge , took to Twitter after the vote to criticize the board ’ s action .
“ Let ’ s be clear , what does CSU BOT just passed an ‘ ethnic studies ’ requirement that does nothing to ensure that students take ethnic studies , ” Montaño tweeted .
“ White supremacy reigns supreme in the BOT !
” Critics of the board ’ s measure also say it dilutes the concentration of ethnic studies courses as defined in a bill by California Assemblymember Shirley Weber , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill 1460 , would create a 3-credit course requirement for graduation that could be taken in Native American studies , African American studies , Asian American studies , or Latino/Latina studies .
The bill , requiring only Governor Gavin Newsom ’ s signature to take effect , would supersede the board ’ s action Wednesday .
The California Faculty Association , the union representing CSU faculty , said in a statement it was disappointed by Wednesday ’ s vote .
“ How the board can look at anyone with a straight face and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fulfilled without ever having to take a course in ethnic studies is beyond believable , ” the union said .
The board failed to consult with CSU ethnic studies faculty , the majority of whom are people of color , according to the union .
“ In this moment of nation and state ’ s needs to address systemic racism , anti-black racism , and white supremacy culture , the Board of Trustees failed to act and failed to lead , ” the union said .
The faculty union is a main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faculty across the California State University system have long struggled for a robust ethnic studies program .
At the CSU Los Angeles campus , the ethnic studies struggle is also part of a larger demand that administrators adopt an antiracist framework for university policies and services , including by defunding campus police and offering free tuition to Black and indigenous students .

In the largest shakeup of its academic system in decades, the California State University Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to require all undergraduates to take an ethnic studies or social justice course to graduate.
(CN) — In the largest shakeup of its academic system in decades, the California State University Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to require all undergraduates to take an ethnic-studies or social-justice course to graduate.
But the move was opposed by advocates of robust ethnic-studies programs who say the mandate dilutes their goals.
The requirement, affecting some 430,000 undergraduates taking courses across CSU’s 23-campus system, will take effect beginning in 2023.
A majority of the 25-member board voted to approve an amendment — proposed by the office of the CSU chancellor — to Title 5 of the California code of regulations that will update general education requirements for undergraduates. The move came after the board’s Committee on Educational Policy approved the proposal on Tuesday.
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said in a statement after the vote the requirement will better equip graduates to address the complexities of the world’s problems in a comprehensive way.
“This action, by the CSU and for the CSU, lifts ethnic studies to a place of prominence in our curriculum, connects it with the voices and perspectives of other historically oppressed groups, and advances the field by applying the lens of social justice.” White said.
Five trustees on the full board — including two longtime social-justice activists and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, who is Black — voted against the measure, saying it defines ethnic studies too broadly and includes little input from faculty.
Trustees, including Silas Abrego, criticized the measure for leaving room for students meet the credit requirement with social-justice courses, meaning they may never take an ethnic-studies course.
Theresa Montaño, professor of Chicano studies at California State University, Northridge, took to Twitter after the vote to criticize the board’s action.
“Let’s be clear, what does CSU BOT just passed an ‘ethnic studies’ requirement that does nothing to ensure that students take ethnic studies,” Montaño tweeted. “White supremacy reigns supreme in the BOT!”
Critics of the board’s measure also say it dilutes the concentration of ethnic-studies courses as defined in a bill by California Assemblymember Shirley Weber, a San Diego Democrat.
The bill, Assembly Bill 1460, would create a three-credit course requirement for graduation that could be taken in Native American studies, African American studies, Asian American studies, or Latino/Latina studies.
The bill, requiring only Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature to take effect, would supersede the board’s action Wednesday.
The California Faculty Association, the union representing CSU faculty, said in a statement it was disappointed by Wednesday’s vote.
"How the board can look at anyone with a straight face and say that an ethnic studies requirement can be fulfilled without ever having to take a course in ethnic studies is beyond believable," the union said.
The board failed to consult with CSU ethnic-studies faculty, the majority of whom are people of color, according to the union.
“In this moment of nation and state’s needs to address systemic racism, anti-black racism, and white supremacy culture, the Board of Trustees failed to act and failed to lead,” the union said.
The faculty union is a main sponsor of AB 1460.
Students and faculty across the California State University system have long struggled for a robust ethnic-studies program.
At the CSU Los Angeles campus, the ethnic studies struggle is also part of a larger demand that administrators adopt an antiracist framework for university policies and services, including by defunding campus police and offering free tuition to Black and indigenous students.


courthousenews--2020-07-22--Tesla Picks Texas Site for Second US Vehicle Assembly Plant

( AP ) — Electric car maker Tesla Inc. has picked the Austin , Texas , area as the site for its largest auto assembly plant employing at least 5,000 workers .
The new factory will build Tesla ’ s upcoming Cybertruck pickup and will be a second U.S. manufacturing site for the Model Y small SUV , largely for distribution to the East Coast .
Tesla will build on a 2,100-acre ( 85-hectacre ) site in Travis County near Austin and will get more than $ 60 million in tax breaks from the county and a local school district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plant , which will be over 4 million square feet , is already underway , Tesla CEO Elon Musk said .
He did not put a number on how many vehicles the facility would produce .
“ Long term , a lot , ” Musk said .
The company has pledged to invest $ 1.1 billion and said it will pay a minimum wage of $ 15 per hour to employees and provide health insurance , paid leave and other benefits .
The area that ’ s home to the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Dell Inc. was a candidate for the plant all along , but Tulsa , Oklahoma , emerged in mid-May as another possibility .
Tesla doesn ’ t have a lot of time to get the factory running if it wants to meet target production dates .
The company says on its website that the Cybertruck will be available starting late next year .
Tesla has often missed promised production dates in the past .
Musk has reportedly been happy with Texas , where his SpaceX rocket company has operations in Brownsville and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new factory will be Tesla ’ s biggest so far , although it may not employ as many workers as the 10,000 at its factory in Fremont , California .
The electric car maker has said it wants the new factory to be in the center of the country and closer to eastern markets .
The Fremont factory currently is Tesla ’ s only U.S. assembly plant .
It has a second U.S. factory in Reno , Nevada , where it builds batteries for its vehicles and employs about 6,500 people .
Tesla @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another one under construction in Germany .
Musk has been unhappy with California , where earlier this year he flouted local orders to stay closed to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus .
Musk has threatened to move the company ’ s headquarters out of Palo Alto and all future vehicles out of the plant in Fremont , a reworked factory that once was run jointly by Toyota and General Motors .
Republican Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott has not allowed cities and counties to impose local orders that would close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record levels this summer .
The state did not give Tesla any additional financial incentives , Abbott spokesman John Wittman said .
“ Tesla is one of the most exciting and innovative companies in the world , and we are proud to welcome its team to the State of Texas , ” Abbott said in a statement .
Texas has no corporate or individual income taxes .
It also touts the region ’ s young workforce as one of the most educated in the country .
Nearly 47 % of adults have at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing Austin into the top 10 among large metro areas , the site says .
But at present , Tesla can ’ t legally sell its vehicles in Texas .
A state law requires cars to be sold through franchised dealers , not company stores like Tesla operates .
Tulsa put up a good fight , but may have been used to win better terms from Texas .
Oklahoma boasts about its low tax rates and cost of living , particularly low utility costs .
Musk even visited the Tulsa site earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an auto manufacturer in the state since General Motors shuttered its Oklahoma City facility in 2005 , but Tulsa is home to an American Airlines maintenance facility that employs about 5,200 workers .
Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin , Texas , contributed to this report .

Electric car maker Tesla Inc. has picked the Austin, Texas, area as the site for its largest auto assembly plant employing at least 5,000 workers.
(AP) — Electric car maker Tesla Inc. has picked the Austin, Texas, area as the site for its largest auto assembly plant employing at least 5,000 workers.
The new factory will build Tesla's upcoming Cybertruck pickup and will be a second U.S. manufacturing site for the Model Y small SUV, largely for distribution to the East Coast.
Tesla will build on a 2,100-acre site in Travis County near Austin and will get more than $60 million in tax breaks from the county and a local school district over the next decade. Work on the plant, which will be over 4 million square feet, is already underway, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said.
He did not put a number on how many vehicles the facility would produce. "Long term, a lot," Musk said.
The company has pledged to invest $1.1 billion and said it will pay a minimum wage of $15 per hour to employees and provide health insurance, paid leave and other benefits.
The area that's home to the University of Texas at Austin and tech companies such as Dell Inc. was a candidate for the plant all along, but Tulsa, Oklahoma, emerged in mid-May as another possibility.
Tesla doesn't have a lot of time to get the factory running if it wants to meet target production dates. The company says on its website that the Cybertruck will be available starting late next year. Tesla has often missed promised production dates in the past.
Musk has reportedly been happy with Texas, where his SpaceX rocket company has operations in Brownsville and in McGregor north of Austin.
The new factory will be Tesla's biggest so far, although it may not employ as many workers as the 10,000 at its factory in Fremont, California. The electric car maker has said it wants the new factory to be in the center of the country and closer to eastern markets.
The Fremont factory currently is Tesla's only U.S. assembly plant. It has a second U.S. factory in Reno, Nevada, where it builds batteries for its vehicles and employs about 6,500 people. Tesla also has a factory in Shanghai and another one under construction in Germany.
Musk has been unhappy with California, where earlier this year he flouted local orders to stay closed to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. Musk has threatened to move the company's headquarters out of Palo Alto and all future vehicles out of the plant in Fremont, a reworked factory that once was run jointly by Toyota and General Motors.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not allowed cities and counties to impose local orders that would close businesses as the virus began surging to record levels this summer. The state did not give Tesla any additional financial incentives, Abbott spokesman John Wittman said.
"Tesla is one of the most exciting and innovative companies in the world, and we are proud to welcome its team to the State of Texas," Abbott said in a statement.
Texas has no corporate or individual income taxes. It also touts the region's young workforce as one of the most educated in the country. Nearly 47% of adults have at least a bachelor's degree, pushing Austin into the top 10 among large metro areas, the site says. But at present, Tesla can't legally sell its vehicles in Texas. A state law requires cars to be sold through franchised dealers, not company stores like Tesla operates.
Tulsa put up a good fight, but may have been used to win better terms from Texas. Oklahoma boasts about its low tax rates and cost of living, particularly low utility costs. Musk even visited the Tulsa site earlier this month.
Oklahoma hasn't had an auto manufacturer in the state since General Motors shuttered its Oklahoma City facility in 2005, but Tulsa is home to an American Airlines maintenance facility that employs about 5,200 workers.
By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer
Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.


courthousenews--2020-07-22--Dems Push Texas Governor to Allow Local Stay-at-Home Orders

In South Texas , the spread of the virus has prompted at least one local official to buck the governor on pandemic-related restrictions .
( CN ) — Congressional Democrats from Texas on Wednesday urged the state ’ s Republican governor to give local officials the flexibility to issue stay-at-home orders , citing the coronavirus pandemic ’ s growing toll on the South Texas border area in particular and its disproportionate impact on Latino communities .
“ Folks in my district are dying at two and a half times the rate of people across the state of Texas , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretches from the San Antonio area down to the border city of McAllen .
Gonzalez and other Democrats from Houston , El Paso and San Antonio spoke during a brief outdoor press conference in Washington that was cut short by gusty winds as storm clouds gathered over the U.S. Capitol building .
Governor Greg Abbott ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Democrats ’ plea .
In South Texas , a surge in Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths has prompted a response from the U.S. Navy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the weekend in an effort to help out local hospitals .
Refrigerated trucks are being used to store bodies outside local hospitals and funeral homes , according to reporting from the Texas Tribune , a troubling echo of New York City ’ s experience just a few months ago .
Parts of the Rio Grande Valley have seen an 80 % increase in cumulative Covid-19 deaths over the past week , according to data from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , also known as UTHealth .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 25 % from a week ago , UTHealth reported on Wednesday .
Statewide , Covid-19 hospitalizations and the daily number of new deaths both increased on Tuesday , but that increase came after a couple days of declines in both data points .
Catherine Troisi , an infectious disease expert at UTHealth , said in an interview that while there is some reason to be hopeful about the situation at the statewide level , the future is still far from certain .
“ It looks like it ’ s levelling off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask mandate working ?
” Troisi said , citing a rule enacted by Abbott about three weeks ago .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s been long enough to tell , because [ with ] the hospitalizations , usually it ’ s three to four weeks after exposure to the virus , ” she said .
“ So it just hasn ’ t been enough time really to tell what ’ s happening.
” In South Texas , the spread of the virus has prompted at least one local official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a source of local-versus-state tension since the pandemic began .
On Wednesday , a “ shelter-at-home ” order took effect in Hidalgo County , despite such measures being generally blocked by the governor in the past .
Local officials in the state ’ s major cities have previously begged Abbott for the authority to implement stay-at-home orders .
Still , Abbott on Tuesday signaled little direct resistance to the Hidalgo County order in an interview after a virtual meeting with South Texas officials , in which the officials discussed the region ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a press release from the governor ’ s office .
“ There are parts of their orders which they have the complete latitude to enforce , such as the curfew – that is the authority that local county judges always have , including right now , ” Abbott said during an interview with TV station KRGV , referencing the Hidalgo County order and less restrictive measures enacted in neighboring Cameron County .
“ They are basically working to enforce the strategies that I have articulated in my executive orders , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas – including in Harris County , the state ’ s largest county that is home to Houston – have nonetheless been hesitant to issue stay-at-home orders without the governor ’ s explicit blessing .
“ We appreciate the governor going down and bringing resources [ to South Texas ] the last few days , and hopefully much more to come , ” Congressman Gonzalez said during the Wednesday press conference .
“ But there ’ s only one way to really corral this virus , and that is to shut regions @ @ @ @ @ @

Congressional Democrats from Texas on Wednesday urged the state’s Republican governor to give local officials the flexibility to issue stay-at-home orders, citing the coronavirus pandemic’s growing toll on the South Texas border area in particular and its disproportionate impact on Latino communities.
(CN) — Congressional Democrats from Texas on Wednesday urged the state’s Republican governor to give local officials the flexibility to issue stay-at-home orders, citing the coronavirus pandemic’s growing toll on the South Texas border area in particular and its disproportionate impact on Latino communities.
“Folks in my district are dying at two and a half times the rate of people across the state of Texas,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, whose district stretches from the San Antonio area down to the border city of McAllen.
Gonzalez and other Democrats from Houston, El Paso and San Antonio spoke during a brief outdoor press conference in Washington that was cut short by gusty winds as storm clouds gathered over the U.S. Capitol building.
Governor Greg Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Democrats’ plea.
In South Texas, a surge in Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths has prompted a response from the U.S. Navy, which deployed medical teams to the region over the weekend in an effort to help out local hospitals. Refrigerated trucks are being used to store bodies outside local hospitals and funeral homes, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune, a troubling echo of New York City’s experience just a few months ago.
Parts of the Rio Grande Valley have seen an 80% increase in cumulative Covid-19 deaths over the past week, according to data from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, also known as UTHealth. That’s compared to a statewide increase of about 25% from a week ago, UTHealth reported on Wednesday.
Statewide, Covid-19 hospitalizations and the daily number of new deaths both increased on Tuesday, but that increase came after a couple days of declines in both data points.
Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease expert at UTHealth, said in an interview that while there is some reason to be hopeful about the situation at the statewide level, the future is still far from certain.
“It looks like it’s levelling off, and the question is, is the mask mandate working?” Troisi said, citing a rule enacted by Abbott about three weeks ago.
“I don’t think it’s been long enough to tell, because [with] the hospitalizations, usually it’s three to four weeks after exposure to the virus,” she said. “So it just hasn’t been enough time really to tell what’s happening.”
In South Texas, the spread of the virus has prompted at least one local official to buck the governor on pandemic-related restrictions, a source of local-versus-state tension since the pandemic began.
On Wednesday, a “shelter-at-home” order took effect in Hidalgo County, despite such measures being generally blocked by the governor in the past. Local officials in the state’s major cities have previously begged Abbott for the authority to implement stay-at-home orders.
Still, Abbott on Tuesday signaled little direct resistance to the Hidalgo County order in an interview after a virtual meeting with South Texas officials, in which the officials discussed the region’s “ongoing needs,” according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“There are parts of their orders which they have the complete latitude to enforce, such as the curfew — that is the authority that local county judges always have, including right now,” Abbott said during an interview with TV station KRGV, referencing the Hidalgo County order and less restrictive measures enacted in neighboring Cameron County.
“They are basically working to enforce the strategies that I have articulated in my executive orders,” the governor said.
Officials in other parts of Texas – including in Harris County, the state’s largest county that is home to Houston – have nonetheless been hesitant to issue stay-at-home orders without the governor’s explicit blessing.
“We appreciate the governor going down and bringing resources [to South Texas] the last few days, and hopefully much more to come,” Congressman Gonzalez said during the Wednesday press conference. “But there’s only one way to really corral this virus, and that is to shut regions of the state down.”


courthousenews--2020-07-22--House Votes to Remove Confederacy Statues From the US Capitol

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — A bipartisan House voted to remove statues of historical figures who served the Confederacy from the U.S. Capitol Wednesday , giving the building ’ s architect $ 2 million and four months to complete the job .
The bill , which passed the House by a 305-113 vote , mainly targets 12 statues in the Capitol ’ s Statuary Hall memorializing Confederate leaders , along with a bust of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney — author of the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision , which declared that free or enslaved Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statue is displayed in the former Supreme Court chamber inside the Capitol , immortalizing a decision which declared African Americans , “ so far inferior , they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.
” Statuary Hall is home to depictions of Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens , the former president and vice president of the Confederacy .
“ While the removal of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney ’ s bust from the United States Capitol does not relieve the Congress of the historical wrongs it committed to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress ’ s recognition of one of the most notorious wrongs to have ever taken place in one of its rooms , that of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney ’ s Dred Scott v. Sandford decision , ” the bill states .
The bill appropriates a total of $ 5 million for the job , giving the remaining $ 3 million to the Smithsonian Institute in order to procure a bust of Thurgood Marshall — the first Black Supreme Court justice , and an essential voice in decisions involving civil rights .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber .
The legislation also directs the Capitol architect to remove statues of Charles Brantley Aycock , James Paul Clarke and former Vice President John Caldwell Calhoun — who ’ s last attributed words were , “ The South , the poor South !
” Each statesman cast in bronze has strong ties to the Confederacy , with Aycock leading white supremacy campaigns in the late 1800s and Clarke proclaiming his devotion to uphold white supremacy while in office .
Those busts will be removed within 30 days .
Statues will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided them , and directs the management of their storage to the Capitol architect .
Consideration for the display or storage of other busts will be undertaken by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution , along with the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library .
The passage of Wednesday ’ s bill further expels Confederate symbols from the U.S. Capitol .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat , directed House Clerk Cheryl Johnson to remove several portraits of Confederate leaders a day before Juneteenth — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day that news of the Emancipation Proclamation , which was issued on Jan. 1 , 1863 , arrived in Texas .
From the House floor Wednesday , Pelosi said the action to remove the statues and Confederate symbols would help weaken the grip of racial injustice that has clung to Americans since the murder of George Floyd .
While the House had moved to radically change policing in the country through a bill named after Floyd , it was important to maintain focus to address systemic racism .
“ Now in Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain a drum beat to ensure this moment of anguish continues to be transformed into action , ” she said .
Jim Clyburn , the House ’ s majority whip and South Carolina Democrat , said members needed to discern between which statues should be placed in museums and which should be lauded in the halls of Congress .
That , he said , was putting history in its proper place .
“ And for those who did not do what I think they should have done , they ’ ve got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clyburn said .
“ But it ’ s not to be honored and it ’ s not to be glorified .
It ought to be put in the proper perspective.
” While only a few spoke Wednesday , Republican members appeared to be unified with their Democratic counterparts in removing symbols of the Confederacy from the building .
Tom McClintock , a California Republican , agreed that Taney ’ s decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford was possibly the worst in Supreme Court history .
However , if Congress removed memorials to every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ this would be a very barren place , ” he said .
“ It ’ s only the bad things in our history that we can use to measure all the good things in our history , ” he said .
Americans are losing sentiment towards other Confederate symbols , like the failed rebellion ’ s battle flag , according to a poll released by Morning Consult .
According to that survey of registered voters , 39 % say the flag represents a history embroiled in racism , while 43 % say @ @ @ @ @ @

A bipartisan House voted to remove statues of historical figures who served the Confederacy from the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, giving the building’s architect $2 million and four months to complete the job.
WASHINGTON (CN) — A bipartisan House voted to remove statues of historical figures who served the Confederacy from the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, giving the building’s architect $2 million and four months to complete the job.
The bill, which passed the House by a 305-113 vote, mainly targets 12 statues in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall memorializing Confederate leaders, along with a bust of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney — author of the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, which declared that free or enslaved Black people were not American citizens.
That statue is displayed in the former Supreme Court chamber inside the Capitol, immortalizing a decision which declared African Americans, “so far inferior, they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” Statuary Hall is home to depictions of Jefferson Davis and Alexander Stephens, the former president and vice president of the Confederacy.
“While the removal of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s bust from the United States Capitol does not relieve the Congress of the historical wrongs it committed to protect the institution of slavery, it expresses Congress’s recognition of one of the most notorious wrongs to have ever taken place in one of its rooms, that of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney’s Dred Scott v. Sandford decision,” the bill states.
The bill appropriates a total of $5 million for the job, giving the remaining $3 million to the Smithsonian Institute in order to procure a bust of Thurgood Marshall — the first Black Supreme Court justice, and an essential voice in decisions involving civil rights. That monument will replace Taney’s in the chamber.
The legislation also directs the Capitol architect to remove statues of Charles Brantley Aycock, James Paul Clarke and former Vice President John Caldwell Calhoun — who’s last attributed words were, “The South, the poor South!”
The House voted to remove statues such as this one of Jefferson Davis in Statuary Hall. (Courthouse News photo/Jack Rodgers)
Each statesman cast in bronze has strong ties to the Confederacy, with Aycock leading white supremacy campaigns in the late 1800s and Clarke proclaiming his devotion to uphold white supremacy while in office. Those busts will be removed within 30 days.
Statues will be sent back to individual state governments that provided them, and directs the management of their storage to the Capitol architect. Consideration for the display or storage of other busts will be undertaken by the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, along with the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library.
The passage of Wednesday’s bill further expels Confederate symbols from the U.S. Capitol. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, directed House Clerk Cheryl Johnson to remove several portraits of Confederate leaders a day before Juneteenth — a celebration of June 19, 1865, the day that news of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued on Jan. 1, 1863, arrived in Texas.
From the House floor Wednesday, Pelosi said the action to remove the statues and Confederate symbols would help weaken the grip of racial injustice that has clung to Americans since the murder of George Floyd. While the House had moved to radically change policing in the country through a bill named after Floyd, it was important to maintain focus to address systemic racism.
“Now in Congress and in the country, we must maintain a drum beat to ensure this moment of anguish continues to be transformed into action,” she said.
Jim Clyburn, the House’s majority whip and South Carolina Democrat, said members needed to discern between which statues should be placed in museums and which should be lauded in the halls of Congress. That, he said, was putting history in its proper place.
“And for those who did not do what I think they should have done, they’ve got a place in the history books,” Clyburn said. “But it’s not to be honored and it’s not to be glorified. It ought to be put in the proper perspective.”
While only a few spoke Wednesday, Republican members appeared to be unified with their Democratic counterparts in removing symbols of the Confederacy from the building. Tom McClintock, a California Republican, agreed that Taney’s decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford was possibly the worst in Supreme Court history. However, if Congress removed memorials to every person who made a bad decision, “this would be a very barren place,” he said.
“It’s only the bad things in our history that we can use to measure all the good things in our history,” he said.
Americans are losing sentiment towards other Confederate symbols, like the failed rebellion’s battle flag, according to a poll released by Morning Consult. According to that survey of registered voters, 39% say the flag represents a history embroiled in racism, while 43% say the symbol represents Southern pride.


courthousenews--2020-07-22--EPA Ordered to Take Fresh Look at Whether Herbicide Harms Butterflies

( CN ) — A Ninth Circuit panel ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday , finding the agency must take a second look at whether a glyphosate-based herbicide harms monarch butterflies .
A three-judge panel ruled that while the EPA did follow protocols for how it lists pesticides it failed to consider the impact of approving an herbicide that has been shown to damage milkweed , a plant considered vital to the reproductive abilities of the increasingly endangered monarch butterfly .
“ Given the record evidence suggesting monarch butterflies may be adversely affected by 2,4-D on target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FIFRA , to determine whether any effect was “ adverse ” before determining whether any effect on the environment was , on the whole , ‘ unreasonable , ’ ” wrote U.S .
Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson — a Donald Trump appointee — for the majority .
“ EPA ’ s failure to do so means that its decision was lacking in substantial evidence on this issue.
” FIFRA stands for the Federal Insecticide , Fungicide and Rodenticide Act , which regulates pesticides to make sure they conform to safety standards for humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chemical company wants to register a pesticide with the federal government , it must go through the EPA , which conducts analyses to ensure the chemicals used are safe for the farmers , the general consumer and the surrounding environment .
In this instance , Dow Agrosciences formulated a chemical combination of glyphosate — the active ingredient in Monsanto ’ s Roundup — and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid .
The combination , sold commercially as Enlist Duo , was required because many of the weeds detrimental to farming operations around the nation were developing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed to use specifically for farmers growing corn , soybeans and cotton , a combined $ 103 billion industry in the United States .
The EPA agreed to register Enlist Duo in 2014 , then again in 2017 with some alterations to the original registration .
The Natural Resources Defense Council sued the EPA soon after the second registration , saying the agency used a more relaxed process to make it easier to register and failed to consider the impacts to the monarch butterfly .
The EPA countered by saying the NRDC lacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organization or its staff and members suffered specific harm as a result of the registration , an argument the Ninth Circuit panel rejected .
“ Members of NRDC have submitted declarations stating that they enjoy watching the monarch butterfly migration where they live , that Enlist Duo is approved for use in their states , and that they are concerned they will no longer be able to enjoy observing monarch butterflies because of Enlist Duo ’ s effects on milkweed , ” Nelson wrote .
But the panel also rejected the argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentionally used a more lenient safety standard to smuggle Enlist Duo ’ s approval into the registration process .
“ NRDC ’ s primary support for this argument is one line in the 2014 final registration decision citing FIFRA ’ s conditional registration provision , ” Nelson writes .
“ But this stray line appears to be a typographical error.
” But the panel did award the NRDC a crucial victory as it relates to Enlist Duo ’ s ability to eradicate milkweed from farms around the nation .
Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which farmers consider a noxious weed .
The eradication of milkweed from agricultural areas , along with urban and suburban areas , is identified by scientists as the number one reason for the precipitous decline in monarch populations in the United States .
Population counts conducted in the United States and Mexico , where the butterflies winter , show the species has declined by more than 80 % since the 1990s .
The EPA needed to consider whether registering Enlist Duo would have an adverse effect on milkweed prevalence , which in turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also tried to argue that glyphosate had a harmful effect on the environment and the chemical could become volatile if mixed with other agents , but the agency rejected both arguments .
Nelson also wrote a concurrence about standing issues as it relates to registration under FIFRA .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Paul Watford — a Barack Obama appointee — dissented , writing that while he agreed the environmental organizations had standing , the registration orders by the EPA should be vacated because the agency failed to consider the best available science when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ruling does not require the EPA to vacate registration approvals made in 2014 and again in 2017 , but merely take a second look at the decision while factoring in the effects on milkweed and monarch butterflies .
U.S .
Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith , a George W. Bush appointee , rounded out the panel .

A Ninth Circuit panel ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, finding the agency must take a second look at whether a glyphosate-based herbicide harms monarch butterflies.
(CN) — A Ninth Circuit panel ruled against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, finding the agency must take a second look at whether a glyphosate-based herbicide harms monarch butterflies.
A three-judge panel ruled that while the EPA did follow protocols for how it lists pesticides it failed to consider the impact of approving an herbicide that has been shown to damage milkweed, a plant considered vital to the reproductive abilities of the increasingly endangered monarch butterfly.
“Given the record evidence suggesting monarch butterflies may be adversely affected by 2,4-D on target fields, EPA was required, under FIFRA, to determine whether any effect was “adverse” before determining whether any effect on the environment was, on the whole, ‘unreasonable,’” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Ryan Nelson — a Donald Trump appointee — for the majority. “EPA’s failure to do so means that its decision was lacking in substantial evidence on this issue.”
FIFRA stands for the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, which regulates pesticides to make sure they conform to safety standards for humans, wildlife and the environment.
Whenever a chemical company wants to register a pesticide with the federal government, it must go through the EPA, which conducts analyses to ensure the chemicals used are safe for the farmers, the general consumer and the surrounding environment.
In this instance, Dow Agrosciences formulated a chemical combination of glyphosate — the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup — and dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The combination, sold commercially as Enlist Duo, was required because many of the weeds detrimental to farming operations around the nation were developing immunity to glyphosate.
The chemical was developed to use specifically for farmers growing corn, soybeans and cotton, a combined $103 billion industry in the United States. The EPA agreed to register Enlist Duo in 2014, then again in 2017 with some alterations to the original registration.
The Natural Resources Defense Council sued the EPA soon after the second registration, saying the agency used a more relaxed process to make it easier to register and failed to consider the impacts to the monarch butterfly.
The EPA countered by saying the NRDC lacked standing because they couldn’t prove the organization or its staff and members suffered specific harm as a result of the registration, an argument the Ninth Circuit panel rejected.
“Members of NRDC have submitted declarations stating that they enjoy watching the monarch butterfly migration where they live, that Enlist Duo is approved for use in their states, and that they are concerned they will no longer be able to enjoy observing monarch butterflies because of Enlist Duo’s effects on milkweed,” Nelson wrote.
But the panel also rejected the argument proffered by the group that the EPA intentionally used a more lenient safety standard to smuggle Enlist Duo’s approval into the registration process.
“NRDC’s primary support for this argument is one line in the 2014 final registration decision citing FIFRA’s conditional registration provision,” Nelson writes. “But this stray line appears to be a typographical error.”
But the panel did award the NRDC a crucial victory as it relates to Enlist Duo’s ability to eradicate milkweed from farms around the nation.
Monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on leaves from the milkweed plant, which farmers consider a noxious weed.
The eradication of milkweed from agricultural areas, along with urban and suburban areas, is identified by scientists as the number one reason for the precipitous decline in monarch populations in the United States.
Population counts conducted in the United States and Mexico, where the butterflies winter, show the species has declined by more than 80% since the 1990s.
The EPA needed to consider whether registering Enlist Duo would have an adverse effect on milkweed prevalence, which in turn affects monarch butterfly populations.
The NRDC also tried to argue that glyphosate had a harmful effect on the environment and the chemical could become volatile if mixed with other agents, but the agency rejected both arguments.
Nelson also wrote a concurrence about standing issues as it relates to registration under FIFRA.
U.S. Circuit Judge Paul Watford — a Barack Obama appointee — dissented, writing that while he agreed the environmental organizations had standing, the registration orders by the EPA should be vacated because the agency failed to consider the best available science when making its decision to register Enlist Duo.
The ruling does not require the EPA to vacate registration approvals made in 2014 and again in 2017, but merely take a second look at the decision while factoring in the effects on milkweed and monarch butterflies.
U.S. Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith, a George W. Bush appointee, rounded out the panel.


courthousenews--2020-07-22--House Sends Bipartisan Federal Lands Bill to Oval Office

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan conservation bill on Wednesday that dramatically boosts funding for national parks preservation and work on backlogged federal lands projects .
Hailed by environmental groups as a significant conservation accomplishment , the bill passed the House 301-107 on Wednesday afternoon .
It passed the Senate in June and President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation after urging its passage on Twitter shortly before Wednesday ’ s vote .
A relatively rare bipartisan accomplishment in a bitterly divided Congress , the Great American Outdoors Act received widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Great American Outdoors Act — I love the title — takes the next step in our pro-conservation agenda as it boldly protects or country ’ s natural and cultural heritage for our children , our grandchildren and generations to come , ” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on the House floor Wednesday .
The bill permanently and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund , an account set up in 1964 to cover the cost of conservation projects on public lands across the country .
Under federal law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 900 million per year , but Congress has consistently appropriated less than that amount through the years .
This underfunding has built up a significant backlog of conservation projects in national parks and other public lands .
The backlog stood at more than $ 11.9 billion in 2019 , according to the National Park Service , including unfinished work on 25,000 buildings and more than 26,000 miles of roads and trails .
Proponents of the legislation in Congress and conservation advocates hailed the $ 900 million in annual funding of the Land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing people to enjoy the nation ’ s wild spaces and protecting the environment .
“ We are judged on what we choose to pass on and today we have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to preserving these lands for the future and for future generations , ” Representative Raul Grijalva , the Arizona Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources , said on the House floor before the vote Wednesday .
Pushed in the GOP-controlled Senate by Republican Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado , the bill also creates a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over five years to make certain priority repairs .
Environmental groups broadly supported the legislation , saying in addition to the conservation benefits , the money will also create jobs as long-stalled maintenance projects get underway .
“ It ’ s an investment in jobs that will protect and maintain our public lands and waters — something that is all the more urgent as communities everywhere experience fallout from the climate crisis , ” Kabir Green , the director of federal affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council , said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our forests enhances biodiversity and will help sequester some of the carbon that fuels climate change .
”

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan conservation bill on Wednesday that dramatically boosts funding for national parks preservation and work on backlogged federal lands projects.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan conservation bill on Wednesday that dramatically boosts funding for national parks preservation and work on backlogged federal lands projects.
Hailed by environmental groups as a significant conservation accomplishment, the bill passed the House 301-107 on Wednesday afternoon. It passed the Senate in June and President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation after urging its passage on Twitter shortly before Wednesday’s vote.
A relatively rare bipartisan accomplishment in a bitterly divided Congress, the Great American Outdoors Act received widespread support from conservation and environmental groups.
“The Great American Outdoors Act — I love the title — takes the next step in our pro-conservation agenda as it boldly protects or country’s natural and cultural heritage for our children, our grandchildren and generations to come,” Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said on the House floor Wednesday.
The bill permanently and fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, an account set up in 1964 to cover the cost of conservation projects on public lands across the country. Under federal law, the fund can receive up to $900 million per year, but Congress has consistently appropriated less than that amount through the years.
This underfunding has built up a significant backlog of conservation projects in national parks and other public lands. The backlog stood at more than $11.9 billion in 2019, according to the National Park Service, including unfinished work on 25,000 buildings and more than 26,000 miles of roads and trails.
Proponents of the legislation in Congress and conservation advocates hailed the $900 million in annual funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund as critical to allowing people to enjoy the nation’s wild spaces and protecting the environment.
“We are judged on what we choose to pass on and today we have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to preserving these lands for the future and for future generations,” Representative Raul Grijalva, the Arizona Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources, said on the House floor before the vote Wednesday.
Pushed in the GOP-controlled Senate by Republican Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, the bill also creates a new fund setting aside $9.5 billion over five years to make certain priority repairs.
Environmental groups broadly supported the legislation, saying in addition to the conservation benefits, the money will also create jobs as long-stalled maintenance projects get underway.
“It’s an investment in jobs that will protect and maintain our public lands and waters — something that is all the more urgent as communities everywhere experience fallout from the climate crisis,” Kabir Green, the director of federal affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement. “Supporting wildlife management and investing in our forests enhances biodiversity and will help sequester some of the carbon that fuels climate change.”


courthousenews--2020-07-22--Trump Says Federal Agents Will Show Up ‘With Full Force’ in American Cities

Critics have accused the president of occupying America ’ s cities in an effort to demonstrate authority as his poll numbers drop with the election just four months out .
WASHINGTON ( CN ) — President Donald Trump buckled down on his campaign message of law and order on Wednesday , announcing federal agents will surge into cities across America as part of his administration ’ s effort to combat rising crime .
Linking spikes in violent crime to coast-to-coast demonstrations for social justice , the president accused Democrat-run cities for the uptick in homicides , pointing specifically to so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal immigration authorities.. “ My administration will be working to remove dangerous offenders sprung loose by these deadly policies and frankly , by these deadly politicians , ” Trump said from the East Room of the White House .
Over 200 federal agents are already on the ground in Kansas City , Missouri , following a record rise in violence after the recent shooting death of a young boy .
Attorney General William Barr said during the White House press conference Wednesday that a similar deployment of federal force will join local law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will head to Albuquerque , New Mexico , as part of Operation Legend .
Trump also said the Justice Department will provide more than $ 61 million in grants to hire hundreds of new police officers in cities that are the focus of the operation , first announced on July 8 .
Critics have accused the president of occupying America ’ s cities in an effort to demonstrate authority as his poll numbers drop with the election just four months out .
The hand-in-glove approach , as Barr described it , of federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departure from the normal Justice Department method of sending agents under its own departments , such as the FBI or Drug Enforcement Agency .
Both Trump and Barr wove in denunciations of recent calls to defund the police following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis— a policy proposal to redirect funding for law enforcement to invest in communities , specifically marginalized ones where police violence often takes place .
“ My vision for America ’ s cities could not be more different from the lawlessness being pushed by the extreme radical left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defame and abolish the police , I want to support and honor our great police , ” Trump said .
Launching into a rally-like rattling off of comparisons between Democrats ’ policies and his own , the president then rolled into talking about school choice , manufacturing and the American dream .
He also urged Americans to hold their city leaders accountable , accusing local officials of abdicating the duty of policing .
“ [ Americans ] must insist that community officials fully support , fully back and fully fund their local police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Homeland Security officers are currently operating in Portland , Oregon , and other regions to protect federal property and monuments after Trump loudly condemned efforts by protesters to tear down Confederate statues .
Local officials have pushed back against the surge of federal forces into their cities , including in Portland where agents have been accused of using excessive force against protesters .
In Albuquerque , chief of police Mike Geier said Tuesday ahead of the announcement by the White House that he hoped it was not just a cheap political stunt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests have been peaceful .
“ There ’ s no place for Trump ’ s secret police in our city .
If this was more than a stunt , these politicians would support constitutional crime fighting efforts that work for our community , not turning Albuquerque into a federal police state , ” the city ’ s mayor Tim Keller said in the same statement Tuesday .
But Trump claimed on Wednesday that the surge strategy is intended to make the lives of all Americans safer , saying federal agents will show up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when cities and states make the request to Washington .
“ I ’ m proud to fight by your side to deliver a better future for the citizens of every race , color , religion and creed , ” the president said , adding : “ We will stop this horrible situation very quickly.
” Experts have challenged the administration ’ s claim of recent protests over race and police violence triggering higher crime rates .
They point to the unprecedented events the country is facing and argue there is no easy explanation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic killing over 140,000 Americans , stay-at-home orders , a plummeting economy and a national reckoning over police brutality .
Operation Legend was named after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro , who was fatally shot while sleeping in an apartment in Kansas City last month .
His mother , Charron Powell , joined the president along with other family members of victims of deadly shootings at the White House on Wednesday .

President Donald Trump buckled down on his campaign message of law and order on Wednesday, announcing federal agents will surge into cities across America as part of his administration’s effort to combat rising crime.
WASHINGTON (CN) — In an initiative widely seen as part of his search for a campaign theme, President Donald Trump ramped up his controversial policy of sending federal agents in military uniform to cities where demonstrations are taking place.
Linking spikes in violent crime to coast-to-coast demonstrations for social justice, the president accused Democrat-run cities for the uptick in homicides, pointing specifically to so-called sanctuary cities that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities..
“My administration will be working to remove dangerous offenders sprung loose by these deadly policies and frankly, by these deadly politicians,” Trump said from the East Room of the White House.
Over 200 federal agents are already on the ground in Kansas City, Missouri, following a record rise in violence after the recent shooting death of a young boy.
Attorney General William Barr said during the White House press conference Wednesday that a similar deployment of federal force will join local law enforcement in Chicago and 35 federal agents will head to Albuquerque, New Mexico, as part of Operation Legend.
Trump also said the Justice Department will provide more than $61 million in grants to hire hundreds of new police officers in cities that are the focus of the operation, first announced on July 8.
Critics have accused the president of occupying America’s cities in an effort to demonstrate authority as his poll numbers drop with the election just four months out.
The hand-in-glove approach, as Barr described it, of federal officers working with local police marks a departure from the normal Justice Department method of sending agents under its own departments, such as the FBI or Drug Enforcement Agency.
Both Trump and Barr wove in denunciations of recent calls to defund the police following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis— a policy proposal to redirect funding for law enforcement to invest in communities, specifically marginalized ones where police violence often takes place.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event on "Operation Legend: Combatting Violent Crime in American Cities," in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
“My vision for America’s cities could not be more different from the lawlessness being pushed by the extreme radical left. While others want to defund, defame and abolish the police, I want to support and honor our great police,” Trump said.
Launching into a rally-like rattling off of comparisons between Democrats’ policies and his own, the president then rolled into talking about school choice, manufacturing and the American dream.
He also urged Americans to hold their city leaders accountable, accusing local officials of abdicating the duty of policing.
“[Americans] must insist that community officials fully support, fully back and fully fund their local police departments,” Trump said.
Department of Homeland Security officers are currently operating in Portland, Oregon, and other regions to protect federal property and monuments after Trump loudly condemned efforts by protesters to tear down Confederate statues.
Local officials have pushed back against the surge of federal forces into their cities, including in Portland where agents have been accused of using excessive force against protesters.
In Albuquerque, chief of police Mike Geier said Tuesday ahead of the announcement by the White House that he hoped it was not just a cheap political stunt, noting homicides are down and recent protests have been peaceful.
“There’s no place for Trump’s secret police in our city. If this was more than a stunt, these politicians would support constitutional crime fighting efforts that work for our community, not turning Albuquerque into a federal police state,” the city’s mayor Tim Keller said in the same statement Tuesday.
But Trump claimed on Wednesday that the surge strategy is intended to make the lives of all Americans safer, saying federal agents will show up “with full force” to respond when cities and states make the request to Washington.
“I'm proud to fight by your side to deliver a better future for the citizens of every race, color, religion and creed,” the president said, adding: “We will stop this horrible situation very quickly.”
Experts have challenged the administration’s claim of recent protests over race and police violence triggering higher crime rates. They point to the unprecedented events the country is facing and argue there is no easy explanation for the escalation, amid the coronavirus pandemic killing over 140,000 Americans, stay-at-home orders, a plummeting economy and a national reckoning over police brutality.
Operation Legend was named after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro, who was fatally shot while sleeping in an apartment in Kansas City last month. His mother, Charron Powell, joined the president along with other family members of victims of deadly shootings at the White House on Wednesday.


courthousenews--2020-07-22--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

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Top Eight

Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the 54th consecutive night of protests against racism and police brutality in Portland was filled with drumming and dancing , then with tear gas and flash bangs ; California secured the dubious distinction of having the most coronavirus cases in the United States ; Senators debated the need for more federal dollars to help states conduct voting safely , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With the 2020 election looming and the coronavirus pandemic continuing to rage across the country , senators and state election officials debated the need Wednesday for more federal dollars to help states conduct voting safely .
2 . )
As the number of confirmed U.S. cases of Covid-19 neared 4 million on Wednesday , the Trump administration announced an almost $ 2 billion vaccine contract with the New York-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a German biotechnology company .
3 . )
Markets crept upward after a sluggish start , with few data points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on tap .
4 . )
The 54th consecutive night of protests against racism and police brutality was filled with drumming and dancing , then with tear gas and flash bangs .
5 . )
Thanks to a new daily high of over 12,800 new cases , California on Wednesday secured the dubious distinction of having the most coronavirus cases in the United States .
6 . )
The former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd is in more legal trouble after being charged Wednesday with felony tax fraud .
7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic , New York City ’ s public transit system loses about two-thirds as much in revenue as it costs to operate .
As its chairman put it Wednesday , the very survival of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency is in peril .
8 . )
The U.S .
Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that endangered species protections for a certain population segment of the Arctic grayling are no longer necessary , claiming the future for the long-beleaguered fish is “ shining brightly .
”

Top eight CNS stories for today including the 54th consecutive night of protests against racism and police brutality in Portland was filled with drumming and dancing, then with tear gas and flash bangs; California secured the dubious distinction of having the most coronavirus cases in the United States; Senators debated the need for more federal dollars to help states conduct voting safely, and more.
Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the 54th consecutive night of protests against racism and police brutality in Portland was filled with drumming and dancing, then with tear gas and flash bangs; California secured the dubious distinction of having the most coronavirus cases in the United States; Senators debated the need for more federal dollars to help states conduct voting safely, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) With the 2020 election looming and the coronavirus pandemic continuing to rage across the country, senators and state election officials debated the need Wednesday for more federal dollars to help states conduct voting safely.
FILE - In this July 7, 2020, file photo a woman wearing gloves drops off a mail-in ballot at a drop box in Hackensack, N.J. The November election is coming with a big price tag as America faces the coronavirus pandemic. The demand for mail-in ballots is surging, election workers are in need of training and polling booths might have to be outfitted with protective shields. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
2.) As the number of confirmed U.S. cases of Covid-19 neared 4 million on Wednesday, the Trump administration announced an almost $2 billion vaccine contract with the New York-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and a German biotechnology company.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and President Donald Trump listen during a meeting with business leaders on coronavirus testing, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, April 27, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
3.) Markets crept upward after a sluggish start, with few data points on Wednesday but a glut of earnings on tap.
NYPD officers walk along a sparsely populated Wall Street, Friday, May 1, 2020, in the Manhattan borough of New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Regional
4.) The 54th consecutive night of protests against racism and police brutality was filled with drumming and dancing, then with tear gas and flash bangs.
Protesters drum, dance and chant at a protest against police brutality in Portland, Ore., on Tuesday, July 21. (Courthouse News photo/Karina Brown)
5.) Thanks to a new daily high of over 12,800 new cases, California on Wednesday secured the dubious distinction of having the most coronavirus cases in the United States.
People wait in line for coronavirus testing at Dodger Stadium Tuesday, July 14, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
6.) The former Minneapolis police officer accused of murdering George Floyd is in more legal trouble after being charged Wednesday with felony tax fraud.
FILE - This file photo provided by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was arrested Friday, May 29, 2020, in the Memorial Day death of George Floyd. Prosecutors are charging Chauvin, accused of pressing his knee against Floyd’s neck, with second-degree murder, and for the first time will level charges against three other officers at the scene, a newspaper reported Wednesday, June 3, 2020. (Courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)
7.) Every week, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, New York City’s public transit system loses about two-thirds as much in revenue as it costs to operate. As its chairman put it Wednesday, the very survival of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency is in peril.
"If it wasn't safe, I wouldn't ask anyone to go on the subway," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted on June 8, alongside this photo. (Image via Courthouse News)
8.) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday that endangered species protections for a certain population segment of the Arctic grayling are no longer necessary, claiming the future for the long-beleaguered fish is “shining brightly.”


courthousenews--2020-07-22--House Votes on Party Lines to Repeal Trump Travel Ban

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Panning President Donald Trump ’ s multiple iterations of a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries as inherently discriminatory , the House voted 233-183 on Wednesday to rescind them and limit the power of future administrations to implement similar policies .
The National Origin Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act , or No Ban Act , effectively ends the bans Trump has issued since taking office in 2017 .
However , the bill is largely symbolic because it is highly unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate and even more unlikely to be signed by President Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chu , a California Democrat , was added to the House ’ s docket in March , but with the Covid-19 pandemic upending life and business as usual , it was not until Wednesday that lawmakers finally brought the bill up for a vote .
It is the first bill to pass the House that directly addresses Muslim civil rights in America and simultaneously pushes back against a 2018 ruling from the Supreme Court that upheld Trump ’ s third stab at a Muslim-focused ban .
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not look kindly upon the court ’ s misguided decision ” to retain any variation of the president ’ s executive order that was aimed at blocking travelers or asylum seekers from places like Iran , Iraq , Libya , Somalia , Sudan , Syria , Yemen and Chad .
Sotomayor ’ s concerns echoed through the House chamber Wednesday .
Representative Jerry Nadler , the New York Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee – one of Congress ’ most powerful and influential bodies – scorched the high court ’ s majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached only through overly broad interpretation of the Immigration and Nationality Act .
Contained within that law is a section granting authority for the president to suspend entry “ to all aliens or class of aliens ” when they find entry to be “ detrimental ” to the United States .
But Nadler argued the justices should have ruled that detriment is limited to matters of public health and safety or international stability .
“ It was not tended to provide carte blanche authority to the president to ban large categories of individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws with which he disagrees , ” Nadler said .
“ As a result of the Muslim ban , our reputation as a beacon of hope and tolerance from those fleeing persecution has been forever tarnished.
” Beyond rescinding the travel bans , the No Ban Act also prohibits religious discrimination in immigration decisions unless there is a statutory basis , like a provable criminal record , not the presumption of one .
Additionally , the bill stipulates that the State Department and Department of Homeland Security must report any new immigration restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do not , the restrictions would immediately terminate .
Reports on any potential harm to those denied entry must also be provided to Congress .
Michigan Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell represent a state with the largest population of Arab Americans in the country .
They recalled the chaos and confusion that unfolded at airports in the U.S. when Trump first ordered the travel ban in January 2017 .
Visa holders , green card holders and even veterans , including immigrants who assisted U.S. troops in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
It was clear Muslims were targeted “ very irrationally , ” Dingell said .
Tlaib was even more blunt , calling the bans “ racist ” and “ federal endorsements of anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination.
” House Republicans like Andy Biggs of Arizona , leader of the libertarian-leaning House Freedom Caucus , pushed back on the racist label .
“ Was it xenophobic or racist or hateful when the Obama administration implemented travel bans to the same nations ?
Was it ?
” he asked , throwing his hands up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ either .
That kind of language is meant to incite public ridicule and distract from the real issue.
” In truth , however , then-President Barack Obama ’ s 2011 visa policy did not lump individuals together from seven nations and deem them highly dangerous “ terrorist threats ” as the Trump administration did .
Instead , the Obama policy slowed admittance for a short period as agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and Defense Department began cross-checking finger prints of refugees after an Iraqi national flew into Kentucky that year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as those once found on a roadside bomb in Iraq .
Farhana Khera , executive director of Muslim Advocates , a nonprofit that has pushed to have the bans rescinded since their inception , emphasized the differences in policies .
“ Representative Biggs is disingenuously comparing apples and oranges .
President Obama did not ban people .
He required nationals of certain countries or people who had recently visited those countries to apply for visas to enter the U.S. and therefore go through the same vetting process that citizens of non-visa waiver countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is very different from President Trump ’ s blanket Muslim ban which has separated countless families.
” Longtime civil rights attorney Andrew Laufer said in an email Wednesday that the No Ban Act would serve several purposes .
“ It will prevent DHS from racial and religious profiling of individuals seeking admittance to the United States [ and ] if there ’ s a specific concern about an individual , they ’ ll still have the authority to stop , question and detain , ” Laufer said .
“ This bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach of detaining individuals solely based on race , ethnicity or religion which are clear violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
” He added , “ The executive branch has wide latitude in regulating immigration and access to our country .
However , we ’ ve seen the utter abuse this administration has engaged in in utilizing this power as a basis to forward a specific racial and religious animus under color of law and not in forwarding America ’ s interest.
” A study from the libertarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bans slashed the number of Muslim refugees entering the U.S. by a staggering 91 % from 2016 to 2018 .
They also drove down overall immigration by 30 % .
Representative Pramila Jayapal , a Washington Democrat , said bans are likely taking a toll on American public health as U.S. hospitals find themselves shoring up every available resource to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Citizens from Muslim-majority nations made up 4.5 % of the U.S. physician workforce in 2019 , and yet between 2016 and 2018 the number of applicants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Muslim-majority countries decreased by 15 % , a decrease that is exacerbating existing gaps in the U.S. physician workforce which is so desperately needed in a time of Covid-19 , ” she said .
A companion bill known as the Access to Counsel Act was also passed by the House in a 231-184 vote Wednesday .
The legislation mandates immigrants and refugees entering the U.S. with proper documents be able to utilize legal counsel when stopped for inspection for an hour or more .
Reports of people being pressured to sign papers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the travel bans .
In one incident at the U.S.-Canada border in January , at least 100 Iranian-Americans , including young children and the elderly , were detained and questioned for up to 12 hours without access to counsel .
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan acknowledged agents acted “ overzealously.
” The Access to Counsel Act would simply enshrine an immigrant ’ s right to counsel and would not prevent Customs and Border Protection from doing its job .
“ It ’ s just a simple phone call to their attorney @ @ @ @ @

Panning President Donald Trump’s multiple iterations of a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries as inherently discriminatory, the House voted 233-183 on Wednesday to rescind them and limit the power of future administrations to implement similar policies.
WASHINGTON (CN) — Panning President Donald Trump’s multiple iterations of a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries as inherently discriminatory, the House voted 233-183 on Wednesday to rescind them and limit the power of future administrations to implement similar policies.
The National Origin Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act, or No Ban Act, effectively ends the bans Trump has issued since taking office in 2017. However, the bill is largely symbolic because it is highly unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate and even more unlikely to be signed by President Trump.
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Judy Chu, a California Democrat, was added to the House’s docket in March, but with the Covid-19 pandemic upending life and business as usual, it was not until Wednesday that lawmakers finally brought the bill up for a vote.
It is the first bill to pass the House that directly addresses Muslim civil rights in America and simultaneously pushes back against a 2018 ruling from the Supreme Court that upheld Trump’s third stab at a Muslim-focused ban.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent at the time that “history would not look kindly upon the court’s misguided decision” to retain any variation of the president’s executive order that was aimed at blocking travelers or asylum seekers from places like Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Chad.
Sotomayor’s concerns echoed through the House chamber Wednesday. Representative Jerry Nadler, the New York Democrat who chairs the House Judiciary Committee — one of Congress’ most powerful and influential bodies — scorched the high court’s majority ruling, saying it was a decision reached only through overly broad interpretation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Contained within that law is a section granting authority for the president to suspend entry “to all aliens or class of aliens” when they find entry to be “detrimental” to the United States.
But Nadler argued the justices should have ruled that detriment is limited to matters of public health and safety or international stability.
“It was not tended to provide carte blanche authority to the president to ban large categories of individuals without justification or to rewrite the immigration laws with which he disagrees,” Nadler said. “As a result of the Muslim ban, our reputation as a beacon of hope and tolerance from those fleeing persecution has been forever tarnished.”
Beyond rescinding the travel bans, the No Ban Act also prohibits religious discrimination in immigration decisions unless there is a statutory basis, like a provable criminal record, not the presumption of one.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that the State Department and Department of Homeland Security must report any new immigration restrictions to Congress within 48 hours. If they do not, the restrictions would immediately terminate. Reports on any potential harm to those denied entry must also be provided to Congress.
Michigan Democrats Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell represent a state with the largest population of Arab Americans in the country. They recalled the chaos and confusion that unfolded at airports in the U.S. when Trump first ordered the travel ban in January 2017.
Visa holders, green card holders and even veterans, including immigrants who assisted U.S. troops in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, were detained indiscriminately, the congresswomen said.
It was clear Muslims were targeted “very irrationally,” Dingell said. Tlaib was even more blunt, calling the bans “racist” and “federal endorsements of anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination.”
House Republicans like Andy Biggs of Arizona, leader of the libertarian-leaning House Freedom Caucus, pushed back on the racist label.
“Was it xenophobic or racist or hateful when the Obama administration implemented travel bans to the same nations? Was it?” he asked, throwing his hands up. “No. Nor is it here either. That kind of language is meant to incite public ridicule and distract from the real issue.”


courthousenews--2020-07-23--AMC Wins Profit Sharing Dispute Against Producers of ‘The Walking Dead’

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — The legal battle over profits of “ The Walking Dead ” TV series between the producers and AMC ended on Wednesday , as a California judge ruled in favor of the cable network .
A bench trial held in February and March in Los Angeles County Superior Court clawed through the fine print of the TV contracts for “ The Walking Dead ” comic creator Robert Kirkman and producers David Albert and Gale Anne Hurd .
The multi-day trial involved testimony detailing how the popular zombie apocalypse comic book series came to life on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2009 , AMC sought to be both the production studio and distributor of “ The Walking Dead.
” Kirkman and the other plaintiffs argued they were not fairly compensated after the show became wildly successful .
During the bench trial , the parties reviewed the defined profits of those contract agreements .
The producers said AMC improperly calculated their compensation , while AMC claimed the creatives were seeking to have the court rewrite their contracts .
In a 59-page decision , Judge Daniel Buckley said the plaintiffs ’ lawyers and AMC vigorously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each side understanding the terms .
The producers argued that AMC was shortchanging them because with other AMC hits like “ Breaking Bad ” or “ Mad Men , ” the network paid licensing fees to third-party studios .
But “ The Walking Dead ” was a whole new creature as it was produced and distributed all in-house and those fees were paid into a pool meant to stand in for the licensing .
Each episode generated a fee when the shows aired on AMC and amounted to about $ 2 million according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the last nine seasons .
The plaintiffs argued that fee was not part of their original contracts .
They asked the court to impose a new rate based on industry custom and practice , but Buckley didn ’ t bite .
“ Upon consideration of the contracts , the record , the parties ’ arguments , and the law , defendants ’ position is correct , ” Buckley wrote in his decision .
“ The case must be decided based on the plain terms of the agreements and New York contract law.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contracts are unambiguous and shows the fees that were defined by AMC are binding .
The gross receipts of the shows set by AMC were not meant to be negotiated at some future date , wrote Buckley .
“ The court can not rewrite the parties ’ contacts or treat their agreement that “ MAGR shall be defined ” by AMC as if it were meaningless , ” he wrote .
When “ The Walking Dead ” shambled onto the AMC , the network had full rights to produce the series and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a subsidiary for administrative purposes , it was irrelevant , according to the decision .
“ When AMC and Kirkman contracted in 2009 , Kirkman granted to AMC nearly unlimited rights to produce , broadcast and distribute the show , ” the ruling states .
This means that Kirkman isn ’ t owed a license fee to have the show broadcast on AMC .
Wednesday ’ s decision could certainly provide ammunition for AMC , which is in another legal dispute with “ The Walking Dead ’ s ” original showrunner , Hollywood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency in New York state .
“ Today ’ s decision is a total victory for AMC , ” said AMC attorney Orin Snyder with Gibson Dunn in a statement .
“ The judge found in AMC ’ s favor on all seven issues that were presented at trial and confirmed that AMC honored its contracts and paid Mr. Kirkman and the other plaintiffs what they were owed .
”

The legal battle over profits of "The Walking Dead" TV series between the producers and AMC ended on Wednesday, as a California judge ruled in favor of the cable network.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — The legal battle over profits of "The Walking Dead" TV series between the producers and AMC ended on Wednesday, as a California judge ruled in favor of the cable network.
A bench trial held in February and March in Los Angeles County Superior Court clawed through the fine print of the TV contracts for “The Walking Dead” comic creator Robert Kirkman and producers David Albert and Gale Anne Hurd. The multi-day trial involved testimony detailing how the popular zombie apocalypse comic book series came to life on TV in 2010.
During contract negotiations in 2009, AMC sought to be both the production studio and distributor of “The Walking Dead.” Kirkman and the other plaintiffs argued they were not fairly compensated after the show became wildly successful. During the bench trial, the parties reviewed the defined profits of those contract agreements.
The producers said AMC improperly calculated their compensation, while AMC claimed the creatives were seeking to have the court rewrite their contracts.
In a 59-page decision, Judge Daniel Buckley said the plaintiffs’ lawyers and AMC vigorously negotiated compensation during contract negotiations, with each side understanding the terms.
The producers argued that AMC was shortchanging them because with other AMC hits like “Breaking Bad” or “Mad Men,” the network paid licensing fees to third-party studios. But “The Walking Dead” was a whole new creature as it was produced and distributed all in-house and those fees were paid into a pool meant to stand in for the licensing.
Each episode generated a fee when the shows aired on AMC and amounted to about $2 million according to court filings, which remained constant over the last nine seasons.
The plaintiffs argued that fee was not part of their original contracts. They asked the court to impose a new rate based on industry custom and practice, but Buckley didn’t bite.
“Upon consideration of the contracts, the record, the parties’ arguments, and the law, defendants’ position is correct,” Buckley wrote in his decision. “The case must be decided based on the plain terms of the agreements and New York contract law.”
Buckley said that the language in the contracts are unambiguous and shows the fees that were defined by AMC are binding. The gross receipts of the shows set by AMC were not meant to be negotiated at some future date, wrote Buckley.
“The court cannot rewrite the parties’ contacts or treat their agreement that “MAGR shall be defined” by AMC as if it were meaningless,” he wrote.
When “The Walking Dead” shambled onto the AMC, the network had full rights to produce the series and even though the rights were transferred to a subsidiary for administrative purposes, it was irrelevant, according to the decision.
“When AMC and Kirkman contracted in 2009, Kirkman granted to AMC nearly unlimited rights to produce, broadcast and distribute the show,” the ruling states.
This means that Kirkman isn’t owed a license fee to have the show broadcast on AMC.
Wednesday’s decision could certainly provide ammunition for AMC, which is in another legal dispute with “The Walking Dead’s” original showrunner, Hollywood veteran Frank Darabont, and Creative Artists Agency in New York state.
“Today’s decision is a total victory for AMC,” said AMC attorney Orin Snyder with Gibson Dunn in a statement. “The judge found in AMC's favor on all seven issues that were presented at trial and confirmed that AMC honored its contracts and paid Mr. Kirkman and the other plaintiffs what they were owed.”