courthousenews--2020-07-11--New Friday Night Justice Department Shake-Up Installs Barr Deputy in Brooklyn

( CN ) — In a mirror image drama of a shake-up that occurred three weeks earlier , the U.S. Department of Justice announced the sudden replacement of a powerful federal prosecutor in New York with an associate of Attorney General Bill Barr .
Only instead of occurring in the Southern District of New York , the top prosecutor of its sister jurisdiction in Brooklyn was replaced in a proverbial Friday night news dump .
And instead of defiantly refusing to leave his post , ex-U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue accepted a promotion to Main Justice , where he and Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Seth DuCharme will trade places .
“ Rich has served with distinction and integrity for many years in the Eastern District of New York , earning a well-deserved reputation throughout New York City and Long Island as an outstanding prosecutor with second-to-none judgment , ” Barr wrote in a statement , trumpeting his overseeing such high-profile prosecutions as the cases against Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “ El Chapo ” Guzmán , sex-cult leader Keith Raniere and Chinese telecom giant Huawei .
The changing of the guards had a quality of a photographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ouster as Manhattan ’ s top federal prosecutor last month .
Like Donoghue , Berman had been offered a Justice Department promotion , in return for stepping down quietly and letting someone outside of his district assume his role .
Only Berman rebelled , issuing a press release effectively calling Barr a liar for publicly claiming he resigned and telling Congress the same story on Thursday .
Snippets of his closed-door testimony allege that Barr threatened Berman with consequences to his career for refusing to resign and take a more senior position heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Berman would not be dissuaded .
“ I asked the attorney general if he was in any way dissatisfied with my performance as U.S. Attorney , ” Berman told the House Judiciary Committee .
“ He said that he was not at all dissatisfied.
” Typically , a U.S. Attorney ’ s deputy takes over until the Senate confirms a replacement , and Berman called Barr ’ s insistence on an outsider as “ unprecedented , unnecessary and unexplained.
” That rare succession of power can no longer be labeled unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Chief Judge Roslynn Mauskopf swore DuCharme into his new role today .
Why Barr has been busily ousting U.S .
Attorneys in New York City has been a subject of intense debate and speculation .
Several criminal probes and prosecutions have rankled as a thorn in the side of the Trump administration , from the campaign-finance crimes of the president ’ s former fixer Michael Cohen to the impeachment-related allegations against Rudy Giuliani ’ s former associate Lev Parnas .
As Trump ’ s Senate trial played out in February , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge of vetting and managing all Ukraine-related efforts .
Although DuCharme spent the better part of the last two years in Washington , he spent 12 years of his prosecutorial career before that in Brooklyn .
DuCharme served as a line prosecutor in the Eastern District for roughly a decade before leading the criminal division there for a little more than a year .
His brief interlude in Washington , however , was not uneventful .
Documents obtained by the non-profit group American Oversight show that DuCharme met more than a dozen times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr tapped to dig into the origins of the Mueller investigation , an appointment critics slam as a politically motivated effort to discredit it .
One of DuCharme ’ s emails offered to apprise Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz of what he had been working on with Durham and a redacted third party .
Durham was copied to that email .
The Eastern District declined comment on the similarities to the succession in the Southern District or why Donoghue ’ s deputy did not take over the position .
Known for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York enjoys the affectionate nickname the “ Sovereign ” district .
Its Brooklyn-based sister boasts no similar moniker .

In a mirror image drama of a shake-up that occurred three weeks earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the sudden replacement of a powerful federal prosecutor in New York with an associate of Attorney General Bill Barr.
(CN) — In a mirror image drama of a shake-up that occurred three weeks earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the sudden replacement of a powerful federal prosecutor in New York with an associate of Attorney General Bill Barr.
Only instead of occurring in the Southern District of New York, the top prosecutor of its sister jurisdiction in Brooklyn was replaced in a proverbial Friday night news dump.
And instead of defiantly refusing to leave his post, ex-U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue accepted a promotion to Main Justice, where he and Barr’s now-former Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Seth DuCharme will trade places.
“Rich has served with distinction and integrity for many years in the Eastern District of New York, earning a well-deserved reputation throughout New York City and Long Island as an outstanding prosecutor with second-to-none judgment,” Barr wrote in a statement, trumpeting his overseeing such high-profile prosecutions as the cases against Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, sex-cult leader Keith Raniere and Chinese telecom giant Huawei.
The changing of the guards had a quality of a photographic negative of Geoffrey Berman’s unceremonious ouster as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor last month.
Like Donoghue, Berman had been offered a Justice Department promotion, in return for stepping down quietly and letting someone outside of his district assume his role.
The Eastern District of New York’s Chief Judge Roslynn Mauskopf swears in Seth DuCharme to replace Richard Donoghue. (Photo courtesy of EDNY)
Only Berman rebelled, issuing a press release effectively calling Barr a liar for publicly claiming he resigned and telling Congress the same story on Thursday. Berman’s pushback ultimately made Barr back down and anoint the U.S. Attorney’s trusted deputy Audrey Strauss as the current head of the Southern District.
Snippets of his closed-door testimony allege that Barr threatened Berman with consequences to his career for refusing to resign and take a more senior position heading the Justice Department’s Civil Division, but Berman would not be dissuaded.
“I asked the attorney general if he was in any way dissatisfied with my performance as U.S. Attorney,” Berman told the House Judiciary Committee. “He said that he was not at all dissatisfied.”
Typically, a U.S. Attorney’s deputy takes over until the Senate confirms a replacement, and Berman called Barr’s insistence on an outsider as “unprecedented, unnecessary and unexplained.”
That rare succession of power can no longer be labeled unprecedented.
The Eastern District of New York’s Chief Judge Roslynn Mauskopf swore DuCharme into his new role today.
Why Barr has been busily ousting U.S. attorneys in New York City has been a subject of intense debate and speculation. Several criminal probes and prosecutions in Manhattan have rankled as a thorn in the side of the Trump administration, from the campaign-finance crimes of the president’s former fixer Michael Cohen to the impeachment-related allegations against Rudy Giuliani’s former associate Lev Parnas.
As Trump’s Senate trial played out in February, Politico reported that Donoghue had been in charge of vetting and managing all Ukraine-related efforts. His district reportedly had been heading an investigation into Tom Barrack, a Trump confidant who headed the president’s inauguration committee and whose fundraising for that event allegedly caught the scrutiny of federal prosecutors.
Although DuCharme spent the better part of the last two years in Washington, he spent 12 years of his prosecutorial career before that in Brooklyn. DuCharme served as a line prosecutor in the Eastern District for roughly a decade before leading the criminal division there for a little more than a year.
His brief interlude in Washington, however, was not uneventful. Documents obtained by the non-profit group American Oversight show that DuCharme met or spoke more than a dozen times with U.S. Attorney John Durham, whom Barr tapped to dig into the origins of the Mueller investigation, an appointment critics slam as a politically motivated effort to discredit it.
One of DuCharme’s emails offered to apprise Justice Department inspector general Michael Horowitz of what he had been working on with Durham and a redacted third party.
Durham was copied to that email.
The Eastern District declined comment on the similarities to the succession in the Southern District or why Donoghue’s deputy did not take over the position.
Known for its fierce independence, the Southern District of New York enjoys the affectionate nickname the “Sovereign” district. Its Brooklyn-based sister boasts no similar moniker.


courthousenews--2020-07-11--Tyler Technologies Sues Oregon’s Biggest County Over Bill for Case-Management Software

PORTLAND , Ore. ( CN ) — After the entire court system of Oregon moved its public records online with software from a private vendor , the county government in Portland hired the same company , Tyler Technologies , to upgrade its criminal case management system .
But that initiative hit a $ 1 million snag that stalled the project and has now sparked a federal lawsuit .
Tyler Technologies , a rapidly growing company based in Plano , Texas , is raking in the public ’ s dollars , with a $ 13 billion market cap and over $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the company ’ s 2019 annual report .
Going back almost a decade ago , the company and the Oregon courts agreed in 2011 to set up an electronic filing , storage and retrieval system for a projected price of $ 31 million .
Based on that contract , the Oregon Judicial Department first put an electronic system in place in Yamhill County Circuit Court in 2012 .
Administrators added three more small county courts before launching courts in groups of five every few months .
As each county went live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s support team for maintenance and help , and to implement additional features .
The state ’ s three largest counties — Multnomah , Washington and Clackamas — implemented the new system one at a time .
Mandatory e-filing followed on Dec. 1 , 2014 .
In a separate deal in August of 2016 , Multnomah County hired Tyler to replace the district attorney ’ s aging criminal case management system with Odyssey software from Tyler .
The county agreed to pay $ 1.3 million for over 8,000 hours of professional services , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 52,000 for the first annual maintenance fee , according to county records .
But after a series of evidently acrimonious negotiations with the Portland area ’ s county government , Tyler sued Multnomah County in federal court this week .
The suit claims the county refused to pay for customized features in a software upgrade to its prosecutorial records system .
Tyler says the county initially agreed to buy a ready-made program called “ Odyssey Attorney Manager , ” that Tyler refers to as a “ commercial off-the-shelf ” or “ COTS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheaper than its custom-made software programs.Tyler says in the complaint that it uses a standardized system that it adjusts for each client , rather than creating entirely custom software for every client , whether it ’ s for a court , a school district or a prison .
But the county repeatedly asked for additional functions that nearly doubled custom development work and increasing the price by almost half a million dollars , Tyler claims .
At the same time , Multnomah County allegedly told Tyler it didn ’ t have the staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implementation scheduled for April 2018 .
So Tyler says it agreed to do the work the county was supposed to do .
Records provided by Multnomah County to Courthouse News show the county agreeing in August 2016 to an initial $ 1.3 million deal , as the lawsuit claims .
And the county signed amendments and subsequent service agreements in 2017 , 2018 and 2019 , agreeing to a series of additional fees for customized software features beyond the scope of the original plan .
Those additional fees total over $ 1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 in preparation for the project ’ s final steps .
Days later , the county sent a letter to Tyler “ vaguely alleging that Tyler had breached the agreement ” and claiming that the steps Tyler had taken so far “ were not complete , ” according to the complaint .
The county did not provide its correspondence with Tyler by press time .
Tyler alleges a breach of contract based on the county ’ s refusal to make a partial payment .
“ The agreement expressly provides for payment of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for payment only at the completion of the project , ” the lawsuit states .
Tyler also points its finger at the judicial leadership as a reason for the breakdown .
“ Tyler encouraged Multnomah to adhere to the original scope of the project , warning that efforts to significantly customize the software would add major costs and delay the project , ” says the complaint signed by John Rothermich with K & L Gates in Portland .
“ Multnomah , however , had changed leadership since the original agreement was executed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project ’ s scope .
All told , Multnomah almost doubled custom development work.
” Tyler and the county met several times last summer , trying to amend their agreement .
But in July , the county pulled out — leaving an unpaid bill of over $ 1 million , Tyler claims .
“ Work on the implementation ceased at Multnomah ’ s request , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Tyler made repeated attempts to offer alternative paths towards re-engagement .
Although Multnomah would initially express a willingness to entertain those paths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s attempts.
” Multnomah County Presiding Judge Nan Waller , who oversaw the earlier transition via Tyler to the eCourt system , stepped down at the end of 2018 when her six-year term came to an end .
Judge Stephen Bushong replaced Waller as presiding judge when she returned to the general bench .
Jenny Madkour , the attorney representing Multnomah County in the case , did not respond to several phone calls requesting comment .
County spokeswoman Julie Sullivan-Springhetti said the county could not comment on pending litigation .
Oregon is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the courts have put their public records in the hands of a private vendor .
Other states that like Oregon have committed their entire state court filing and records systems to Tyler include Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Mexico , Indiana and North and South Dakota .
The arrangements often allow the company to control the digital road into the courthouse , charging lawyers for e-filing , while also in some states allowing the company to control the statewide public access system through Tyler ’ s re : Search websites .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lock the courts into costly service agreements that require hefty annual fees to run the company ’ s proprietary software — such as a 10-year , $ 85 million “ software-as-a-service ” contract Tyler signed in 2019 with North Carolina .
Tyler announced similar deals last year with Bexar County , Texas , valued at $ 20 million , and a $ 7.7 million ongoing contract with the District of Columbia .
Tyler announced last year that it had signed an agreement with Amazon Web Services “ to lay the groundwork for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector , ” according to Tyler ’ s annual report .
The company also said it had acquired the development platform MircoPact , with which it said it could enter the federal market .
The state court service agreement appears to be the type of agreement Tyler signed with Multnomah County .
The contract commits the county to annual licensing fees of over $ 52,000 and describes ongoing “ maintenance and support ” through the “ Tyler Help Desk ” that the company will continue to provide after the software goes live and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Oregon sought to replace its current court software with a single-solution provider model , choosing to have one vendor , ” Tyler said in a 2011 press release announcing its agreement with Oregon .
But it doesn ’ t need to be that way .
The federal courts have developed and now operate their own e-filing and public access system without relying on a private vendor .
A growing number of states have also developed their own in-house digital systems to handle the flow of legal documents going through their courthouses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mississippi , Missouri , New Jersey , New York and Wisconsin all have their own , homegrown systems for e-filing in every court in their state .
And major counties in other states have e-filing systems that don ’ t tether them to indefinite annual fees .
Among them are Cuyahoga County in Ohio , home to Cleveland ; Philadelphia County ; King County , Washington , where Seattle is , and Orange County in California , home to Disneyland .
The former chief court administrator for Pennsylvania , in charge during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , explained in a memo to the president judges of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas that homegrown systems like Philadelphia ’ s are vastly preferable to those controlled and administered by a third-party vendor .
“ Systems should use or support applications based upon nationally accepted standards , rather than proprietary solutions , ” former Chief Court Administrator Zygmont Pines wrote in his memo .
“ While the latter usefully is accomplished more quickly and at a lesser cost , the court — to its potential detriment — becomes dependent on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vendor ’ s product.
” “ We want to avoid the painful lesson of being pennywise but pound foolish , ” he added .

Tyler says a change in leadership at Multnomah County was another reason for the breakdown.
“Tyler encouraged Multnomah to adhere to the original scope of the project, warning that efforts to significantly customize the software would add major costs and delay the project,” says the complaint signed by John Rothermich with K&L Gates in Portland. “Multnomah, however, had changed leadership since the original agreement was executed and new leadership insisted on expanding the project’s scope. All told, Multnomah almost doubled custom development work.”
Tyler and the county met several times last summer, trying to amend their agreement. But in July, the county pulled out — leaving an unpaid bill of over $1 million, Tyler claims.
“Work on the implementation ceased at Multnomah’s request,” the lawsuit states. “Tyler made repeated attempts to offer alternative paths towards re-engagement. Although Multnomah would initially express a willingness to entertain those paths, Multnomah ultimately rejected each of Tyler’s attempts.”
The contract was signed in 2016, with the new software originally planned to roll out in 2018. Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill has been in his role since 2013. He stepped down July 31 to make way for newly elected DA Mike Schmidt. And Deborah Kafoury has been chair of the Multnomah County Commission since 2014.
Multnomah County Presiding Judge Nan Waller, who oversaw the earlier transition via Tyler to the statewide electronic filing, storage and retrieval system, stepped down at the end of 2018 when her six-year term came to an end. Judge Stephen Bushong replaced Waller as presiding judge when she returned to the general bench.
Jenny Madkour, the attorney representing Multnomah County in the case, did not respond to several phone calls requesting comment. County spokeswoman Julie Sullivan-Springhetti said the county could not comment on pending litigation.
Oregon is one of many states around the nation where the courts have put their public records in the hands of a private vendor. Other states that like Oregon have committed their entire state court filing and records systems to Tyler include Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Indiana and North and South Dakota. The arrangements often allow the company to control the digital road into the courthouse, charging lawyers for e-filing, while also in some states allowing the company to control the statewide public access system through Tyler’s re:Search websites.
The agreements with the state courts generally lock the courts into costly service agreements that require hefty annual fees to run the company’s proprietary software — such as a 10-year, $85 million “software-as-a-service” contract Tyler signed in 2019 with North Carolina. Tyler announced similar deals last year with Bexar County, Texas, valued at $20 million, and a $7.7 million ongoing contract with the District of Columbia.
Tyler announced last year that it had signed an agreement with Amazon Web Services “to lay the groundwork for the future of cloud services for the public sector,” according to Tyler’s annual report. The company also said it had acquired the development platform MircoPact, with which it said it could enter the federal market.
The state court service agreement appears to be the type of agreement Tyler signed with Multnomah County. The contract commits the county to annual licensing fees of over $52,000 and describes ongoing “maintenance and support” through the “Tyler Help Desk” that the company will continue to provide after the software goes live and the transition project is closed out.
“Oregon sought to replace its current court software with a single-solution provider model, choosing to have one vendor,” Tyler said in a 2011 press release announcing its agreement with Oregon.
But it doesn’t need to be that way. The federal courts have developed and now operate their own e-filing and public access system without relying on a private vendor. A growing number of states have also developed their own in-house digital systems to handle the flow of legal documents going through their courthouses. Hawaii, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin all have their own, homegrown systems for e-filing in every court in their state.
And major counties in other states have e-filing systems that don’t tether them to indefinite annual fees. Among them are Cuyahoga County in Ohio, home to Cleveland; Philadelphia County; King County, Washington, where Seattle is, and Orange County in California, home to Disneyland.
The former chief court administrator for Pennsylvania, in charge during his court’s transition to e-filing, explained in a memo to the president judges of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas that homegrown systems like Philadelphia’s are vastly preferable to those controlled and administered by a third-party vendor.
“Systems should use or support applications based upon nationally accepted standards, rather than proprietary solutions,” former Chief Court Administrator Zygmont Pines wrote in his memo. “While the latter usefully is accomplished more quickly and at a lesser cost, the court — to its potential detriment — becomes dependent on the viability and future success of a single vendor’s product.”
“We want to avoid the painful lesson of being pennywise but pound foolish,” he added.


Ballot Order

AUSTIN — A federal court dismissed a case against the Texas Secretary of State brought by a voter and the @ @ @ @ @ , which challenged a state election law governing the order in which candidates appear on @ @ @ @ @ had asked the court to require the state to use a ballot order system that @ @ @ @ @ candidates an “ equal opportunity to be listed first on the ballot .
”

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.


TV Ratings

CHICAGO — The Weather Channel ’ s parent company ’ s breach of contract suit against The Nielsen Company is @ @ @ @ @ merits , a federal court in Illinois ruled , denying a motion for a preliminary @ @ @ @ @ , CF Entertainment , believes it only needs to pay Nielsen $ 41,667 a month @ @ @ @ @ the $ 475,000 a month it has been paying .


courthousenews--2020-07-11--Mueller Defends Russia Probe, Says Stone Remains a Felon

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Former special counsel Robert Mueller sharply defended his investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump ’ s 2016 presidential campaign , writing in a newspaper opinion piece Saturday that the probe was of “ paramount importance ” and asserting that a Trump ally , Roger Stone , “ remains a convicted felon , and rightly so ” despite the president ’ s decision to commute his prison sentence .
The op-ed in The Washington Post marked Mueller ’ s first public statement on his investigation since his congressional appearance last July .
It represented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose results have come under attack and even been partially undone by the Trump administration , including the president ’ s extraordinary move Friday evening to grant clemency to Stone just days before he was due to report to prison .
Mueller said that though he had intended for his 448-page report on the investigation to speak for itself , he felt compelled to “ respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper , and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of paramount importance .
Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes .
He remains a convicted felon , and rightly so , ” Mueller wrote .
Mueller did not specify who was making the claims , but it appeared to be an obvious reference to Trump , who as recently as Saturday derided the investigation as this “ whole political witch hunt and the Mueller scam.
” The mere publication of the op-ed was striking in itself for a former FBI director who was tight-lipped during the investigation , refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or his allies or to even make public appearances explaining or justifying his work .
In his first public appearance after the conclusion of his investigation , Mueller had said that he had hoped his report would speak for itself .
When he later testified to House lawmakers , he was similarly careful not to stray beyond the report ’ s findings or offer new evidence .
But that buttoned-up approach created a void for others , including at the Justice Department , to place their own stamp on his work .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ William Barr issued a four-page summary document that Mueller said did not adequately capture the gravity of his team ’ s findings .
The op-ed traced the basis for the Stone prosecution , with Mueller recounting how Stone had not only tampered with a witness but also lied repeatedly about his efforts to gain inside information about Democratic emails that Russian intelligence operatives stole and provided to WikiLeaks , which published them in the run-up to the election .
Those efforts , including his discussions with Trump campaign associates about them , cut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mandate to determine whether anyone tied to the campaign coordinated with Russia in the hacking or disclosure of the stolen Democratic emails .
Stone was particularly critical , Mueller writes , because he claimed inside knowledge about WikiLeaks ’ release of the stolen emails and because he communicated during the campaign with people known to be Russian intelligence officers .
“ We did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in its activities , ” Mueller wrote .
“ The investigation did , however , establish that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome .
It also established that the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts .
”

Former special counsel Robert Mueller sharply defended his investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, writing in a newspaper opinion piece Saturday that the probe was of "paramount importance" and asserting that a Trump ally, Roger Stone, "remains a convicted felon, and rightly so" despite the president's decision to commute his prison sentence.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former special counsel Robert Mueller sharply defended his investigation into ties between Russia and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, writing in a newspaper opinion piece Saturday that the probe was of "paramount importance" and asserting that a Trump ally, Roger Stone, "remains a convicted felon, and rightly so" despite the president's decision to commute his prison sentence.
The op-ed in The Washington Post marked Mueller's first public statement on his investigation since his congressional appearance last July. It represented his firmest defense of the two-year probe whose results have come under attack and even been partially undone by the Trump administration, including the president's extraordinary move Friday evening to grant clemency to Stone just days before he was due to report to prison.
Mueller said that though he had intended for his 448-page report on the investigation to speak for itself, he felt compelled to "respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper, and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office.
"The Russia investigation was of paramount importance. Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so," Mueller wrote.
Mueller did not specify who was making the claims, but it appeared to be an obvious reference to Trump, who as recently as Saturday derided the investigation as this "whole political witch hunt and the Mueller scam."
The mere publication of the op-ed was striking in itself for a former FBI director who was tight-lipped during the investigation, refusing to respond to attacks by the president or his allies or to even make public appearances explaining or justifying his work.
In his first public appearance after the conclusion of his investigation, Mueller had said that he had hoped his report would speak for itself. When he later testified to House lawmakers, he was similarly careful not to stray beyond the report's findings or offer new evidence.
But that buttoned-up approach created a void for others, including at the Justice Department, to place their own stamp on his work. Even before the report was released Attorney General William Barr issued a four-page summary document that Mueller said did not adequately capture the gravity of his team's findings.
The op-ed traced the basis for the Stone prosecution, with Mueller recounting how Stone had not only tampered with a witness but also lied repeatedly about his efforts to gain inside information about Democratic emails that Russian intelligence operatives stole and provided to WikiLeaks, which published them in the run-up to the election.
Those efforts, including his discussions with Trump campaign associates about them, cut to the heart of Mueller's mandate to determine whether anyone tied to the campaign coordinated with Russia in the hacking or disclosure of the stolen Democratic emails.
Stone was particularly critical, Mueller writes, because he claimed inside knowledge about WikiLeaks' release of the stolen emails and because he communicated during the campaign with people known to be Russian intelligence officers.
"We did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in its activities," Mueller wrote. "The investigation did, however, establish that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome. It also established that the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts."
By ERIC TUCKER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-07-11--Fire Destroys Much of 249-Year-Old Church in California

SAN GABRIEL , Calif. ( AP ) — A fire early Saturday destroyed the rooftop and most of the interior of a Catholic church in California that was undergoing renovation to mark its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration .
Fire alarms at the San Gabriel Mission rang around 4 a.m. , and when firefighters arrived they saw smoke rising from the wooden rooftop in one corner of the historic structure , San Gabriel Fire Capt .
Paul Negrete said .
He said firefighters entered the church and tried to beat back the flames , but they had to retreat when roofing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Negrete said .
“ We were trying to fight it from the inside , we weren ’ t able to because it became unsafe , ” he said .
After evacuating the church , the crew was joined by up to 50 firefighters who tried to douse water on the 50-foot-high structure from ladder trucks , he said .
“ The roof is completely gone , ” the captain said .
“ The fire traversed the wood rapidly , the interior is pretty much destroyed up into the altar area.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Negrete said .
He said the recent toppling of monuments to Junipero Serra , the founder of the California mission system who has long been a symbol of oppression among Indigenous activists , will be a factor in the investigation .
“ This will be another box that they ’ re going to check off , ” he said .
Robert Barron , the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles , tweeted that he was “ deeply troubled ” by the fire as he awaits further information about its cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a string of missions established across California by Serra during the era of Spanish colonization .
The Franciscan priest has long been praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States , but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy .
In converting Native Americans to Catholicism , they said he forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment .
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years , and Pope Francis ’ s decision in 2015 to elevate him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently , protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous people led activists to topple statues of Serra in San Francisco , Sacramento and Los Angeles .
In response , the San Gabriel Mission recently moved a bronze statue of Serra from the church entrance to “ a more appropriate location , out of public view ” without specifying where .
“ Whereas the California Catholic Conference of Bishops reminds us that the historical truth is that St. Serra repeatedly pressed the Spanish authorities for better treatment of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand that for some he has become a symbol of the dehumanization of the Native American community , ” said the church ’ s pastor , Father John Molyneux , said in a statement .
The interior wall of the church was redone a week ago and crews had just finished installing the pews as part of a larger renovation of the property to mark the anniversary of the founding of the mission in 1771 , said Terri Huerta , a spokeswoman for San Gabriel Mission .
She said the firefighters ’ aggressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a miracle ” kept the flames from reaching the altar .
The church had been preparing to reopen next weekend following a four-month closure to slow the spread of the coronavirus .
Selena Quezada , 26 , was in tears when she drove to the mission after she heard about the fire .
She said she grew up in the parish and attended the elementary school on the church ’ s grounds .
“ I was baptized here , I had my first communion here … I was getting ready to get married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Quezada said .
“ It ’ s just really sad to see such a historic place burned down because this place means a lot to us.
” The church , built of stone , brick and mortar , originally had a vaulted ceiling that was damaged by two earthquakes in the early 1800s , she said .
Franciscan fathers replaced the ceiling with a wood-paneled ceiling and the roof was last repaired following some damage caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake , Huerta said .
By MARCIO SANCHEZ and DAISY NGUYEN Associated @

A fire early Saturday destroyed the rooftop and most of the interior of a Catholic church in California that was undergoing renovation to mark its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.
SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (AP) — A fire early Saturday destroyed the rooftop and most of the interior of a Catholic church in California that was undergoing renovation to mark its upcoming 250th anniversary celebration.
Fire alarms at the San Gabriel Mission rang around 4 a.m., and when firefighters arrived they saw smoke rising from the wooden rooftop in one corner of the historic structure, San Gabriel Fire Capt. Paul Negrete said.
He said firefighters entered the church and tried to beat back the flames, but they had to retreat when roofing and other structural materials began to fall, Negrete said.
"We were trying to fight it from the inside, we weren't able to because it became unsafe," he said.
After evacuating the church, the crew was joined by up to 50 firefighters who tried to douse water on the 50-foot-high structure from ladder trucks, he said.
"The roof is completely gone," the captain said. "The fire traversed the wood rapidly, the interior is pretty much destroyed up into the altar area."
The cause of the fire was under investigation, Negrete said. He said the recent toppling of monuments to Junipero Serra, the founder of the California mission system who has long been a symbol of oppression among Indigenous activists, will be a factor in the investigation.
"This will be another box that they're going to check off," he said.
Robert Barron, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, tweeted that he was "deeply troubled" by the fire as he awaits further information about its cause.
The church was the fourth of a string of missions established across California by Serra during the era of Spanish colonization. The Franciscan priest has long been praised by the church for bringing Roman Catholicism to what is now the western United States, but critics highlight a darker side to his legacy. In converting Native Americans to Catholicism, they said he forced them to abandon their culture or face brutal punishment.
Depictions of Serra have been protested and vandalized over the years, and Pope Francis's decision in 2015 to elevate him to sainthood reopened old wounds. More recently, protests focusing on the rights and historical struggle of Black and Indigenous people led activists to topple statues of Serra in San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.
In response, the San Gabriel Mission recently moved a bronze statue of Serra from the church entrance to "a more appropriate location, out of public view" without specifying where.
"Whereas the California Catholic Conference of Bishops reminds us that the historical truth is that St. Serra repeatedly pressed the Spanish authorities for better treatment of the Native American community, we recognize and understand that for some he has become a symbol of the dehumanization of the Native American community," said the church's pastor, Father John Molyneux, said in a statement.
The interior wall of the church was redone a week ago and crews had just finished installing the pews as part of a larger renovation of the property to mark the anniversary of the founding of the mission in 1771, said Terri Huerta, a spokeswoman for San Gabriel Mission.
She said the firefighters' aggressive stance and "a little bit of a miracle" kept the flames from reaching the altar.
The church had been preparing to reopen next weekend following a four-month closure to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Selena Quezada, 26, was in tears when she drove to the mission after she heard about the fire. She said she grew up in the parish and attended the elementary school on the church's grounds.
"I was baptized here, I had my first communion here ... I was getting ready to get married here next year so this hurts," Quezada said. "It's just really sad to see such a historic place burned down because this place means a lot to us."
The church, built of stone, brick and mortar, originally had a vaulted ceiling that was damaged by two earthquakes in the early 1800s, she said. Franciscan fathers replaced the ceiling with a wood-paneled ceiling and the roof was last repaired following some damage caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Huerta said.
By MARCIO SANCHEZ and DAISY NGUYEN Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-07-11--Arizona Universities Prepare for Fall Semester Amid Spike in Infections

TUCSON , Ariz. ( CN ) – With the start of classes barely six weeks away , University of Arizona administrators still don ’ t know what the return to campus for fall semester will look like – or if it will happen at all .
If the decision were made today about bringing 45,000 students and 15,000 employees back , it probably wouldn ’ t happen , said Dr. Richard Carmona , a former U.S. surgeon general who is leading a UA re-entry task force .
“ We can only open if we can provide a relatively safe environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Carmona , who served as surgeon general from 2002-06 .
“ The way we are today , with very few hospital beds available , very few ICU beds available , I think it would be unsafe.
” The state Department of Health Services reported 4,221 new cases Friday with 44 new deaths .
Of the state ’ s 116,892 known cases , half were in people between the ages of 20 and 44 .
Just over 13,000 cases were in people under 20 .
Eight Arizonans under 20 have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the state reports .
Arizona ’ s major colleges – University of Arizona , Arizona State University , and Northern Arizona University – are approaching the fall semester in a variety of ways .
All are planning on-campus housing with stringent cleaning regimens , will require masks and social distancing and will offer live streams of at least some in-person classes .
All will step up testing for students .
Carmona is meeting daily with UA President Robert Robbins to take stock of the situation .
They examine data from the county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because 15 % of UA students are international .
When his work started in May , Arizona ’ s Covid-19 spike had not yet hit .
Arizona had among the lowest transmission rates in the nation , Carmona said .
“ We ’ ve gone from first in class to worst in class in Arizona , ” he said .
The University of Arizona will rely on a “ test , trace and treat ” plan as students return Aug. 24 , though as of July 10 some parts were still not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason for that is because Covid-19 is a “ moving target.
” UA looked at a spectrum of choices from returning to normal , which is definitely off the table now , to all online classes .
Ultimately it will likely be a mix of in-person classes where necessary , such as labs , and Zoom classes , which could keep vulnerable students and faculty safe , Carmona said .
Nansi Naranjo ’ s son , Tony Yonan , 18 , will attend UA while living at home in Tucson .
Naranjo is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what his contact means to her and others .
She thinks students can return to class in relative safety , with precautions .
She thinks the campus experience is important , especially for students who have been cooped up for six months .
She hopes Yonan can have some semblance of normalcy outside the classrooms .
“ I don ’ t see as great a risk in classes as there is going to be in dorms and also just the parties , ” Naranjo said .
Yonan plans to major in computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orientation or a Zoom meeting with a counselor , and he doesn ’ t yet know if he ’ s going to go to class or live stream classes .
He is resigned to the realities of Covid-19 and is willing to accept the changes and expects to lose out on some of the college experience , including social life .
“ College students are going to have to give up a lot , ” he said .
If it were up to him , there would be no in-person classes for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the structure of classes for fall will be made in the next two to three weeks , Carmona said .
Classes begin Aug. 12 at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff , where 30,000 students will enroll .
The early start will allow students to complete the fall semester by Thanksgiving instead of Christmas , preventing a mass exodus and return of students in November .
Last year 5,600 NAU students were in online classes ; this year that number is potentially all 30,000 , as all classes will be live streamed .
Orientation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eickhoff , director of Recruitment and Orientation , in a video posted for students .
“ We have transitioned off of the on-campus orientation model and moved to a virtual orientation , ” and academic advisors will meet students only online , Eickhoff said .
Sunny Herndon is sending her daughter , Josephine , to NAU to study elementary education .
Herndon was very excited about her daughter immersing herself in clubs and other social life .
“ Now I feel like she ’ s going to be sitting in her dorm doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But illness is the top concern .
“ What if she gets sick four hours from home ?
Will there be a hospital bed for her ?
Will there be someone to take care of her ?
” she wondered .
Josephine has already gone through orientation online and met with her student guide and five or six other students .
Her plan is to be cautious and start with Zoom class attendance for a few weeks to see if Covid-19 spikes on campus .
She ’ s worried .
“ It does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t control what other people do , ” she said , referring to masks and social distancing .
She feels safe , mainly because NAU has been sending her emails about twice weekly and posting lots of information online about measures they are taking .
Classes begin Aug. 20 at Arizona ’ s largest university , Arizona State in Tempe .
More than 70,000 students there will continue a shift that began in the spring , when the pandemic started , said Sukhwant Jhaj , vice-provost for academic innovation , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , when we went to remote learning , we started streaming our in-person classes , ” Jhaj said .
“ What we are planning to do in fall is a next level of that design.
” All of ASU ’ s 1,000-plus classrooms are being outfitted for two-way video communication , and the classes themselves are being redesigned to make use of it .
Instructors will have flexibility to decide exactly how this plays out .
Instructors could choose , for example , to have half of students in class on any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that each student gets class time , Jhaj said .
Luke Hinderaker , 18 , will be a freshman at ASU this fall .
He ’ ll be living in the dorm , and although his dad is at risk because of a heart condition , he thinks the return to campus can be safe .
Hinderaker is upset that he won ’ t be playing lacrosse , but he considers the high-contact sport too risky .
He will consider swimming , should that be an option .
His high school hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was originally postponed to August , and this week the school announced it would be a virtual ceremony .
Dorms scare him , he said , and he wonders if the return to campus will last .
“ There will be multiple , multiple cases on campus , and I do fear that they might say , ‘ We ’ re in over our heads with cases , and we ’ re going to have to send everyone home , ’ ” he said .
“ But I ’ m hopeful everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With free Covid-19 testing for students , masks and social distancing required , and online class offerings , Hinderaker is not overly worried .
“ That ’ s not to say that I ’ m not going to take it seriously and wear a mask , but I ’ m healthy , and I ’ m not in a risk category that ’ s really most affected , ” he said .
Because his dad is in a risk category , Hinderaker plans to limit travel home to Tucson .
When he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family ’ s guest house , he said .
Carmona at UA said that his task force and the entire administration is approaching the fall semester not only as administrators , but also as parents .
“ We have to be able to tell those parents and students that we have a plan in place that will keep them safe , ” he said .

With the start of classes barely six weeks away, University of Arizona administrators still don’t know what the return to campus for fall semester will look like – or if it will happen at all.
TUCSON, Ariz. (CN) — With the start of classes barely six weeks away, University of Arizona administrators still don’t know what the return to campus for fall semester will look like — or if it will happen at all.
If the decision were made today about bringing 45,000 students and 15,000 employees back, it probably wouldn’t happen, said Dr. Richard Carmona, a former U.S. surgeon general who is leading a UA re-entry task force.
“We can only open if we can provide a relatively safe environment for students, faculty and staff,” said Carmona, who served as surgeon general from 2002-06. “The way we are today, with very few hospital beds available, very few ICU beds available, I think it would be unsafe.”
The state Department of Health Services reported 4,221 new cases Friday with 44 new deaths. Of the state’s 116,892 known cases, half were in people between the ages of 20 and 44. Just over 13,000 cases were in people under 20. Eight Arizonans under 20 have died from Covid-19, and 114 from age 20-44, the state reports.
Arizona’s major colleges – University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University – are approaching the fall semester in a variety of ways. All are planning on-campus housing with stringent cleaning regimens, will require masks and social distancing and will offer live streams of at least some in-person classes. All will step up testing for students.
Carmona is meeting daily with UA President Robert Robbins to take stock of the situation. They examine data from the county, state, nation and world, because 15% of UA students are international. When his work started in May, Arizona’s Covid-19 spike had not yet hit. Arizona had among the lowest transmission rates in the nation, Carmona said.
“We’ve gone from first in class to worst in class in Arizona,” he said.
The University of Arizona will rely on a “test, trace and treat” plan as students return Aug. 24, though as of July 10 some parts were still not in place. Carmona said part of the reason for that is because Covid-19 is a “moving target.”
UA looked at a spectrum of choices from returning to normal, which is definitely off the table now, to all online classes. Ultimately it will likely be a mix of in-person classes where necessary, such as labs, and Zoom classes, which could keep vulnerable students and faculty safe, Carmona said.
Nansi Naranjo’s son, Tony Yonan, 18, will attend UA while living at home in Tucson.
Naranjo is worried about him, but more worried about what his contact means to her and others.
She thinks students can return to class in relative safety, with precautions. She thinks the campus experience is important, especially for students who have been cooped up for six months. She hopes Yonan can have some semblance of normalcy outside the classrooms.
“I don’t see as great a risk in classes as there is going to be in dorms and also just the parties,” Naranjo said.
Yonan plans to major in computer science. He has not yet had orientation or a Zoom meeting with a counselor, and he doesn’t yet know if he's going to go to class or live stream classes. He is resigned to the realities of Covid-19 and is willing to accept the changes and expects to lose out on some of the college experience, including social life.
“College students are going to have to give up a lot,” he said.
If it were up to him, there would be no in-person classes for the fall semester. A final decision on the structure of classes for fall will be made in the next two to three weeks, Carmona said.


courthousenews--2020-07-12--Chatham Announces Plan to Buy Newspaper Publisher McClatchy

NEW YORK ( AP ) — Hedge fund Chatham Asset Management plans to buy newspaper publisher McClatchy out of bankruptcy , ending 163 years of family control .
The companies did not put a price on the deal in an announcement Sunday .
The agreement still needs the approval of a bankruptcy judge ; a hearing is scheduled for July 24 .
McClatchy is one of the largest newspaper companies in the U.S .
It owns 30 papers including the Miami Herald , the Charlotte Observer and the Sacramento Bee .
It filed for bankruptcy protection because of a heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion purchase of the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain in 2006 , just as the newspaper industry went into steep decline .
Chatham was McClatchy ’ s largest shareholder and debt holder .
It beat out a bid from Alden Global Capital , another hedge fund that has taken a leading role in the U.S. newspaper business .
Chatham ’ s other media holdings include the Canadian newspaper chain Postmedia and National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc .
But industry expert Ken Doctor has noted that it doesn ’ t make financial sense to combine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs , as newspaper dealmakers like to do .
And the emergence of Alden Global Capital as a bidder has given rise to speculation that Chatham will try to combine McClatchy with Alden ’ s holdings or with another big newspaper company , like Gannett .
While national newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times are adding digital subscribers that help them navigate advertising declines , many local outlets have had a difficult time .
That has contributed to a string of bankruptcies and consolidation , much of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about declining quality as newsrooms shrink and papers close .
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated ad-revenue declines and prompted furloughs , pay cuts , layoffs and more newspaper closings .
Several mayors of cities where McClatchy has a paper wrote to the bankruptcy court , asking the judge to consider the civic value of the paper .
“ We want our newspaper to emerge from this bankruptcy with owners who are willing to invest in our community , and provide us with journalism at its best , ” Lexington , Kentucky , mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
McClatchy ’ s origins date to 1857 , when it began publishing a four-page paper in Sacramento , California , following the California Gold Rush .
The company remains headquartered in Sacramento .

NEW YORK (AP) — Hedge fund Chatham Asset Management plans to buy newspaper publisher McClatchy out of bankruptcy, ending 163 years of family control.
The companies did not put a price on the deal in an announcement Sunday. The agreement still needs the approval of a bankruptcy judge; a hearing is scheduled for July 24.
McClatchy is one of the largest newspaper companies in the U.S. It owns 30 papers including the Miami Herald, the Charlotte Observer and the Sacramento Bee. It filed for bankruptcy protection because of a heavy debt load stemming from its $4.5 billion purchase of the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain in 2006, just as the newspaper industry went into steep decline.
Chatham was McClatchy's largest shareholder and debt holder. It beat out a bid from Alden Global Capital, another hedge fund that has taken a leading role in the U.S. newspaper business.
Chatham's other media holdings include the Canadian newspaper chain Postmedia and National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. But industry expert Ken Doctor has noted that it doesn't make financial sense to combine those with McClatchy in order to cut costs, as newspaper dealmakers like to do. And the emergence of Alden Global Capital as a bidder has given rise to speculation that Chatham will try to combine McClatchy with Alden's holdings or with another big newspaper company, like Gannett.
While national newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times are adding digital subscribers that help them navigate advertising declines, many local outlets have had a difficult time. That has contributed to a string of bankruptcies and consolidation, much of it involving investment firms, deepening concerns about declining quality as newsrooms shrink and papers close.
The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated ad-revenue declines and prompted furloughs, pay cuts, layoffs and more newspaper closings.
Several mayors of cities where McClatchy has a paper wrote to the bankruptcy court, asking the judge to consider the civic value of the paper.
"We want our newspaper to emerge from this bankruptcy with owners who are willing to invest in our community, and provide us with journalism at its best," Lexington, Kentucky, mayor Linda Gorton said of the Lexington Herald-Leader.
McClatchy's origins date to 1857, when it began publishing a four-page paper in Sacramento, California, following the California Gold Rush. The company remains headquartered in Sacramento.
By TALI ARBEL AP Business Writer


courthousenews--2020-07-12--Florida Reports Largest, Single-Day Increase in Covid Cases

ST. PETERSBURG , Fla. ( AP ) — Florida shattered the national record Sunday for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any state since the beginning of the pandemic , adding more than 15,000 cases as its daily average death toll continued to also rise .
According to state Department of Health statistics , 15,299 people tested positive , for a total of 269,811 cases , and 45 deaths were recorded .
California had the previous record of daily positive cases — 11,694 , set on Wednesday .
New York had 11,571 on April 15 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grim , record-breaking week as Florida reported 514 fatalities — an average of 73 per day .
Three weeks ago , the state was averaging 30 deaths per day .
Since the pandemic began in March , 4,346 people have died in Florida of COVID-19 , the state says .
Testing has doubled over the last month , going from about 25,000 tests per day to almost 50,000 , but the percentage of people testing positive has risen even more dramatically .
A month ago , fewer than 5 % of tests came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the past week , the daily average exceeded 19 % .
About 10.7 % of Saturday ’ s 143,000 tests came up positive , with an average age of 38 .
“ I still think we need to increase our testing a little bit more , ” said University of Florida epidemiologist Dr. Cindy Prins , adding that the state and local health departments should ramp up their contact tracing .
Prins said that she ’ s still concerned about large crowds , gyms and some restaurants as being places of mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raves in South Florida is also a worry , she said .
“ I really do think we could control this , and it ’ s the human element that is so critical .
It should be an effort of our country .
We should be pulling together when we ’ re in a crisis , and we ’ re definitely not doing it , ” she said .
“ I know people want to live their lives .
There have been a lot of other times , people have made those sacrifices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s almost like a war effort .
That ’ s what we need right now.
” Terry Shaw , AdventHealth ’ s president and CEO , said Sunday on CBS ’ Face the Nation that the peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida will be “ sometime in front of us in July.
” While on the program , he said that the health system , which has hospitals in nine states including 30 in Florida , has adequate PPE , a stockpile of ventilators and a clinical team that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I give you an example .
Our length of stay in our ICU for COVID patients has dropped in half .
The number of people coming in to our hospital with COVID that need a ventilator , we ’ ve also been able to cut that in half .
And because of those things , our death rate has also been cut in half ” since the beginning of the pandemic , ” he said The health system ’ s ICU capacities in Florida are currently running at about 85 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system could turn some “ progressive care units ” into ICU units if needed .
Hospitals in several counties have stopped doing elective surgeries .
HCA West Florida have ceased inpatient elective procedures at hospitals in Hillsborough , Pinellas and six other nearby counties , said an HCA spokeswoman on Sunday .
Florida ceased elective surgeries statewide from March until early May in order to free up beds , and to reserve personal protective equipment for health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients .
Miami-Dade , Broward , and Palm Beach are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,232 people hospitalized — 42 percent of the 7,542 people in hospitals statewide for coronavirus .
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told CNN on Sunday that his county ’ s hospitals will soon reach capacity , but he said more beds can be added , including for intensive care .
“ We still have capacity , but it does cause me a lot of concern , ” he said .
Throughout May and into June , the state reopened much of its economy with some restrictions — and the number of positive cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t until the last week that the daily death total began rising , too .
Because of the increase in cases and the positivity rate , doctors have predicted a rise in deaths , saying the mortality rate usually increases two to four weeks later as some of those infected get sicker and eventually die .
Health experts are concerned that people are gathering in crowds , and have expressed concern that the Republican National Convention ’ s nomination party for President Donald Trump will be held in Jacksonville in August .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kingdom reopened at Walt Disney World in Orlando , concerning health experts who urge people not to gather in groups .
Guests at the park said that people were wearing masks and social distancing , and videos showed near-empty parks .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said that even with the rising rates , he still wants the schools to reopen as scheduled next month , saying children have not proven to be vectors for the disease in states and countries where campuses are open .
He said while each county will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on their local infection rate , not opening the schools would exacerbate the achievement gap between high- and low-performing students .
“ We know there are huge , huge costs for not providing the availability of in-person schooling , ” he said .
“ The risk of corona , fortunately , for students is incredibly low.
” Helen Ferre , a spokeswoman for DeSantis , said Sunday that the state has tested more than 2.4 million people for COVID-19 .
Ferre said the important statistic isn ’ t the raw number of positives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was just over 11 % , about 8 percentage points lower than the weekly average .
“ The more people who get tested and are proportionately reporting negative for this virus is meaningful , ” she wrote in an email to The Associated Press .
Meanwhile , a commissioner for a county near Jacksonville is seriously ill with the virus , according to a posting by his daughter on Facebook .
St. Johns County Commissioner Paul Waldron had recently voted against a county ordinance requiring masks , but not because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more answers from county administrators about which masks are most effective and whether the county had enough for employees and visitors at government buildings .
By TAMARA LUSH and TERRY SPENCER Associated Press

Florida shattered the national record Sunday for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any state since the beginning of the pandemic, adding more than 15,000 cases as its daily average death toll continued to also rise.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida shattered the national record Sunday for the largest single-day increase in positive coronavirus cases in any state since the beginning of the pandemic, adding more than 15,000 cases as its daily average death toll continued to also rise.
According to state Department of Health statistics, 15,299 people tested positive, for a total of 269,811 cases, and 45 deaths were recorded.
California had the previous record of daily positive cases — 11,694, set on Wednesday. New York had 11,571 on April 15.
The numbers come at the end of a grim, record-breaking week as Florida reported 514 fatalities — an average of 73 per day. Three weeks ago, the state was averaging 30 deaths per day. Since the pandemic began in March, 4,346 people have died in Florida of COVID-19, the state says.
Testing has doubled over the last month, going from about 25,000 tests per day to almost 50,000, but the percentage of people testing positive has risen even more dramatically. A month ago, fewer than 5% of tests came up positive on a daily average. Over the past week, the daily average exceeded 19%.
About 10.7% of Saturday's 143,000 tests came up positive, with an average age of 38. "I still think we need to increase our testing a little bit more," said University of Florida epidemiologist Dr. Cindy Prins, adding that the state and local health departments should ramp up their contact tracing.
Prins said that she's still concerned about large crowds, gyms and some restaurants as being places of mass transmission. Reports of illegal clubs and raves in South Florida is also a worry, she said.
"I really do think we could control this, and it's the human element that is so critical. It should be an effort of our country. We should be pulling together when we're in a crisis, and we're definitely not doing it," she said. "I know people want to live their lives. There have been a lot of other times, people have made those sacrifices in order to benefit our society. It's almost like a war effort. That's what we need right now."
Terry Shaw, AdventHealth's president and CEO, said Sunday on CBS' Face the Nation that the peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida will be "sometime in front of us in July."
While on the program, he said that the health system, which has hospitals in nine states including 30 in Florida, has adequate PPE, a stockpile of ventilators and a clinical team that's learned how to better treat the disease.
"I give you an example. Our length of stay in our ICU for COVID patients has dropped in half. The number of people coming in to our hospital with COVID that need a ventilator, we've also been able to cut that in half. And because of those things, our death rate has also been cut in half" since the beginning of the pandemic," he said
The health system's ICU capacities in Florida are currently running at about 85% to 90%. He said the system could turn some "progressive care units" into ICU units if needed.
Hospitals in several counties have stopped doing elective surgeries. HCA West Florida have ceased inpatient elective procedures at hospitals in Hillsborough, Pinellas and six other nearby counties, said an HCA spokeswoman on Sunday. Florida ceased elective surgeries statewide from March until early May in order to free up beds, and to reserve personal protective equipment for health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients.
Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are the top three counties for hospitalizations, with 3,232 people hospitalized — 42 percent of the 7,542 people in hospitals statewide for coronavirus.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez told CNN on Sunday that his county's hospitals will soon reach capacity, but he said more beds can be added, including for intensive care.
"We still have capacity, but it does cause me a lot of concern," he said.
Throughout May and into June, the state reopened much of its economy with some restrictions — and the number of positive cases began rising, but it wasn't until the last week that the daily death total began rising, too.
Because of the increase in cases and the positivity rate, doctors have predicted a rise in deaths, saying the mortality rate usually increases two to four weeks later as some of those infected get sicker and eventually die. Health experts are concerned that people are gathering in crowds, and have expressed concern that the Republican National Convention's nomination party for President Donald Trump will be held in Jacksonville in August.
On Saturday, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom reopened at Walt Disney World in Orlando, concerning health experts who urge people not to gather in groups. Guests at the park said that people were wearing masks and social distancing, and videos showed near-empty parks.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that even with the rising rates, he still wants the schools to reopen as scheduled next month, saying children have not proven to be vectors for the disease in states and countries where campuses are open. He said while each county will have to come up with procedures, depending on their local infection rate, not opening the schools would exacerbate the achievement gap between high- and low-performing students.
"We know there are huge, huge costs for not providing the availability of in-person schooling," he said. "The risk of corona, fortunately, for students is incredibly low."
Helen Ferre, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, said Sunday that the state has tested more than 2.4 million people for COVID-19.
Ferre said the important statistic isn't the raw number of positives, but the percentage — on Sunday, it was just over 11%, about 8 percentage points lower than the weekly average.
"The more people who get tested and are proportionately reporting negative for this virus is meaningful," she wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Meanwhile, a commissioner for a county near Jacksonville is seriously ill with the virus, according to a posting by his daughter on Facebook.
St. Johns County Commissioner Paul Waldron had recently voted against a county ordinance requiring masks, but not because he opposed them. He said he wanted more answers from county administrators about which masks are most effective and whether the county had enough for employees and visitors at government buildings.
By TAMARA LUSH and TERRY SPENCER Associated Press


courthousenews--2020-07-12--Conservation Groups Upset by North Cascades Grizzly Decision

SPOKANE , Wash. ( AP ) — The forested mountains in and around North Cascades National Park in north central Washington state have long been considered prime habitat for threatened grizzly bears , so environmental groups are upset the Trump administration scrapped plans to reintroduce the apex predators there .
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt on Tuesday announced his agency will not conduct the environmental impact statement needed to move forward with the idea .
That drew rebukes from conservation groups , who have worked for decades to grow the tiny population of about 10 grizzlies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jack Kerouac spent the summer of 1956 as a lookout for wildfires .
“ Grizzlies have been an integral part of the North Cascades ecosystem for 20,000 years but are now one of the most threatened populations in North America , ” said Rob Smith , northwest director of the National Parks Conservation Association .
“ This purely political decision ignores science , Park Service recommendations and overwhelming public support.
” He noted that former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke supported grizzly recovery efforts there before leaving the Trump administration .
In 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government began an environmental impact statement planning process on restoring the bears in the North Cascades .
Grizzly bears play a vital environmental role in the park and the broader ecosystem , Smith said .
But there have been no verified sightings in the region in several years , raising concerns about their survival .
While Bernhardt pointed to local opposition to introducing bears into the North Cascades , Smith said a majority of Washington residents have supported the proposal in the past .
The Center for Biological Diversity also called the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than 5 % of their historic range , and the North Cascades presents prime habitat for grizzly bears , ” said Andrea Zaccardi , an attorney with the group .
“ Their recovery there is critical to the overall recovery of grizzly bears in the U.S. ” The center contends the North Cascades could support more than 700 grizzly bears over 9,000 square miles of habitat .
About 41 % of the recovery zone is within the national park , and about 72 % has no motorized access .
But Rep. Dan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington state in Congress , said local residents don ’ t want a larger population of grizzlies there .
“ This announcement is welcomed by my constituents in central Washington who have consistently shared my same concerns about introducing an apex predator into the North Cascades , ” Newhouse said .
Bernhardt ’ s announcement came at a meeting in Omak , Washington , 100 miles ( 161 kilometers ) east of the national park , where opposition to the bears is strong .
Bernhardt said the Trump administration will continue to focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing range , which includes parts of Montana , Wyoming , Idaho and eastern Washington state .
The recovery of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states is already an amazing success story , the agency said .
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has been the primary focus of grizzly recovery efforts to date , and grizzly populations have increased to about 700 bears there since the animals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975 .
The environmental group Conservation Northwest was disappointed by the decision , but did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bears .
“ We are still confident they will be restored there , ” spokesman Chase Gunnell said .
Federal grizzly bear recovery plans are mandated by the Endangered Species Act and require grizzly recovery in the North Cascades , Gunnell said .
It is the largest federally designated Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone and the only such zone outside the Rocky Mountains , he said .
North Cascades National Park and surrounding back country areas also receive far fewer visitors each year than places such as Yellowstone or Glacier national parks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s grizzlies roam , Gunnell said .
Despite the excellent habitat , recovery of the animals in the North Cascades will require that some bears be imported into the back country , Gunnell said .
Given their isolation from other grizzly populations , their very slow reproductive rate and other constraints , the tiny population of North Cascades grizzly bears is considered the most at-risk bear population in the United States , Gunnell said .
Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species in 1975 .
They have slowly regained territory and increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An estimated 50,000 bears once roamed the lower 48 .
Government-sponsored programs led to most being poisoned , shot and trapped by the 1930s .
Now the largest concentration of grizzlies , numbering less than 1,800 , are around Montana ’ s Glacier National Park and around Yellowstone National Park .
Grizzlies did win a victory over the Trump administration on Wednesday .
A U.S. appeals court ruled that a federal judge was right to restore protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region of the Rocky Mountains , after federal officials sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to states that would have allowed them to be hunted .

The forested mountains in and around North Cascades National Park in north central Washington state have long been considered prime habitat for threatened grizzly bears, so environmental groups are upset the Trump administration scrapped plans to reintroduce the apex predators there.
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — The forested mountains in and around North Cascades National Park in north central Washington state have long been considered prime habitat for threatened grizzly bears, so environmental groups are upset the Trump administration scrapped plans to reintroduce the apex predators there.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt on Tuesday announced his agency will not conduct the environmental impact statement needed to move forward with the idea.
That drew rebukes from conservation groups, who have worked for decades to grow the tiny population of about 10 grizzlies in the vast North Cascades, where writer Jack Kerouac spent the summer of 1956 as a lookout for wildfires.
"Grizzlies have been an integral part of the North Cascades ecosystem for 20,000 years but are now one of the most threatened populations in North America,'' said Rob Smith, northwest director of the National Parks Conservation Association. "This purely political decision ignores science, Park Service recommendations and overwhelming public support."
He noted that former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke supported grizzly recovery efforts there before leaving the Trump administration.
In 2015, under President Barack Obama, the federal government began an environmental impact statement planning process on restoring the bears in the North Cascades.
Grizzly bears play a vital environmental role in the park and the broader ecosystem, Smith said. But there have been no verified sightings in the region in several years, raising concerns about their survival.
While Bernhardt pointed to local opposition to introducing bears into the North Cascades, Smith said a majority of Washington residents have supported the proposal in the past.
The Center for Biological Diversity also called the decision political.
"Grizzly bears only occupy less than 5% of their historic range, and the North Cascades presents prime habitat for grizzly bears,'' said Andrea Zaccardi, an attorney with the group. "Their recovery there is critical to the overall recovery of grizzly bears in the U.S."
The center contends the North Cascades could support more than 700 grizzly bears over 9,000 square miles of habitat. About 41% of the recovery zone is within the national park, and about 72% has no motorized access.
But Rep. Dan Newhouse, a Republican who represents central Washington state in Congress, said local residents don't want a larger population of grizzlies there.
"This announcement is welcomed by my constituents in central Washington who have consistently shared my same concerns about introducing an apex predator into the North Cascades," Newhouse said.
Bernhardt's announcement came at a meeting in Omak, Washington, 100 miles (161 kilometers) east of the national park, where opposition to the bears is strong.
Bernhardt said the Trump administration will continue to focus on growing grizzly bear populations across their existing range, which includes parts of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and eastern Washington state.
The recovery of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states is already an amazing success story, the agency said.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has been the primary focus of grizzly recovery efforts to date, and grizzly populations have increased to about 700 bears there since the animals were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1975.
The environmental group Conservation Northwest was disappointed by the decision, but did not think it was the final word on the bears.
"We are still confident they will be restored there," spokesman Chase Gunnell said.
Federal grizzly bear recovery plans are mandated by the Endangered Species Act and require grizzly recovery in the North Cascades, Gunnell said.
It is the largest federally designated Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone and the only such zone outside the Rocky Mountains, he said.
North Cascades National Park and surrounding back country areas also receive far fewer visitors each year than places such as Yellowstone or Glacier national parks, where the majority of the nation's grizzlies roam, Gunnell said.
Despite the excellent habitat, recovery of the animals in the North Cascades will require that some bears be imported into the back country, Gunnell said.
Given their isolation from other grizzly populations, their very slow reproductive rate and other constraints, the tiny population of North Cascades grizzly bears is considered the most at-risk bear population in the United States, Gunnell said.
Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species in 1975. They have slowly regained territory and increased in numbers in the ensuing decades.
An estimated 50,000 bears once roamed the lower 48. Government-sponsored programs led to most being poisoned, shot and trapped by the 1930s. Now the largest concentration of grizzlies, numbering less than 1,800, are around Montana's Glacier National Park and around Yellowstone National Park.
Grizzlies did win a victory over the Trump administration on Wednesday. A U.S. appeals court ruled that a federal judge was right to restore protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region of the Rocky Mountains, after federal officials sought to turn over management of the animals to states that would have allowed them to be hunted.
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS Associated Press


Forced Labor

NEW ORLEANS — A couple living in Texas were properly convicted of forced labor and other charges for forcing a @ @ @ @ @ in their home for 16 years from the time she was nine years old , @ @ @ @ @ The couple , who abused and neglected the girl , failed to prove that the @ @ @ @ @ definition of “ serious harm ” is unconstitutionally vague or overbroad .


courthousenews--2020-07-14--EPA Limits States’ Power to Review Projects That Affect Water Quality

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — For almost 50 years , states and tribal governments have played an outsized role in deciding whether projects that can harm water quality should receive federal permits — a role that is about to change under a new rule finalized by the Trump administration Monday .
The “ Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule ” narrows what issues state and tribal governments may consider when determining if a project , such as one that involves discharging pollution into a river or stream , will comply with state water quality standards .
State or tribal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal permit under the Clean Water Act .
The new rule curtailing states ’ review power is intended to advance President Donald Trump ’ s goal of promoting “ efficient permitting ” and reducing “ regulatory uncertainties ” as outlined in his April 2019 executive order on “ Promoting Energy Infrastructure and Economic Growth.
” This rule is one of the first major overhauls of the water quality certification process established by the Clean Water Act of 1972 .
“ Today , we are following through on President Trump ’ s Executive Order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act that have held our nation ’ s energy infrastructure projects hostage , and to put in place clear guidelines that finally give these projects a path forward , ” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Director Andrew Wheeler said in a June 1 announcement on the final rule .
The rule will affect the permitting and relicensing process for natural gas pipelines , hydropower plants , wastewater treatment plants , wetlands developments and other industrial projects .
Under the new regulatory framework , the EPA will no longer let states and tribes consider a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or road traffic congestion .
The scope of review will be limited to water quality alone .
The rule , set to take effect Sept. 11 , also forbids state and tribal government from imposing conditions on applicants seeking permits , such as requiring them to build hiking or biking trails , allow fishing access , or pay extra money for improvements not related to water quality .
Additionally , the rule requires states to take final action on water quality certification requests within one year .
Only the federal government can allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide more information explaining why conditions imposed on projects are necessary to ensure compliance with water quality standards .
The rule empowers the EPA to deem a certification “ waived ” if it finds a state or tribal government ’ s certification denial did not comply with the new rule .
More than 125,000 public comments were submitted on the rule before it was finalized .
Several state government officials voiced concern about the rule ’ s impact on their authority to protect local waters from industrial pollution .
One of those commenters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources .
“ While the goal of improving the nation ’ s energy infrastructure is certainly admirable , it should not come at the cost of curtailing the states ’ and tribes ’ congressionally-authorized role in protecting the environment , ” Roberts wrote in an October 2019 letter to the EPA .
Mere hours after the final rule was published Monday , a coalition of conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California to block it .
American Rivers , American Whitewater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim in their lawsuit that this new rule contradicts Congress ’ s intent to ensure federally licensed projects do not violate state water quality laws .
“ With this rule change , the administration has given corporations the green light to run roughshod over local communities , and has proven it is more interested in corporate rights than states ’ rights , ” said attorney Andrew Hawley of the Western Environmental Law Center , who represents the plaintiffs , in a statement Monday .
The 23-page lawsuit claims multiple violations of the Clean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plaintiffs seek a court order invalidating the rule .
“ These new regulations are a brazen attack on the Clean Water Act with the goal of undermining the public ’ s ability to protect our rivers from harmful impacts of federally-licensed energy projects on the environment and outdoor recreation , ” American Whitewater legal director Bob Nasdor said in a statement Monday .
An EPA spokesperson said via email that the agency ’ s “ water quality certification regulations were nearly 50 years old and did not reflect the statutory language in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s recent action reflects the first comprehensive analysis of the text , structure and legislative history of Clean Water Act Section 401 .
As a result , the agency ’ s final rule increases the transparency and efficiency of the Section 401 certification process in order to promote the timely review of infrastructure projects while continuing to ensure that Americans have clean water for drinking and recreation , ” the spokesperson wrote .

For almost 50 years, states and tribal governments have played an outsized role in deciding whether projects that can harm water quality should receive federal permits — a role that is about to change under a new rule finalized by the Trump administration Monday.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — For almost 50 years, states and tribal governments have played an outsized role in deciding whether projects that can harm water quality should receive federal permits — a role that is about to change under a new rule finalized by the Trump administration Monday.
The “Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule” narrows what issues state and tribal governments may consider when determining if a project, such as one that involves discharging pollution into a river or stream, will comply with state water quality standards. State or tribal approval is a prerequisite for obtaining a federal permit under the Clean Water Act.
The new rule curtailing states’ review power is intended to advance President Donald Trump’s goal of promoting “efficient permitting” and reducing “regulatory uncertainties” as outlined in his April 2019 executive order on “Promoting Energy Infrastructure and Economic Growth.” This rule is one of the first major overhauls of the water quality certification process established by the Clean Water Act of 1972.
“Today, we are following through on President Trump’s Executive Order to curb abuses of the Clean Water Act that have held our nation’s energy infrastructure projects hostage, and to put in place clear guidelines that finally give these projects a path forward,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Director Andrew Wheeler said in a June 1 announcement on the final rule.
The rule will affect the permitting and relicensing process for natural gas pipelines, hydropower plants, wastewater treatment plants, wetlands developments and other industrial projects.
Under the new regulatory framework, the EPA will no longer let states and tribes consider a project’s impact on air emissions or road traffic congestion. The scope of review will be limited to water quality alone.
The rule, set to take effect Sept. 11, also forbids state and tribal government from imposing conditions on applicants seeking permits, such as requiring them to build hiking or biking trails, allow fishing access, or pay extra money for improvements not related to water quality.
Additionally, the rule requires states to take final action on water quality certification requests within one year. Only the federal government can allow extensions. States and tribes must also provide more information explaining why conditions imposed on projects are necessary to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
The rule empowers the EPA to deem a certification “waived” if it finds a state or tribal government’s certification denial did not comply with the new rule.
More than 125,000 public comments were submitted on the rule before it was finalized. Several state government officials voiced concern about the rule’s impact on their authority to protect local waters from industrial pollution.
One of those commenters was Hunter Roberts, secretary of the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“While the goal of improving the nation’s energy infrastructure is certainly admirable, it should not come at the cost of curtailing the states’ and tribes’ congressionally-authorized role in protecting the environment,” Roberts wrote in an October 2019 letter to the EPA.
Mere hours after the final rule was published Monday, a coalition of conservation groups filed a federal lawsuit in the Northern District of California to block it.
American Rivers, American Whitewater, California Trout and Idaho Rivers United claim in their lawsuit that this new rule contradicts Congress’s intent to ensure federally licensed projects do not violate state water quality laws.
"With this rule change, the administration has given corporations the green light to run roughshod over local communities, and has proven it is more interested in corporate rights than states' rights," said attorney Andrew Hawley of the Western Environmental Law Center, who represents the plaintiffs, in a statement Monday.
The 23-page lawsuit claims multiple violations of the Clean Water Act and Administrative Procedure Act. The plaintiffs seek a court order invalidating the rule.
"These new regulations are a brazen attack on the Clean Water Act with the goal of undermining the public's ability to protect our rivers from harmful impacts of federally-licensed energy projects on the environment and outdoor recreation," American Whitewater legal director Bob Nasdor said in a statement Monday.
An EPA spokesperson said via email that the agency’s “water quality certification regulations were nearly 50 years old and did not reflect the statutory language in Section 401.
“The agency’s recent action reflects the first comprehensive analysis of the text, structure and legislative history of Clean Water Act Section 401. As a result, the agency’s final rule increases the transparency and efficiency of the Section 401 certification process in order to promote the timely review of infrastructure projects while continuing to ensure that Americans have clean water for drinking and recreation,” the spokesperson wrote.