courthousenews--2020-07-14--Federal Judge Rules Women Can Get Abortion Pill Without In-Person Doctor Visits During Pandemic

SILVER SPRING , Md .
( CN ) — A federal judge in Maryland Monday ruled that women seeking an abortion pill do not need to visit a clinic , hospital or medical office in person to obtain the medication during the Covid-19 pandemic .
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang ’ s 80-page opinion granted a preliminary injunction allowing mifepristone and the accompanying drug misoprostol — oral medications that allow women to manage a miscarriage or end an early pregnancy — to be mailed to patients during the global outbreak of novel coronavirus .
Currently , patients are required to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s effects at a medical facility and must sign a form noting risks and other information before receiving a single pill .
Chuang wrote the in-person requirements alone constitute irreparable harm to a myriad of challengers , including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , the New York State Academy of Family Physicians and the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
The groups challenged the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services requirement in May .
“ Specifically … In-Person requirements , combined with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the path of women seeking a medication abortion and that may delay or preclude a medication abortion and thus may necessitate a more invasive procedure , ” Chuang wrote .
“ Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur , such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm.
” The federal government has already issued waivers dealing with other drug-dispensing requirements , Chuang wrote , acknowledging , “ during the pandemic , medical visits present substantial challenges to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of telemedicine during the pandemic , with Secretary Alex Azar announcing a “ historic expansion of telehealth access ” to combat Covid-19 in March , Chuang wrote .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued guidance outlining that telemedicine was the best way to protect patients and staff from the virus .
A disproportionate number of abortion patients are from demographic groups that have been hit especially hard by Covid-19 .
They face additional barriers in childcare , transportation and an economic downturn during the global pandemic .
Sixty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities and 75 % are poor or low-income .
“ Although the need to counsel patients is an important interest , the evidence in the record supports the conclusion that with personal counseling now occurring through telemedicine , the requirement is not actually necessary to meet this interest , ” Chuang wrote .
Dr. Heather Paladine , a practicing physician at a community health center in New York City and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center , testified many medical offices and clinics have reduced staff so greatly that in-person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For example , her own clinic closed entirely to in-person visits , then reopened operating at only 10 percent capacity .
She estimates that it will operate at 25 percent capacity through Spring 2021 , ” Chuang wrote .
Indiana , Louisiana , Alabama , Arkansas and six other states argued a decision in the case could affect how they enforce state laws related to mifepristone and misoprostol , but Chuang denied their attempt to intervene in the suit last month .
The judge did not apply a geographical limitation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. have used the drugs to end an early pregnancy and the method made up 39 % of all the nation ’ s abortions in 2017 .

A federal judge in Maryland Monday ruled that women seeking an abortion pill do not need to visit a clinic, hospital or medical office in person to obtain the medication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
SILVER SPRING, Md. (CN) — A federal judge in Maryland ruled Monday that women seeking an abortion pill do not need to visit a clinic, hospital or medical office in person to obtain the medication during the Covid-19 pandemic.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang’s 80-page opinion granted a preliminary injunction allowing mifepristone and the accompanying drug misoprostol — oral medications that allow women to manage a miscarriage or end an early pregnancy — to be mailed to patients during the global outbreak of novel coronavirus.
Currently, patients are required to receive a consultation on the drug’s effects at a medical facility and must sign a form noting risks and other information before receiving a single pill.
Chuang wrote the in-person requirements alone constitute irreparable harm to a myriad of challengers, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the New York State Academy of Family Physicians and the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The groups challenged the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Health and Human Services requirement in May.
“Specifically … In-Person requirements, combined with the Covid-19 pandemic, place a substantial obstacle in the path of women seeking a medication abortion and that may delay or preclude a medication abortion and thus may necessitate a more invasive procedure,” Chuang wrote. “Particularly in light of the limited timeframe during which a medication abortion or any abortion must occur, such infringement on the right to an abortion would constitute irreparable harm.”
The federal government has already issued waivers dealing with other drug-dispensing requirements, Chuang wrote, acknowledging, “during the pandemic, medical visits present substantial challenges to any patient.”
Additionally, HHS has advanced the use of telemedicine during the pandemic, with Secretary Alex Azar announcing a “historic expansion of telehealth access” to combat Covid-19 in March, Chuang wrote. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also issued guidance outlining that telemedicine was the best way to protect patients and staff from the virus.
A disproportionate number of abortion patients are from demographic groups that have been hit especially hard by Covid-19. They face additional barriers in childcare, transportation and an economic downturn during the global pandemic. Sixty percent of woman seeking abortion care are minorities and 75% are poor or low-income.
“Although the need to counsel patients is an important interest, the evidence in the record supports the conclusion that with personal counseling now occurring through telemedicine, the requirement is not actually necessary to meet this interest,” Chuang wrote.
Dr. Heather Paladine, a practicing physician at a community health center in New York City and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, testified many medical offices and clinics have reduced staff so greatly that in-person appointments have ceased or been delayed.
“For example, her own clinic closed entirely to in-person visits, then reopened operating at only 10 percent capacity. She estimates that it will operate at 25 percent capacity through Spring 2021,” Chuang wrote.
Indiana, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and six other states argued a decision in the case could affect how they enforce state laws related to mifepristone and misoprostol, but Chuang denied their attempt to intervene in the suit last month.
The judge did not apply a geographical limitation to the injunction.
More than 4 million people in the U.S. have used the drugs to end an early pregnancy and the method made up 39% of all the nation’s abortions in 2017.


courthousenews--2020-07-15--D.C. Circuit Pauses Dakota Access Pipeline Shutdown

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The D.C .
Circuit granted a request from the Trump administration on Tuesday evening to hold off shutting down the Dakota Access pipeline .
The federal appeals court granted an administrative stay of U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg ’ s order to drain the controversial pipeline by Aug. 5 .
The Obama appointee had ruled last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to assess the environmental impact of the pipeline before permitting Dakota Access to break ground .
“ Fearing severe environmental consequences , American Indian Tribes on nearby reservations have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to carry oil under the lake , ” Boasberg wrote .
“ Today they finally achieve that goal — at least for the time being.
” The Justice Department appealed for a temporary block of the order arguing it would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. oil and gas industry .
The stay passed down Tuesday allows the crude oil pipeline stretching from North Dakota to Illinois to remain operational while the three-judge circuit court panel reviews arguments in the case .
The unsigned order made clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the merits of the government ’ s emergency motion for a stay .
The panel is composed of U.S .
Circuit Judge Judith Rogers , a Bill Clinton appointee , U.S .
Circuit Judge Thomas Griffith , a George W. Bush appointee , and U.S .
Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard , an Obama appointee .
In 2017 , Boasberg opted not to halt the flow of oil while federal regulators zeroed in on the possible environmental toll of the pipeline , writing three years ago that the dispute at that time had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns as the 1,172-mile pipeline .
In issuing his recent order , the judge acknowledged the sweeping impact of his decision to finally order the closure .
“ The court does not reach its decision with blithe disregard for the lives it will affect , ” Boasberg wrote .
“ It readily acknowledges that , even with the currently low demand for oil , shutting down the pipeline will cause significant disruption.
” The D.C .
Circuit ordered briefs due next week in the legal battle now long-running through the Washington federal courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked a major victory for Native American tribes , with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith praising it as historic .
“ This pipeline should have never been built here , ” Faith said in a July 6 statement .
“ We told them that from the beginning.
” President Donald Trump had expedited approval for the pipeline just two days after taking office , following a stall by the Obama administration in order to draw up an environmental impact statement .
The Army Corps is now drafting a new court-ordered environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-2021 .

The D.C. Circuit granted a request from the Trump administration on Tuesday evening to hold off shutting down the Dakota Access pipeline.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The D.C. Circuit granted a request from the Trump administration on Tuesday evening to hold off shutting down the Dakota Access pipeline.
The federal appeals court granted an administrative stay of U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg’s order to drain the controversial pipeline by Aug. 5.
The Obama appointee had ruled last week that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to assess the environmental impact of the pipeline before permitting Dakota Access to break ground.
“Fearing severe environmental consequences, American Indian Tribes on nearby reservations have sought for several years to invalidate federal permits allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to carry oil under the lake,” Boasberg wrote. “Today they finally achieve that goal — at least for the time being.”
The Justice Department appealed for a temporary block of the order arguing it would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. oil and gas industry.
The stay passed down Tuesday allows the crude oil pipeline stretching from North Dakota to Illinois to remain operational while the three-judge circuit court panel reviews arguments in the case.
The unsigned order made clear the judges had reached no conclusions as to the merits of the government’s emergency motion for a stay.
The panel is composed of U.S. Circuit Judge Judith Rogers, a Bill Clinton appointee, U.S. Circuit Judge Thomas Griffith, a George W. Bush appointee, and U.S. Circuit Judge Cornelia Pillard, an Obama appointee.
In 2017, Boasberg opted not to halt the flow of oil while federal regulators zeroed in on the possible environmental toll of the pipeline, writing three years ago that the dispute at that time had already taken nearly as many twists and turns as the 1,172-mile pipeline.
In issuing his recent order, the judge acknowledged the sweeping impact of his decision to finally order the closure.
“The court does not reach its decision with blithe disregard for the lives it will affect,” Boasberg wrote. “It readily acknowledges that, even with the currently low demand for oil, shutting down the pipeline will cause significant disruption.”
The D.C. Circuit ordered briefs due next week in the legal battle now long-running through the Washington federal courts.
Last week’s ruling had marked a major victory for Native American tribes, with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith praising it as historic.
“This pipeline should have never been built here,” Faith said in a July 6 statement. “We told them that from the beginning.”
President Donald Trump had expedited approval for the pipeline just two days after taking office, following a stall by the Obama administration in order to draw up an environmental impact statement. The Army Corps is now drafting a new court-ordered environmental report, expected to be completed by mid-2021.


courthousenews--2020-07-15--California AG Pulls LAPD Gang Records From Statewide Database

( CN ) — After finding Los Angeles police officers submitted false reports to a statewide gang database , California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday revoked police agencies ’ access to records generated by the LAPD and has asked state lawmakers to reform the program .
CalGang is estimated to contain profiles of at least 80,000 California residents — the majority of them people of color — suspected of having gang affiliations .
Police accountability activists and advocates for youth of color have urged lawmakers for years to reform CalGang , saying the program increases the likelihood of residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bulletin Becerra posted statewide Tuesday , police agencies are now barred from accessing CalGang records produced by LAPD officers — representing more than a quarter of the program ’ s data — and are urged to internally audit the accuracy of their inputs into the database .
Becerra ’ s move comes after LAPD Chief Michel Moore permanently withdrew from CalGang after an internal audit confirmed a Los Angeles Times report that officers had wrongfully classified residents as suspected gang members without reasonable suspicion .
Becerra said in a statement his office has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval of the changes by the state ’ s Office of Administrative Law .
“ I ’ ve said it before and I ’ ll say it again : CalGang is only as good as the data that is put into it , ” Becerra said .
“ If a quarter of the program ’ s data is suspect , then the utility of the entire system rightly comes under the microscope .
Public safety tools must provide a real benefit to the public and withstand the durability test of constant scrutiny.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would investigate LAPD ’ s participation in CalGang after publication of the LA Times story , which said LAPD ’ s Metropolitan Division officers falsified interview cards during traffic stops by saying residents belonged to gangs .
The officers ’ misconduct came to light after a San Fernando Valley mother told LAPD supervisors that her son was misidentified as a gang member after an encounter with police .
After an internal investigation by the LAPD , which included a review of involved officers ’ body-worn camera video , the department removed the boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges are now pending against at least three LAPD officers who entered false reports into CalGang .
Becerra said Tuesday his office ’ s probe of LAPD ’ s use of CalGang is active and ongoing .
LAPD Chief Moore did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new policy .
Becerra said Tuesday ’ s action is taken under authority granted by 2017 ’ s Assembly Bill 90 , which transferred oversight of CalGang to the California Department of Justice .

After finding Los Angeles police officers submitted false reports to a statewide gang database, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday revoked police agencies’ access to records generated by the LAPD and has asked state lawmakers to reform the program.
(CN) — After finding Los Angeles police officers submitted false reports to a statewide gang database, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday revoked police agencies’ access to records generated by the LAPD and has asked state lawmakers to reform the program.
CalGang is estimated to contain profiles of at least 80,000 California residents — the majority of them people of color — suspected of having gang affiliations.
Police accountability activists and advocates for youth of color have urged lawmakers for years to reform CalGang, saying the program increases the likelihood of residents being wrongfully criminalized.
According to a bulletin Becerra posted statewide Tuesday, police agencies are now barred from accessing CalGang records produced by LAPD officers — representing more than a quarter of the program’s data — and are urged to internally audit the accuracy of their inputs into the database.
Becerra’s move comes after LAPD Chief Michel Moore permanently withdrew from CalGang after an internal audit confirmed a Los Angeles Times report that officers had wrongfully classified residents as suspected gang members without reasonable suspicion.
Becerra said in a statement his office has proposed reforms to CalGang and is awaiting approval of the changes by the state’s Office of Administrative Law.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: CalGang is only as good as the data that is put into it,” Becerra said. “If a quarter of the program’s data is suspect, then the utility of the entire system rightly comes under the microscope. Public safety tools must provide a real benefit to the public and withstand the durability test of constant scrutiny.”
In February, Becerra said his office would investigate LAPD’s participation in CalGang after publication of the LA Times story, which said LAPD’s Metropolitan Division officers falsified interview cards during traffic stops by saying residents belonged to gangs.
The officers’ misconduct came to light after a San Fernando Valley mother told LAPD supervisors that her son was misidentified as a gang member after an encounter with police.
After an internal investigation by the LAPD, which included a review of involved officers’ body-worn camera video, the department removed the boy’s profile from CalGang.
Criminal charges are now pending against at least three LAPD officers who entered false reports into CalGang.
Becerra said Tuesday his office’s probe of LAPD’s use of CalGang is active and ongoing.
LAPD Chief Moore did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new policy.
Becerra said Tuesday’s action is taken under authority granted by 2017’s Assembly Bill 90, which transferred oversight of CalGang to the California Department of Justice.


courthousenews--2020-07-15--No Judicial Authority in Challenge to Asylum Policies, Feds Tell Judge

PORTLAND , Ore. ( CN ) — The Trump administration told a federal judge Tuesday that there is no legally permissible way for immigrant advocates to challenge what they say is a biased system that , in some jurisdictions , results in fewer than 2 % of asylum seekers being allowed to remain in the United States .
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and other groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center sued the government this past December , claiming the Trump administration ’ s immigration policies imposed arbitrary timelines that forced judges — all resulting in outcomes in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The groups said the policies prevent them from providing adequate legal representation to the immigrants they serve and violate laws imposed by Congress .
“ In the immigration courts , the tradition of judicial independence has been turned upside down , ” the lawsuit states .
“ Systemic dysfunction and anti-immigrant animus create a Kafkaesque reality where prosecution merges with judging and the ultimate goal is deportation rather than fair adjudication.
” In a hearing Tuesday on the government ’ s motion to dismiss , Trump administration attorneys said no court can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they are alleged to be illegal .
Instead , Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ward said immigration cases must be appealed on an individual basis .
That was a route that the advocacy groups called wholly inadequate , as it would not result in the “ systemic review ” they seek .
U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut had questions for Ward .
“ If any administration , now or in the future , any administration adopts policies that violate the statutes , is that reviewable ?
” Judge Immergut asked .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is some harm to their organization ’ s resources , because the administration has implemented policies that violate the intention of Congress — let ’ s just assume that ’ s true — what would be the recourse ?
Somehow there ’ s no review to those claims ?
” Ward said it would be up to the individual immigrant to appeal a specific case .
If that isn ’ t sufficient , Ward said , then the advocacy groups are out of luck .
“ There ’ s a way in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ward said via telephone conference .
“ Congress has said if it can ’ t be brought by an individual alien to the court of appeals , then there is no court that has jurisdiction .
Even if that eliminated some type of claim from review entirely , that is permissible.
” Immergut asked , “ So even if it violates congressional statutes , you ’ re saying there would be no reviewability ?
” Ward responded : “ Congress has said the way we intend to review that is through a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim the government runs the immigration system without regard to fairness , logic or the law .
Immigration courts rushed some cases to the point that the legal groups couldn ’ t properly question witnesses or examine government witnesses , while delaying other cases for so long there is a backlog of 1 million pending cases , according to court documents .
Tess Hellgren , an attorney with plaintiff Innovation Law Lab said Tuesday that the enormous backlog is evidence of Attorney General William Barr ’ s failure to ensure that the immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the government ’ s Enforcement Metrics Policy requires immigration judges to hurry asylum cases in order to meet arbitrary benchmarks — or risk losing their jobs , the lawsuit states .
“ Some cases are being rushed , while others languish on the docket , ” Hellgren said .
“ Plaintiffs have expended resources to develop cases where their work is wasted because judges are deciding cases on extrajudicial factors.
” But the government said those claims should be dismissed because they aren ’ t concrete or particular enough .
“ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court to speculate that there might be some sort of bias or impact , ” Ward said Tuesday .
“ It seemed to me there was evidence that the administration ’ s bias influenced policy and the allegation is really a systemic bias that ends up hurting the legal services organization , ” she said .
“ Don ’ t I have to draw inferences in favor of the plaintiffs at this stage ?
Why doesn ’ t saying there is a bias on the part of people who create these policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization , why isn ’ t that enough for a bias claim ?
” “ That doesn ’ t mean that the court should accept unfair allegations , ” Ward said .
“ But they quote officials , ” Immergut said .
“ Their allegation is that the administration came in and they were biased , ” Ward said .
“ That doesn ’ t show that there is bias as a whole.
” Immergut took the arguments under advisement and said she would issue a ruling “ as soon as I am @ @ @

The Trump administration told a federal judge Tuesday that there is no legally permissible way for immigrant advocates to challenge what they say is a biased system that, in some jurisdictions, results in fewer than 2% of asylum seekers being allowed to remain in the United States.
PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) — The Trump administration told a federal judge Tuesday that there is no legally permissible way for immigrant advocates to challenge what they say is a biased system that, in some jurisdictions, results in fewer than 2% of asylum seekers being allowed to remain in the United States.
Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center and other groups including the Southern Poverty Law Center sued the government this past December, claiming the Trump administration’s immigration policies imposed arbitrary timelines that forced judges — all resulting in outcomes in line with the administration’s anti-immigrant animus. The groups said the policies prevent them from providing adequate legal representation to the immigrants they serve and violate laws imposed by Congress.
“In the immigration courts, the tradition of judicial independence has been turned upside down,” the lawsuit states. “Systemic dysfunction and anti-immigrant animus create a Kafkaesque reality where prosecution merges with judging and the ultimate goal is deportation rather than fair adjudication.”
In a hearing Tuesday on the government’s motion to dismiss, Trump administration attorneys said no court can exercise oversight over such policies — even if they are alleged to be illegal. Instead, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ward said immigration cases must be appealed on an individual basis.
That was a route that the advocacy groups called wholly inadequate, as it would not result in the “systemic review” they seek.
U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut had questions for Ward.
“If any administration, now or in the future, any administration adopts policies that violate the statutes, is that reviewable?” Judge Immergut asked. “Assuming the plaintiffs have established that there is some harm to their organization’s resources, because the administration has implemented policies that violate the intention of Congress — let’s just assume that’s true — what would be the recourse? Somehow there’s no review to those claims?”
Ward said it would be up to the individual immigrant to appeal a specific case. If that isn’t sufficient, Ward said, then the advocacy groups are out of luck.
“There’s a way in which these claims need to be brought,” Ward said via telephone conference. “Congress has said if it can’t be brought by an individual alien to the court of appeals, then there is no court that has jurisdiction. Even if that eliminated some type of claim from review entirely, that is permissible.”
Immergut asked, “So even if it violates congressional statutes, you’re saying there would be no reviewability?”
Ward responded: “Congress has said the way we intend to review that is through a concrete individual challenge.”
The advocacy groups claim the government runs the immigration system without regard to fairness, logic or the law. Immigration courts rushed some cases to the point that the legal groups couldn’t properly question witnesses or examine government evidence, while delaying other cases for so long there is a backlog of 1 million pending cases, according to court documents.
Tess Hellgren, an attorney with plaintiff Innovation Law Lab said Tuesday that the enormous backlog is evidence of Attorney General William Barr’s failure to ensure that the immigration system is based on federal law. And the government’s Enforcement Metrics Policy requires immigration judges to hurry asylum cases in order to meet arbitrary benchmarks — or risk losing their jobs, the lawsuit states.
“Some cases are being rushed, while others languish on the docket,” Hellgren said. “Plaintiffs have expended resources to develop cases where their work is wasted because judges are deciding cases on extrajudicial factors.”
But the government said those claims should be dismissed because they aren’t concrete or particular enough.
“All they’re asking for here is the court to speculate that there might be some sort of bias or impact,” Ward said Tuesday.
Immergut was skeptical.
“It seemed to me there was evidence that the administration’s bias influenced policy and the allegation is really a systemic bias that ends up hurting the legal services organization,” she said. “Don’t I have to draw inferences in favor of the plaintiffs at this stage? Why doesn’t saying there is a bias on the part of people who create these policies and that hurts us as a legal organization, why isn’t that enough for a bias claim?”
“That doesn’t mean that the court should accept unfair allegations,” Ward said.
“But they quote officials,” Immergut said.
“Their allegation is that the administration came in and they were biased,” Ward said. “That doesn’t show that there is bias as a whole.”
Immergut took the arguments under advisement and said she would issue a ruling “as soon as I am able.”


courthousenews--2020-07-14--LA County Sees Single-Day Record for New Covid Infections

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Los Angeles County reported over 4,200 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday , carrying on a trend of thousands of cases reported daily and hospitals swelling with sick patients .
The surge that health officials prepared for earlier this year has arrived at last in LA County .
Over the past several days , LA County health officials reported between 2,500 and 3,000 new infections daily .
But on Tuesday , that record was smashed with 4,244 new infections reported in the last 24 hours .
Officials also reported 73 new deaths on Tuesday .
LA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents to wear face masks , wash their hands , stay at home as much as possible and avoid close contact with people who do not live in the same household .
“ Today ’ s numbers are alarming and unfortunately are the result of many businesses and individuals not adhering to the basic public health requirements of distancing and wearing face coverings , ” Ferrer said in a statement .
“ We are just not able to continue on a recovery journey without everyone doing their part .
Keeping businesses open is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowing the spread.
” So far 1.3 million tests have been administered in the county , of which 9 % have come back positive according to health officials .
Hospitalizations are also up , with 2,103 people infected with the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 admitted , 27 % of which are being treated in intensive care units .
Of those in ICU , 19 % are on ventilators to help them breathe according to health officials .
The alarming figures come one day after California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the near shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new confirmed infections and hospitalizations .
That includes LA , San Bernardino , Riverside , Ventura , San Diego , and Orange counties in Southern California .
Gyms , places of worship , offices for noncritical sectors , hair salons and indoor malls have been ordered closed in those 30 counties .
Restaurants with indoor service , movie theaters and museums were closed statewide .
As more sectors of the LA economy began to reopen last month , health officials pumped the brakes as the rate of spread continued to grow .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reopening of the LA economy by the Fourth of July but those prospects dissolved as swaths of the state continued to see rising infections moving into June .
LA County ’ s death toll stands at 3,894 .
In all , 140,307 people have been infected — a figure that includes the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena , which have their own health departments .

Los Angeles County reported over 4,200 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday, carrying on a trend of thousands of cases reported daily and hospitals swelling with sick patients.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Los Angeles County reported over 4,200 new Covid-19 infections Tuesday, carrying on a trend of thousands of cases reported daily and hospitals swelling with sick patients.
The surge that health officials prepared for earlier this year has arrived at last in LA County.
Over the past several days, LA County health officials reported between 2,500 and 3,000 new infections daily. But on Tuesday, that record was smashed with 4,244 new infections reported in the last 24 hours.
Officials also reported 73 new deaths on Tuesday.
LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer urged residents to wear face masks, wash their hands, stay at home as much as possible and avoid close contact with people who do not live in the same household.
“Today's numbers are alarming and unfortunately are the result of many businesses and individuals not adhering to the basic public health requirements of distancing and wearing face coverings,” Ferrer said in a statement. “We are just not able to continue on a recovery journey without everyone doing their part. Keeping businesses open is only possible if we get back to slowing the spread.”
So far 1.3 million tests have been administered in the county, of which 9% have come back positive according to health officials.
Hospitalizations are also up, with 2,103 people infected with the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19 admitted, 27% of which are being treated in intensive care units. Of those in ICU, 19% are on ventilators to help them breathe according to health officials.
The alarming figures come one day after California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the near shutdown of 30 counties seeing an explosion of new confirmed infections and hospitalizations. That includes LA, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, and Orange counties in Southern California.
Gyms, places of worship, offices for noncritical sectors, hair salons and indoor malls have been ordered closed in those 30 counties. Restaurants with indoor service, movie theaters and museums were closed statewide.
As more sectors of the LA economy began to reopen last month, health officials pumped the brakes as the rate of spread continued to grow. In early May, optimistic estimates aimed for a reopening of the LA economy by the Fourth of July but those prospects dissolved as swaths of the state continued to see rising infections moving into June.
LA County’s death toll stands at 3,894. In all, 140,307 people have been infected — a figure that includes the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena, which have their own health departments.


Top Eight

Your Tuesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including fears over the Covid-19 pandemic didn ’ t stop Texas voters from flocking to the polls for competitive runoff elections ; Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden promised to pass a sweeping infrastructure bill ; Spain was rocked by allegations that the government may have hacked a smartphone used by the pro-independence president of the Catalan parliament , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden continued to make overtures to American workers Tuesday , promising to pass a large infrastructure bill that not only refurbishes the nation ’ s ailing infrastructure but also makes investments in clean energy technologies .
2 . )
A federal judge ordered pretrial detention Tuesday for Ghislaine Maxwell , who was indicted last week for helping the late Jeffrey Epstein build a sex-trafficking empire .
3 . )
Calling it possible that the clearing of protesters outside the White House last month was illegal , the ACLU urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appoint a special prosecutor .
4 . )
Fears over the Covid-19 pandemic didn ’ t stop Texas voters from flocking to the polls Tuesday to pick nominees in competitive runoff elections after record early voting turnout , including the race to decide which Democrat will challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn in November .
5 . )
The fight to revive a lawsuit over how California portrays Hinduism in public school lessons largely hinges on whether state educational standards are policies — which can be reviewed by courts — or curriculum , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain was rocked Tuesday by allegations that the government may have hacked a smartphone used by the pro-independence president of the Catalan parliament and spied on him and others during a tense period in the run-up to a politically explosive trial against Catalan leaders .
7 . )
An accused Islamic militant refused to enter a plea on the 13 counts of crimes against humanity he faces before the International Criminal Court as his trial officially began Tuesday .
8 . )
An airspace blockade dispute among several Persian Gulf nations should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Nations ’ high court held Tuesday in a win for Qatar .

Top eight CNS stories for today including fears over the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop Texas voters from flocking to the polls for competitive runoff elections; Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden promised to pass a sweeping infrastructure bill; Spain was rocked by allegations that the government may have hacked a smartphone used by the pro-independence president of the Catalan parliament, and more.
Your Tuesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including fears over the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop Texas voters from flocking to the polls for competitive runoff elections; Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden promised to pass a sweeping infrastructure bill; Spain was rocked by allegations that the government may have hacked a smartphone used by the pro-independence president of the Catalan parliament, 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.) Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden continued to make overtures to American workers Tuesday, promising to pass a large infrastructure bill that not only refurbishes the nation’s ailing infrastructure but also makes investments in clean energy technologies.
Democratic presidential candidate, former Vice President Joe Biden, speaks Tuesday, June 30, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
2.) A federal judge ordered pretrial detention Tuesday for Ghislaine Maxwell, who was indicted last week for helping the late Jeffrey Epstein build a sex-trafficking empire.
FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2000 file photo, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, driven by Britain's Prince Andrew leaves the wedding of a former girlfriend of the prince, Aurelia Cecil, at the Parish Church of St Michael in Compton Chamberlayne near Salisbury, England. The FBI said Thursday July 2, 2020, Ghislaine Maxwell, who was accused by many women of helping procure underage sex partners for Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested in New Hampshire. (Chris Ison/PA via AP, File)
3.) Calling it possible that the clearing of protesters outside the White House last month was illegal, the ACLU urged Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday to appoint a special prosecutor.
FILE - In this June 1, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St. John's Church, in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night. Walking behind Trump from left are, Attorney General William Barr, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley says his presence “created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics.” He called it “a mistake” that he has learned from. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Regional
4.) Fears over the Covid-19 pandemic didn’t stop Texas voters from flocking to the polls Tuesday to pick nominees in competitive runoff elections after record early voting turnout, including the race to decide which Democrat will challenge Republican Senator John Cornyn in November.
A vacant commercial space in Wonderland of the Americas, a regional mall near the Balcones Heights neighborhood of San Antonio, was outfitted with a half dozen voting machines for Texas runoff elections on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Daniel Conrad)
5.) The fight to revive a lawsuit over how California portrays Hinduism in public school lessons largely hinges on whether state educational standards are policies — which can be reviewed by courts — or curriculum, which cannot be.
International
6.) Spain was rocked Tuesday by allegations that the government may have hacked a smartphone used by the pro-independence president of the Catalan parliament and spied on him and others during a tense period in the run-up to a politically explosive trial against Catalan leaders.
FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 13 2020 file photo, Roger Torrent, President of Catalonian Parliament, answers reporters at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. The speaker of the Catalan regional parliament is demanding that the Spanish government launch an official investigation into reports that his cellphone was the target of espionage, allegedly by Spanish security services. Roger Torrent, a leading Catalan independence supporter, said Tuesday, July 14 in a televised statement, “It’s important for the truth to come out.” (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, file)
7.) An accused Islamic militant refused to enter a plea on the 13 counts of crimes against humanity he faces before the International Criminal Court as his trial officially began Tuesday.
FILE- In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, is seen in The Hague, Netherlands. President Donald Trump has lobbed a broadside attack against the International Criminal Court. He's authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against court workers directly involved in investigating American troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan without U.S. consent. The executive order Trump signed on Thursday marks his administration’s latest attack against international organizations, treaties and agreements that do not hew to its policies. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
8.) An airspace blockade dispute among several Persian Gulf nations should be resolved by an international aviation agency, the United Nations’ high court held Tuesday in a win for Qatar.


courthousenews--2020-07-14--Panel Holds EPA Must Address Complaints of Cross-Border Pollution

( CN ) — The D.C .
Circuit ruled Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency did not have authority to ignore New York and New Jersey ’ s petition asking it to crack down on air polluters in neighboring states .
The three-judge panel said the EPA failed to explain why the states ’ 2018 petition to place emission controls on 350 power plants outside New York and New Jersey had been denied .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Patricia Millett , a Barack Obama appointee , penned the unanimous ruling , writing the EPA “ offered insufficient reasoning ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of upwind polluters in Illinois , Indiana , Kentucky , Maryland , Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Virginia and West Virginia , who New York says hamper its compliance with national ozone standards .
The petition claimed that all three states in the multistate New York Metropolitan Area — New York , New Jersey and Connecticut — have not been able to meet their emissions reductions requirements for the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards or the stricter 2015 standards , lobbing the blame at out-of-state polluters .
“ The EPA failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petition failed to show that the named sources contributed significantly to downwind nonattainment , ” Millett wrote .
“ The EPA ’ s test , at best , was a moving target and , at worst , demanded likely unattainable standards of proof.
” The court also rejected the EPA ’ s conclusion that the New York Metropolitan Area did not have a cognizable air quality problem under the 2008 NAAQS because it “ relied on two faulty interpretations of the Clean Air Act that have since been invalidated , ” according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not impose a formal deadline on the EPA for when it must respond to the petition , the judges said they expect the agency to act promptly .
The states filed suit over the denied petition in October last year .
The D.C .
Circuit heard oral arguments in the case remotely in May .
At the hearing , EPA attorney Samara Spence said the agency denied the petition because New York failed to provide specified cost-effectiveness analyses for each plant for which it sought increased regulations .
State attorneys argued it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey to get specific data from polluters .
Millett addressed this argument in Tuesday ’ s ruling , saying the EPA failed to explain “ how states are supposed to obtain the required detailed and technically particularized internal information from some unknown number of unnamed and unidentified sources.
” “ Those analyses—especially determining the emission reductions that would result from installing a particular control technology on each emitting unit—would require detailed and intricate inside knowledge of each facility ’ s equipment and operations .
Such information is frequently not publicly available , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liana James , representing one of several conservation groups who intervened in the case , called the ruling a big win for the state of New York and all Americans who live in downwind states affected by air pollution .
“ The New York Metropolitan Area is currently not in attainment with either the 2008 or the 2015 ozone standards , ” James said in a phone interview Tuesday .
“ And New York , because it gets so much pollution from downwind sources , needs help from the EPA , in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply can ’ t do it all on its own.
” The EPA could help by better regulating air pollution within the power plant sector , the oil and gas industry and the industrial sector , James said .
“ That could be…requiring these sources to run already installed pollution controls more efficiently , it could be adding pollution controls to the sources , or a number of various other options , all that will result in lower pollution coming from the specific sources that New York names , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
Circuit Judges Sri Srinivasan , a Barack Obama appointee , and Thomas Griffith , a George W. Bush appointee .
Griffith wrote in a concurring opinion that New York ’ s petition was inconsistent with the targeted regulation intended under the Clean Air Act ’ s so-called good neighbor provision .
“ In addition to 130 power plants , the petition covers oil refineries , natural-gas compressor stations , chemical plants , steel and paper mills , waste incinerators , and factories that produce goods ranging from glass to ammunition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not united by geography ( they range from Illinois to Maryland ) , plant technology , industry 3 sector , or any other ‘ class or category.
’ The only feature shared by the sources in New York ’ s petition is that each emits more than 400 tons of nitrogen oxides per year.
” ( Parentheses in original . )
“ If that ’ s enough to establish a ‘ group , ’ the term is all but meaningless , ” Griffith added , criticizing the petitioners ’ argument that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that produce ozone .
Griffith said he supported the panel ’ s lack of consideration for those issues “ because EPA did not rely on them in its denial of New York ’ s petition , ” but said the agency could enforce restrictions on the scope of future petitions .
According to James , the ideal next step would be for EPA to grant New York and New Jersey ’ s petition and require some of these large polluters in other states to reduce air pollution and make sure that New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the 2008 ozone standard .
EPA officials did not immediately respond to comment Tuesday .
Neither did New York Assistant Attorney General Claiborne Walthall , nor a Sierra Club legal representative .
Referencing a recent study published by Harvard researchers that linked long-term air pollution exposure to higher rates of death in those who contract Covid-19 , Paul Billings , the American Lung Association ’ s national senior vice president of public policy , said New York and New Jersey ’ s case is especially important during a pandemic .
“ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at ozone pollution…we know that people are very concerned about lung health because of Covid , we know air pollution makes people sick and can lead to premature death and there may be some synergistic effects between air pollution and Covid – all reasons to be even more concerned about air quality than before , ” Billings said in a phone call Tuesday .
He noted the petition and ruling called out the EPA for failing to explain why it wouldn ’ t require upwind sources that are contributing to poorer air quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Certainly we can ’ t get to clean air everywhere unless we have sources that are contributing to downwind pollution pulling their weight and cleaning up to improve the air quality for those that are breathing downwind , ” he said .

The D.C. Circuit ruled Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency did not have authority to ignore New York and New Jersey’s petition asking it to crack down on air polluters in neighboring states.
(CN) — The D.C. Circuit ruled Tuesday that the Environmental Protection Agency did not have authority to ignore New York and New Jersey’s petition asking it to crack down on air polluters in neighboring states.
The three-judge panel said the EPA failed to explain why the states’ 2018 petition to place emission controls on 350 power plants outside New York and New Jersey had been denied.
U.S. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett, a Barack Obama appointee, penned the unanimous ruling, writing the EPA “offered insufficient reasoning” for its denial of the petition seeking regulation of upwind polluters in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, who New York says hamper its compliance with national ozone standards.
The petition claimed that all three states in the multistate New York Metropolitan Area — New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — have not been able to meet their emissions reductions requirements for the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards or the stricter 2015 standards, lobbing the blame at out-of-state polluters.
Smog in New York City as viewed from the World Trade Center in 1988. (Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
“The EPA failed to provide a reasoned explanation for why…the petition failed to show that the named sources contributed significantly to downwind nonattainment,” Millett wrote. “The EPA’s test, at best, was a moving target and, at worst, demanded likely unattainable standards of proof.”
The court also rejected the EPA’s conclusion that the New York Metropolitan Area did not have a cognizable air quality problem under the 2008 NAAQS because it “relied on two faulty interpretations of the Clean Air Act that have since been invalidated,” according to the ruling.
While the panel did not impose a formal deadline on the EPA for when it must respond to the petition, the judges said they expect the agency to act promptly.
The states filed suit over the denied petition in October last year. The D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments in the case remotely in May.
At the hearing, EPA attorney Samara Spence said the agency denied the petition because New York failed to provide specified cost-effectiveness analyses for each plant for which it sought increased regulations. State attorneys argued it would be impossible for New York and New Jersey to get specific data from polluters.
Millett addressed this argument in Tuesday’s ruling, saying the EPA failed to explain “how states are supposed to obtain the required detailed and technically particularized internal information from some unknown number of unnamed and unidentified sources.”
“Those analyses—especially determining the emission reductions that would result from installing a particular control technology on each emitting unit—would require detailed and intricate inside knowledge of each facility’s equipment and operations. Such information is frequently not publicly available,” she wrote.
Environmental Defense Fund attorney Liana James, representing one of several conservation groups who intervened in the case, called the ruling a big win for the state of New York and all Americans who live in downwind states affected by air pollution.
“The New York Metropolitan Area is currently not in attainment with either the 2008 or the 2015 ozone standards,” James said in a phone interview Tuesday. “And New York, because it gets so much pollution from downwind sources, needs help from the EPA, in order to meet those standards — the state simply can't do it all on its own.”
The EPA could help by better regulating air pollution within the power plant sector, the oil and gas industry and the industrial sector, James said.
“That could be…requiring these sources to run already installed pollution controls more efficiently, it could be adding pollution controls to the sources, or a number of various other options, all that will result in lower pollution coming from the specific sources that New York names,” she said.
Millett was joined on the panel by U.S. Circuit Judges Sri Srinivasan, a Barack Obama appointee, and Thomas Griffith, a George W. Bush appointee.
Griffith wrote in a concurring opinion that New York’s petition was inconsistent with the targeted regulation intended under the Clean Air Act’s so-called good neighbor provision.
“In addition to 130 power plants, the petition covers oil refineries, natural-gas compressor stations, chemical plants, steel and paper mills, waste incinerators, and factories that produce goods ranging from glass to ammunition,” Griffith wrote. “These sources are not united by geography (they range from Illinois to Maryland), plant technology, industry 3 sector, or any other ‘class or category.’ The only feature shared by the sources in New York’s petition is that each emits more than 400 tons of nitrogen oxides per year.” (Parentheses in original.)
“If that’s enough to establish a ‘group,’ the term is all but meaningless,” Griffith added, criticizing the petitioners’ argument that they sufficiently limited their petition by targeting those that produce ozone.
Griffith said he supported the panel’s lack of consideration for those issues “because EPA did not rely on them in its denial of New York’s petition,” but said the agency could enforce restrictions on the scope of future petitions.
According to James, the ideal next step would be for EPA to grant New York and New Jersey’s petition and require some of these large polluters in other states to reduce air pollution and make sure that New York is going to be able to comply with the 2008 ozone standard.
EPA officials did not immediately respond to comment Tuesday. Neither did New York Assistant Attorney General Claiborne Walthall, nor a Sierra Club legal representative.
Referencing a recent study published by Harvard researchers that linked long-term air pollution exposure to higher rates of death in those who contract Covid-19, Paul Billings, the American Lung Association’s national senior vice president of public policy, said New York and New Jersey’s case is especially important during a pandemic.
“While we have not seen studies specifically looking at ozone pollution…we know that people are very concerned about lung health because of Covid, we know air pollution makes people sick and can lead to premature death and there may be some synergistic effects between air pollution and Covid – all reasons to be even more concerned about air quality than before,” Billings said in a phone call Tuesday.
He noted the petition and ruling called out the EPA for failing to explain why it wouldn’t require upwind sources that are contributing to poorer air quality in New York to clean up.
“Certainly we can't get to clean air everywhere unless we have sources that are contributing to downwind pollution pulling their weight and cleaning up to improve the air quality for those that are breathing downwind,” he said.


courthousenews--2020-07-14--Thermonuclear Blast Sends Supernova Survivor Star Hurtling Through Galaxy

( CN ) — Nothing is certain in space , especially the evolution of a dying star sent careening across the cosmos .
The habits of dying stars have been recorded by astronomers for centuries , but researchers from the University of Warwick say a white dwarf making its way across the galaxy has a unique origin story .
They detail their findings Tuesday in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society .
Long before the white dwarf arrives on the scene there is a red giant .
Typically , a red giant is one of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ star .
Eventually our own sun will undergo the same process and burn away its helium , shedding its outer layer in a brilliant nebula with ejected ionized gas escaping into space like glowing wisps from a fairy tale .
After this light show remains the white dwarf , the core of a red giant and one of the most common stars in the Milky Way galaxy .
Researchers say the white dwarf at the heart of Tuesday ’ s study — with the memorable designation SDSS J1240+6710 , or Dox as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 — has an atmosphere of almost pure oxygen with detections of neon , silicon and magnesium .
This makes Dox peculiar because most white dwarfs are made up of hydrogen or helium .
Study authors say this white dwarf was most likely part of a pair of stars that survived its own supernova explosion .
The thermonuclear blast sent the two stars were sent in opposite directions .
Using the Hubble Space Telescope , researchers noted carbon , sodium and aluminum in the star ’ s atmosphere .
All are byproducts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s thermonuclear reaction .
Missing from the equation are iron , nickel and other iron elements that are normally found after a supernova .
This proves a partial supernova explosion occurred before the nuclear process ended , according to the researchers .
Dox is hurtling through space at 559,234 miles per hour and has a mass of about 40 % of our sun ’ s mass .
Physics professor and lead study author Boris Gaensicke of the University of Warwick said in a statement this white dwarf underwent a supernova that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interrupted the two stars ’ orbit .
“ We are now discovering that there are different types of white dwarf that survive supernova under different conditions and using the compositions , masses and velocities that they have , we can figure out what type of supernova they have undergone , ” said Gaensicke .
“ There is clearly a whole zoo out there .
Studying the survivors of supernova in our Milky Way will help us to understand the myriads of supernova that we see going off in other galaxies.
” Without the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , researchers say the explosion that sent Dox on its trajectory would have been a quick pulse of light that would have gone unnoticed .
The University of Warwick did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the study .

Nothing is certain in space, especially the evolution of a dying star sent careening across the cosmos.
(CN) — Nothing is certain in space, especially the evolution of a dying star sent careening across the cosmos.
The habits of dying stars have been recorded by astronomers for centuries, but researchers from the University of Warwick say a white dwarf making its way across the galaxy has a unique origin story. They detail their findings Tuesday in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Long before the white dwarf arrives on the scene there is a red giant.
Typically, a red giant is one of the last stages of the stellar evolution for a star. Eventually our own sun will undergo the same process and burn away its helium, shedding its outer layer in a brilliant nebula with ejected ionized gas escaping into space like glowing wisps from a fairy tale.
After this light show remains the white dwarf, the core of a red giant and one of the most common stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
Researchers say the white dwarf at the heart of Tuesday’s study — with the memorable designation SDSS J1240+6710, or Dox as it was named by team who discovered it in 2016 — has an atmosphere of almost pure oxygen with detections of neon, silicon and magnesium. This makes Dox peculiar because most white dwarfs are made up of hydrogen or helium.
Study authors say this white dwarf was most likely part of a pair of stars that survived its own supernova explosion. The thermonuclear blast sent the two stars were sent in opposite directions.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers noted carbon, sodium and aluminum in the star’s atmosphere. All are byproducts of the early stages of a supernova’s thermonuclear reaction.
Missing from the equation are iron, nickel and other iron elements that are normally found after a supernova. This proves a partial supernova explosion occurred before the nuclear process ended, according to the researchers.
Dox is hurtling through space at 559,234 miles per hour and has a mass of about 40% of our sun’s mass.
Physics professor and lead study author Boris Gaensicke of the University of Warwick said in a statement this white dwarf underwent a supernova that has not been recorded before and must have interrupted the two stars’ orbit.
“We are now discovering that there are different types of white dwarf that survive supernova under different conditions and using the compositions, masses and velocities that they have, we can figure out what type of supernova they have undergone,” said Gaensicke. “There is clearly a whole zoo out there. Studying the survivors of supernova in our Milky Way will help us to understand the myriads of supernova that we see going off in other galaxies.”
Without the radioactive nickel to power a long-lasting glow, researchers say the explosion that sent Dox on its trajectory would have been a quick pulse of light that would have gone unnoticed.
The University of Warwick did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the study.


courthousenews--2020-07-14--Rabbi Wounded in Synagogue Shooting Pleads Guilty in Tax Fraud Case

SAN DIEGO ( CN ) — The rabbi whose hand was mutilated in a San Diego-area synagogue shooting in 2019 pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud charges Tuesday , following an FBI investigation into his charitable organizations which preceded the attack on his congregation during the sacred Jewish holiday of Passover .
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was arraigned Tuesday in the Southern District of California on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud .
According to court records , Goldstein appeared telephonically and initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Crawford .
A plea agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court under seal , which has since been lifted .
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said during a press conference Tuesday Goldstein had personally made off with $ 620,000 in kickback payments for helping five Chabad of Poway donors evade paying personal income taxes .
He called it “ The 90/10 Tax Scheme.
” “ Sadly the facts of this case show a willful effort to deceive on the part of a trusted community leader , ” Brewer said .
“ There is no doubt Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was the victim of a horrific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chabad community .
That event was a significant mitigating factor in the final plea agreement , ” Brewer said .
“ But we can not look the other way because the perpetrator of a crime becomes the victim of a crime .
The illegal conduct occurred for many years and it can not be ignored.
” Brewer said when Goldstein is sentenced later this year , the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office will recommend probation .
He cited Goldstein ’ s past and ongoing cooperation , community contributions and “ exemplary ” example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the elimination of violence and religious hatred ” following the 2019 shooting .
Goldstein will pay $ 2.5 million in restitution as part of the plea agreement , Brewer said .
The 7-page charging document details a scheme where Goldstein is accused of establishing several nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Chabad of Poway synagogue he founded in 1986 , including the Friendship Circle of San Diego and Congregation Bnei Yisroel .
While some of the nonprofits provided community services , others were shell entities with bank accounts used to conceal illegal transactions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement , according to the complaint .
Goldstein worked with 18 or more taxpayers from 2010 to 2018 to fraudulently lowering their tax liabilities by obtaining $ 6.2 million in fraudulent donations , representing $ 1.5 million in tax losses to the IRS , according to the complaint .
Goldstein was additionally accused of fraudulently seeking emergency assistance including FEMA and California Emergency Management Agency wildfire relief funds , grant donations and private loans , according to the complaint An additional $ 550,000 in losses to public grant programs and private foundations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the complaint .
The investigation preceded the shooting at the synagogue , with IRS and FBI investigators executing a search warrant at Goldstein ’ s home in October 2018 .
Agents told Goldstein during the search they had been investigating him for tax evasion since 2016 .
Brewer said Goldstein has cooperated since 2018 and will cooperate with ongoing investigations into others involved in the tax fraud scheme .
Five donors , listed in the complaint only by their initials E.A.
, B.B.
, Y.S .
and B.M .
and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Goldstein , the Chabad or one of the nonprofit entities , for which Goldstein would provide a receipt for the “ generous tax deductible donation.
” But Goldstein would secretly funnel 90 % of the funds back to the purported donors , keeping approximately 10 % of the money for himself , according to the complaint .
The donors falsely claimed to the IRS their payments to Chabad were 100 % tax-deductible charitable contributions , reducing their personal income tax obligations without disclosing Goldstein ’ s kickback of payments .
In one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made two deposits in December 2017 from fraudulent donations by congregant E.A .
totaling $ 1.16 million .
Seeking to disguise the fraudulent donation , E.A .
asked Goldstein to funnel the funds back to the co-conspirator by purchasing $ 1 million in gold bars and coins .
Goldstein kept $ 160,000 for himself .
Brewer said Tuesday the $ 1 million in gold bars and coins had already been forfeited to the FBI .
The scheme even extended to employees engaging in employer match donation programs , with other donors listed as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Chabad and inducing their employers to make matching donations , only to have the funds secretly funneled by Goldstein back into the employees , according to the complaint .
Goldstein served as the director and head rabbi of the Chabad of Poway until he retired last year , citing exhaustion following the April 27 , 2019 , shooting at his congregation .
Goldstein was wounded in the shooting , suffering injuries to both hands and losing an index finger .
Congregant Lori Kaye was killed in the shooting and several others suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The accused shooter , John Earnest , has pleaded not guilty to federal and state murder and hate crime charges being prosecuted simultaneously .
San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan announced last year her office will seek the death penalty against Earnest .
Following the shooting , Goldstein became an international figure in the fight against hate crimes and gun violence , giving several high-profile speeches and meeting personally with President Donald Trump .
He was named one of nonprofit news outlet Voice of San Diego ’ s 2019 Voices of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Union-Tribune for person of the year .
Goldstein is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 19 .

The rabbi whose hand was mutilated in a San Diego-area synagogue shooting in 2019 pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud charges Tuesday, following an FBI investigation into his charitable organizations which preceded the attack on his congregation during the sacred Jewish holiday of Passover.
SAN DIEGO (CN) — The rabbi whose hand was mutilated in a San Diego-area synagogue shooting in 2019 pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud charges Tuesday, following an FBI investigation into his charitable organizations which preceded the attack on his congregation during the sacred Jewish holiday of Passover.
Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was arraigned Tuesday in the Southern District of California on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court records, Goldstein appeared telephonically and initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Crawford.
A plea agreement Goldstein entered Tuesday was filed with the court under seal, which has since been lifted.
U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said during a press conference Tuesday Goldstein had personally made off with $620,000 in kickback payments for helping five Chabad of Poway donors evade paying personal income taxes. He called it “The 90/10 Tax Scheme.”
“Sadly the facts of this case show a willful effort to deceive on the part of a trusted community leader,” Brewer said.
“There is no doubt Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein was the victim of a horrific hate crime which terrorized him and the Chabad community. That event was a significant mitigating factor in the final plea agreement,” Brewer said.
“But we cannot look the other way because the perpetrator of a crime becomes the victim of a crime. The illegal conduct occurred for many years and it cannot be ignored.”
Brewer said when Goldstein is sentenced later this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend probation. He cited Goldstein’s past and ongoing cooperation, community contributions and “exemplary” example as “a significant advocate for peace and the elimination of violence and religious hatred” following the 2019 shooting.
Goldstein will pay $2.5 million in restitution as part of the plea agreement, Brewer said.
The 7-page charging document details a scheme where Goldstein is accused of establishing several nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Chabad of Poway synagogue he founded in 1986, including the Friendship Circle of San Diego and Congregation Bnei Yisroel.
While some of the nonprofits provided community services, others were shell entities with bank accounts used to conceal illegal transactions and avoid detection by synagogue officials and law enforcement, according to the complaint.
Goldstein worked with 18 or more taxpayers from 2010 to 2018 to fraudulently lowering their tax liabilities by obtaining $6.2 million in fraudulent donations, representing $1.5 million in tax losses to the IRS, according to the complaint.
Goldstein was additionally accused of fraudulently seeking emergency assistance including FEMA and California Emergency Management Agency wildfire relief funds, grant donations and private loans, according to the complaint
An additional $550,000 in losses to public grant programs and private foundations was also a casualty of the scheme, according to the complaint.
The investigation preceded the shooting at the synagogue, with IRS and FBI investigators executing a search warrant at Goldstein’s home in October 2018. Agents told Goldstein during the search they had been investigating him for tax evasion since 2016.
Brewer said Goldstein has cooperated since 2018 and will cooperate with ongoing investigations into others involved in the tax fraud scheme.
Five donors, listed in the complaint only by their initials E.A., B.B., Y.S. and B.M. and associates of A.A. apparently made tax-deductible donations to Goldstein, the Chabad or one of the nonprofit entities, for which Goldstein would provide a receipt for the “generous tax deductible donation.”
But Goldstein would secretly funnel 90% of the funds back to the purported donors, keeping approximately 10% of the money for himself, according to the complaint.
The donors falsely claimed to the IRS their payments to Chabad were 100% tax-deductible charitable contributions, reducing their personal income tax obligations without disclosing Goldstein’s kickback of payments.
In one case listed in the complaint, Goldstein made two deposits in December 2017 from fraudulent donations by congregant E.A. totaling $1.16 million.
Seeking to disguise the fraudulent donation, E.A. asked Goldstein to funnel the funds back to the co-conspirator by purchasing $1 million in gold bars and coins. Goldstein kept $160,000 for himself.
Brewer said Tuesday the $1 million in gold bars and coins had already been forfeited to the FBI.
A photo of $1 million in gold coins forfeited by Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein in a tax fraud case. (Justice Department photo)
The scheme even extended to employees engaging in employer match donation programs, with other donors listed as J.E. and V.R. making donations to Chabad and inducing their employers to make matching donations, only to have the funds secretly funneled by Goldstein back into the employees, according to the complaint.
Goldstein served as the director and head rabbi of the Chabad of Poway until he retired last year, citing exhaustion following the April 27, 2019, shooting at his congregation.
Goldstein was wounded in the shooting, suffering injuries to both hands and losing an index finger. Congregant Lori Kaye was killed in the shooting and several others suffered shrapnel injuries, including an 8-year-old girl.
The accused shooter, John Earnest, has pleaded not guilty to federal and state murder and hate crime charges being prosecuted simultaneously. San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan announced last year her office will seek the death penalty against Earnest.
Following the shooting, Goldstein became an international figure in the fight against hate crimes and gun violence, giving several high-profile speeches and meeting personally with President Donald Trump.
He was named one of nonprofit news outlet Voice of San Diego’s 2019 Voices of the Year and was considered by The San Diego Union-Tribune for person of the year.
Goldstein is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 19.


courthousenews--2020-07-14--White House Reverses Course on New Student Visa Limits

BOSTON ( CN ) — The Trump administration on Tuesday abruptly withdrew its plan to require foreign college students to leave the country if they are taking online-only classes , just a week after announcing it .
The about-face was detailed at a hearing in Boston in a lawsuit challenging the policy brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said Tuesday the Harvard and MIT lawsuit is moot as a result of the policy withdrawal .
On July 6 , U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had issued an order stipulating that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in the country on student visas if all their classes were online .
This was a change from ICE ’ s previous policy allowing online-only classes , issued in March during the height of the coronavirus pandemic .
As a result of the administration ’ s reversal , ICE will return to following the March guidance , Assistant U.S. Attorney Rayford Farquhar confirmed at the hearing .
The controversial order had created a firestorm of protest and litigation .
In addition to the lawsuit by Harvard and MIT , a separate federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 states and the District of Columbia by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey .
Additional suits have been filed by California , New York and Washington as well as Johns Hopkins University and the University of California .
The Harvard lawsuit was supported by 326 other colleges and universities , 26 cities and towns , 18 business organizations , 16 educational and professional societies , 16 student government organization , and four unions , including the American Federation of Teachers .
Had the policy been upheld in court and enforced , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colleges and college towns because many of the country ’ s roughly 1 million international students would have withdrawn .
In Massachusetts alone , some 77,000 foreign students add more than $ 3.2 billion to the state economy each year , according to Healey , a Democrat .
The Chronicle of Higher Education criticized the July 6 order in a scathing editorial , calling it “ ignorant and ominous ” and a form of “ extortion ” aimed at requiring colleges to fully reopen in the fall or lose their international students .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ — pedagogical , financial , ethical — for higher education , an industry that many conservatives , particularly Trumpian conservatives , absolutely love to hate , ” the editorial stated .
Burroughs , a Barack Obama appointee , did not explain at Tuesday ’ s hearing what led to the policy withdrawal , but the judge commended the lawyers on both sides for their hard work in reaching a deal .
It ’ s possible that the government sensed she was inclined to rule in Harvard ’ s favor .
Burroughs attained prominence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold on President Trump ’ s travel ban .
Another one of her most notable rulings also involved Harvard – in October 2019 , she ruled in favor of the university in a suit claiming that its admission policies discriminated against Asians .
The judge ’ s father went to Harvard College .
Burroughs herself applied to Harvard but was rejected .
She graduated from Vermont ’ s Middlebury College in 1983 .

The Trump administration on Tuesday abruptly withdrew its plan to require foreign college students to leave the country if they are taking online-only classes, just a week after announcing it.
BOSTON (CN) — The Trump administration on Tuesday abruptly withdrew its plan to require foreign college students to leave the country if they are taking online-only classes, just a week after announcing it.
The about-face was detailed at a hearing in Boston in a lawsuit challenging the policy brought by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said Tuesday the Harvard and MIT lawsuit is moot as a result of the policy withdrawal.
On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had issued an order stipulating that foreign students would not be eligible to remain in the country on student visas if all their classes were online. This was a change from ICE’s previous policy allowing online-only classes, issued in March during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
As a result of the administration’s reversal, ICE will return to following the March guidance, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rayford Farquhar confirmed at the hearing.
The controversial order had created a firestorm of protest and litigation. In addition to the lawsuit by Harvard and MIT, a separate federal complaint was filed Monday on behalf of 17 states and the District of Columbia by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. Additional suits have been filed by California, New York and Washington as well as Johns Hopkins University and the University of California.
The Harvard lawsuit was supported by 326 other colleges and universities, 26 cities and towns, 18 business organizations, 16 educational and professional societies, 16 student government organization, and four unions, including the American Federation of Teachers.
Had the policy been upheld in court and enforced, it would have resulted in dramatic economic losses to colleges and college towns because many of the country’s roughly 1 million international students would have withdrawn.
In Massachusetts alone, some 77,000 foreign students add more than $3.2 billion to the state economy each year, according to Healey, a Democrat.
The Chronicle of Higher Education criticized the July 6 order in a scathing editorial, calling it “ignorant and ominous” and a form of “extortion” aimed at requiring colleges to fully reopen in the fall or lose their international students.
“It creates a host of problems — pedagogical, financial, ethical — for higher education, an industry that many conservatives, particularly Trumpian conservatives, absolutely love to hate,” the editorial stated.
Burroughs, a Barack Obama appointee, did not explain at Tuesday’s hearing what led to the policy withdrawal, but the judge commended the lawyers on both sides for their hard work in reaching a deal. It’s possible that the government sensed she was inclined to rule in Harvard’s favor.
Burroughs attained prominence in January 2017 when she put a hold on President Trump’s travel ban. Another one of her most notable rulings also involved Harvard – in October 2019, she ruled in favor of the university in a suit claiming that its admission policies discriminated against Asians.
The judge’s father went to Harvard College. Burroughs herself applied to Harvard but was rejected. She graduated from Vermont’s Middlebury College in 1983.


courthousenews--2020-07-14--Justice Ginsburg Hospitalized for Possible Infection

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized early Tuesday for what a court spokeswoman called a “ possible infection.
” Ginsburg , 87 , was evaluated at a Washington hospital on Monday night for “ fever and chills , ” according to the court , and was admitted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore early Tuesday for treatment .
After being admitted , Ginsburg underwent a procedure to clear a bile duct stent that was placed in August .
“ The justice is resting comfortably and will stay in the hospital for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” a court spokeswoman said in a statement .
This is Ginsburg ’ s third stay in the hospital since November .
She participated in the court ’ s first-ever remote oral arguments from the hospital in May after undergoing treatment for a benign gallbladder condition .
She also spent time at Johns Hopkins Hospital in November after experiencing chills and fever .
This past August she finished a round of outpatient radiation therapy in New York City to treat a tumor that was discovered on her pancreas in July .
Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergoing surgery to remove cancerous nodules from her lungs .
The court wrapped up its term last week and will not hear arguments again until its next term begins in the fall .
The justices will still issue orders throughout the summer in urgent cases , as they did early Tuesday morning when they allowed the Trump administration to carry out the first federal execution in 17 years .

WASHINGTON (CN) — Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was hospitalized early Tuesday for what a court spokeswoman called a “possible infection.”
Ginsburg, 87, was evaluated at a Washington hospital on Monday night for “fever and chills,” according to the court, and was admitted to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore early Tuesday for treatment. After being admitted, Ginsburg underwent a procedure to clear a bile duct stent that was placed in August.
“The justice is resting comfortably and will stay in the hospital for a few days to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment,” a court spokeswoman said in a statement.
This is Ginsburg’s third stay in the hospital since November. She participated in the court’s first-ever remote oral arguments from the hospital in May after undergoing treatment for a benign gallbladder condition. She also spent time at Johns Hopkins Hospital in November after experiencing chills and fever.
This past August she finished a round of outpatient radiation therapy in New York City to treat a tumor that was discovered on her pancreas in July.
Ginsburg missed 11 arguments in early 2019 after undergoing surgery to remove cancerous nodules from her lungs.
The court wrapped up its term last week and will not hear arguments again until its next term begins in the fall. The justices will still issue orders throughout the summer in urgent cases, as they did early Tuesday morning when they allowed the Trump administration to carry out the first federal execution in 17 years.


Securities Fraud

ATLANTA — The 11th Circuit affirmed a $ 5.4 million forfeiture order against a former attorney from California who was @ @ @ @ @ mail fraud , securities fraud , wire fraud , money laundering and obstruction .
Stein @ @ @ @ @ medical company Signalife , concocted “ fraudulent purchase orders for heart devices ” and reported @ @ @ @ @ investors .

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.


Immigration Detention

SACRAMENTO , Calif. — A federal court in California issued a temporary restraining order blocking the city of McFarland from @ @ @ @ @ to accept federal immigration detainees .


Attorney Fees

CORPUS CHRISTI , Texas — Texas must pay $ 12.4 million in attorney fees to plaintiff ’ s attorneys in @ @ @ @ @ in which the state was found to have violated the civil rights of its foster @ @ @ @ @ court in the state ruled .


Abortion Pills

BOISE — A federal court in Idaho dismissed a case brought by a Dutch doctor who claimed the U.S. government @ @ @ @ @ to patients , violating their rights .
The patients do not have a “ constitutional @ @ @ @ @ drugs — even if they use those drugs to further a constitutional , or fundamental @ @ @ @


courthousenews--2020-07-15--Miami Scrambles to Pin Down Plan to Curb Covid-19 Spread

( CN ) — Lawmakers from Florida ’ s Covid-19 epicenter on Tuesday pitched plans to stem the spread of the virus , outlining a ramp-up in contact tracing and a program to house residents with mild infections in hotel rooms .
During an afternoon roundtable , Miami-Dade County leaders told Governor Ron DeSantis that Covid-19-linked hospitalizations are increasing to the point where blanket shutdowns may become warranted once more .
The number of Covid-19 patients on hospital ventilators in Miami-Dade County was pegged at 220 Tuesday , doubling in the past 15 days .
The rate of positive tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than triple the weekly average rate recorded two months ago .
Miami-Dade reopened nonessential businesses in mid-May as part of its coronavirus recovery plan .
But in response to the recent influx of Covid-19 positive patients , officials re-shuttered in-restaurant dining , gyms and short-term home rentals July 8 .
A 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is in place countywide .
“ I will tell you that there is a significant amount of pressure right now for us to shut down at some level , ” City of Miami Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting .
Suarez cited preliminary statistics indicating that a large portion of infected residents contracted the virus from family members who live with them .
He said that delayed test results — along with crowded conditions in low-income housing — has made it difficult for his constituency to follow guidelines on self-isolating when sick .
“ As you know , some of them are not high-income people .
They may not have the ability to isolate .
They may not have the number of rooms in their apartment or in their home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Carlos Gimenez in turn touted Miami-Dade ’ s buyout of local hotel rooms to house local residents with mild Covid-19 symptoms .
The program is in part designed to prevent uncontrolled spread of the virus in homes with elderly or vulnerable family members , Gimenez said .
“ We need to do a better job of putting out the word that that program is there , so that if you do find yourself positive and you are living in a home [ that ] is crowded and it ’ d be really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can give you a room .
We can actually pay for that room .
We have a couple hundred rooms for that purpose , and we ’ re willing to add more , ” Gimenez said , fiddling with a mask that perpetually slips off his face .
The county announced in April that it was renting out rooms at Doral Inn and Suites and a Miami-area Red Roof Inn to provide housing during the coronavirus crisis .
Early reports from the Miami Herald stated that the hotel space would be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a living space for health care workers concerned about spreading Covid-19 to their family .
Another key measure on the minds of Miami lawmakers at the Tuesday meeting was contact tracing on Covid-19-positive residents .
Suarez , Gimenez and DeSantis each acknowledged that the spread of the virus is so out-of-control in Miami that ramping up contact tracing won ’ t immediately curb infections .
Down the road , however , an effective contact tracing infrastructure could help prevent another spike , they said .
“ It has spread enough that you really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curve in a different direction , ” DeSantis said .
“ Once you do that , then as an outbreak happens , [ contact tracing ] can be beneficial.
” Miami-Dade last week announced that by the end of the year , it would have 250 new contact tracers working for it .
The additional contact tracing would be funded with $ 14 million in federal money provided to the county for coronavirus relief .
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said that if and when the current surge in cases subsides , hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to prevent another spike .
“ I feel as though we need an enormous army of contact tracers , ” Gelber said Tuesday .
Gelber lamented that he has been unable to get updates on Florida Department of Health efforts to track down and identify people who have been in close contact with Covid-19-positive patients .
“ The Department of Health doesn ’ t really tell you the metrics of what they are doing with their contact tracing .
Nobody in the public knows who they ’ re reaching , whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they close each case , what they ’ re actually doing .
There ’ s just no knowledge of that , ” Gelber said .
Gelber said that any hope of restoring Miami Beach ’ s booming tourism industry is contingent on the outbreak being resolved “ outright.
” Carlos Migoya , CEO of Miami-Dade ’ s Jackson Health System , explained that a third of patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital have Covid-19 .
The health system suspended elective surgeries at the beginning of July in order to make room for coronavirus patients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the measure will allow the health system to maintain enough hospital capacity for severely ill inpatients .
The CEO added that staff at his Miami medical centers are spent .
“ Our people , our health care workers have been at this now — we ’ re on our fifth month .
And they ’ re tired , they ’ re stressed .
… None of them want to lose one patient , ” Migoya said .

Lawmakers from Florida's Covid-19 epicenter on Tuesday pitched plans to stem the spread of the virus, outlining a ramp-up in contact-tracing and a program to house residents with mild infections in hotel rooms.
(CN) — Mayors from Florida's Covid-19 epicenter on Tuesday pitched plans to stem the spread of the virus, outlining a ramp-up in contact tracing and a program to house residents with mild infections in hotel rooms.
During an afternoon roundtable, Miami-Dade County leaders told Governor Ron DeSantis that Covid-19-linked hospitalizations are increasing to the point where blanket shutdowns may become warranted once more.
The number of Covid-19 patients on hospital ventilators in Miami-Dade County was pegged at 220 Tuesday, doubling in the past 15 days. The rate of positive tests was reported to be 30% today, more than triple the weekly average rate recorded two months ago.
Miami-Dade reopened nonessential businesses in mid-May as part of its coronavirus recovery plan. But in response to the recent influx of Covid-19 positive patients, officials re-shuttered in-restaurant dining, gyms and short-term home rentals July 8.
A 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew is in place countywide.
"I will tell you that there is a significant amount of pressure right now for us to shut down at some level," City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told the governor at the meeting.
Suarez cited preliminary statistics indicating that a large portion of infected residents contracted the virus from family members who live with them. He said that delayed test results — along with crowded conditions in low-income housing — has made it difficult for his constituency to follow guidelines on self-isolating when sick.
"As you know, some of them are not high-income people. They may not have the ability to isolate. They may not have the number of rooms in their apartment or in their home," Suarez told the governor.
County Mayor Carlos Gimenez in turn touted Miami-Dade's buyout of local hotel rooms to house local residents with mild Covid-19 symptoms. The program is in part designed to prevent uncontrolled spread of the virus in homes with elderly or vulnerable family members, Gimenez said.
"We need to do a better job of putting out the word that that program is there, so that if you do find yourself positive and you are living in a home [that] is crowded and it'd be really tough for you to self-isolate ... we can give you a room. We can actually pay for that room. We have a couple hundred rooms for that purpose, and we're willing to add more," Gimenez said, fiddling with a mask that perpetually slips off his face.
The county announced in April that it was renting out rooms at Doral Inn and Suites and a Miami-area Red Roof Inn to provide housing during the coronavirus crisis. Early reports from the Miami Herald stated that the hotel space would be used to house elderly homeless residents and to provide a living space for health care workers concerned about spreading Covid-19 to their family.
Another key measure on the minds of Miami lawmakers at the Tuesday meeting was contact tracing on Covid-19-positive residents.
Suarez, Gimenez and DeSantis each acknowledged that the spread of the virus is so out-of-control in Miami that ramping up contact tracing won't immediately curb infections. Down the road, however, an effective contact tracing infrastructure could help prevent another spike, they said.
"It has spread enough that you really just need to mitigate and bend this curve in a different direction," DeSantis said. "Once you do that, then as an outbreak happens, [contact tracing] can be beneficial."
Miami-Dade last week announced that by the end of the year, it would have 250 new contact tracers working for it. The additional contact tracing would be funded with $14 million in federal money provided to the county for coronavirus relief.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said that if and when the current surge in cases subsides, hundreds more contact tracers would be needed in order to prevent another spike.
"I feel as though we need an enormous army of contact tracers," Gelber said Tuesday.
Gelber lamented that he has been unable to get updates on Florida Department of Health efforts to track down and identify people who have been in close contact with Covid-19-positive patients.
"The Department of Health doesn't really tell you the metrics of what they are doing with their contact tracing. Nobody in the public knows who they're reaching, whether they're getting close contacts, how they close each case, what they're actually doing. There's just no knowledge of that," Gelber said.
Gelber said that any hope of restoring Miami Beach's booming tourism industry is contingent on the outbreak being resolved "outright."
Carlos Migoya, CEO of Miami-Dade's Jackson Health System, explained that a third of patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital have Covid-19.
The health system suspended elective surgeries at the beginning of July in order to make room for coronavirus patients. Migoya said that he is confident that the measure will allow the health system to maintain enough hospital capacity for severely ill inpatients.
The CEO added that staff at his Miami medical centers are spent.
"Our people, our health care workers have been at this now — we're on our fifth month. And they're tired, they're stressed. ... None of them want to lose one patient," Migoya said.