courthousenews--2020-10-26--Over a Week Before Election, Early Voting Surpasses 2016 Level

( CN ) — More Americans have already voted eight days before Election Day than all of those who cast ballots early four years ago .
According to the U.S .
Elections Project , 62 million people have voted early in person or via absentee ballot as of Monday , illustrating how energized the electorate is this year despite early predictions of low turnout due to the coronavirus pandemic and an incumbent president .
Nationally , Americans have already cast 44 % of the total votes counted in the last presidential election , according to the website maintained by Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Florida .
In battleground states such as Florida and Nevada , the numbers are even starker : Floridians have cast almost 63 % of the total votes counted in 2016 with another six days of early voting left in the Sunshine State .
In Nevada , the number is near 60 % .
Across Texas , the second most populous state in the country that typically gives the Republican nominee all of its 38 electoral votes , more than 80 % of the total votes from 2016 have already been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 10 years hovers around 60 % of all registered voters .
“ The fact that people are voting early doesn ’ t surprise me at all , ” Ann Crigler , a professor of political science at the University of Southern California , said in an interview .
“ One is the nature of who the president is .
And these are turbulent times people feel that they are living in .
They have been told by many people on both sides of the aisle that this is an existential election.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their early voting totals , but among such data collected by the U.S .
Elections Project from 19 states , 13.5 million Democrats have voted early versus 7.7 million Republicans .
Another 6.1 million Americans with no party affiliation also mailed in ballots or voted in person early .
In past presidential elections , Democrats usually have a lead in mail-in ballots with Republicans utilizing early voting sites at a higher rate .
Crigler said voter turnout is up generally across many demographics but more younger voters are casting ballots early compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is to vote , for people who are first time voters , they are more likely to do it , ” she said , pointing to get-out-the-vote campaigns on social media and even video games .
Across all demographics , Crigler said , the distrust across partisan lines means people are more apt to ensure their vote counts .
“ There ’ s a lot of misinformation campaigns going on with the attempt to suppress voter turnout , ” she said .
“ People are saying , ‘ You know what ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hardest to go out and vote because I think this is too important.
’ ” Early voting in most states continues this week .
The election is Nov. 3 .

More Americans have already voted eight days before Election Day than all of those who cast ballots early four years ago.
(CN) — More Americans have already voted eight days before Election Day than all of those who cast ballots early four years ago.
According to the U.S. Elections Project, 62 million people have voted early in person or via absentee ballot as of Monday, illustrating how energized the electorate is this year despite early predictions of low turnout due to the coronavirus pandemic and an incumbent president.
Nationally, Americans have already cast 44% of the total votes counted in the last presidential election, according to the website maintained by Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida.
In battleground states such as Florida and Nevada, the numbers are even starker: Floridians have cast almost 63% of the total votes counted in 2016 with another six days of early voting left in the Sunshine State. In Nevada, the number is near 60%.
Across Texas, the second most populous state in the country that typically gives the Republican nominee all of its 38 electoral votes, more than 80% of the total votes from 2016 have already been cast.
Turnout for presidential elections over the last 10 years hovers around 60% of all registered voters.
“The fact that people are voting early doesn’t surprise me at all,” Ann Crigler, a professor of political science at the University of Southern California, said in an interview. “One is the nature of who the president is. And these are turbulent times people feel that they are living in. They have been told by many people on both sides of the aisle that this is an existential election.”
Not all states report party registration with their early voting totals, but among such data collected by the U.S. Elections Project from 19 states, 13.5 million Democrats have voted early versus 7.7 million Republicans. Another 6.1 million Americans with no party affiliation also mailed in ballots or voted in person early.
In past presidential elections, Democrats usually have a lead in mail-in ballots with Republicans utilizing early voting sites at a higher rate.
Crigler said voter turnout is up generally across many demographics but more younger voters are casting ballots early compared to past elections.
“The easier it is to vote, for people who are first time voters, they are more likely to do it,” she said, pointing to get-out-the-vote campaigns on social media and even video games.
Across all demographics, Crigler said, the distrust across partisan lines means people are more apt to ensure their vote counts.
“There’s a lot of misinformation campaigns going on with the attempt to suppress voter turnout,” she said. “People are saying, ‘You know what? I’m going to try my hardest to go out and vote because I think this is too important.’”
Early voting in most states continues this week. The election is Nov. 3.


courthousenews--2020-10-26--PG&E: No One at Fault for Failing to Cut Power Before Deadly Wildfire

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — No one chose to keep sending high-voltage electricity to a power line where the deadly Zogg Fire ignited last month and killed four people , Pacific Gas and Electric told a federal judge Monday .
Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , or Cal Fire , seized at least seven pieces of PG & E equipment and parts of a gray pine tree near PG & E ’ s 12,000-volt Girvan Circuit distribution line in the area of Zogg Mine Road and Jenny Bird Lane , north of Igo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ decision to leave the line energized ’ on Sept. 27 , 2020 , because the Girvan Circuit was not identified as in scope for a potential de-energization by PG & E ’ s large fire probability model , ” the company stated in a 16-page court filing .
The utility submitted its response to U.S. District Judge William Alsup ’ s demand that PG & E “ explain its role ” in sparking the Zogg Fire , which burned more than 53,000 acres over 16 days .
The blaze destroyed 204 structures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother and her 8-year-old daughter .
Alsup had demanded PG & E identify the employee who decided to keep the line energized .
PG & E said no person made that call because the Girvan Circuit was never identified by its fire-risk model system as a line that should be considered for de-energization .
Using a network of 900 weather stations , two risk model systems identify circuits for which power should be cut to prevent wildfires based on wind speeds , land type , ground moisture , historic weather and fire data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not identified for inclusion in the scope of a potential [ public safety power shutoff ] event remain energized and are not subject to any decision during the event to leave the circuit energized , ” the company stated .
Had that circuit been identified for potential de-energization , PG & E Company ’ s interim president , Michael Lewis , who oversees electric operations , would have made the call .
PG & E also revealed in its filing that Cal Fire seized three meters that recorded electricity usage at nearby properties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators took various lengths of conductor wire , a shattered insulator , a burned utility pole crossarm and other crossarm hardware from a line spanning four utility poles along Zogg Mine Road .
Cal Fire also seized parts of a gray pine tree with an eight-foot trunk rooted about 60 feet from PG & E ’ s power line .
The area where the Zogg Fire occurred was identified as tier 2 , or elevated fire threat , one step below tier 3 , which poses the most extreme fire risk , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire threat map .
Before the Carr Fire burned over 20,000 acres in Trinity and Shasta counties in 2018 , including the area where the Zogg Fire sparked , that area was subject to a Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account ( CEMA ) patrol , an enhanced inspection for flagging dead or dying trees near power lines .
But after the Carr Fire , PG & E conducted only routine patrols in that area in 2019 , instead of the enhanced patrols it typically does after wildfires .
“ PG & E is investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Circuit specifically was not subject to a separate CEMA patrol in 2019 , ” the company stated .
The utility also reported that several gray pine trees , like the one Cal Fire seized as part of its investigation , were tagged for trimming or removal in 2018 and 2019 , and the work was marked as completed .
In March and April of 2020 , PG & E ’ s contractor CN Utility Consulting performed vegetation management work in the area where the Zogg Fire sparked .
PG & E said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescribed but not completed in that area .
More than 2,000 trees were tagged for trimming or removal along the Girvan Circuit in 2020 , including more than 600 trees near Zogg Mine Road , according to PG & E .
PG & E said because many of its employee are busy dealing with a major public safety power shutoff event at this time , it may need to amend or clarify its response if it finds those employees can provide additional information .
PG & E cut power to 361,000 customers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunday night through Monday morning as dry conditions and wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour in some areas amplified the risk of wildfire .
Last week , Alsup ordered PG & E to respond to a court-appointed monitor ’ s finding that the company failed to prioritize fire-prevention work in the highest-risk zones , instead focusing work in areas that could be completed more quickly so as to help it meet a 2,455-mileage goal for inspection and remediation work .
PG & E must respond to that report by Nov. 3 .

No one chose to keep sending high-voltage electricity to a power line where the deadly Zogg Fire ignited last month and killed four people, Pacific Gas and Electric told a federal judge Monday.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — No one chose to keep sending high-voltage electricity to a power line where the deadly Zogg Fire ignited last month and killed four people, Pacific Gas and Electric told a federal judge Monday.
Investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, seized at least seven pieces of PG&E equipment and parts of a gray pine tree near PG&E’s 12,000-volt Girvan Circuit distribution line in the area of Zogg Mine Road and Jenny Bird Lane, north of Igo in Shasta County.
“There was no ‘decision to leave the line energized’ on Sept. 27, 2020, because the Girvan Circuit was not identified as in scope for a potential de-energization by PG&E’s large fire probability model,” the company stated in a 16-page court filing.
The utility submitted its response to U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s demand that PG&E “explain its role” in sparking the Zogg Fire, which burned more than 56,000 acres over 16 days. The blaze destroyed 204 structures and killed four people, including a mother and her 8-year-old daughter.
Alsup had demanded PG&E identify the employee who decided to keep the line energized. PG&E said no person made that call because the Girvan Circuit was never identified by its fire-risk model system as a line that should be considered for de-energization.
Using a network of 900 weather stations, two risk model systems identify circuits for which power should be cut to prevent wildfires based on wind speeds, land type, ground moisture, historic weather and fire data, and other factors.
“Circuits not identified for inclusion in the scope of a potential [public safety power shutoff] event remain energized and are not subject to any decision during the event to leave the circuit energized,” the company stated.
Had that circuit been identified for potential de-energization, PG&E Company’s interim president, Michael Lewis, who oversees electric operations, would have made the call.
PG&E also revealed in its filing that Cal Fire seized three meters that recorded electricity usage at nearby properties on Zogg Mine Road. Additionally, investigators took various lengths of conductor wire, a shattered insulator, a burned utility pole crossarm and other crossarm hardware from a line spanning four utility poles along Zogg Mine Road.
Cal Fire also seized parts of a gray pine tree with an eight-foot trunk rooted about 60 feet from PG&E’s power line.
The area where the Zogg Fire occurred was identified as tier 2, or elevated fire threat, one step below tier 3, which poses the most extreme fire risk, by the California Public Utilities Commission’s fire threat map.
Before the Carr Fire burned over 20,000 acres in Trinity and Shasta counties in 2018, including the area where the Zogg Fire sparked, that area was subject to a Catastrophic Event Memorandum Account (CEMA) patrol, an enhanced inspection for flagging dead or dying trees near power lines.
But after the Carr Fire, PG&E conducted only routine patrols in that area in 2019, instead of the enhanced patrols it typically does after wildfires.
“PG&E is investigating why the relevant portion of the Girvan Circuit specifically was not subject to a separate CEMA patrol in 2019,” the company stated.
The utility also reported that several gray pine trees, like the one Cal Fire seized as part of its investigation, were tagged for trimming or removal in 2018 and 2019, and the work was marked as completed.
In March and April of 2020, PG&E’s contractor CN Utility Consulting performed vegetation management work in the area where the Zogg Fire sparked. PG&E said it found no trees for which work was prescribed but not completed in that area.
More than 2,000 trees were tagged for trimming or removal along the Girvan Circuit in 2020, including more than 600 trees near Zogg Mine Road, according to PG&E.
PG&E said because many of its employee are busy dealing with a major public safety power shutoff event at this time, it may need to amend or clarify its response if it finds those employees can provide additional information.
PG&E cut power to 361,000 customers in 36 counties and 17 tribal communities on Sunday night through Monday morning as dry conditions and wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour in some areas amplified the risk of wildfire.
Last week, Alsup ordered PG&E to respond to a court-appointed monitor’s finding that the company failed to prioritize fire-prevention work in the highest-risk zones, instead focusing work in areas that could be completed more quickly so as to help it meet a 2,455-mileage goal for inspection and remediation work.
PG&E must respond to that report by Nov. 3.


courthousenews--2020-10-26--Europe Told to Fight Harder to Get Grip on Virus

( CN ) — The World Health Organization on Monday urged Europe to take even more drastic steps to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus even as European leaders impose a raft of new restrictions that are sparking anger and protests in many cities .
In recent weeks , Europe has become the epicenter of the pandemic , a bitter reality for a continent that had brought its catastrophic outbreak in the spring under control by the summer .
But with the virus spreading rapidly again , European governments are reimposing restrictions to prevent a new wave of sickness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ linked to the virus remain lower than in the spring , likely because older and more vulnerable people are not getting infected as widely as younger people .
Also , health workers have become better at treating sick patients .
But hospitalizations and deaths are creeping up in Europe .
Over the weekend , Italy became the latest country to seek to put a brake on the virus through tough measures .
Under a new decree , bars and restaurants nationwide must close by 6 p.m. and people in some regions are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5 a.m. For now , only Ireland and the Czech Republic have imposed second nationwide lockdowns but curfews , bans on gatherings and other restrictions are in place across Europe .
Second nationwide lockdowns are increasingly being considered in other nations too , though that extreme measure is seen as a last resort .
Even more will need to be done to get Europe ’ s second wave of the virus under control , top WHO officials said during a news briefing on Monday at the United Nations health agency ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re well behind this virus in Europe , ” said Dr. Mike Ryan , the head of emergencies at WHO .
“ So getting ahead of it is going to take some serious acceleration in what we do.
” The agency did not offer specific recommendations for Europe , but its experts suggested border closings , national lockdowns and even more rigorous efforts at testing and tracking down potentially infected people are among the measures that may be needed .
“ It may require shutting down and restricting movement and having stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of this phase of the pandemic , ” Ryan said .
The past week saw the world ’ s highest number of coronavirus infections yet and Europe accounted for about 46 % of the new infections , WHO officials said .
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that more than 3 million infections were detected worldwide in the past week and 40,557 deaths were linked to Covid-19 , the respiratory disease caused by the virus .
The WHO said nearly a third of the deaths in the past week took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia , Ukraine and the Caucasus region .
In recent days , protests against coronavirus measures have become more common across Europe .
Italy ’ s new restrictions sparked violent scenes in Rome and Naples .
Protests broke out in Naples , Italy ’ s third-largest city and a place where poverty is widespread , when the city tried to enforce a nighttime curfew on Friday .
Demonstrators chanted “ freedom , ” set fires and clashed with police .
Similar protests erupted in Rome over the weekend and protesters threw burning paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a city in Sicily .
Taxi drivers in Turin also held a protest , demanding government aid with their business drying up due to the curfew .
The Italian government is promising to reveal a new aid package this week .
Germany , the United Kingdom , the Czech Republic and Belgium are among the other countries where protests against coronavirus restrictions have taken place .
Early Sunday , incendiary devices were thrown at Germany ’ s national disease control center in Berlin , the Robert Koch Institute .
Also , about 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berlin , which has seen a series of protests against restrictions .
In London , police broke up demonstrations against Covid-19 mandates .
The protest featured people carrying signs reading “ freedom ” and calling for an end to the “ tyranny.
” In Prague , protesters clashed with riot police riding horses and in armored vehicles .
There are also peaceful protests , such as one in the Scottish city of Inverness over the weekend where small business owners decried their financial distress .
On Monday , the WHO appealed for patience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
“ We understand the pandemic fatigue that people are feeling , ” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the WHO director-general .
“ It takes a mental and physical toll on everyone : Working from home ; children being schooled remotely ; not being able to celebrate milestones with friends and family ; or not being there to mourn loved ones .
It ’ s tough and the fatigue is real.
” He added : “ But we can not give up .
We must not give up.
” “ No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we want to avoid them , we all have to play our part , ” he said .
“ We must all make tradeoffs , compromise and sacrifices.
” Ryan , the WHO emergencies chief , vented his frustration over people not taking the pandemic seriously and even not believing the virus is causing disease .
Conspiracy theories have sprung up around the world with a growing number of people questioning whether the virus is a risk .
“ Our problem is and our challenge is that not everybody ” is taking precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
“ Not everyone accepts that is what needs to be done because they don ’ t believe in this disease , ” he said .
“ They don ’ t believe that we have a pandemic in our hands .
How can you convince someone to do something if they don ’ t actually believe that there ’ s a problem ?
It ’ s truly impossible to think about this.
” Ryan added : “ We need to convince people , we need to persuade people and persuasion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a discussion.
” He said governments also need to do more to help people ordered to stay home .
“ They need to be supported in quarantine ; they need food ; they need contact with family , ” he said .
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union .

The World Health Organization on Monday urged Europe to take even more drastic steps to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus even as European leaders impose a raft of new restrictions that are sparking anger and protests in many cities.
(CN) — The World Health Organization on Monday urged Europe to take even more drastic steps to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus even as European leaders impose a raft of new restrictions that are sparking anger and protests in many cities.
In recent weeks, Europe has become the epicenter of the pandemic, a bitter reality for a continent that had brought its catastrophic outbreak in the spring under control by the summer. But with the virus spreading rapidly again, European governments are reimposing restrictions to prevent a new wave of sickness and death.
For now, deaths linked to the virus remain lower than in the spring, likely because older and more vulnerable people are not getting infected as widely as younger people. Also, health workers have become better at treating sick patients. But hospitalizations and deaths are creeping up in Europe.
Over the weekend, Italy became the latest country to seek to put a brake on the virus through tough measures. Under a new decree, bars and restaurants nationwide must close by 6 p.m. and people in some regions are being told to stay indoors from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
For now, only Ireland and the Czech Republic have imposed second nationwide lockdowns but curfews, bans on gatherings and other restrictions are in place across Europe. Second nationwide lockdowns are increasingly being considered in other nations too, though that extreme measure is seen as a last resort.
Even more will need to be done to get Europe's second wave of the virus under control, top WHO officials said during a news briefing on Monday at the United Nations health agency's Geneva headquarters.
“Right now we're well behind this virus in Europe,” said Dr. Mike Ryan, the head of emergencies at WHO. “So getting ahead of it is going to take some serious acceleration in what we do.”
The agency did not offer specific recommendations for Europe, but its experts suggested border closings, national lockdowns and even more rigorous efforts at testing and tracking down potentially infected people are among the measures that may be needed.
“It may require shutting down and restricting movement and having stay-at-home orders in order to take the heat out of this phase of the pandemic,” Ryan said.
The past week saw the world's highest number of coronavirus infections yet and Europe accounted for about 46% of the new infections, WHO officials said. Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University shows that more than 3 million infections were detected worldwide in the past week and 40,557 deaths were linked to Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The WHO said nearly a third of the deaths in the past week took place in its European region, which includes Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus region.
A resident walks with a dog on an empty street after curfew in Barcelona on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020. Spain orders nationwide curfew to stem worsening outbreak. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared a second nationwide state of emergency in hopes of stemming a resurgence in coronavirus infections. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In recent days, protests against coronavirus measures have become more common across Europe.
Italy's new restrictions sparked violent scenes in Rome and Naples. Protests broke out in Naples, Italy's third-largest city and a place where poverty is widespread, when the city tried to enforce a nighttime curfew on Friday. Demonstrators chanted “freedom,” set fires and clashed with police.
Similar protests erupted in Rome over the weekend and protesters threw burning paper bombs at a prefecture in Catania, a city in Sicily. Taxi drivers in Turin also held a protest, demanding government aid with their business drying up due to the curfew. The Italian government is promising to reveal a new aid package this week.
Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Belgium are among the other countries where protests against coronavirus restrictions have taken place.
Early Sunday, incendiary devices were thrown at Germany's national disease control center in Berlin, the Robert Koch Institute. Also, about 2,000 people on Sunday held a demonstration in Berlin, which has seen a series of protests against restrictions.
In London, police broke up demonstrations against Covid-19 mandates. The protest featured people carrying signs reading “freedom” and calling for an end to the “tyranny.” In Prague, protesters clashed with riot police riding horses and in armored vehicles. There are also peaceful protests, such as one in the Scottish city of Inverness over the weekend where small business owners decried their financial distress.
On Monday, the WHO appealed for patience, empathy and endurance to combat the pandemic.
“We understand the pandemic fatigue that people are feeling,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general. “It takes a mental and physical toll on everyone: Working from home; children being schooled remotely; not being able to celebrate milestones with friends and family; or not being there to mourn loved ones. It's tough and the fatigue is real.”
He added: “But we cannot give up. We must not give up.”
“No one wants more so-called lockdowns, but if we want to avoid them, we all have to play our part,” he said. “We must all make tradeoffs, compromise and sacrifices.”
Ryan, the WHO emergencies chief, vented his frustration over people not taking the pandemic seriously and even not believing the virus is causing disease. Conspiracy theories have sprung up around the world with a growing number of people questioning whether the virus is a risk.
“Our problem is and our challenge is that not everybody” is taking precautions and following the orders of health officials, he said.
“Not everyone accepts that is what needs to be done because they don't believe in this disease,” he said. “They don't believe that we have a pandemic in our hands. How can you convince someone to do something if they don't actually believe that there's a problem? It's truly impossible to think about this.”
Ryan added: “We need to convince people, we need to persuade people and persuasion is not about forcing – persuasion is a discussion.”
He said governments also need to do more to help people ordered to stay home.
“They need to be supported in quarantine; they need food; they need contact with family,” he said.
Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union.


courthousenews--2020-10-26--Hospitals Overwhelmed as Texas Border City Fights Virus Surge

( CN ) — As a troubling surge of coronavirus cases and Covid-19 hospitalizations continues to hammer the border city of El Paso , Texas , officials over the weekend delivered an urgent and straightforward plea to residents : stay home for the next two weeks .
The message comes as hospitals in the region have become overwhelmed , prompting officials to set up a new temporary hospital and implement a nightly curfew .
“ We ’ re at a crisis stage , ” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said during a virtual press conference Sunday .
“ Currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The El Paso region has in recent weeks become one of the nation ’ s worst hot spots for the virus , with new daily cases and hospitalization numbers hitting highs the city hasn ’ t seen since the pandemic began .
One local hospital , University Medical Center of El Paso , said over the weekend it was working to coordinate a “ voluntary option ” for critically ill patients to be airlifted to other hospitals in Texas .
The arrangement , the hospital said , would be offered to all hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re already had three patients that are designated to be airlifted out , ” Ryan Mielke , a spokesperson for the hospital , said in a brief phone interview Monday morning .
Officials stressed that the new curfew order does not affect voting and polling centers , which remain open with public safety precautions in place .
Local health officials have tied the surge in cases this month to so-called pandemic fatigue , saying the virus has spread because of parties and family gatherings , people not wearing masks in public and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a statement Sunday , El Paso ’ s public health director Angela Mora warned of a worsening strain on the local health system , pointing to a 300 % jump in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in less than three weeks .
The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the area had jumped to 853 by Monday .
“ If we continue on this trend , we risk detrimental effects to our entire health care system , ” Mora said .
“ For the sake of those hospitalized and the frontline health care workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , we ask you to please stay home for two weeks and eliminate your interactions with those outside your household until we can flatten the curve.
” Forty-one percent of the region ’ s hospital beds were filled with Covid-19 patients as of Monday , while 180 patients were hospitalized in intensive care units , according to data from local officials .
Samaniego said the county was in the process of securing extra morgue space as funeral homes prepare for a possible surge in deaths .
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of resources to the El Paso region later this week .
Those resources include two 35-person “ disaster medical assistance ” teams and another team of trauma and critical care doctors , the governor ’ s office said .
Before the plea for residents to stay home for two weeks , El Paso area officials had already rolled out a variety of new restrictions on nursing homes , restaurants , sports and outdoor gatherings .
The officials on Sunday warned that enforcement of those new rules would be “ applied to the fullest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t comply would face fines .
Under the new curfew order , people could face a $ 250 fine for refusing to wear masks inside buildings or at outdoor spaces where it ’ s not possible to keep away from others .
Businesses could face a $ 500 fine if they don ’ t implement certain health and safety standards .

As a troubling surge of coronavirus cases and Covid-19 hospitalizations continues to hammer the border city of El Paso, Texas, officials over the weekend delivered an urgent and straightforward plea to residents: stay home for the next two weeks.
(CN) — As a troubling surge of coronavirus cases and Covid-19 hospitalizations continues to hammer the border city of El Paso, Texas, officials over the weekend delivered an urgent and straightforward plea to residents: stay home for the next two weeks.
The message comes as hospitals in the region have become overwhelmed, prompting officials to set up a new temporary hospital and implement a nightly curfew.
“We’re at a crisis stage,” El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said during a virtual press conference Sunday. “Currently our hospitals are stretched to capacity.”
The El Paso region has in recent weeks become one of the nation’s worst hot spots for the virus, with new daily cases and hospitalization numbers hitting highs the city hasn’t seen since the pandemic began.
One local hospital, University Medical Center of El Paso, said over the weekend it was working to coordinate a “voluntary option” for critically ill patients to be airlifted to other hospitals in Texas. The arrangement, the hospital said, would be offered to all hospitals in the area.
“We’re already had three patients that are designated to be airlifted out,” Ryan Mielke, a spokesperson for the hospital, said in a brief phone interview Monday morning.
Officials stressed that the new curfew order does not affect voting and polling centers, which remain open with public safety precautions in place.
Local health officials have tied the surge in cases this month to so-called pandemic fatigue, saying the virus has spread because of parties and family gatherings, people not wearing masks in public and even some Covid-positive residents failing to isolate.
In a statement Sunday, El Paso’s public health director Angela Mora warned of a worsening strain on the local health system, pointing to a 300% jump in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in less than three weeks. The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 in the area had jumped to 853 by Monday.
“If we continue on this trend, we risk detrimental effects to our entire health care system,” Mora said. “For the sake of those hospitalized and the frontline health care workers working tirelessly each day to care for them, we ask you to please stay home for two weeks and eliminate your interactions with those outside your household until we can flatten the curve.”
Forty-one percent of the region’s hospital beds were filled with Covid-19 patients as of Monday, while 180 patients were hospitalized in intensive care units, according to data from local officials.
Samaniego said the county was in the process of securing extra morgue space as funeral homes prepare for a possible surge in deaths.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday the federal government would send a flurry of resources to the El Paso region later this week. Those resources include two 35-person “disaster medical assistance” teams and another team of trauma and critical care doctors, the governor’s office said.
Before the plea for residents to stay home for two weeks, El Paso area officials had already rolled out a variety of new restrictions on nursing homes, restaurants, sports and outdoor gatherings. The officials on Sunday warned that enforcement of those new rules would be “applied to the fullest” and that people or businesses who don’t comply would face fines.
Under the new curfew order, people could face a $250 fine for refusing to wear masks inside buildings or at outdoor spaces where it’s not possible to keep away from others. Businesses could face a $500 fine if they don’t implement certain health and safety standards.


Voting Rules

NEW YORK — A group of “ special federal voters ” who reside in Israel but are eligible to vote @ @ @ @ @ New York State Board of Elections over its rules requiring applications for voting registration to @ @ @ @ @ and received by Oct. 14 , but also requiring overseas voters to submit e-mailed registration @ @ @ @ @ postmark deadline .

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.


Death in Custody

AUSTIN , Texas — The family of Javier Ambler , a Black man who died in the custody of Williamson @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deputies in 2019 sued the county , alleging its officers were encouraged to @ @ @ @ @ to produce more ‘ entertaining ’ video ” for a since-canceled reality television program called @ @ @ @ @ footage showed that as officers restrained him , Ambler repeatedly told them : “ I @ @ @ @ @ ”


Ballot Boxes

SANTA FE , N.M. — The Republican Party of New Mexico is seeking an injunction to require ballot drop boxes @ @ @ @ @ requirements and be “ continuously , directly monitored by at least two bipartisan election officials @ @ @ @ @


Gatherings

MILWAUKEE , Wis. — As Wisconsin ’ s Covid-19 cases surge , an appeals court in the state stayed Governor @ @ @ @ @ public gatherings pending an appeal .
The gatherings order limited bars , restaurants and other @ @ @ @ @ their capacity .


Second Amendment

LOS ANGELES — A federal court in California dismissed gun owners ’ complaint over Governor Gavin Newsom ’ s Covid-19-related @ @ @ @ @ stores as they were not deemed to be “ essential businesses.
” The orders are @ @ @ @ @ specifically target ” gun-related activities for restriction and do not categorically ban firearms , so @ @ @ @ @ the Second Amendment , the court found .


Music Festival Overdose

LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court revived negligence claims against entertainment company Live Nation brought by the family of @ @ @ @ @ of a drug overdose at the 2015 Hard Summer Music Festival .
Live Nation challenged @ @ @ @ @ that the girl would have survived had appropriate medical care been readily available , but @ @ @ @ @ any supporting evidence .


Trademark and Tea

SAN FRANCISCO — In a trademark dispute over a tea company ’ s use of the name and likeness of @ @ @ @ @ spiritual leader who helped bring Kundalini yoga to mainstream America , the Ninth Circuit found @ @ @ @ @ a proper bond amount to protect Bhajan ’ s widow ’ s potential future damages @ @


Immigration Detention

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction barring private prison company GEO Group from accepting or transferring @ @ @ @ @ of its facilities in McFarland , California , finding the lower court “ abused its @ @ @ @ @ of irreparable harm .
”


courthousenews--2020-10-27--WeChat Ban Will Stay on Hold, Ninth Circuit Rules

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — Finding no risk of incurable harm to national security , a Ninth Circuit panel on Monday rejected the Trump administration ’ s request to stay an injunction temporarily blocking its ban on the Chinese messaging app WeChat .
“ On the record before us , appellants have not demonstrated that they will suffer an imminent , irreparable injury during the pendency of this appeal , which is being expedited , ” a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel wrote in a terse , four-paragraph order .
The decision by Circuit Judges William Fletcher , Marsha Berzon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal magistrate judge similarly denied the Trump administration ’ s request for a stay .
Fletcher and Berzon are Bill Clinton appointees .
Bybee was appointed by George W. Bush .
“ Now all four federal judges who have looked at this emergency stay petition by the government have found that the balance of hardships tips in favor of the First Amendment interests of my clients and not to the quite vague and speculative national security concerns raised by the government , ” attorney Michael Bien , who represents WeChat users , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than 19 million Americans use WeChat , one of the few social media apps the Chinese government allows to operate within its borders , and which enables people in the U.S. to communicate with friends and relatives in China .
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Aug. 6 calling for the U.S. Commerce Department to ban the popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat , claiming they pose threats to national security based on the Chinese government ’ s ability to collect Americans ’ data and censor content .
A group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six individual WeChat users sued the Trump administration on Aug. 21 , arguing the ban would unconstitutionally restrict their right to communicate with others and exchange thoughts and ideas on the WeChat app in violation of the First Amendment .
On Sept. 18 , two days before the ban was set to take effect , the U.S. Commerce Department unveiled new regulations that made it illegal for U.S. app stores to offer downloads or updates of the WeChat app .
Users who already have the app could keep using it , though it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One day later , U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting the ban before it could take effect .
She found the WeChat Users Alliance “ raised serious questions ” as to whether the ban violates their First Amendment rights .
She also found the evidence that WeChat poses a national security threat “ modest.
” “ On this record , the regulation — which eliminates a channel of communication without any apparent substitutes — burdens substantially more speech than is necessary to further the government ’ s significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22-page ruling .
The Trump administration immediately sought a stay pending appeal , arguing that without a WeChat ban , the Chinese government would use the app to “ surveil the American people and collect and use vast swaths of personal and proprietary information from American users to advance its own interests.
” The Trump administration also submitted a classified risk assessment on the national security threat posed by the WeChat app for Beeler to review behind closed doors .
In an 18-page ruling issued Friday , Beeler found the risk assessment “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tencent poses to national security , but she found the proposed restrictions were not narrowly tailored to address the threat without impeding users ’ First Amendment rights .
Beeler cited testimony by software and networking engineers who recommended ways to mitigate national security threats by storing user data on a U.S.-located server , using best practices for data security and performing regular audits .
Documents disclosed in support of the Trump administration ’ s motion for a stay revealed that Tencent had proposed all of those options so it could continue operating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney Bien .
“ The government revealed and has now confirmed that Tencent made a very significant mitigation proposal to the U.S government addressing what our experts say is each and every security concern that the government has raised , ” Bien said .
Bien , of the firm Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld in San Francisco , added that banning app stores from offering security updates for WeChat also makes users ’ data less secure .
A mere three days after Judge Beeler ’ s decision , the three-judge Ninth Circuit panel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk of irreparable harm to national security .
The Ninth Circuit has fast-tracked the appeal .
The Trump administration ’ s opening brief is due Friday .
Oral arguments are scheduled to take place in January .
The U.S. Commerce Department and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday .

Finding no risk of incurable harm to national security, a Ninth Circuit panel on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to stay an injunction temporarily blocking its ban on the Chinese messaging app WeChat.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Finding no risk of incurable harm to national security, a Ninth Circuit panel on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to stay an injunction temporarily blocking its ban on the Chinese messaging app WeChat.
“On the record before us, appellants have not demonstrated that they will suffer an imminent, irreparable injury during the pendency of this appeal, which is being expedited,” a three-judge Ninth Circuit panel wrote in a terse, four-paragraph order.
The decision by Circuit Judges William Fletcher, Marsha Berzon and Jay Bybee comes three days after a federal magistrate judge similarly denied the Trump administration’s request for a stay. Fletcher and Berzon are Bill Clinton appointees. Bybee was appointed by George W. Bush.
“Now all four federal judges who have looked at this emergency stay petition by the government have found that the balance of hardships tips in favor of the First Amendment interests of my clients and not to the quite vague and speculative national security concerns raised by the government,” attorney Michael Bien, who represents WeChat users, said in a phone interview Monday.
More than 19 million Americans use WeChat, one of the few social media apps the Chinese government allows to operate within its borders, and which enables people in the U.S. to communicate with friends and relatives in China.
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Aug. 6 calling for the U.S. Commerce Department to ban the popular Chinese apps TikTok and WeChat, claiming they pose threats to national security based on the Chinese government’s ability to collect Americans’ data and censor content.
A group called the U.S. WeChat Users Alliance and six individual WeChat users sued the Trump administration on Aug. 21, arguing the ban would unconstitutionally restrict their right to communicate with others and exchange thoughts and ideas on the WeChat app in violation of the First Amendment.
On Sept. 18, two days before the ban was set to take effect, the U.S. Commerce Department unveiled new regulations that made it illegal for U.S. app stores to offer downloads or updates of the WeChat app. Users who already have the app could keep using it, though it would eventually become defunct without updates.
One day later, U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler issued a preliminary injunction temporarily halting the ban before it could take effect. She found the WeChat Users Alliance "raised serious questions” as to whether the ban violates their First Amendment rights. She also found the evidence that WeChat poses a national security threat “modest.”
“On this record, the regulation — which eliminates a channel of communication without any apparent substitutes — burdens substantially more speech than is necessary to further the government’s significant interest,” Beeler wrote in her 22-page ruling.
The Trump administration immediately sought a stay pending appeal, arguing that without a WeChat ban, the Chinese government would use the app to “surveil the American people and collect and use vast swaths of personal and proprietary information from American users to advance its own interests.”
The Trump administration also submitted a classified risk assessment on the national security threat posed by the WeChat app for Beeler to review behind closed doors.
In an 18-page ruling issued Friday, Beeler found the risk assessment “illuminates the threat” that WeChat owner Tencent poses to national security, but she found the proposed restrictions were not narrowly tailored to address the threat without impeding users’ First Amendment rights.
Beeler cited testimony by software and networking engineers who recommended ways to mitigate national security threats by storing user data on a U.S.-located server, using best practices for data security and performing regular audits.
Documents disclosed in support of the Trump administration’s motion for a stay revealed that Tencent had proposed all of those options so it could continue operating in the U.S., according to plaintiffs’ attorney Bien.
“The government revealed and has now confirmed that Tencent made a very significant mitigation proposal to the U.S government addressing what our experts say is each and every security concern that the government has raised,” Bien said.
Bien, of the firm Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld in San Francisco, added that banning app stores from offering security updates for WeChat also makes users’ data less secure.
A mere three days after Judge Beeler’s decision, the three-judge Ninth Circuit panel reached a similar conclusion, finding no risk of irreparable harm to national security.
The Ninth Circuit has fast-tracked the appeal. The Trump administration’s opening brief is due Friday. Oral arguments are scheduled to take place in January.
The U.S. Commerce Department and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.


courthousenews--2020-10-27--Cold War Relics and Spy Tools to Go Up for Auction

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Hundreds of Soviet spy tools and assorted Cold War-era relics will be sold at auction next year .
The American auction house Julien ’ s announced that it will sell a collection comprised of roughly 400 lots of Cold War-era artifacts , including Che Guevara ’ s high school report card , a gun designed to look like a tube of lipstick , a purse with a hidden camera , and a hotel room-listening device used by the KGB , the Soviet Union ’ s intelligence agency and secret police .
Among the hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year is a signed 1958 letter from Fidel Castro discussing his plans to infiltrate Cuba ’ s capital city of Havana .
The auction house says the collection , titled “ The Cold War Relics Auction Featuring The KGB Espionage Museum Collection , ” will be the “ world ’ s first and most comprehensive auction event offering some of the rarest and most important artifacts from the U.S , Soviet Union , and Cuba during the Cold War era ever to be assembled and offered at auction.
” Highlights of the collection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Enigma code cipher machine known as the Fialka , a replica of the deadly syringe umbrella believed to have been used to carry out the assassination of Bulgarian author Georgi Markov in 1978 , a vintage half-ton carved stone sculpture of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin that stood in the KGB ’ s headquarters of the Kaliningrad , a machine used by border guards to detect people hiding in vehicles , and a German phone tap device used during World War II .
Julien ’ s CFO Martin Nolan estimates the Fialka cipher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The collection will be sold online and then offered in-person from mid-January to Feb. 13 , 2021 .
Joshua Goode , associate professor of history and cultural studies chair at Claremont Graduate University , said the wide breadth of items in the collection could foster a nuanced “ acknowledgement of this more complex and textured world ” that lies deeper than the popular “ Bond-like romance and fascination that has been built up around the life of spies ” in movies and the spy genre of novels since the Cold War .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , the personal effects of the lives of important figures in the Cold War , like Che ’ s report card , or Castro ’ s plans for taking Havana , might allow for furthering of this more complex story about the Cold War as read through the people who lived in it , managed it and tried to figure out the ‘ other side ’ through it , ” Goode said Monday .
“ So while the collection is still mostly the kind of ‘ cool stuff ’ from the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems like there might be some content that will fill out a more complex view of the actual human lives of people engaged in Cold War intrigue , plotting and planning , ” he added .
Chloe Ginnegar , communications and marketing manager at the Wende Museum in Culver City , California , said Monday that the public is best served when a large collection of Cold War-related material such as this remains in the stewardship of well-established museums .
“ While the Cold War has ended , its legacy remains increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then , as now , entrenched social , cultural , and political systems were subverted from below and within , and surveillance — in all forms — is now part of everyday life , ” she said in an email .
“ With the upcoming Julien ’ s auction of items from the KGB Espionage Museum Collection , it is abundantly clear that materials as relevant as this should remain together and accessible .
It is a shame that the museum has closed due to the coronavirus — especially since it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that focused entirely on the espionage operations carried out by the KGB.
” The artifacts of the collection were recently on display at the KGB Espionage Museum on West 14th Street in New York City , which has been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The private museum was launched in January 2019 by the father-daughter team Julius Urbaitis and Agne Urbaityte .
The interactive museum in Manhattan allowed visitors to lay in a Soviet gulag ’ s prison bed and sit on an interrogation chair used by the KGB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has allowed the city ’ s museums to open back up at 25 % capacity since Aug. 24 , the KGB Espionage Museum has remained closed .
Julien ’ s print catalog for the auction is available to pre-order .

Hundreds of Soviet spy tools and assorted Cold War-era relics will be sold at auction next year.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Hundreds of Soviet spy tools and assorted Cold War-era relics will be sold at auction next year.
The American auction house Julien's announced that it will sell a collection comprised of roughly 400 lots of Cold War-era artifacts, including Che Guevara's high school report card, a gun designed to look like a tube of lipstick, a purse with a hidden camera, and a hotel room-listening device used by the KGB, the Soviet Union’s intelligence agency and secret police.
Among the hundreds of items going under the hammer early next year is a signed 1958 letter from Fidel Castro discussing his plans to infiltrate Cuba’s capital city of Havana.
The auction house says the collection, titled "The Cold War Relics Auction Featuring The KGB Espionage Museum Collection,” will be the “world's first and most comprehensive auction event offering some of the rarest and most important artifacts from the U.S, Soviet Union, and Cuba during the Cold War era ever to be assembled and offered at auction.”
Highlights of the collection also include a rare Soviet version of the Enigma code cipher machine known as the Fialka, a replica of the deadly syringe umbrella believed to have been used to carry out the assassination of Bulgarian author Georgi Markov in 1978, a vintage half-ton carved stone sculpture of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin that stood in the KGB’s headquarters of the Kaliningrad, a machine used by border guards to detect people hiding in vehicles, and a German phone tap device used during World War II.
Julien's CFO Martin Nolan estimates the Fialka cipher machine will sell for around $12,000.
The collection will be sold online and then offered in-person from mid-January to Feb. 13, 2021.
Joshua Goode, associate professor of history and cultural studies chair at Claremont Graduate University, said the wide breadth of items in the collection could foster a nuanced “acknowledgement of this more complex and textured world” that lies deeper than the popular “Bond-like romance and fascination that has been built up around the life of spies” in movies and the spy genre of novels since the Cold War.
“The materials that feature the space race, the personal effects of the lives of important figures in the Cold War, like Che’s report card, or Castro’s plans for taking Havana, might allow for furthering of this more complex story about the Cold War as read through the people who lived in it, managed it and tried to figure out the ‘other side’ through it,” Goode said Monday.
“So while the collection is still mostly the kind of ‘cool stuff’ from the world of espionage and the space race, it seems like there might be some content that will fill out a more complex view of the actual human lives of people engaged in Cold War intrigue, plotting and planning,” he added.
Chloe Ginnegar, communications and marketing manager at the Wende Museum in Culver City, California, said Monday that the public is best served when a large collection of Cold War-related material such as this remains in the stewardship of well-established museums.
“While the Cold War has ended, its legacy remains increasingly relevant on a domestic and global scale. Then, as now, entrenched social, cultural, and political systems were subverted from below and within, and surveillance — in all forms — is now part of everyday life,” she said in an email. “With the upcoming Julien’s auction of items from the KGB Espionage Museum Collection, it is abundantly clear that materials as relevant as this should remain together and accessible. It is a shame that the museum has closed due to the coronavirus — especially since it was the only public museum in the world that focused entirely on the espionage operations carried out by the KGB.”
The artifacts of the collection were recently on display at the KGB Espionage Museum on West 14th Street in New York City, which has been closed since March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The private museum was launched in January 2019 by the father-daughter team Julius Urbaitis and Agne Urbaityte.
Ubraitis, a Lithuanian historian, previously opened another similar museum called KGB Bunker in Kaunas, Lithuania.
The interactive museum in Manhattan allowed visitors to lay in a Soviet gulag’s prison bed and sit on an interrogation chair used by the KGB while torturing suspects or enemies for information.
While New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has allowed the city's museums to open back up at 25% capacity since Aug. 24, the KGB Espionage Museum has remained closed.
Julien’s print catalog for the auction is available to pre-order.


courthousenews--2020-10-28--Report: Police Killing People of Color at Higher Rates Than White People

Over a five-year period , police killed people of color at disproportionately higher rates than white people .
It ’ s happening so frequently , researchers say it ’ s a public health emergency .
( CN ) — The death of George Floyd — an unarmed Black man killed at the hands of a white police officer — on Memorial Day sparked protests in solidarity across the world against police violence .
His killing , caught on video and shared across the world , shocked many , but was not surprising to others .
The narrative of a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been repeated throughout the U.S. for years .
The countless deaths eventually sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013 .
Now a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania examines years of data to reveal that Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts .
The study calls fatal police shootings a public health emergency that contribute to poor health for Black , indigenous and other people of color .
Their findings were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on publicly available data compiled by The Washington Post — show that over a five-year period , the killing of Black people remained consistently high when compared to the overall population .
Researchers looked at race/ethnicity and age information of 4,653 people killed by police .
They found more than half of those killed were white , followed by 27 % Black , 19 % Hispanic , 2 % Asian and 2 % Native Americans .
When racial and ethnic proportions are considered , the deaths of people of color at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the researchers .
While the average age of those killed was 34 , white victims tended to be older , averaging age 38 .
The average age of death for Black people was 30 .
Police violence came into sharp focus over the last several months with the deaths of Floyd , Breonna Taylor and many more .
Urban centers across the country all have their own personal lists of people killed by police .
Grechario Mack was 30 and having a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed by Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crenshaw Mall .
Mack was holding a kitchen knife because he was paranoid , and approached a security guard to call for some type of medical help .
Instead , police stormed the mall with their guns drawn and fired at him as he ran away .
“ He was scared , ” said Quintus Moore , Mack ’ s father , in an interview .
“ Police came in , like witnesses said , they stormed in there like the Navy SEALs .
They fired 15 times at my son , hitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glass everywhere .
My son was hit 7 or 8 times .
He was not the one putting anyone in danger.
” Moore said if medical expert arrived at the scene and de-escalated the situation , his son would be alive today .
He said none of the officers were charged and were only found to be out of policy for the last shot they fired at Mack , while he laid on the floor in a pool of his own blood .
Since then , Moore has become an active member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and vocal critic of LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey .
He sees her office ’ s lack of prosecutions against police officers as one “ piece of a puzzle that will stop the murdering rampage ” of people of color .
“ This shows how racist law enforcement in America really are , ” he said .
“ They ’ ve been getting away with murder.
” According to the study , Black people and Native Americans are roughly 3 times more likely to be shot dead by police than white people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by police from 2015 to 2020 , 753 ( 16 % ) were unarmed .
The rates of police killing unarmed Black and Hispanic people are significantly higher than for white people — three times higher and 45 % higher , respectively .
The loss of life at the hands of police is equivalent to 31,960 years based on the national historical life expectancy , the researchers said .
That ’ s equal to 83 % of fatalities cause by cyclist road injuries , 78 % of unintentional firearm injuries , 63 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 57 % of those caused by maternal deaths , according to the report .
But racism alone does not explain the numbers , the study authors said .
“ Our findings suggest the influence of an insidious anti-Black and anti-indigenous logic to police violence that warrants further exploration into the role of these factors in fatal police encounters , ” they wrote .
“ The literature on the ‘ twin genocidal ’ process of enslavement and land dispossession for Black and Indigenous communities may begin to illuminate the unique but related ways @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences with policing in North America , ” they continued .
The authors did not respond to a request for comment on their findings .

Over a five-year period, police killed people of color at disproportionately higher rates than white people. It's happening so frequently, researchers say it's a public health emergency.
(CN) — The death of George Floyd — an unarmed Black man killed at the hands of a white police officer — on Memorial Day sparked protests in solidarity across the world against police violence.
His killing, caught on video and shared across the world, shocked many, but was not surprising to others.
The narrative of a white officer killing an unarmed person of color has been repeated throughout the U.S. for years. The countless deaths eventually sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013.
Now a study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania examines years of data to reveal that Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts. The study calls fatal police shootings a public health emergency that contribute to poor health for Black, indigenous and other people of color.
Their findings were published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
The report’s findings — based on publicly available data compiled by The Washington Post — show that over a five-year period, the killing of Black people remained consistently high when compared to the overall population.
Researchers looked at race/ethnicity and age information of 4,653 people killed by police. They found more than half of those killed were white, followed by 27% Black, 19% Hispanic, 2% Asian and 2% Native Americans. When racial and ethnic proportions are considered, the deaths of people of color at the hands of police is disproportionate according to the researchers.
While the average age of those killed was 34, white victims tended to be older, averaging age 38. The average age of death for Black people was 30.
Police violence came into sharp focus over the last several months with the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more. Urban centers across the country all have their own personal lists of people killed by police.
Grechario Mack was 30 and having a mental health crisis when he was shot and killed by Los Angeles police officers in 2018 at the Crenshaw Mall. Mack was holding a kitchen knife because he was paranoid, and approached a security guard to call for some type of medical help.
Instead, police stormed the mall with their guns drawn and fired at him as he ran away.
“He was scared,” said Quintus Moore, Mack’s father, in an interview. “Police came in, like witnesses said, they stormed in there like the Navy SEALs. They fired 15 times at my son, hitting the windows of the GameStop, blowing glass everywhere. My son was hit 7 or 8 times. He was not the one putting anyone in danger.”
Moore said if medical expert arrived at the scene and de-escalated the situation, his son would be alive today. He said none of the officers were charged and were only found to be out of policy for the last shot they fired at Mack, while he laid on the floor in a pool of his own blood.
Since then, Moore has become an active member of the Los Angeles Black Lives Matter chapter and vocal critic of LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey. He sees her office’s lack of prosecutions against police officers as one “piece of a puzzle that will stop the murdering rampage” of people of color.
Moore called the findings of Tuesday’s study “shameful.”
“This shows how racist law enforcement in America really are,” he said. “They’ve been getting away with murder.”
According to the study, Black people and Native Americans are roughly 3 times more likely to be shot dead by police than white people. Of the over 4,600 people killed by police from 2015 to 2020, 753 (16%) were unarmed. The rates of police killing unarmed Black and Hispanic people are significantly higher than for white people — three times higher and 45% higher, respectively.
Epidemiology doctoral student and study lead author Elle Lett with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania said one of the saddest things about Black pain is that “it has to be proven to be believed” despite the consistent killings of Black people in the U.S.
When asked if it was study authors' intention to provide policy solutions and wade into a political discussion, Lett said, “I will put it to you like this: medicine has never been apolitical.”
In an interview, Lett said health equity is center mind for the study and if more people are being killed because of racist policies then it’s something that cannot be ignored.
Lett knows generations of Black peers have that conversation with their families about behaving around police and they cannot behave like their white peers, because it can be a life or death situation.
Study co-author and medical student Emmanuella Asabor from Yale University School of Medicine says she was motivated to be part of the study during the tumultuous last few months in the U.S. and continuing to see more Black people being killed by police.
“There’s an awareness of this type of violence inflected against Black bodies,” Asabor said in an interview, noting she has the skills and platform to highlight the medical crisis discussed in the paper. “Something about the circulation of videos that show the killing of people who look like you with that get such little regard from the rest of the world is difficult to comprehend. It felt impossible to ignore what was going on.”
Asabor said the study authors recognized this is a longstanding issue that has been met with incremental changes on the use of police force and criminal justice reform, but those have all been ineffective as more people of color are killed by police.
“We believe health care professions have a stake in this conversation,” said Asabor. “Police violence impacts people’s ability to live and it causes death.”
According to the study, the loss of life at the hands of police is equivalent to 31,960 years based on the national historical life expectancy, the researchers said. That’s equal to 83% of fatalities cause by cyclist road injuries, 78% of unintentional firearm injuries, 63% of those who die due to meningitis and 57% of those caused by maternal deaths, according to the report.
But racism alone does not explain the numbers, the study authors said.
“Our findings suggest the influence of an insidious anti-Black and anti-indigenous logic to police violence that warrants further exploration into the role of these factors in fatal police encounters,” they wrote.
“The literature on the ‘twin genocidal’ process of enslavement and land dispossession for Black and Indigenous communities may begin to illuminate the unique but related ways that white supremacy has shaped these groups experiences with policing in North America,” they continued.
The authors did not respond to a request for comment on their findings.


courthousenews--2020-10-27--Biden Up by 6 Points Over Trump Among Likely Nevada Voters

( CN ) — Former Vice President Joe Biden enjoys a healthy lead in the crucial state of Nevada despite President Donald Trump ’ s efforts to bring the state back under GOP control , according to a poll released Tuesday .
While once considered a swing state during presidential contests , Nevada has gradually found itself becoming a more favorable battleground for Democrats in recent election history .
Not only did Hillary Clinton claim victory in the Silver State four years ago , but a Republican has not carried Nevada since George W. Bush managed a small victory there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubling trend for Republicans has not stopped Trump from attempting to flip the state red once again .
He has visited the state at least twice in recent months and is currently set to hold a rally right across the border in Bullhead City , Arizona , on Wednesday .
Nevada has also been hit hard by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic , with a reported 96,000 Covid-19 cases and more than 1,750 deaths in the state so far .
The pandemic has also taken a serious toll on the state ’ s economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonder how these new realities will influence Nevada voters when it comes time to cast their presidential ballots .
Despite these uncertainties and efforts by the GOP to flip Nevada , new polling data suggests the state will stay blue .
A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Tuesday reports that with just a week to go before Election Day , 49 % of likely Nevada voters say they are behind Biden while just 43 % say they support Trump , a six-point lead for the Democratic nominee that falls outside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voters in the state say they remain undecided or opted not to share which candidate they preferred .
Pollsters did their survey after the final presidential debate last week , one of the last major opportunities for both candidates to make their case to voters in the final days of the election .
Nearly 70 % of likely Nevada voters watched the debate according to Tuesday ’ s poll .
The figures reported Tuesday fall in line with a previous poll that gave Biden a similar edge over Trump in early October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s positive Covid-19 test , subsequent stint in the hospital and general post-recovery campaign performance have done little to move the needle .
Biden ’ s lead in the Nevada poll comes from a handful of voting groups that have been reliably in Biden ’ s camp during the election .
Biden commands double-digit leads among women and voters under 30 and holds a small but respectable advantage over Trump among senior voters .
Biden also does exceptionally well among Hispanic voters in Nevada , leading the president by nearly 30 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given that Hispanic voters make up roughly a fifth of eligible voters in the state .
Trump is of course not without his own bastions of supporters in the state , though not by the same margins being enjoyed by his rival .
Trump leads Biden among white voters by just over 10 points , leads among white voters without college degrees and holds on to a seven-point lead among men .
Like numerous other polls released during this election cycle , Tuesday ’ s poll indicates Trump ’ s polling deficit may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters don ’ t have a very positive view of him .
Among Nevada respondents , 43 % say they have a “ very unfavorable ” view of the president , a number that includes 55 % of non-white voters .
For comparison , just over half of those asked say they had a favorable view of Biden .
Tuesday ’ s poll of 809 likely Nevada voters contains a 3.8 % margin of error .

Former Vice President Joe Biden enjoys a healthy lead in the crucial state of Nevada despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the state back under GOP control, according to a poll released Tuesday.
(CN) — Former Vice President Joe Biden enjoys a healthy lead in the crucial state of Nevada despite President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring the state back under GOP control, according to a poll released Tuesday.
While once considered a swing state during presidential contests, Nevada has gradually found itself becoming a more favorable battleground for Democrats in recent election history. Not only did Hillary Clinton claim victory in the Silver State four years ago, but a Republican has not carried Nevada since George W. Bush managed a small victory there against John Kerry in 2004.
This troubling trend for Republicans has not stopped Trump from attempting to flip the state red once again. He has visited the state at least twice in recent months and is currently set to hold a rally right across the border in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday.
Nevada has also been hit hard by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with a reported 96,000 Covid-19 cases and more than 1,750 deaths in the state so far. The pandemic has also taken a serious toll on the state’s economy and unemployment statistics, leaving many to wonder how these new realities will influence Nevada voters when it comes time to cast their presidential ballots.
Despite these uncertainties and efforts by the GOP to flip Nevada, new polling data suggests the state will stay blue.
A New York Times/Siena College poll released on Tuesday reports that with just a week to go before Election Day, 49% of likely Nevada voters say they are behind Biden while just 43% say they support Trump, a six-point lead for the Democratic nominee that falls outside the margin of error. Another 4% of voters in the state say they remain undecided or opted not to share which candidate they preferred.
Pollsters did their survey after the final presidential debate last week, one of the last major opportunities for both candidates to make their case to voters in the final days of the election. Nearly 70% of likely Nevada voters watched the debate according to Tuesday’s poll.
The figures reported Tuesday fall in line with a previous poll that gave Biden a similar edge over Trump in early October, suggesting that the aftermath of Trump’s positive Covid-19 test, subsequent stint in the hospital and general post-recovery campaign performance have done little to move the needle.
Biden’s lead in the Nevada poll comes from a handful of voting groups that have been reliably in Biden’s camp during the election. Biden commands double-digit leads among women and voters under 30 and holds a small but respectable advantage over Trump among senior voters. Biden also does exceptionally well among Hispanic voters in Nevada, leading the president by nearly 30 points — a potentially pivotal statistic for Biden given that Hispanic voters make up roughly a fifth of eligible voters in the state.
Trump is of course not without his own bastions of supporters in the state, though not by the same margins being enjoyed by his rival. Trump leads Biden among white voters by just over 10 points, leads among white voters without college degrees and holds on to a seven-point lead among men.
Like numerous other polls released during this election cycle, Tuesday’s poll indicates Trump’s polling deficit may come down to the fact that many voters don’t have a very positive view of him. Among Nevada respondents, 43% say they have a “very unfavorable” view of the president, a number that includes 55% of non-white voters.
For comparison, just over half of those asked say they had a favorable view of Biden.
Tuesday’s poll of 809 likely Nevada voters contains a 3.8% margin of error.


courthousenews--2020-10-27--Woman Takes on ‘Inappropriate and Unlawful’ Bail Bond Contracts

Tired of what she says are harassing phone calls over a contract she says is unenforceable , a San Francisco Bay Area woman has hit a bail industry leader with a first-of-its-kind consumer class action .
OAKLAND , Calif. ( CN ) — Kiara Caldwell had no inkling of the years-long ordeal in store for her when she signed the forms to bail her close friend out of jail in 2018 .
She certainly didn ’ t expect to be harassed with daily phone calls , threatened with the loss of her job , or sued in state court .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tables on bail industry mainstay Bad Boys Bail Bonds with a class action challenging what she says are unenforceable credit agreements that leave bail cosigners on the hook for thousands of dollars .
The lawsuit , filed Tuesday in Alameda Superior Court , is the first of its kind to target a bail company for violating California ’ s consumer protection laws .
“ Bail companies have maintained that these consumer laws do not apply to them , but it ’ s not true as it turns out , ” Elisa Della-Piana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area , said in an interview Tuesday .
If someone can not afford to secure their own release through bail , commercial bail bonds companies will pay on their behalf in exchange for a nonrefundable premium payment , usually 10 % of the bail amount .
Agencies also offer financing , sometimes called “ credit bail , ” where a cosigner must assume responsibility for the premium , which can be paid off in monthly installments .
Like Caldwell , friends and family members are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Caldwell ’ s lawsuit says Bad Boys provides no notice to cosigners that they are fully responsible for the repayment of the loan .
Caldwell was at home on June 21 , 2018 , when she got a call from a man who said he was from a bail bonds agency .
He told her that she had a sister or family member in jail and that Caldwell could help get her out .
It turned out that a close friend , someone she considered a sister , had been arrested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security guard and attending classes at Chabot College in Oakland .
She didn ’ t have much extra cash lying around but she knew her friend needed her help .
“ I was the only person who could help her out , ” Caldwell said Tuesday .
So she headed down to Bad Boys Bail Bonds ’ Oakland storefront , where she was met by the same guy she ’ s spoken with on the phone .
Her friend ’ s bail was set at $ 5,000 .
The bail agent wanted $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready access to a full grand , but she offered to pay $ 500 .
The agency wouldn ’ t accept a debit card , so she went down the street to an ATM and withdrew the money in cash .
Caldwell said the whole process felt rushed and overbearing .
They pushed paperwork at her , asked her to provide them with her employers ’ information , her mother ’ s contact number , even the make and model of her car .
It was her first time dealing with a bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about getting her friend out of jail , so she didn ’ t ask questions .
“ In being rushed you have this adrenaline , this extra energy pumping through you .
I knew that she wanted to get out of jail and I felt I was the only person who could help her , ” Caldwell said .
“ It almost seemed more like they just wanted a sale .
Nothing was explained and I didn ’ t ask any questions , ” she said .
“ I was a bit younger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t thinking about the things that come with it .
I ’ m just trying to get my sister out of jail .
When you ’ ve never dealt with something and you ’ re frantic in that moment , you tend not to ask questions .
And they ’ re not worried about explaining anything to you.
” Della-Piana said such tactics are typical .
“ This is a moment where people are at their most vulnerable .
Their loved one ’ s freedom is at stake .
Part of the tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to get people to sign as quickly as possible and make people feel like they ’ re getting a great deal , ” she said .
“ A lot of people think all they will be expected to pay is the amount they say ‘ we ’ ll need today.
’ They scrape together $ 200 or $ 500 and that ’ s all it ’ s going to take as long as their loved one shows up in court .
The cosigners don ’ t realize they are responsible for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is.
” Caldwell believed her sister would be responsible for paying off the remaining $ 500 .
But the credit agreement she signed set a balance of $ 4,500 , with payments of $ 450 due every month over ten to 18 months .
The calls started in July .
It wasn ’ t too bad at first .
They just wanted to know where their money was .
But Caldwell didn ’ t have it , and her friend wasn ’ t paying either .
Then they got aggressive .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers .
Sometimes it was a man , sometimes a woman .
“ If I ’ m on five they were on 10 , ” Caldwell said .
They said , “ We can tell your employer and you could lose your job because you ’ re not making your payments.
” Caldwell suspected that was an illegal threat but still worried , especially when Bad Boys began calling her workplace .
They also called her mother , whom she had listed as a reference , though she never consented for them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that purpose .
In October 2019 , Bad Boys sued Caldwell in Alameda Superior Court , demanding $ 4,500 plus costs and fees .
Caldwell ’ s class action says she was never properly served .
Bad Boys attempted substitute service at her parents ’ home in Hercules , but Caldwell does not live there .
Della-Piana said her organization ’ s bail clinic , just a few years old , has been helping individuals fight their bail contracts while hoping the California Legislature would make clear that state laws prohibiting unfair , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bail industry .
A Contra Costa Superior Court judge recently found such laws do apply , giving the green light to an individual countersuit against Bad Boys last year .
“ I do think in some sense a class action is past due .
There are millions of dollars in outstanding debts for contracts like Ms. Caldwell ’ s , ” Della-Piana said .
This is true , she noted , even if voters pass a ballot measure that would eliminate cash bail in California .
“ If money bail is abolished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bail bonds companies and the outstanding debts ?
One thing we ’ re worried about is that collections efforts will actually increase if the proposition passes , ” she said .
“ Bail companies will be able to unlawfully extract as much money as possible before they go out of business.
” Caldwell ’ s action proposes a class of comprising every Bad Boys cosigner who signed an agreement on or after Oct. 30 , 2015 , and for which payment was owed , made or sought on or after that date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part in the case after learning that there were others who shared her experience and that her participation could help them .
“ At this point it ’ s dragged on for so long I feel like I would rather fight it with other people , if others are going through the same thing , ” she said .
Bad Boys did not return phone messages left at its Oakland and San Jose offices seeking comment on the case .
Caldwell seeks restitution , a declaration that Bad Boys ’ credit bail agreements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the agency from attempting to collect on them .
It also demands that Bad Boys be ordered to provide cosigners with notices that comply with California ’ s civil code on consumer credit contracts .

Tired of what she says are harassing phone calls over a contract she says is unenforceable, a San Francisco Bay Area woman has hit a bail industry leader with a first-of-its-kind consumer class action.
OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) — Kiara Caldwell had no inkling of the years-long ordeal in store for her when she signed the forms to bail her close friend out of jail in 2018. She certainly didn’t expect to be harassed with daily phone calls, threatened with the loss of her job, or sued in state court.
But now she’s turning the tables on bail industry mainstay Bad Boys Bail Bonds with a class action challenging what she says are unenforceable credit agreements that leave bail cosigners on the hook for thousands of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Alameda Superior Court, is the first of its kind to target a bail company for violating California’s consumer protection laws.
“Bail companies have maintained that these consumer laws do not apply to them, but it's not true as it turns out,” Elisa Della-Piana, legal director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, said in an interview Tuesday.
If someone cannot afford to secure their own release through bail, commercial bail bonds companies will pay on their behalf in exchange for a nonrefundable premium payment, usually 10% of the bail amount. Agencies also offer financing, sometimes called “credit bail,” where a cosigner must assume responsibility for the premium, which can be paid off in monthly installments.
Like Caldwell, friends and family members are often the ones cosigning these credit agreements. Caldwell’s lawsuit says Bad Boys provides no notice to cosigners that they are fully responsible for the repayment of the loan.
Caldwell was at home on June 21, 2018, when she got a call from a man who said he was from a bail bonds agency. He told her that she had a sister or family member in jail and that Caldwell could help get her out.
It turned out that a close friend, someone she considered a sister, had been arrested for shoplifting.
Caldwell was working as a security guard and attending classes at Chabot College in Oakland. She didn't have much extra cash lying around but she knew her friend needed her help.
“I was the only person who could help her out,” Caldwell said Tuesday.
So she headed down to Bad Boys Bail Bonds’ Oakland storefront, where she was met by the same guy she’s spoken with on the phone. Her friend’s bail was set at $5,000. The bail agent wanted $1,000.
Caldwell didn’t have ready access to a full grand, but she offered to pay $500. The agency wouldn't accept a debit card, so she went down the street to an ATM and withdrew the money in cash.
Caldwell said the whole process felt rushed and overbearing. They pushed paperwork at her, asked her to provide them with her employers’ information, her mother’s contact number, even the make and model of her car. It was her first time dealing with a bail bonds agency and she was more concerned about getting her friend out of jail, so she didn't ask questions.
“In being rushed you have this adrenaline, this extra energy pumping through you. I knew that she wanted to get out of jail and I felt I was the only person who could help her,” Caldwell said.
“It almost seemed more like they just wanted a sale. Nothing was explained and I didn’t ask any questions,” she said. “I was a bit younger at the time and I wasn’t thinking about the things that come with it. I'm just trying to get my sister out of jail. When you’ve never dealt with something and you're frantic in that moment, you tend not to ask questions. And they’re not worried about explaining anything to you.”


courthousenews--2020-10-27--Hours of Cruelty Recounted at Sentencing of NXIVM Sex Cult Leader

BROOKLYN ( CN ) — Moments before sentencing Keith Raniere to over a century in prison Tuesday , a federal judge rebuked the former sex cult leader ’ s lawyer for arguing his client deserved a lesser sentence because “ we ’ re sentencing on his perspective.
” “ No , we ’ re not sentencing him on a perspective , ” U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis boomed during Tuesday ’ s five-hour sentencing .
“ I ’ m sentencing him on his behavior .
His illegal behavior.
” The remarks came after 15 of Raniere ’ s victims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional abuse , surveillance , threats and litigation from Raniere and his followers .
Raniere billed NXIVM ( pronounced Nexium ) as a self-help group , but the organization crumbled in 2018 after its leaders were arrested for running a secret inner ring called DOS or The Vow that prosecutors said operated as a pyramid scheme with sex slaves .
Raniere was known as “ Vanguard ” here , supervising a second tier of “ first-line masters ” to keep a bottom rung of sex slaves under his control .
Both the masters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and everything about their lives , from that they ate or wore to when they cut their hair , Raniere controlled .
Testifying for the first time Tuesday was Camila , a former slave turned master named Camila whose last name is not public .
Camila described meeting Raniere at age 13 ; she had just taken second place in her eighth-grade spelling bee .
Two years later , Raniere had sex with her .
He was 45 at the time .
Camila said he photographed her nude and later told her he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they first met .
Even today , Camila says she has lasting physical and emotional scars , like battling an eating disorder ever since Raniere directed her to maintain a weight of 100 pounds or less .
Camila is 5 feet 5 inches tall .
When Camila asked Raniere about seeking medical help after experiencing “ frightening physical symptoms , ” he told her to “ lose the weight first , ” she testified .
“ It felt like I would never be free , ” Camila said .
“ There was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siblings and both parents were all involved with NXIVM .
Her oldest sister and father remain part of the group , while another of her sisters , Daniela ; brother , Adrian ; and mother , Adriana , all testified Tuesday .
Daniela was involved with NXIVM between ages 16 and 26 .
Raniere began a sexual relationship with Daniela when she was 18 .
Later , after Daniela told Raniere she had developed feelings for someone else , he confined her to a room for two years for her “ ethical breach.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ certificate , a copy of which she was ultimately able to obtain with the help of an attorney at a human rights commission .
Daniela remarked during her testimony that , despite the alarming extent of the torture and abuse victims underwent — in various testimony , witnesses called him a “ sociopath who thrills at our pain , ” a “ monster ” and a “ master manipulator ” — Raniere is “ nothing special , ” and his name will be forgotten soon enough .
“ It ’ s all very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ You ’ re just a liar.
” As argued by his defense attorney , Marc Agnifilo , Raniere has maintained that he meant no harm .
Garaufis asked the lawyer how , then , he can explain Raniere ’ s relationship with Camila .
“ Don ’ t treat me , this court , as if it ’ s not the intent to do what he did , ” Garaufis said .
“ Please.
” Garaufis said continuing to suggest Raniere ’ s innocence would be “ an insult to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to a 120-years prison sentence , Raniere on Tuesday was ordered to pay a $ 1.75 million fine , and he is forbidden from contacting anyone affiliated with NXIVM or its subgroup DOS .
He is also banned from viewing pornography of any kind .
Raniere read a statement of his own just before sentencing in which he technically apologized for the victim ’ s pain , while calling them liars at least five times and denying any wrongdoing .
“ It is true , I am not remorseful of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed at all , but I am deeply remorseful of this pain , ” Raniere said .
“ I am truly sorry.
” As he handed down Raniere ’ s life sentence , Garaufis noted that the former cult leader “ remains unmoved , ” despite crimes that are “ cruel , perverse and extremely serious.
” Raniere ’ s treatment of Camila in particular made its mark on the judge : It was “ cruel to the point of inhumane , ” Garaufis said .
“ The harm he inflicted upon her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded in Albany in the 1990s , has gathered more than 16,000 members in the United States , Canada and Mexico .
Telling recruits he had a genius IQ and would help them find enlightenment , Raniere attracted prominent members including Seagramm ’ s heiress Clare Bronfman and “ Smallville ” actress Allison Mack .
Both have pleaded guilty to charges , along with three other women , as Raniere ’ s co-defendants .
Bronfman was sentenced last month to nearly seven years in prison .
Garaufis gave a nod to Raniere ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleging the former cult leader ’ s good intent .
“ I ’ ve heard enough about Mr. Raniere ’ s theories … let ’ s get down to facts , ” Garaufis said .
“ You don ’ t have to be the smartest man in the world to manipulate and to harm other people.
” Following the sentencing , acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme addressed reporters outside the courthouse .
“ When justice catches up with you , as it did today , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ it is severe .
”

Moments before sentencing Keith Raniere to over a century in prison Tuesday, a federal judge rebuked the former sex cult leader’s lawyer for arguing his client deserved a lesser sentence because “we’re sentencing on his perspective.”
BROOKLYN (CN) — Moments before sentencing Keith Raniere to over a century in prison Tuesday, a federal judge rebuked the former sex cult leader’s lawyer for arguing his client deserved a lesser sentence because “we’re sentencing on his perspective.”
Raniere, 60, maintains he is innocent.
“No, we’re not sentencing him on a perspective,” U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis boomed during Tuesday’s five-hour sentencing. “I’m sentencing him on his behavior. His illegal behavior.”
The remarks came after 15 of Raniere’s victims gave statements describing decades of physical and emotional abuse, surveillance, threats and litigation from Raniere and his followers.
Raniere billed NXIVM (pronounced Nexium) as a self-help group, but the organization crumbled in 2018 after its leaders were arrested for running a secret inner ring called DOS or The Vow that prosecutors said operated as a pyramid scheme with sex slaves.
Raniere was known as “Vanguard” here, supervising a second tier of “first-line masters” to keep a bottom rung of sex slaves under his control. Both the masters and the slaves were all women, and everything about their lives, from that they ate or wore to when they cut their hair, Raniere controlled.
Testifying for the first time Tuesday was Camila, a former slave turned master named Camila whose last name is not public.
Camila described meeting Raniere at age 13; she had just taken second place in her eighth-grade spelling bee.
Two years later, Raniere had sex with her. He was 45 at the time. Camila said he photographed her nude and later told her he knew she was “special” when they first met.
Even today, Camila says she has lasting physical and emotional scars, like battling an eating disorder ever since Raniere directed her to maintain a weight of 100 pounds or less. Camila is 5 feet 5 inches tall.
When Camila asked Raniere about seeking medical help after experiencing “frightening physical symptoms,” he told her to “lose the weight first,” she testified.
“It felt like I would never be free,” Camila said. “There was no way out.”
In the sex-trafficking trial of NXIVM leader Keith Raniere, prosecutors introduced this photo showing the “first-line masters” of DOS, a secretive sex cult within the group. Raniere, their “master," is pictured at center, with Lauren Salzman in the top-left corner. The government redacted the image of Camila as she is a sex-crime victim. (Source: US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York.)
Camila’s three siblings and both parents were all involved with NXIVM. Her oldest sister and father remain part of the group, while another of her sisters, Daniela; brother, Adrian; and mother, Adriana, all testified Tuesday.
Daniela was involved with NXIVM between ages 16 and 26. Raniere began a sexual relationship with Daniela when she was 18. Later, after Daniela told Raniere she had developed feelings for someone else, he confined her to a room for two years for her “ethical breach.”
Raniere confiscated Daniela’s birth certificate, a copy of which she was ultimately able to obtain with the help of an attorney at a human rights commission.
Daniela remarked during her testimony that, despite the alarming extent of the torture and abuse victims underwent — in various testimony, witnesses called him a “sociopath who thrills at our pain,” a “monster” and a “master manipulator” — Raniere is “nothing special,” and his name will be forgotten soon enough.
“It’s all very obvious and boring stuff,” Daniela said. “You’re just a liar.”
As argued by his defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, Raniere has maintained that he meant no harm. Garaufis asked the lawyer how, then, he can explain Raniere’s relationship with Camila.
“Don’t treat me, this court, as if it’s not the intent to do what he did,” Garaufis said. “Please.”
Garaufis said continuing to suggest Raniere’s innocence would be “an insult to the intelligence of anyone who listens.”
In addition to a 120-years prison sentence, Raniere on Tuesday was ordered to pay a $1.75 million fine, and he is forbidden from contacting anyone affiliated with NXIVM or its subgroup DOS. He is also banned from viewing pornography of any kind.
Raniere read a statement of his own just before sentencing in which he technically apologized for the victim’s pain, while calling them liars at least five times and denying any wrongdoing.
“It is true, I am not remorseful of the crimes I don’t believe I committed at all, but I am deeply remorseful of this pain,” Raniere said. “I am truly sorry.”
A drawing made by a woman named Daniela, who testified that former NXIVM leader Keith Raniere confined her in the same room for two years. (Photo via U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York)
As he handed down Raniere’s life sentence, Garaufis noted that the former cult leader “remains unmoved,” despite crimes that are “cruel, perverse and extremely serious.”
Raniere’s treatment of Camila in particular made its mark on the judge: It was “cruel to the point of inhumane,” Garaufis said. “The harm he inflicted upon her is incalculable.”
NXIVM, which Raniere founded in Albany in the 1990s, has gathered more than 16,000 members in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Telling recruits he had a genius IQ and would help them find enlightenment, Raniere attracted prominent members including Seagramm’s heiress Clare Bronfman and “Smallville” actress Allison Mack. Both have pleaded guilty to charges, along with three other women, as Raniere’s co-defendants. Bronfman was sentenced last month to nearly seven years in prison.
Garaufis gave a nod to Raniere’s purported genius status after interrupting arguments alleging the former cult leader’s good intent.
“I’ve heard enough about Mr. Raniere’s theories … let’s get down to facts,” Garaufis said. “You don’t have to be the smartest man in the world to manipulate and to harm other people.”
Following the sentencing, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Seth DuCharme addressed reporters outside the courthouse.
“When justice catches up with you, as it did today,” DuCharme said of the 120-year sentence, “it is severe.”