courthousenews--2020-09-14--LA Unified School District Begins Testing Thousands for Coronavirus

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Los Angeles Unified School District began testing 5,000 of its staff members and their children for the novel coronavirus as part of a program that will be ramped up when the roughly 700,000 students at the nation ’ s second largest school district return to the classroom .
LA County ’ s Covid-19 case rate spiked between mid-June and early July .
Now mid-September , the county has dropped back to pre-surge levels with a daily case rate below 1,000 .
But school officials say it ’ s still too soon to bring students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t expect to see a decision about a return to school classrooms by students until the case rate in the area is significantly lower and remains there , ” said LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner in a Monday briefing .
“ There ’ s no prize to be had by bringing students back too soon and this can lead to more cases of the virus in the school community amongst students , staff and families.
” But some children will be going back to school : 3,000 children of LA Unified staff are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of no more than six along with two adults .
Students in need of one-to-one tutoring will also be allowed on campus with teachers and students meeting outside at a safe distance .
All students and staff will be tested for the virus , according to the district .
Last week , the school district tested 5,400 people with a positivity rate less than 1 % — just five people who tested positive according to Beutner .
By comparison , the greater LA County positivity rate is 3.5 % .
The district expects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few weeks and 40,000 per day as the program ramps up and more students return to school .
“ An operation of this scale has implications beyond schools .
We ’ ll be testing both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals , ” said Beutner .
Fifty-nine individual schools want to reopen their classrooms for small groups of students according to LA County health officials , to offer learning to students with special needs and to English learners .
About half of those schools began their lessons on Monday , according to LA County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a steady decline in Covid-19 cases in LA County in the last few weeks , but the county remains in the most restrictive category established by the state .
LA County will need to see two consecutive weeks of fewer than 7 cases per 100,000 residents to move into the next health category .
Last week , the county was at 9.6 cases per 100,000 .
“ It ’ s going to depend on what happened over Labor Day , ” said Ferrer during a Monday briefing , referring to whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday weekend .
Meanwhile , six months after many theme parks closed their doors due to the virus a trade group representing Disneyland Resort , Universal Studios , Six Flags Magic Mountain , Knott ’ s Berry Farm and other amusement parks asked Governor Gavin Newsom for guidance on reopening .
“ Tens of thousands of jobs have been weighing in the balance .
Hundreds of millions of tax revenue that support critical local , state , and federal programs , lost .
And local business that rely on amusement parks continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said California Attractions and Parks Association executive director Erin Guerrero .
LA County reported 733 new cases on Monday and 24 deaths , but health officials noted the figures may be low as some laboratories do not report their results over the weekend .
Orange County reported 44 new cases and no new deaths .
In San Francisco , indoor hair and nail salons reopened Monday with a cap on the number of people who can be served indoors , while one-on-one training sessions at fitness centers can also resume .
Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and motels for tourism were also relaxed Monday .

Los Angeles Unified School District began testing 5,000 of its staff members and their children for the novel coronavirus as part of a program that will be ramped up when the roughly 700,000 students at the nation’s second largest school district return to the classroom.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Los Angeles Unified School District began testing 5,000 of its staff members and their children for the novel coronavirus as part of a program that will be ramped up when the roughly 700,000 students at the nation’s second largest school district return to the classroom.
LA County’s Covid-19 case rate spiked between mid-June and early July. Now mid-September, the county has dropped back to pre-surge levels with a daily case rate below 1,000. But school officials say it’s still too soon to bring students back to the classroom.
“Don’t expect to see a decision about a return to school classrooms by students until the case rate in the area is significantly lower and remains there,” said LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner in a Monday briefing. “There’s no prize to be had by bringing students back too soon and this can lead to more cases of the virus in the school community amongst students, staff and families.”
But some children will be going back to school: 3,000 children of LA Unified staff are going to be kept in small groups of no more than six along with two adults. Students in need of one-to-one tutoring will also be allowed on campus with teachers and students meeting outside at a safe distance. All students and staff will be tested for the virus, according to the district.
Last week, the school district tested 5,400 people with a positivity rate less than 1% — just five people who tested positive according to Beutner. By comparison, the greater LA County positivity rate is 3.5%. The district expects to test about 20,000 per day in a few weeks and 40,000 per day as the program ramps up and more students return to school.
“An operation of this scale has implications beyond schools. We’ll be testing both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals,” said Beutner.
Fifty-nine individual schools want to reopen their classrooms for small groups of students according to LA County health officials, to offer learning to students with special needs and to English learners. About half of those schools began their lessons on Monday, according to LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer.
There has been a steady decline in Covid-19 cases in LA County in the last few weeks, but the county remains in the most restrictive category established by the state. LA County will need to see two consecutive weeks of fewer than 7 cases per 100,000 residents to move into the next health category. Last week, the county was at 9.6 cases per 100,000.
“It’s going to depend on what happened over Labor Day,” said Ferrer during a Monday briefing, referring to whether enough people practiced social distancing during the holiday weekend.
Meanwhile, six months after many theme parks closed their doors due to the virus a trade group representing Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm and other amusement parks asked Governor Gavin Newsom for guidance on reopening.
“Tens of thousands of jobs have been weighing in the balance. Hundreds of millions of tax revenue that support critical local, state, and federal programs, lost. And local business that rely on amusement parks continue to struggle, with many closing permanently,” said California Attractions and Parks Association executive director Erin Guerrero.
LA County reported 733 new cases on Monday and 24 deaths, but health officials noted the figures may be low as some laboratories do not report their results over the weekend. Orange County reported 44 new cases and no new deaths.
In San Francisco, indoor hair and nail salons reopened Monday with a cap on the number of people who can be served indoors, while one-on-one training sessions at fitness centers can also resume. Health officials say restrictions on lodging at hotels and motels for tourism were also relaxed Monday.


courthousenews--2020-09-14--CEOs Call for Deep EU Emission Cuts by 2030

PARIS ( AFP ) — The heads of more than 150 global companies , including Apple and Google , have urged European leaders to set a higher target for reducing climate-heating emissions , says the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership ( CISL ) .
A long list of CEOs from some of the world ’ s largest brands and investors including Microsoft , Ikea , Deutsche Bank , Unilever and H & M signed the letter , said the CISL .
The president of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , is due to unveil the 2030 greenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Union address to the European Parliament on Wednesday .
The letter calls on European leaders “ to avoid the worst effects of climate change and secure a sustainable , competitive economic recovery ” by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by the end of this decade .
Brussels intends to raise its target for cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions to 55 percent compared with 1990 levels , a European source told AFP on Saturday , compared with the current goal of 40 percent .
The European Commission is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as part of a strategy to achieve “ carbon neutrality ” by 2050 .
It binds the EU ’ s 27 member states to balance polluting emissions and the removal of greenhouse gases — such as by using carbon capture technology or reforestation — within the next 30 years .
It is seen in Brussels as the trigger for an economic revolution that will make Europe sustainable and meet the targets of the Paris climate accord .
But that proposal earlier this year stepped back from the commission ’ s ambition to order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or even 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 .
“ From a business and investor perspective , clarity on the net zero transition pathway and timetables for each sector , as well as policy that enables substantial investments in carbon neutral solutions is essential , ” the letter from business leaders said .
“ This in turn would provide us with the confidence needed to invest decisively at the necessary pace and scale to reduce emissions , create decent green jobs , drive innovation , and accelerate the rebuilding of a resilient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by the European Corporate Leaders Group ( CLG Europe ) , presented as “ a cross-sectoral group of European businesses working towards delivering climate neutrality ” , said the CISL .

The heads of more than 150 global companies, including Apple and Google, have urged European leaders to set a higher target for reducing climate-heating emissions, says the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
PARIS (AFP) — The heads of more than 150 global companies, including Apple and Google, have urged European leaders to set a higher target for reducing climate-heating emissions, says the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL).
A long list of CEOs from some of the world's largest brands and investors including Microsoft, Ikea, Deutsche Bank, Unilever and H&M signed the letter, said the CISL.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is due to unveil the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target in her State of the Union address to the European Parliament on Wednesday.
The letter calls on European leaders "to avoid the worst effects of climate change and secure a sustainable, competitive economic recovery" by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by the end of this decade.
Brussels intends to raise its target for cutting EU greenhouse gas emissions to 55 percent compared with 1990 levels, a European source told AFP on Saturday, compared with the current goal of 40 percent.
The European Commission is pushing a five-year "Green Deal" as part of a strategy to achieve "carbon neutrality" by 2050.
It binds the EU's 27 member states to balance polluting emissions and the removal of greenhouse gases -- such as by using carbon capture technology or reforestation -- within the next 30 years.
It is seen in Brussels as the trigger for an economic revolution that will make Europe sustainable and meet the targets of the Paris climate accord.
But that proposal earlier this year stepped back from the commission's ambition to order countries to cut emissions by 50 percent or even 55 percent from 1990 levels by 2030.
"From a business and investor perspective, clarity on the net zero transition pathway and timetables for each sector, as well as policy that enables substantial investments in carbon neutral solutions is essential," the letter from business leaders said.
"This in turn would provide us with the confidence needed to invest decisively at the necessary pace and scale to reduce emissions, create decent green jobs, drive innovation, and accelerate the rebuilding of a resilient zero carbon economy."
The initiative was led by the European Corporate Leaders Group (CLG Europe), presented as "a cross-sectoral group of European businesses working towards delivering climate neutrality", said the CISL.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-09-14--Want Cheaper Beer? Save a Tree

Want Cheaper Beer? Save a Tree

BRASILIA , Brazil ( AFP ) — Brazilian brewer Ambev has launched an unusual new product aimed at uniting two great , if disparate , causes : saving the Amazon rainforest and love of beer .
The new beer , Colorado Amazonica , will be priced according to the rate of deforestation in the world ’ s biggest rainforest , the company said in a statement .
“ When deforestation decreases , the beer will get cheaper .
The less forest , the more expensive it will be , ” said the firm , part of AB Inbev , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceeds will be donated to a network of indigenous communities , local residents and family farmers in the Amazon region , it added .
A craft-style wheat beer spiced with a blend of ingredients from the Amazon , Colorado Amazonica is being sold exclusively online for now .
It was launched on September 3 at a price of 5.49 reals ( about $ 1 ) .
By Thursday , the price had leapt 46 percent .
The initiative comes as Brazil ’ s President Jair Bolsonaro faces mounting pressure , including from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deforestation in the Amazon .
Since taking office in January 2019 , the far-right leader has presided over a surge in deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon , a vital resource for curbing climate change .
Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon increased 85.3 percent in Bolsonaro ’ s first year in office , to 10,123 square kilometers ( 3,900 square miles ) of forest — nearly the size of Lebanon .
This year , the rate has decreased from last year ’ s record-breaking level , but only by about five percent so @ @

Brazilian brewer Ambev has launched an unusual new product aimed at uniting two great, if disparate, causes: saving the Amazon rainforest and love of beer.
BRASILIA, Brazil (AFP) — Brazilian brewer Ambev has launched an unusual new product aimed at uniting two great, if disparate, causes: saving the Amazon rainforest and love of beer.
The new beer, Colorado Amazonica, will be priced according to the rate of deforestation in the world's biggest rainforest, the company said in a statement.
"When deforestation decreases, the beer will get cheaper. The less forest, the more expensive it will be," said the firm, part of AB Inbev, the world's biggest brewer.
All proceeds will be donated to a network of indigenous communities, local residents and family farmers in the Amazon region, it added.
A craft-style wheat beer spiced with a blend of ingredients from the Amazon, Colorado Amazonica is being sold exclusively online for now.
It was launched on September 3 at a price of 5.49 reals (about $1). By Thursday, the price had leapt 46 percent.
The initiative comes as Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro faces mounting pressure, including from the business world, to act against rampant deforestation in the Amazon.
Since taking office in January 2019, the far-right leader has presided over a surge in deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon, a vital resource for curbing climate change.
Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon increased 85.3 percent in Bolsonaro's first year in office, to 10,123 square kilometers (3,900 square miles) of forest -- nearly the size of Lebanon.
This year, the rate has decreased from last year's record-breaking level, but only by about five percent so far.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-09-14--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

Sept. 10 , 2020 : General order extends some matters during phased ramp up Sept. 9 , 2020 : Homeless @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable during pandemic Sept. 11 , 2020 : Guide to services available during pandemic Sept. @ @ @ @ @ counsel extension for new criminal and juvenile cases

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


Emissions Settlement

WASHINGTON — German automaker Daimler AG and its subsidiary Mercedes-Benz USA agreed to pay the U.S. government and California state @ @ @ @ @ resolve emissions cheating allegations .


courthousenews--2020-09-14--Most Americans See Law and Order as a Major Problem

( CN ) — Most Americans say maintaining law and order in the United States has become a major problem and that President Donald Trump ’ s handling of the protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and others has only made the situation worse , according to a new poll .
As protests and demonstrations continue to play out across the nation over racial injustice and the deaths of people of color at the hands of police , a Monmouth University poll released Monday reports that 65 % of Americans feel that upholding law and order has become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans say that it ’ s only a minor problem while just 8 % contend that it ’ s not a problem at all .
Breaking these numbers down by race and party affiliation shows that some groups are much more likely to believe that the issue of maintaining law and order is a major one .
According to Monday ’ s poll , nearly 8 in 10 Republicans and independents who lean Republican believe that maintaining law and order is a major problem .
And people of color who are not Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to feel this way .
“ It appears we are looking at a divergence between politics and experience .
Among white Americans , partisanship creates a clear dividing line on whether law and order is a problem , ” said Patrick Murray , director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute , with the release of the poll .
“ But for people of color , partisan identity does not seem to be driving their opinion on this issue.
” When asked which presidential candidate is best equipped to handle the issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , respondents gave a slight edge to Biden .
Monday ’ s poll reports that 52 % of voters say they are confident that Biden can maintain law and order moving forward if he claims victory this November , while 48 % of voters feel the same way about Trump .
Where Trump ’ s numbers take a notably negative turn is about how he has responded to the recent protests over police brutality and the killing of Black citizens .
A majority of Americans ( 61 % ) say they think Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worse , while just 24 % say they believe he ’ s made it better — numbers that are virtually unchanged from earlier this summer .
Nearly 90 % of those who are not Republicans say they feel Trump has made the protest situation worse , feelings that are shared by overwhelming majorities of all ethnic groups .
The only group to believe that Trump has improved the situation is Republicans and Republican-leaners , with 46 % of them maintaining that Trump has made the situation better and 30 % believing he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portion of voters ( 45 % ) think Biden would have managed the protest situation better than Trump if he was president .
Nearly 3 in 10 Americans think Biden would have done worse than Trump while 23 % say they think Biden would have managed about the same .
Nearly 75 % of non-Republicans say they think Biden would have done better than Trump on this issue and just over half of Republicans and those that lean Republican think he would have done worse .
Regardless of who Americans think can better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying issues driving the demonstrations are serious ones .
Monday ’ s poll reports that 65 % of Americans think that racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States is a major problem , while just 18 % say they don ’ t believe it ’ s a problem at all .
Another 16 % of Americans concede that discrimination is a problem but believe that it ’ s not a particularly large one .
As has been the case before , GOP voters and those that lean GOP are less likely than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discrimination as a major issue .
But Americans believe there will be improvements in race relations in the future .
Around 40 % of Americans think that race relations are likely to improve as a result of the spotlight that has been placed on the issues of race and police violence in recent months .
Another 29 % say they are very hopeful regarding the future of race relations in general while 54 % say they are at least somewhat hopeful .
The poll also sought to gauge respondents ’ feelings regarding racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue that got some airtime during the GOP convention .
Roughly three-quarters of Americans say they think having racially integrated neighborhoods in their area is important to some extent , though another 40 % say they are worried that such efforts could lead to more crime and lower property values .
Murray said that while these numbers do not suggest that most voters were influenced by GOP talking points that sought to cast the future and safety of American suburbs in doubt , there may be just enough voters worried about the subject @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Another message coming out of the Republican convention was that the suburbs were under attack .
This does not seem to be a message with broad-based appeal , but it could have an impact on the margins in states that are close , ” said Murray .

Most Americans say maintaining law and order in the United States has become a major problem and that President Donald Trump’s handling of the protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and others has only made the situation worse, according to a new poll.
(CN) — Most Americans say maintaining law and order in the United States has become a major problem and that President Donald Trump’s handling of the protests sparked by the deaths of George Floyd and others has only made the situation worse, according to a new poll.
As protests and demonstrations continue to play out across the nation over racial injustice and the deaths of people of color at the hands of police, a Monmouth University poll released Monday reports that 65% of Americans feel that upholding law and order has become a serious issue. A quarter of Americans say that it’s only a minor problem while just 8% contend that it’s not a problem at all.
Breaking these numbers down by race and party affiliation shows that some groups are much more likely to believe that the issue of maintaining law and order is a major one.
According to Monday’s poll, nearly 8 in 10 Republicans and independents who lean Republican believe that maintaining law and order is a major problem. And people of color who are not Republicans are much more likely than white non-Republicans to feel this way.
“It appears we are looking at a divergence between politics and experience. Among white Americans, partisanship creates a clear dividing line on whether law and order is a problem,” said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, with the release of the poll. “But for people of color, partisan identity does not seem to be driving their opinion on this issue.”
When asked which presidential candidate is best equipped to handle the issue of law and order in the United States, respondents gave a slight edge to Biden. Monday’s poll reports that 52% of voters say they are confident that Biden can maintain law and order moving forward if he claims victory this November, while 48% of voters feel the same way about Trump.
Where Trump’s numbers take a notably negative turn is about how he has responded to the recent protests over police brutality and the killing of Black citizens. A majority of Americans (61%) say they think Trump’s response has made the situation worse, while just 24% say they believe he’s made it better — numbers that are virtually unchanged from earlier this summer.
Nearly 90% of those who are not Republicans say they feel Trump has made the protest situation worse, feelings that are shared by overwhelming majorities of all ethnic groups. The only group to believe that Trump has improved the situation is Republicans and Republican-leaners, with 46% of them maintaining that Trump has made the situation better and 30% believing he’s made it worse.
A good portion of voters (45%) think Biden would have managed the protest situation better than Trump if he was president. Nearly 3 in 10 Americans think Biden would have done worse than Trump while 23% say they think Biden would have managed about the same.
Nearly 75% of non-Republicans say they think Biden would have done better than Trump on this issue and just over half of Republicans and those that lean Republican think he would have done worse.
Regardless of who Americans think can better manage the protests, most agree the underlying issues driving the demonstrations are serious ones.
Monday’s poll reports that 65% of Americans think that racial and ethnic discrimination in the United States is a major problem, while just 18% say they don’t believe it’s a problem at all. Another 16% of Americans concede that discrimination is a problem but believe that it’s not a particularly large one. As has been the case before, GOP voters and those that lean GOP are less likely than their counterparts across the aisle to see discrimination as a major issue.
But Americans believe there will be improvements in race relations in the future. Around 40% of Americans think that race relations are likely to improve as a result of the spotlight that has been placed on the issues of race and police violence in recent months. Another 29% say they are very hopeful regarding the future of race relations in general while 54% say they are at least somewhat hopeful.
The poll also sought to gauge respondents’ feelings regarding racial integration efforts in the suburbs, an issue that got some airtime during the GOP convention. Roughly three-quarters of Americans say they think having racially integrated neighborhoods in their area is important to some extent, though another 40% say they are worried that such efforts could lead to more crime and lower property values.
Murray said that while these numbers do not suggest that most voters were influenced by GOP talking points that sought to cast the future and safety of American suburbs in doubt, there may be just enough voters worried about the subject to play a role come November.
“Another message coming out of the Republican convention was that the suburbs were under attack. This does not seem to be a message with broad-based appeal, but it could have an impact on the margins in states that are close,” said Murray.
Monday’s poll of 867 individuals contained a 3.3% margin of error.


Top Eight

Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including the U.S. argued before the United Nations ’ highest court Monday that a 1955 treaty doesn ’ t prevent the Trump administration from reimposing sanctions on Iran ; President Donald Trump met with California officials regarding the wildfire crisis gripping the entire West Coast ; A divided Ninth Circuit panel allowed the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status for 300,000 immigrants , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 . )
Weeks after assigning blame for California ’ s disastrous wildfire season on poor leadership and not climate change , President Donald Trump on Monday met with state officials regarding the siege gripping the entire West Coast .
2 . )
President Donald Trump ’ s “ path of indifference ” on climate change has left millions of Americans unprotected from the ravages of wildfires , floods and hurricanes — an abdication of the most basic duty of the president , former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday .
3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , 20 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday challenging a rule they claim eliminates regulations on hazardous pollutants spewing from the oil and natural gas industry .
4 . )
A divided Ninth Circuit panel on Monday voided a lower court ’ s injunction and will allow the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status for 300,000 immigrants from Haiti , El Salvador , Nicaragua and Sudan .
5 . )
An attorney testifying before a House Oversight subcommittee said Monday that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are true that he reimbursed employees at his former business for making GOP campaign donations .
6 . )
San Antonio has agreed to offer commercial space at the city ’ s international airport to Chick-fil-A , the fast-food restaurant that was controversially left out of a vendor agreement last year in a move Republican state officials called religious discrimination .
7 . )
Tropical Storm Sally , the earliest S-named storm on record in the Atlantic , is expected to slow down over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday evening before strengthening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surge along the Gulf Coast , including metropolitan New Orleans .
8 . )
The United States argued before the United Nations ’ highest court Monday that a 1955 treaty with Iran doesn ’ t prevent the Trump administration from reimposing sanctions on the Middle Eastern country .

Top eight CNS stories for today including the U.S. argued before the United Nations’ highest court Monday that a 1955 treaty doesn’t prevent the Trump administration from reimposing sanctions on Iran; President Donald Trump met with California officials regarding the wildfire crisis gripping the entire West Coast; A divided Ninth Circuit panel allowed the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status for 300,000 immigrants, and more.
Your Monday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including the U.S. argued before the United Nations’ highest court Monday that a 1955 treaty doesn’t prevent the Trump administration from reimposing sanctions on Iran; President Donald Trump met with California officials regarding the wildfire crisis gripping the entire West Coast; A divided Ninth Circuit panel allowed the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status for 300,000 immigrants, 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.) Weeks after assigning blame for California’s disastrous wildfire season on poor leadership and not climate change, President Donald Trump on Monday met with state officials regarding the siege gripping the entire West Coast.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he arrives at Sacramento McClellan Airport, in McClellan Park, Calif., Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, for a briefing on wildfires. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
2.) President Donald Trump’s “path of indifference” on climate change has left millions of Americans unprotected from the ravages of wildfires, floods and hurricanes — an abdication of the most basic duty of the president, former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday.
Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden depart after voting early in Delaware’s state primary election at the New Castle County Board of Elections office in Wilmington, Del., Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
3.) With natural disasters battering the country, 20 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday challenging a rule they claim eliminates regulations on hazardous pollutants spewing from the oil and natural gas industry.
FILE - In this March 12, 2020, file photo, the sun shines through clouds above a shale gas drilling site in St. Mary's, Pa. President Donald Trump's administration is expected to undo Obama-era rules designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas fields and pipelines, formalizing the changes in the heart of the nation's most prolific natural gas reservoir and in the premier presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
4.) A divided Ninth Circuit panel on Monday voided a lower court’s injunction and will allow the Trump administration to terminate temporary protected status for 300,000 immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Sudan.
Members of the National TPS Alliance – a coalition comprised of temporary protected status beneficiaries – hold signs at a rally in support of the program outside the Richard H. Chambers Courthouse in Pasadena, Calif. on Aug. 14, 2019. (Martin Macias Jr / CNS)
5.) An attorney testifying before a House Oversight subcommittee said Monday that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy may have violated federal law if reports are true that he reimbursed employees at his former business for making GOP campaign donations.
FILE - In this April 2, 2020 file photo, a United States Postal Service worker makes a delivery with gloves and a mask in Warren, Mich. A group of states suing over service cuts at the U.S. Postal Service is asking a federal judge to immediately undo some of them, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya,File)
Regional
6.) San Antonio has agreed to offer commercial space at the city’s international airport to Chick-fil-A, the fast-food restaurant that was controversially left out of a vendor agreement last year in a move Republican state officials called religious discrimination.
A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Toronto. (Sikander Iqbal/Wikipedia Commons via Courthouse News)
7.) Tropical Storm Sally, the earliest S-named storm on record in the Atlantic, is expected to slow down over the Gulf of Mexico on Monday evening before strengthening into a hurricane Tuesday with life-threatening storm surge along the Gulf Coast, including metropolitan New Orleans.
This satellite photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Sally, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, at 2050 GMT. Sally churned northward on Sunday, poised to turn into a hurricane and send a life-threatening storm surge along the northern Gulf of Mexico. (NOAA via AP)
International
8.) The United States argued before the United Nations’ highest court Monday that a 1955 treaty with Iran doesn’t prevent the Trump administration from reimposing sanctions on the Middle Eastern country.


courthousenews--2020-09-14--Postal Police Union Sues to Keep Probe of Mail Theft Alive

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — U.S .
Postal Service police officers sued Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Monday for limiting their investigations of mail theft to only those that occur on agency property .
The Postal Police Officers Association argues the August 25 order — coming just one day after DeJoy testified to the House — violates the collective bargaining agreement between the union and USPS .
It was David Bowers , deputy chief inspector , who signed last month ’ s memo , “ order [ ing ] its police officers to stop investigating and preventing mail theft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and all community-policing efforts except within post office buildings.
” The lawsuit comes as the postmaster general draws alarm over organizational changes to the Postal Service that Democrats in Congress say will leave the country unprepared for this fall ’ s expected surge of mail-in ballots .
A USPS spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation but noted the underlying issues raised in the complaint filed Monday predated DeJoy taking over as postmaster general .
The union argues its members have protected the mail for decades , but the August order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in criminal activity .
“ The Postal Service ’ s sudden change is unwarranted , impermissible , and contrary to the language of the statute and also to collective bargaining promises it has made to the officers ’ union , ” the complaint in Washington states .
“ The new policy puts PPOs and other postal employees in increased danger and increases the likelihood of criminal activity against Postal Service employees and the U.S. mail.
” Having already filed a grievance over the Aug. 25 order , the union seeks a court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1971 , the Postal Police operate as a uniformed division under the Postal Service ’ s Inspection Service , tasked with protecting U.S. mail .
The Inspection Service Press Office did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit .
The complaint notes that the Postal Service was training officers to investigate and enforce mail-theft laws on public streets as recently as January 2020 .
Just one month later , however , Deputy Chief Inspector of the Postal Service Craig Goldberg raised concern over whether they held any authority off USPS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if postal police officers lacked such authority , they might be exposing themselves to civil liability if they incorrectly exercised law-enforcement authority , ” the complaint states .
“ Despite this assertion , the Postal Service continued to routinely assign postal police officers to law-enforcement duties off postal real estate in support of mail protection or protection of postal personnel.
” Postal police officers typically work around the cloak — unlike postal inspectors who work 9-to-5 shifts — but they are being held at their stations under the recent order .
“ Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the complaint warns .
“ Because of this abrupt policy change , in many places , the U.S. mail and postal personnel are receiving less protection.
” The union claims that courts have routinely backed the authority of Postal Service officers to protect mail and mail in transit , as well as their other law-enforcement tasks .
Back in 2016 , a federal judge in Massachusetts found credible testimony from USPS managers that the officers had increasingly focused on protecting mail and postal employees offsite , since President George W. Bush signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law 10 years earlier .
The union does not appear to have contact information for the public .

U.S. Postal Service police officers sued Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Monday for limiting their investigations of mail theft to only those that occur on agency property.
WASHINGTON (CN) — U.S. Postal Service police officers sued Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Monday for limiting their investigations of mail theft to only those that occur on agency property.
The Postal Police Officers Association argues the August 25 order — coming just one day after DeJoy testified to the House — violates the collective bargaining agreement between the union and USPS.
It was David Bowers, deputy chief inspector, who signed last month’s memo, “order[ing] its police officers to stop investigating and preventing mail theft and mail tampering, crimes against postal employees, and all community-policing efforts except within post office buildings.”
The lawsuit comes as the postmaster general draws alarm over organizational changes to the Postal Service that Democrats in Congress say will leave the country unprepared for this fall’s expected surge of mail-in ballots.
A USPS spokesperson declined to comment on the pending litigation but noted that the underlying issues raised in Monday's complaint predate the appointment of DeJoy as postmaster general.
The union argues its members have protected the mail for decades, but the August order leaves their hands tied and risks an increase in criminal activity.
“The Postal Service’s sudden change is unwarranted, impermissible, and contrary to the language of the statute and also to collective bargaining promises it has made to the officers’ union,” the complaint in Washington states. “The new policy puts PPOs and other postal employees in increased danger and increases the likelihood of criminal activity against Postal Service employees and the U.S. mail.”
Having already filed a grievance over the Aug. 25 order, the union seeks a court injunction pending possible arbitration.
Created in 1971, the Postal Police operate as a uniformed division under the Postal Service’s Inspection Service, tasked with protecting U.S. mail. The Inspection Service Press Office did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
The complaint notes that the Postal Service was training officers to investigate and enforce mail-theft laws on public streets as recently as January 2020. Just one month later, however, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Postal Service Craig Goldberg raised concern over whether they held any authority off USPS real estate.
“He speculated that if postal police officers lacked such authority, they might be exposing themselves to civil liability if they incorrectly exercised law-enforcement authority,” the complaint states. “Despite this assertion, the Postal Service continued to routinely assign postal police officers to law-enforcement duties off postal real estate in support of mail protection or protection of postal personnel.”
Postal police officers typically work around the cloak — unlike postal inspectors who work 9-to-5 shifts — but they are being held at their stations under the recent order.
“Their off-site mobile patrols are going undone,” the complaint warns. “Because of this abrupt policy change, in many places, the U.S. mail and postal personnel are receiving less protection.”
The union claims that courts have routinely backed the authority of Postal Service officers to protect mail and mail in transit, as well as their other law-enforcement tasks.
Back in 2016, a federal judge in Massachusetts found credible testimony from USPS managers that the officers had increasingly focused on protecting mail and postal employees offsite, since President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act into law 10 years earlier.
The union does not appear to have contact information for the public.


Tax Evasion Conspiracy

SAN DIEGO — Mendel Goldstein , the brother of Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein , who was injured in the Poway synagogue @ @ @ @ @ a federal court to tax evasion conspiracy charges .
The brothers hid money by depositing @ @ @ @ @


‘Unreasonable’ Sentence

CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit remanded , for the second time , a case in which a district court judge @ @ @ @ @ nearly 1,000 images of child pornography to 12 months ’ home confinement , even though @ @ @ @ @ a sentence of 97 to 120 months in prison .
The circuit , which called @ @ @ @ @ unreasonable , ” ordered the case reassigned to another district court judge .

Strictly Necessary Cookies Strictly Necessary Cookies Always active
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.


Opioid Payments

NEW YORK — The Second Circuit reversed a ruling that had blocked the enforcement of part of New York ’ @ @ @ @ @ which requires opioid manufacturers and distributors to collectively pay $ 100 million annually to support @ @ @ @ @ treatment , recovery , prevention and education services .
The court ruled that the primary @ @ @ @ @ not to punish or regulate the drug companies but to “ raise revenue , ” @ @ @ @ @ , depriving the lower court of subject matter jurisdiction .

The Second Circuit reversed a ruling that had blocked the enforcement of part of New York’s Opioid Stewardship Act, which requires opioid manufacturers and distributors to collectively pay $100 million annually to support statewide programs that provide opioid treatment, recovery, prevention and education services.
NEW YORK — The Second Circuit reversed a ruling that had blocked the enforcement of part of New York’s Opioid Stewardship Act, which requires opioid manufacturers and distributors to collectively pay $100 million annually to support statewide programs that provide opioid treatment, recovery, prevention and education services.
The court ruled that the primary purpose of the payment is not to punish or regulate the drug companies but to “raise revenue,” which makes it a tax, depriving the lower court of subject matter jurisdiction.


Terrorist Attack

LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court upheld the dismissal of wrongful death claims brought against the terrorist group Al @ @ @ @ @ Angela Nyokabi Githakwa , one of the 148 students the terrorists murdered at Garissa University @ @ @ @ @


Homicide Audit

CINCINNATI — Under a settlement agreement in a civil rights case brought by a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for @ @ @ @ @ commit , the Cincinnati Police Department will conduct an audit of homicide cases in which @ @ @ @ @ a DNA database identified a different individual .


Absentee Ballots

IOWA CITY , Iowa — Siding with President Donald Trump ’ s election campaign and Republican groups , an Iowa @ @ @ @ @ of Johnson County must tell voters who were sent absentee ballot request forms pre-populated with @ @ @ @ @ need to apply for new ballot request forms .
The judge ruled the Iowa Secretary @ @ @ @ @ county auditors to distribute only blank absentee ballot request forms .
”

Siding with President Donald Trump’s election campaign and Republican groups, an Iowa trial judge ruled the auditor of Johnson County must tell voters who were sent absentee ballot request forms pre-populated with their personal information that they need to apply for new ballot request forms.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Siding with President Donald Trump’s election campaign and Republican groups, an Iowa trial judge ruled the auditor of Johnson County must tell voters who were sent absentee ballot request forms prepopulated with their personal information that they need to apply for new ballot request forms.
The judge ruled the Iowa secretary of state “specifically ordered county auditors to distribute only blank absentee ballot request forms.”


courthousenews--2020-09-15--Scientists Predict Covid-19 Will Become a Seasonal Virus, But Not Yet

( CN ) – At this point , Covid-19 season has spanned the entirety of 2020 .
But research published in Frontiers in Public Health on Monday postulates whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus will continue to emerge with winter weather — just like cold and flu — once humans reach herd immunity .
“ The virus is here to stay , ” said Dr. Hassan Zaraket , an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut and an author on the paper .
To date , the disease has killed 925,000 people worldwide and is the third leading cause of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus spread throughout six continents , infecting 29 million people to date , including 24,310 people in Lebanon , where Zaraket lives .
On average , 267,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 daily over the last week .
While Zaraket anticipates continued outbreaks and a rise in infections this winter , he said Covid-19 may adapt to patterns of seasonal transmission once communities reach herd immunity and overall transmission drops .
“ Some people might confuse that when herd immunity is reached then [ Covid-19 ] will be extinguished , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case .
We still need time to achieve herd immunity and it ’ s obvious that until then the virus will continue to circulate irrespective of seasons.
” Cold , dry weather is commonly associated with an increase in respiratory tract infections like bronchitis , the common cold and the flu .
Part of it is biology , with lower temperatures weakening the human immune system and strengthening the lipid viral envelope protecting the pathogens .
Part of it is also sociology , as cold weather drives people indoors — increasing opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first detected in Wuhan , China , at the very end of 2019 , researchers have yet to study the disease through fall and winter .
“ Virus transmission has been more aggressive in the temperate regions where winter is prevailing .
This indicates that cold and dry conditions might promote SARS-CoV-2 infections , ” the researchers wrote in their report .
While studies in China predicted disease transmission would reduce in warmer weather , other studies have since emphasized that temperature changes alone do not prevent the virus from spreading .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita was recorded in the Gulf states , regardless of the hot summer season , ” said collaborating author Dr. Hadi Yassine , of Qatar University in Doha , in a statement .
“ Although this is majorly attributed to the rapid virus spread in closed communities , it affirms the need for rigorous control measures to limit virus spread , until herd immunity is achieved.
” Short of the development of a vaccine — and its availability — the world ’ s best protection against Covid-19 has been to avoid catching it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quarantines and lockdowns worldwide with devastating economic side effects .
“ I think that the major component is human behavior that is different in warm weather versus cold weather , ” said Dr. Thomas Jaenisch , an epidemiologist at the University of Colorado ’ s Anschutz Medical Campus who was not affiliated with the study .
“ If it ’ s cold , people are going to be inside more and maybe closer together , and this is going to affect transmission more than the physics of the transmission for droplets under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , UV light , humidity.
” As research continues to develop , public health experts continue to promote wearing a mask , maintaining social distance and handwashing .
“ In addition , we should develop a sense of what are situations that could lead to a cluster of cases , ” Jaenisch added .
“ Have a diary of how many of these situations did I have in the last week or the last two weeks so that if I ’ m diagnosed at some point , I can really help the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last two weeks , there ’ s these two situations that I ’ ve been in a cluster .
”

At this point, Covid-19 season has spanned the entirety of 2020. But research published in Frontiers in Public Health on Monday postulates whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus will continue to emerge with winter weather — just like cold and flu — once humans reach herd immunity.
(CN) – At this point, Covid-19 season has spanned the entirety of 2020. But research published in Frontiers in Public Health on Monday postulates whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus will continue to emerge with winter weather — just like cold and flu — once humans reach herd immunity.
“The virus is here to stay,” said Dr. Hassan Zaraket, an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut and an author on the paper.
To date, the disease has killed 925,000 people worldwide and is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. In nine months, the virus spread throughout six continents, infecting 29 million people to date, including 24,310 people in Lebanon, where Zaraket lives.
On average, 267,000 people tested positive for Covid-19 daily over the last week.
While Zaraket anticipates continued outbreaks and a rise in infections this winter, he said Covid-19 may adapt to patterns of seasonal transmission once communities reach herd immunity and overall transmission drops.
“Some people might confuse that when herd immunity is reached then [Covid-19] will be extinguished,” Zaraket said. “This is not the case. We still need time to achieve herd immunity and it’s obvious that until then the virus will continue to circulate irrespective of seasons.”
Cold, dry weather is commonly associated with an increase in respiratory tract infections like bronchitis, the common cold and the flu. Part of it is biology, with lower temperatures weakening the human immune system and strengthening the lipid viral envelope protecting the pathogens.
Part of it is also sociology, as cold weather drives people indoors — increasing opportunities for disease transmission.
Since SARS-Cov-2 was first detected in Wuhan, China, at the very end of 2019, researchers have yet to study the disease through fall and winter.
“Virus transmission has been more aggressive in the temperate regions where winter is prevailing. This indicates that cold and dry conditions might promote SARS-CoV-2 infections,” the researchers wrote in their report.
While studies in China predicted disease transmission would reduce in warmer weather, other studies have since emphasized that temperature changes alone do not prevent the virus from spreading.
“The highest global Covid-19 infection rate per capita was recorded in the Gulf states, regardless of the hot summer season,” said collaborating author Dr. Hadi Yassine, of Qatar University in Doha, in a statement. “Although this is majorly attributed to the rapid virus spread in closed communities, it affirms the need for rigorous control measures to limit virus spread, until herd immunity is achieved.”
Short of the development of a vaccine — and its availability — the world’s best protection against Covid-19 has been to avoid catching it entirely. But that has also led to quarantines and lockdowns worldwide with devastating economic side effects.
“I think that the major component is human behavior that is different in warm weather versus cold weather,” said Dr. Thomas Jaenisch, an epidemiologist at the University of Colorado's Anschutz Medical Campus who was not affiliated with the study. “If it's cold, people are going to be inside more and maybe closer together, and this is going to affect transmission more than the physics of the transmission for droplets under different climate scenarios [like] temperature, UV light, humidity.”
As research continues to develop, public health experts continue to promote wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and handwashing.
“In addition, we should develop a sense of what are situations that could lead to a cluster of cases,” Jaenisch added. “Have a diary of how many of these situations did I have in the last week or the last two weeks so that if I'm diagnosed at some point, I can really help the health authorities by saying, OK, in the last two weeks, there's these two situations that I've been in a cluster.”


courthousenews--2020-09-15--Rochester Police Chief Fired in Fallout Over Prude Death

ROCHESTER , N.Y. ( AP ) — Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren fired the police chief and suspended her top lawyer and communications director Monday in the continuing upheaval over the suffocation death of Daniel Prude .
Chief Le ’ Ron Singletary announced his retirement last week as part of a major shakeup of the city ’ s police leadership but said he would stay on through the end of the month .
Instead , Warren said at a news conference that she had permanently relieved him while suspending Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin and Communications Director Justin Roj without pay for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city ’ s role in Prude ’ s death .
“ This initial look has shown what so many have suspected , that we have a pervasive problem in the Rochester Police Department , ” Warren said .
“ One that views everything through the eyes of the badge and not the citizens we serve .
It shows that Mr. Prude ’ s death was not taken as seriously as it should have been by those who reviewd the case throughout city government at every level.
” Officers found Prude running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handcuffed him and put a hood over his head to stop him from spitting , then held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing .
He died a week later after he was taken off life support .
His death has sparked nearly two weeks of nightly protests and calls for Warren ’ s resignation after his relatives released police body camera video and written reports they obtained through a public records request .
Warren said the review had produced eight recommendations , including that the city ’ s Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other employees violated city policies or ethical standards .
The review by Deputy Mayor James Smith also recommended that the U.S. Justice Department conduct a review of the Rochester Police Department , including a review of all body-worn camera footage for use-of-force arrests over the past three years .
Warren said she would move forward with those and the other recommendations , which include having outside agencies review police training manuals and Freedom of Information Law procedures .
“ I have apologized to the Prude family and this community for the failures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my own , ” Warren said .
“ As mayor , I own these failures.
” Prude ’ s family has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the police department sought to cover up the true nature of Prude ’ s death , starting with what Warren said was Singletary reporting to her early on that Prude had an apparent drug overdose .
In announcing his retirement Sept. 8 , the outgoing chief accused critics of trying to “ destroy my character and integrity.
” Roj said he accepted his suspension , but claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Prude until Aug. 4 .
He said Singletary told him in an email of an ongoing criminal investigation and that the mayor was already informed .
“ In hindsight , I agree I should have questioned the Chief further and/or taken the opportunity to discuss his email with the Mayor , ” Roj said in a statement posted on Twitter .
Curtin could not be reached by phone to comment on his suspension .

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren fired the police chief and suspended her top lawyer and communications director Monday in the continuing upheaval over the suffocation death of Daniel Prude.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren fired the police chief and suspended her top lawyer and communications director Monday in the continuing upheaval over the suffocation death of Daniel Prude.
Chief Le’Ron Singletary announced his retirement last week as part of a major shakeup of the city’s police leadership but said he would stay on through the end of the month.
Instead, Warren said at a news conference that she had permanently relieved him while suspending Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin and Communications Director Justin Roj without pay for 30 days following a cursory management review of the city's role in Prude's death.
“This initial look has shown what so many have suspected, that we have a pervasive problem in the Rochester Police Department,” Warren said. “One that views everything through the eyes of the badge and not the citizens we serve. It shows that Mr. Prude’s death was not taken as seriously as it should have been by those who reviewd the case throughout city government at every level.”
Officers found Prude running naked down the street in March, handcuffed him and put a hood over his head to stop him from spitting, then held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. He died a week later after he was taken off life support.
His death has sparked nearly two weeks of nightly protests and calls for Warren's resignation after his relatives released police body camera video and written reports they obtained through a public records request.
Warren said the review had produced eight recommendations, including that the city’s Office of Public Integrity investigate whether she or any other employees violated city policies or ethical standards.
The review by Deputy Mayor James Smith also recommended that the U.S. Justice Department conduct a review of the Rochester Police Department, including a review of all body-worn camera footage for use-of-force arrests over the past three years.
Warren said she would move forward with those and the other recommendations, which include having outside agencies review police training manuals and Freedom of Information Law procedures.
“I have apologized to the Prude family and this community for the failures that happened along the way, including my own,” Warren said. “As mayor, I own these failures.”
Prude’s family has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the police department sought to cover up the true nature of Prude’s death, starting with what Warren said was Singletary reporting to her early on that Prude had an apparent drug overdose.
In announcing his retirement Sept. 8, the outgoing chief accused critics of trying to “destroy my character and integrity.”
Roj said he accepted his suspension, but claimed he was not aware of what happened to Prude until Aug. 4. He said Singletary told him in an email of an ongoing criminal investigation and that the mayor was already informed.
“In hindsight, I agree I should have questioned the Chief further and/or taken the opportunity to discuss his email with the Mayor,” Roj said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Curtin could not be reached by phone to comment on his suspension.


courthousenews--2020-09-15--Poll: Democrats’ Trust in Government at Historic Low

( CN ) — Only 20 % of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing always or most of the time as the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic recession , according to a poll released Monday .
Out of 12,751 American adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center at the end of July , only 2 % said they trust the federal government almost always and 18 % said they trust it most of the time .
Overall , 72 % of respondents said the federal government “ does a very good or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe from terrorism , 62 % said the same regarding natural disasters , and 62 % said the government does a good job ensuring safe food and medicine .
Fifty-four percent said it does very good or somewhat good on strengthening the economy and 53 % approved of its ability to maintain infrastructure .
On the other hand , only 34 % of respondents said the government does a good job managing the immigration system , 36 % said it was good at helping people get out of poverty , and 42 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pew researchers said partisanship continues to shape widely diverging attitudes on both the federal government ’ s role and performance .
Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters are “ broadly positive ” about the government ’ s performances in most of the areas asked about .
Only 12 % of Democrats trust the federal government to do what is right — a historic low .
“ Still , while substantial majorities of Republicans say the government is doing well in dealing in addressing natural disasters ( 89 % ) , terrorism ( 87 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) , far fewer rate the government ’ s performance positively when it comes to helping people get out of poverty ( 59 % ) or managing the immigration system ( 58 % ) , ” Pew researchers said in a statement .
“ Democrats and Democratic leaners are far more negative ; for example , just 18 % say the government does a good job assisting people to get out of poverty while 17 % give the government positive ratings for dealing with public health threats.
” Both sides remain far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 74 % of Republicans saying they prefer a smaller government providing fewer services .
A similar number of Democrats , 76 % , said they preferred a bigger government with more services .
Thirty-four percent of Democratic respondents said they are angry with the federal government — the highest number in over two decades .
Only 14 % of Republicans answered that they are angry with the government .
Only 17 % of Democrats said the federal government has done a very good or somewhat good job of effectively handling public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans .
During similar polling last year , only 22 % of respondents said they trusted the federal government .

Only 20% of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing always or most of the time as the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic recession, according to a poll released Monday.
(CN) — Only 20% of Americans trust the federal government to do the right thing always or most of the time as the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic recession, according to a poll released Monday.
Out of 12,751 American adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center at the end of July, only 2% said they trust the federal government almost always and 18% said they trust it most of the time.
Overall, 72% of respondents said the federal government “does a very good or somewhat good job” keeping the country safe from terrorism, 62% said the same regarding natural disasters, and 62% said the government does a good job ensuring safe food and medicine. Fifty-four percent said it does very good or somewhat good on strengthening the economy and 53% approved of its ability to maintain infrastructure.
On the other hand, only 34% of respondents said the government does a good job managing the immigration system, 36% said it was good at helping people get out of poverty, and 42% said it effectively handled public health threats.
Pew researchers said partisanship continues to shape widely diverging attitudes on both the federal government’s role and performance. Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters are “broadly positive” about the government’s performances in most of the areas asked about. Only 12% of Democrats trust the federal government to do what is right — a historic low.
“Still, while substantial majorities of Republicans say the government is doing well in dealing in addressing natural disasters (89%), terrorism (87%) and the economy (80%), far fewer rate the government’s performance positively when it comes to helping people get out of poverty (59%) or managing the immigration system (58%),” Pew researchers said in a statement. “Democrats and Democratic leaners are far more negative; for example, just 18% say the government does a good job assisting people to get out of poverty while 17% give the government positive ratings for dealing with public health threats.”
Both sides remain far apart on the size of government, with 74% of Republicans saying they prefer a smaller government providing fewer services. A similar number of Democrats, 76%, said they preferred a bigger government with more services.
Thirty-four percent of Democratic respondents said they are angry with the federal government — the highest number in over two decades. Only 14% of Republicans answered that they are angry with the government.
Only 17% of Democrats said the federal government has done a very good or somewhat good job of effectively handling public health threats, compared to 70% of Republicans. During similar polling last year, only 22% of respondents said they trusted the federal government.


courthousenews--2020-09-15--Wisconsin High Court Blocks Green Party Presidential Ticket From 2020 Ballot

MADISON , Wis. ( CN ) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday issued a ruling that prevents two Green Party candidates ’ late addition to the November general election ballot , which would have required reprinting ballots before over a million of them are mailed out on Thursday .
The court ’ s split decision found that Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins and his running mate Angela Walker waited too long to challenge their exclusion from the ballot and that granting their request to be added at the 11th hour would exacerbate already chaotic preparations in local municipalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absentee ballots amid the pandemic before a statutory deadline on Sept. 17 .
Finding that the fall election is essentially already underway , the majority concluded that “ it is too late to grant petitioners any form of relief that would be feasible and that would not cause confusion and undue damage to both the Wisconsin electors who want to vote and the other candidates in all of the various races on the general election ballot.
” The fight over adding the Green Party ticket to the battleground state ’ s ballot began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan showdown over the November election .
The Wisconsin Elections Commission deadlocked 3-3 along party lines last month over whether to add Hawkins and Walker to the ballot .
The commission ultimately decided that because Walker listed two addresses on her campaign nomination paperwork , hundreds of the ticket ’ s nomination signatures were invalid , leaving the candidates shy of the 2,000 required valid signatures .
Republicans on the commission fought for the Green Party ticket to be added , while the commission ’ s Democrats resisted .
The Green Party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in liberal votes being siphoned from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to the benefit of President Donald Trump .
The president won Wisconsin in 2016 by less than 23,000 votes , and Green Party candidate Jill Stein won 31,000 votes in the state that year .
After Hawkins and Walker petitioned the high court on Sept. 3 to allow them on the ballot , the court decided 4-3 along party lines Thursday to have Wisconsin ’ s 72 counties and more than 1,850 municipalities stop preparing and sending absentee ballots while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn sided with the court ’ s liberal wing , finding that the Green Party candidates were too delayed in bringing their challenge and that they could not be added to the ballot without jeopardizing the integrity of the election .
“ Under the circumstances presented here , it would be unfair both to the Wisconsin voters and to the other candidates on the general election ballot to interfere in an election that , for all intents and purposes , has already begun , ” the majority wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives fumed at the majority ’ s decision Monday in dissenting opinions .
Chief Justice Patience Roggensack took the majority and the elections commission to task for not following the letter of the law in presuming all of Hawkins and Walker ’ s nomination signatures were valid after they were challenged in a verified complaint filed with the court in early August by a retired Madison attorney , a process she contends lacked transparency .
“ This lawsuit is not about the Green Party sleeping on its rights , ” Roggensack said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent candidates from a small political party received from the commission , who repeatedly refused to follow the law relative to nomination papers.
” Roggensack thumped the majority for being silent on the commission ’ s rule-breaking , saying that “ silently affirming lawless conduct that has been brought to the court ’ s attention is an abdication of the court ’ s obligation to stand with the law , even when doing so is uncomfortable.
” Justice Annette Ziegler , another conservative , went even further , saying “ the people deserve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for shirking its duties “ in perhaps one of the most important cases in a judicial lifetime.
” “ It is ultimate voter suppression when a candidate who presumptively belongs on the ballot is denied ballot access , ” Ziegler wrote , pointing out that the short nine-page majority opinion did not address the merits of the Green Party ’ s arguments and instead just said it was too late to print new ballots , a contention Ziegler disagreed with .
“ The majority failed this state ’ s and this country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It deprives the Wisconsin people of a voice and strips them of one of the most fundamental tenets of this republic : the right to express one ’ s will at the ballot box.
” A third conservative , Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley , called the majority decision “ outrageous acquiescence ” that caters to the elections commission after it had clearly broken the law and charged the majority with “ caving ” to the elections commission ’ s “ fearmongering invocation ” of chaos that would result from the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In dodging its responsibility to uphold the rule of law , the majority ratifies a grave threat to our republic , suppresses the votes of Wisconsin citizens , irreparably impairs the integrity of Wisconsin ’ s elections , and undermines the confidence of American citizens in the outcome of a presidential election , ” Bradley said .
The Green Party candidates were represented by attorneys with von Briesen & Roper .
The petitioners ’ attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday evening .
Badger State liberals were quick to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Attorney General Josh Kaul , a Democrat , issued a statement thanking election officials for their hard work and kept his comments brief : “ election chaos averted.
” Ben Wikler , chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin , tweeted Monday evening that the high court ’ s ruling is a “ major victory for democracy .
”

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday issued a ruling that prevents two Green Party candidates’ late addition to the November general election ballot, which would have required reprinting ballots before over a million of them are mailed out on Thursday.
MADISON, Wis. (CN) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday issued a ruling that prevents two Green Party candidates’ late addition to the November general election ballot, which would have required reprinting ballots before over a million of them are mailed out on Thursday.
The court’s split decision found that Green Party presidential candidate Howie Hawkins and his running mate Angela Walker waited too long to challenge their exclusion from the ballot and that granting their request to be added at the 11th hour would exacerbate already chaotic preparations in local municipalities that must mail hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots amid the pandemic before a statutory deadline on Sept. 17.
Finding that the fall election is essentially already underway, the majority concluded that “it is too late to grant petitioners any form of relief that would be feasible and that would not cause confusion and undue damage to both the Wisconsin electors who want to vote and the other candidates in all of the various races on the general election ballot.”
The fight over adding the Green Party ticket to the battleground state’s ballot began in August and immediately turned into a partisan showdown over the November election.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission deadlocked 3-3 along party lines last month over whether to add Hawkins and Walker to the ballot. The commission ultimately decided that because Walker listed two addresses on her campaign nomination paperwork, hundreds of the ticket’s nomination signatures were invalid, leaving the candidates shy of the 2,000 required valid signatures.
Republicans on the commission fought for the Green Party ticket to be added, while the commission’s Democrats resisted.
The Green Party’s addition to the ballot may have resulted in liberal votes being siphoned from Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to the benefit of President Donald Trump. The president won Wisconsin in 2016 by less than 23,000 votes, and Green Party candidate Jill Stein won 31,000 votes in the state that year.
After Hawkins and Walker petitioned the high court on Sept. 3 to allow them on the ballot, the court decided 4-3 along party lines Thursday to have Wisconsin’s 72 counties and more than 1,850 municipalities stop preparing and sending absentee ballots while the petition was considered.
On Monday, however, conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn sided with the court’s liberal wing, finding that the Green Party candidates were too delayed in bringing their challenge and that they could not be added to the ballot without jeopardizing the integrity of the election.
“Under the circumstances presented here, it would be unfair both to the Wisconsin voters and to the other candidates on the general election ballot to interfere in an election that, for all intents and purposes, has already begun,” the majority wrote.
The court’s other three conservatives fumed at the majority’s decision Monday in dissenting opinions.
Chief Justice Patience Roggensack took the majority and the elections commission to task for not following the letter of the law in presuming all of Hawkins and Walker’s nomination signatures were valid after they were challenged in a verified complaint filed with the court in early August by a retired Madison attorney, a process she contends lacked transparency.
“This lawsuit is not about the Green Party sleeping on its rights,” Roggensack said. “It is about the treatment that independent candidates from a small political party received from the commission, who repeatedly refused to follow the law relative to nomination papers.”
Roggensack thumped the majority for being silent on the commission’s rule-breaking, saying that “silently affirming lawless conduct that has been brought to the court’s attention is an abdication of the court’s obligation to stand with the law, even when doing so is uncomfortable.”
Justice Annette Ziegler, another conservative, went even further, saying “the people deserve better” and laced into the majority for shirking its duties “in perhaps one of the most important cases in a judicial lifetime.”
“It is ultimate voter suppression when a candidate who presumptively belongs on the ballot is denied ballot access,” Ziegler wrote, pointing out that the short nine-page majority opinion did not address the merits of the Green Party’s arguments and instead just said it was too late to print new ballots, a contention Ziegler disagreed with.
“The majority failed this state’s and this country’s election process,” Ziegler said. “It deprives the Wisconsin people of a voice and strips them of one of the most fundamental tenets of this republic: the right to express one’s will at the ballot box.”
A third conservative, Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley, called the majority decision “outrageous acquiescence” that caters to the elections commission after it had clearly broken the law and charged the majority with “caving” to the elections commission’s “fearmongering invocation” of chaos that would result from the court ordering new ballots to be printed.
“In dodging its responsibility to uphold the rule of law, the majority ratifies a grave threat to our republic, suppresses the votes of Wisconsin citizens, irreparably impairs the integrity of Wisconsin’s elections, and undermines the confidence of American citizens in the outcome of a presidential election,” Bradley said.
The Green Party candidates were represented by attorneys with von Briesen & Roper. The petitioners’ attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday evening.
Badger State liberals were quick to applaud the supreme court’s decision.
Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, issued a statement thanking election officials for their hard work and kept his comments brief: “election chaos averted.”Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, tweeted Monday evening that the high court’s ruling is a “major victory for democracy.”


courthousenews--2020-09-18--Resilience Rises From the Ashes of California’s Creek Fire

PINERIDGE , Calif. ( CN ) — Ty Gillett could see the plume of smoke billowing on the horizon on the morning of Sept. 5 , but he retained hope the fire would keep to higher elevations and spare his hometown of Pineridge , California .
Pineridge is one of several unincorporated foothill communities interspersed in the mountains outside of Fresno , dappling the densely forested hillsides near Shaver Lake .
Gillett has lived there all his life , recreating on the Sierra National Forest , going to Sierra High School and recently purchasing Cressman ’ s general store — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1904 where locals and visitors alike can grab a bite to eat , some gas for the car or some bait and tackle for a fishing trip .
“ Growing up , you always knew a big fire could happen , ” Gillett said .
“ We ’ ve had little fires before , but they ’ ve always caught them.
” But early September presented the worst of weather conditions : daytime highs over 100 degrees , low humidity and steady winds capable of driving a big fire where it will .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Creek and Shaver Lake , which is pretty far away , ” Gillett said .
“ We were hoping it would stay up the hill.
” But just to be safe , Gillett felled about 50 trees around the general store and started taking various water pumps and hoses to the property , confident he could mount a defense if the fire took a turn for his community .
The Creek Fire , as it is known , did turn and when it came it did so with a ferocity Gillett would ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think the fire could come that far that fast , ” he said .
“ When it got there the flames were about 200 or 300 feet high and there were baseball-sized pieces of wood that were on fire raining down all around us.
” A couple of fire engines showed up and tried to stave off the inferno alongside Gillett and his friends .
But to no avail .
“ Those guys felt so bad to leave it , ” Gillett said .
“ But it came down to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of there or we were going to die.
” So , Gillett , his friend Dylan and the firefighters all raced down Route 168 toward Fresno .
At a vista point , Gillett arrested his flight to turn around and look back one last time .
“ The whole ridgeline was on fire , ” he said .
“ It took like two minutes to burn.
” The Creek Fire is one of 29 major fires currently burning in California , though dozens more smolder or are too “ small ” to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far scorched about 3.4 million acres in California during the 2020 fire season .
In 2018 , widely considered to be the worst fire season in state history , 1.9 million acres of forest went up in smoke .
At least 25 people have died from the fires this year — and really , the fire season has just begun .
Lightning storms in August , combined with dry hot weather , ample winds and overgrown grasslands and forests have combined to set California ablaze .
The Creek Fire is not the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The August Complex , burning in the Mendocino National Forest in the northern third of the state , has charred about 840,000 acres and continues to grow .
It is the largest fire in recorded state history .
Across the northern San Joaquin Valley , the North Complex continues to burn near Paradise , the site of the state ’ s deadliest wildfire where 85 people perished in the flames during the Camp Fire in 2018 .
And like the Camp Fire , the North Complex caught several small mountain communities by surprise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while several more are missing .
While the Creek Fire may not be the largest of the deadliest of the season , it encapsulates the problem facing California as it deals with its fourth consecutive season of devastating large-scale fires .
The Sierra National Forest is the epicenter of the epic tree mortality event that has stricken much of the forests of the Sierra Nevada mountain range .
“ Fresno County has been identified as one of the areas with the highest tree mortalities in the state , ” said Edwin Zuniga , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These trees pose a threat to all the firefighters working on the ground because they fall with little to no warning.
” Dead trees can get blown over by the wind and once they catch fire , they are particularly susceptible to tumbling .
“ We know they ’ re going to fall , so we just try to identify them and work around them , ” said Matt Kaufman , a firefighter with Cal Fire .
“ The dead ones we know are going to burn out and fall at nighttime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kaufman was taking a quick break on Route 168 off the shoulder of Huntington Lake on Wednesday , as the smoke continued to billow .
The heart of the inferno had moved west into the national forest , much the way Gillett had initially hoped .
But forecasts calling for the winds to turn and ramp up mean Kaufman and his fellow firefighters had to cut lines using the Sierra ’ s granite to provide a backstop for some of the houses dotting the shores of the lake .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
California Governor Newsom mentioned the dead trees during a press conference Wednesday .
He attributed much of the tree mortality to an intense drought that spanned from 2012 to 2017 , which killed some trees and left others susceptible to the ravages of invasive beetles .
All told , about 160 million trees died during the period .
Many remain standing , waiting to fall .
“ Obviously , that is a recipe for very challenging conditions , ” Newsom said .
He spent time with President Donald Trump on Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change is a major factor in creating conditions conducive for megafires .
Newsom ’ s concentration on climate change was echoed by fellow Democratic governors Kate Brown of Oregon and Jay Inslee of Washington state , both of which are being ravaged by wildfires .
Trump and Republicans , meanwhile , say the forests have been mismanaged and blame environmental regulations that prevent logging that would naturally thin out the forests of the American West .
“ I think this is more of a [ forest ] management situation , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tim Ingalsbee , the founder of Firefighters United for Safety , Ethics and Ecology , said forest managers in California have been slow to embrace the concept of “ good fire ” or using controlled burns to reduce the amount of fuels in the forest .
“ We need to get good fire on the ground and whittle down some of that fuel load , ” Ingalsbee told ProPublica on Thursday .
It ’ s a practice that dates to Native Americans who routinely used fire to keep back the underbrush .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ initiative put into forest-thinning projects while removing dead trees like the ones threatening the firefighters working the Creek Fire .
But there are cost considerations as such thinning projects are expensive .
Nearly 60 % of the forested land in California is managed by the federal government , and the U.S. Forest Service has seen its budget for thinning projects decimated under Trump .
Also , it is unclear whether such projects would be able to prevent some of the worst fires .
The Camp Fire , for instance , was so profoundly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and weather .
“ It was more like a bomb than a fire , ” said Daniel Ramey , a firefighter working the Creek Fire who was in Paradise the day after the fire devastated most of the town .
“ It melted the metal off of cars.
” Fierce winds drove the fire into the valley where Paradise was nestled .
Once the blaze reached the outskirts , no amount of defensible space would have helped .
Gillett saw something similar with the Creek Fire .
He tried to create defensible space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was still overrun by the flames .
“ That flame had a full head of steam so there ’ s nothing you can do , ” Kaufman said .
Also , the weather conspired with the fire as an unprecedented heatwave coincided with lightning storms to spark blazes up and down the state .
The heat , lack of humidity and then the appearance of wind meant that some of the destruction was inevitable .
All of which lends credence to a changing climate being a factor in the worsening of the Golden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ramey said Sierra National Forest workers had carried out multiple thinning projects in proximity to communities surrounding Shaver Lake that made a huge difference in their outcomes .
“ A lot of those houses would be gone if it wasn ’ t for those projects , ” he said .
So while politicians continue to fight over whether forest management or a changing climate is the real culprit , the real answer is that it ’ s a mixture of both .
The press can travel into regions of a forest fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as we stay out of the way of firefighting operations .
So when I called Gillett to talk to him about his experiences he asked me if I saw his store .
“ It probably doesn ’ t look too good right now , ” he said .
And it is .
Ty Gillett ’ s livelihood is reduced to rubble for now .
He lost his home too .
“ In hindsight , I could ’ ve probably grabbed a few more things from the house , but we went all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Gillett spends his days on the phone with banks and insurance company representatives .
He ’ s upbeat , confident he will get his business and his house rebuilt and running in the near future .
“ People have rebuilt before so there ’ s no reason I can ’ t do it , ” he said .
“ What am I gon na do , quit ?
If guys like me bail and quit , then everybody will.
” Driving around Pineridge you see the ghost of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ash and smoke thick in the air .
Leave your car for a couple of minutes and it ’ s covered in a layer of ash when you come back .
The smoke banked down on the contours of the topography makes it difficult to see .
But if you squint you can barely make out the shape of the mountain communities that inspire such pride and appreciation .
And after talking to Gillett , one can also spy the shape of resilience .

While the Creek Fire may not be the largest of the deadliest of the season, it encapsulates the problem facing California as it deals with its fourth consecutive season of devastating large-scale fires.
The Sierra National Forest is the epicenter of the epic tree mortality event that has stricken much of the forests of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
“Fresno County has been identified as one of the areas with the highest tree mortalities in the state,” said Edwin Zuniga, a firefighter with Cal Fire. “These trees pose a threat to all the firefighters working on the ground because they fall with little to no warning.”
Dead trees can get blown over by the wind and once they catch fire, they are particularly susceptible to tumbling.
“We know they're going to fall, so we just try to identify them and work around them,” said Matt Kaufman, a firefighter with Cal Fire. “The dead ones we know are going to burn out and fall at nighttime, we avoid those areas best we can.”
Cinder blocks and a chimney are all the remain of this home, destroyed by the Creek Fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills. (Courthouse News photo / Matthew Renda)
Kaufman was taking a quick break on Route 168 off the shoulder of Huntington Lake on Wednesday, as the smoke continued to billow. The heart of the inferno had moved west into the national forest, much the way Gillett had initially hoped. But forecasts calling for the winds to turn and ramp up mean Kaufman and his fellow firefighters had to cut lines using the Sierra’s granite to provide a backstop for some of the houses dotting the shores of the lake.
“It’s been a haul,” he said.
California Governor Newsom mentioned the dead trees during a press conference Wednesday. He attributed much of the tree mortality to an intense drought that spanned from 2012 to 2017, which killed some trees and left others susceptible to the ravages of invasive beetles.
All told, about 160 million trees died during the period. Many remain standing, waiting to fall.
“Obviously, that is a recipe for very challenging conditions,” Newsom said.
He spent time with President Donald Trump on Monday and tried to convince him that climate change is a major factor in creating conditions conducive for megafires.
Newsom’s concentration on climate change was echoed by fellow Democratic governors Kate Brown of Oregon and Jay Inslee of Washington state, both of which are being ravaged by wildfires.
Trump and Republicans, meanwhile, say the forests have been mismanaged and blame environmental regulations that prevent logging that would naturally thin out the forests of the American West.
"I think this is more of a [forest] management situation," Trump said during a Monday press conference in Sacramento.
Experts say it’s both.
Tim Ingalsbee, the founder of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology, said forest managers in California have been slow to embrace the concept of “good fire” or using controlled burns to reduce the amount of fuels in the forest.
“We need to get good fire on the ground and whittle down some of that fuel load,” Ingalsbee told ProPublica on Thursday.
It’s a practice that dates to Native Americans who routinely used fire to keep back the underbrush.
Flames lick at the roadway in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Fresno, California. (Courthouse News photo / Matthew Renda)
Other experts would like to see more initiative put into forest-thinning projects while removing dead trees like the ones threatening the firefighters working the Creek Fire.
But there are cost considerations as such thinning projects are expensive. Nearly 60% of the forested land in California is managed by the federal government, and the U.S. Forest Service has seen its budget for thinning projects decimated under Trump.
Also, it is unclear whether such projects would be able to prevent some of the worst fires.
The Camp Fire, for instance, was so profoundly furious due to a combination of topography and weather.
“It was more like a bomb than a fire,” said Daniel Ramey, a firefighter working the Creek Fire who was in Paradise the day after the fire devastated most of the town. “It melted the metal off of cars.”
Fierce winds drove the fire into the valley where Paradise was nestled. Once the blaze reached the outskirts, no amount of defensible space would have helped.
Gillett saw something similar with the Creek Fire. He tried to create defensible space around his store by felling trees and was still overrun by the flames.
“That flame had a full head of steam so there’s nothing you can do,” Kaufman said.
Also, the weather conspired with the fire as an unprecedented heatwave coincided with lightning storms to spark blazes up and down the state. The heat, lack of humidity and then the appearance of wind meant that some of the destruction was inevitable.
All of which lends credence to a changing climate being a factor in the worsening of the Golden State’s wildfire season.
Nevertheless, Ramey said Sierra National Forest workers had carried out multiple thinning projects in proximity to communities surrounding Shaver Lake that made a huge difference in their outcomes.
“A lot of those houses would be gone if it wasn’t for those projects,” he said.
So while politicians continue to fight over whether forest management or a changing climate is the real culprit, the real answer is that it’s a mixture of both.
The press can travel into regions of a forest fire closed to the general public, as long as we stay out of the way of firefighting operations.
So when I called Gillett to talk to him about his experiences he asked me if I saw his store.
“Yeah,” I said.
“It probably doesn’t look too good right now,” he said.
“Nope,” I answered. “It’s gone.”
And it is. Ty Gillett’s livelihood is reduced to rubble for now. He lost his home too.


Campaign Funds

HOUSTON — Former Texas state judge Alexandra Smoots-Thomas pleaded guilty to embezzling campaign funds to spend on jewelry , her @ @ @ @ @ s private school tuition .


High School Sports

ST. LOUIS — Parents of high school athletes in Missouri sued the County of St. Louis over an order temporarily @ @ @ @ @ because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The plaintiffs say the order affects more than 100,000 @ @


Abusive Coach

LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court revived negligent misrepresentation claims against a skating arena that did not disclose a @ @ @ @ @ to another arena .
The director of the latter arena recommended the coach to a @ @ @ @ @ .