courthousenews--2020-06-05--Witness Says Shooter Used Racist Slur as Arbery Lay Dying

BRUNSWICK , Ga. ( AP ) — A state investigator testified Thursday that a white man was heard saying a racist slur as he stood over Ahmaud Arbery ’ s body , moments after fatally shooting the black man with a pump-action shotgun .
The inflammatory revelation came amid a week of nationwide protests over law enforcement violence against African Americans that erupted after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
In a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a murder trial , the lead Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent in the case testified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third man in another pickup , William “ Roddie ” Bryan , used their trucks to chase down and box in Arbery , who repeatedly reversed directions and ran into a ditch while trying to escape .
Travis McMichael then got out of his truck and confronted Arbery , later telling police he shot him in self-defense after Arbery refused his order to get on the ground , GBI agent Richard Dial said .
He said a close examination of the video of the shooting shows the first shot was to Arbery ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hand , and the third hit his chest again before he collapsed in the road in a subdivision in the port town of Brunswick .
“ Mr .
Bryan said that after the shooting took place before police arrival , while Mr. Arbery was on the ground , that he heard Travis McMichael make the statement , ‘ f—ing n—er , ' ” Dial said .
Bryan gave investigators the information roughly a week after the McMichaels ’ arrest , but there ’ s no indication he told Glynn County investigators before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an attorney for Arbery ’ s family , told reporters outside the courthouse that prosecutors had warned the family before the hearing of the testimony about the slur .
“ It was still very difficult to hear in the context of a prolonged chase , that after he murdered Ahmaud Arbery and stood over his body , he used that racial epithet , ” Merritt said .
The attorney said Thursday ’ s testimony revealed that “ racism was at the heart ” of Arbery ’ s killing .
Arbery ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new details in court “ very , very heartbreaking.
” “ He was afraid , ” Cooper-Jones said of her slain son .
“ Life had placed him in a position where I couldn ’ t protect him , and he wasn ’ t able to protect himself.
” At the conclusion of the probable cause hearing Thursday , Magistrate Court Judge Wallace Harrell found that there was enough evidence for the cases against all three defendants to proceed .
“ Ahmaud Arbery was chased , hunted down and ultimately executed at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor Jesse Evans told the judge .
“ He was on a run on a public road in a public subdivision .
He was defenseless and unarmed.
” Under questioning by Jason Sheffield , an attorney for Travis McMichael , Dial said Travis told police he raised his shotgun at Arbery from roughly 90 feet away and told him to stop and get on the ground .
Arbery ran around the passenger side of Travis ’ s truck , and the two men met in front of it .
Dial said Travis told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was going to attack .
“ There ’ s a statement that he might have had his hand on his shirt , ” Dial said .
“ Travis McMichael said his adrenaline was pumping and it all happened very quickly.
” He said Travis then fired the first shot into Arbery ’ s chest .
Sheffield argued that the pursuit began with a legitimate concern about crimes in the neighborhood that had escalated before the shooting .
“ Travis McMichael used self-defense when he was attacked by Mr. Arbery , ” Sheffield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it was self-defense by Mr. McMichael , ” Dial said .
“ I believe it was self-defense by Mr. Arbery.
” The testimony presented Thursday raises questions about the idea that the McMichaels and Bryan were legitimately carrying out a citizens ’ arrest of a suspected burglar .
It also could factor into a federal investigation into whether hate crime charges are warranted .
Dial testified that Greg McMichael told police that “ he didn ’ t know if Mr. Arbery had stolen anything or not , but he had a gut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the neighborhood .
The investigator testified that police body camera footage showed a Confederate flag sticker on a toolbox in Travis ’ s truck and that investigators discovered at least two more racial slurs in messages on his phone .
In response to questioning from Bryan ’ s attorney Kevin Gough , Dial testified that he believes Bryan joined the chase because he saw a black man running down the street with a truck following and drew conclusions based on racial bias .
There ’ s evidence of Bryan ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dial said , referring to comments found on his cellphone .
The investigator added that several residents of the subdivision where Arbery was killed told investigators they had seen him running in the neighborhood previously .
Dial said the three defendants are the only known witnesses to the shooting and investigators have found no other video of Arbery ’ s final moments other than what Bryan recorded .
Arbery was killed Feb. 23 after Travis McMichael , 34 , and his father , Greg McMichael , 64 , gave chase when they spotted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhood .
Bryan said he saw them driving by and joined the chase , Dial said .
It wasn ’ t until May 7 — two days after Bryan ’ s cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry — that the defendants were charged .
The McMichaels both wore masks as they sat side-by-side watching the hearing onscreen at the Glynn County jail .
The judge rejected defense motions to have them brought to the courtroom , citing emergency precautions because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Bryan waived his presence at @ @ @

A state investigator testified Thursday that a white man was heard saying a racist slur as he stood over Ahmaud Arbery's body, moments after fatally shooting the black man with a pump-action shotgun.
BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — A state investigator testified Thursday that a white man was heard saying a racist slur as he stood over Ahmaud Arbery's body, moments after fatally shooting the black man with a pump-action shotgun.
The inflammatory revelation came amid a week of nationwide protests over law enforcement violence against African Americans that erupted after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
This photo combo of images taken Thursday, May 7, 2020, and provided by the Glynn County Detention Center, in Georgia, show Gregory McMichael, left, and his son Travis McMichael. The two have been charged with murder in the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, whom they had pursued in a truck after spotting him running in their neighborhood. (Glynn County Detention Center via AP)
In a hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a murder trial, the lead Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent in the case testified that Travis and Greg McMichael and a third man in another pickup, William "Roddie" Bryan, used their trucks to chase down and box in Arbery, who repeatedly reversed directions and ran into a ditch while trying to escape.
Travis McMichael then got out of his truck and confronted Arbery, later telling police he shot him in self-defense after Arbery refused his order to get on the ground, GBI agent Richard Dial said. He said a close examination of the video of the shooting shows the first shot was to Arbery's chest, the second was to his hand, and the third hit his chest again before he collapsed in the road in a subdivision in the port town of Brunswick.
"Mr. Bryan said that after the shooting took place before police arrival, while Mr. Arbery was on the ground, that he heard Travis McMichael make the statement, 'f---ing n---er,'" Dial said.
Bryan gave investigators the information roughly a week after the McMichaels’ arrest, but there's no indication he told Glynn County investigators before that, Dial said.
Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arbery's family, told reporters outside the courthouse that prosecutors had warned the family before the hearing of the testimony about the slur.
"It was still very difficult to hear in the context of a prolonged chase, that after he murdered Ahmaud Arbery and stood over his body, he used that racial epithet," Merritt said. The attorney said Thursday's testimony revealed that "racism was at the heart" of Arbery's killing.
Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones called the release of new details in court "very, very heartbreaking."
"He was afraid," Cooper-Jones said of her slain son. "Life had placed him in a position where I couldn't protect him, and he wasn't able to protect himself."
At the conclusion of the probable cause hearing Thursday, Magistrate Court Judge Wallace Harrell found that there was enough evidence for the cases against all three defendants to proceed.
"Ahmaud Arbery was chased, hunted down and ultimately executed at the hands of these men," prosecutor Jesse Evans told the judge. "He was on a run on a public road in a public subdivision. He was defenseless and unarmed."
Under questioning by Jason Sheffield, an attorney for Travis McMichael, Dial said Travis told police he raised his shotgun at Arbery from roughly 90 feet away and told him to stop and get on the ground.
Arbery ran around the passenger side of Travis’s truck, and the two men met in front of it.
Dial said Travis told police Arbery "squared up" like he was going to attack.
"There's a statement that he might have had his hand on his shirt," Dial said. "Travis McMichael said his adrenaline was pumping and it all happened very quickly."
He said Travis then fired the first shot into Arbery's chest.
Sheffield argued that the pursuit began with a legitimate concern about crimes in the neighborhood that had escalated before the shooting.
"Travis McMichael used self-defense when he was attacked by Mr. Arbery," Sheffield said.
"I don't think it was self-defense by Mr. McMichael," Dial said. "I believe it was self-defense by Mr. Arbery."
The testimony presented Thursday raises questions about the idea that the McMichaels and Bryan were legitimately carrying out a citizens’ arrest of a suspected burglar. It also could factor into a federal investigation into whether hate crime charges are warranted.
Dial testified that Greg McMichael told police that "he didn't know if Mr. Arbery had stolen anything or not, but he had a gut feeling" that Arbery had committed break-ins in the neighborhood.
The investigator testified that police body camera footage showed a Confederate flag sticker on a toolbox in Travis’s truck and that investigators discovered at least two more racial slurs in messages on his phone.
In response to questioning from Bryan's attorney Kevin Gough, Dial testified that he believes Bryan joined the chase because he saw a black man running down the street with a truck following and drew conclusions based on racial bias. There's evidence of Bryan's "racist attitudes in his communications," Dial said, referring to comments found on his cellphone.
The investigator added that several residents of the subdivision where Arbery was killed told investigators they had seen him running in the neighborhood previously.
Dial said the three defendants are the only known witnesses to the shooting and investigators have found no other video of Arbery's final moments other than what Bryan recorded.
Arbery was killed Feb. 23 after Travis McMichael, 34, and his father, Greg McMichael, 64, gave chase when they spotted the 25-year-old black man running in their neighborhood. Bryan said he saw them driving by and joined the chase, Dial said. It wasn't until May 7 — two days after Bryan's cellphone video leaked online and stirred a national outcry — that the defendants were charged.
The McMichaels both wore masks as they sat side-by-side watching the hearing onscreen at the Glynn County jail. The judge rejected defense motions to have them brought to the courtroom, citing emergency precautions because of the coronavirus pandemic. Bryan waived his presence at the hearing.
By RUSS BYNUM


courthousenews--2020-06-05--Maine Governor Tells Trump to ‘Check the Rhetoric at the Door’

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Maine ’ s Democratic governor is urging President Trump to watch his tone during a visit to the state Friday to showcase a company that makes swabs for coronavirus testing .
And the sheriff in the state ’ s most rural county is urging those expected to protest Trump ’ s visit — and those who support him — to behave themselves as demonstrations continue around the country over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis .
Trump has drawn criticism for urging governors to “ dominate ” protesters and toss perpetrators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration ’ s move this week to forcibly clear peaceful protesters near the White House so the president could pose for photos holding a Bible .
Governor Janet Mills this week urged the Republican president to “ check the rhetoric at the door and abandon the divisive words ” during his visit .
“ I hope he will heed this call and appeal to the best in all people and lead us with courage and compassion through this difficult time , ” she said Thursday .
During a call this week with governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about “ security problems for our state ” if he visited because of his harsh remarks about handling demonstrators .
Trump said her remarks only made him more determined to come , adding , “ she just doesn ’ t understand me very well.
” Mills has said she will be working during Trump ’ s visit .
Trump ’ s first visit to Maine since taking office will take him to Guilford , population 1,500 , home to Puritan Medical Products , one of only two major companies producing a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus testing .
The other is in Italy .
More than 350 workers in Guilford have been working long hours since the coronavirus pandemic began .
“ There is pressure .
There ’ s always not enough .
There ’ s always not enough .
You ’ re always working to provide the extra capacity that ’ s needed , ” co-owner Timothy Templet told The Associated Press .
“ We ’ re doing our best to supply the needs .
It ’ s critical that our country is taken care of.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million through the Defense Production Act for Puritan to double production to 40 million swabs a month , and the company plans to open a second production site by July 1 .
Trump is scheduled to meet with members of the commercial fishing industry in Maine earlier in the day .
He ’ s to fly into Bangor in the afternoon , where a group of demonstrators has pledged to have a presence .
“ It ’ s not the right time for him to be coming to our state , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Accountable Leadership , which is helping organize the demonstration .
Normally , Friday ’ s events would make for a friendly visit for Trump in a congressional district that awarded him an electoral vote in the 2016 election .
But it comes against the backdrop of demonstrations across Maine and the nation after Floyd ’ s videotaped death at the hands , or knee , of police .
In Maine , the nation ’ s whitest state , there were four consecutive days of demonstrations .
More than 1,000 people gathered this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trash cans afire and pelting police with objects .
More than 30 people have been arrested .
All four members of Maine ’ s congressional delegation , including Republican Sen. Susan Collins , have been critical of Trump ’ s actions this week .
Piscataquis County Sheriff Robert Young said he ’ s spoken to organizers of a planned demonstration during Trump ’ s visit and said their “ motives and intent are good.
” “ They want to speak for social change and are heartbroken by what they see happening to their @ @ @ @ @ @

Maine's Democratic governor is urging President Trump to watch his tone during a visit to the state Friday to showcase a company that makes swabs for coronavirus testing.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Maine's Democratic governor is urging President Trump to watch his tone during a visit to the state Friday to showcase a company that makes swabs for coronavirus testing.
And the sheriff in the state's most rural county is urging those expected to protest Trump's visit — and those who support him — to behave themselves as demonstrations continue around the country over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
FILE - In this Monday, June 1, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump returns to the White House in Washington. Trump is traveling to Maine on Friday, June 5, 2020, to visit a company that makes specialized swabs for coronavirus testing. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Trump has drawn criticism for urging governors to "dominate" protesters and toss perpetrators of violence in prison and for his administration's move this week to forcibly clear peaceful protesters near the White House so the president could pose for photos holding a Bible.
Governor Janet Mills this week urged the Republican president to "check the rhetoric at the door and abandon the divisive words" during his visit.
"I hope he will heed this call and appeal to the best in all people and lead us with courage and compassion through this difficult time," she said Thursday.
During a call this week with governors, Mills told the president she was concerned about "security problems for our state" if he visited because of his harsh remarks about handling demonstrators. Trump said her remarks only made him more determined to come, adding, "she just doesn't understand me very well." Mills has said she will be working during Trump's visit.
Trump's first visit to Maine since taking office will take him to Guilford, population 1,500, home to Puritan Medical Products, one of only two major companies producing a special type of swab needed to ramp up coronavirus testing. The other is in Italy.
More than 350 workers in Guilford have been working long hours since the coronavirus pandemic began.
"There is pressure. There's always not enough. There's always not enough. You're always working to provide the extra capacity that's needed," co-owner Timothy Templet told The Associated Press. "We're doing our best to supply the needs. It's critical that our country is taken care of."
The Trump administration is providing $75.5 million through the Defense Production Act for Puritan to double production to 40 million swabs a month, and the company plans to open a second production site by July 1.
Trump is scheduled to meet with members of the commercial fishing industry in Maine earlier in the day. He's to fly into Bangor in the afternoon, where a group of demonstrators has pledged to have a presence.
"It's not the right time for him to be coming to our state," said Marie Follayttar, director of Mainers for Accountable Leadership, which is helping organize the demonstration.
Normally, Friday's events would make for a friendly visit for Trump in a congressional district that awarded him an electoral vote in the 2016 election.
But it comes against the backdrop of demonstrations across Maine and the nation after Floyd's videotaped death at the hands, or knee, of police.
In Maine, the nation's whitest state, there were four consecutive days of demonstrations. More than 1,000 people gathered this week in Portland, stopping traffic, setting trash cans afire and pelting police with objects. More than 30 people have been arrested.
All four members of Maine's congressional delegation, including Republican Sen. Susan Collins, have been critical of Trump's actions this week.
Piscataquis County Sheriff Robert Young said he's spoken to organizers of a planned demonstration during Trump's visit and said their "motives and intent are good."
"They want to speak for social change and are heartbroken by what they see happening to their country," he said.
By PATRICK WHITTLE and JILL COLVIN


courthousenews--2020-06-05--What Did You Do, Dad?

What Did You Do, Dad?

Twenty years from now , if your children ask : “ What did you do during the protests of 2020 ?
” what will you tell them ?
Reason I ask is that I asked myself a similar question 36 years ago , and it changed my life .
I had taught and coached for 6 years on the Tohono O ’ odham reservation .
I loved the rez and my students and runners .
I ’ d get up early and steal Foley ’ s newspaper and read it and toss it back on his driveway before he got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned that the Rev .
John Fife in Tucson , 60 miles away , had co-founded the Sanctuary movement for refugees from our wars in Central America .
Being a snoop by nature , I rode my old Honda 360 into Tucson to ask Fife what he was up to .
His church was filled with refugees .
He spoke frankly and let me wander around and take notes .
The school year was almost over , and on the way home to the rez I decided to spend my summer driving all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees .
Understand — for me , this was a lark .
I thought .
Something to do on my summer vacation .
Well , when I got home to the rez in August , after interviewing about 500 refugees 6,000 miles , I had heard so many horror stories — true stories — that I couldn ’ t stand it anymore .
One night I broke my hand punching a Dumpster because I knew I had to quit the job I loved to go help refugees in U.S. immigration prisons .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me years before , in Germany .
I was playing bass clarinet in a European tour of “ Porgy and Bess , ” the first such tour since the original show featured Cab Calloway as Sportin ’ Life .
“ All Neger Ensemble Aus New York , ” the sign on our bus said .
I liked Germany .
Most of the Germans I met treated me swell , and were patient as I butchered their mother tongue .
But as we toured the country , every time I conversed , haltingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain wondered : What was this guy doing in 1943 ?
Not me : my brain .
I couldn ’ t turn it off .
That ’ s what my brain was thinking as I broke my hand on a Dumpster .
I left a job I loved , teaching children on the rez , so I would not feel soiled should a child of mine ask me one day : “ Dad , what did you do during the Central American wars ?
” This brings us to today .
Protests and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of our states because of yet another needless killing of an unarmed black man by a white police officer .
“ What did you do then , Dad ?
” Well , I still get up at 3 a.m. , as I have done for 16 years , to edit this news page .
And write a column once a week .
That may not be much — I agree it ain ’ t much — but I ’ m old now , 68 : too old and too tired to motor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get up at 3 a.m .
So there ’ s what I did .
I did my job .
I helped report the news .
And I wrote what I thought about it once a week .
Jesus the Christ said , if we can believe the Bible : “ Truly I tell you , whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine , you did for me.
” Spike Lee this week praised his white “ brothers and sisters ” for joining the protests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his black brothers and sisters ?
That ’ s beyond the power of his pitiful , cramped , spoiled and twisted mind .
He called protesters “ thugs , ” and threatened to call out the Army to shoot them down in the streets .
Well , what goes around comes around , sooner or later .
Maybe on November 3 .
Hope it doesn ’ t get any worse than that .
So , am I asking you to uproot your life ?
No .
I ’ m just asking you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Twenty years from now, if your children ask: “What did you do during the protests of 2020?” what will you tell them? Reason I ask is that I asked myself a similar question 36 years ago, and it changed my life.
Twenty years from now, if your children ask: “What did you do during the protests of 2020?” what will you tell them? Reason I ask is that I asked myself a similar question 36 years ago, and it changed my life.
I had taught and coached for 6 years on the Tohono O’odham reservation. I loved the rez and my students and runners. I’d get up early and steal Foley’s newspaper and read it and toss it back on his driveway before he got up. That’s how I learned that the Rev. John Fife in Tucson, 60 miles away, had co-founded the Sanctuary movement for refugees from our wars in Central America.
Being a snoop by nature, I rode my old Honda 360 into Tucson to ask Fife what he was up to. His church was filled with refugees. He spoke frankly and let me wander around and take notes. The school year was almost over, and on the way home to the rez I decided to spend my summer driving all over the United States, talking to refugees.
Understand — for me, this was a lark. I thought. Something to do on my summer vacation.
Well, when I got home to the rez in August, after interviewing about 500 refugees 6,000 miles, I had heard so many horror stories — true stories — that I couldn’t stand it anymore. One night I broke my hand punching a Dumpster because I knew I had to quit the job I loved to go help refugees in U.S. immigration prisons.
I knew this because of what had happened to me years before, in Germany. I was playing bass clarinet in a European tour of “Porgy and Bess,” the first such tour since the original show featured Cab Calloway as Sportin’ Life. “All Neger Ensemble Aus New York,” the sign on our bus said.
I liked Germany. Most of the Germans I met treated me swell, and were patient as I butchered their mother tongue. But as we toured the country, every time I conversed, haltingly, with an elderly German, my brain wondered: What was this guy doing in 1943?
Not me: my brain. I couldn’t turn it off.
That’s what my brain was thinking as I broke my hand on a Dumpster.
I left a job I loved, teaching children on the rez, so I would not feel soiled should a child of mine ask me one day: “Dad, what did you do during the Central American wars?”
This brings us to today. Protests and riots have broken out in more than half of our states because of yet another needless killing of an unarmed black man by a white police officer.
“What did you do then, Dad?”
Well, I still get up at 3 a.m., as I have done for 16 years, to edit this news page. And write a column once a week. That may not be much — I agree it ain’t much — but I’m old now, 68: too old and too tired to motor around town to cover nighttime protests and get up at 3 a.m.
So there’s what I did. I did my job. I helped report the news. And I wrote what I thought about it once a week.
Jesus the Christ said, if we can believe the Bible: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Spike Lee this week praised his white “brothers and sisters” for joining the protests.
Can you imagine president Schlumpf calling upon his black brothers and sisters?
That’s beyond the power of his pitiful, cramped, spoiled and twisted mind. He called protesters “thugs,” and threatened to call out the Army to shoot them down in the streets.
Well, what goes around comes around, sooner or later. Maybe on November 3.
Hope it doesn’t get any worse than that.
So, am I asking you to uproot your life?
No.
I’m just asking you to do the least thing you can do.
Register and vote.
Courthouse News editor Robert Kahn is the author of “Other People’s Blood: U.S. Immigration Prisons in the Reagan Decade.” (Westview Press/Harper Collins)


courthousenews--2020-06-05--Amid Chaos, an Outpouring of Support for George Floyd’s Daughter

The generous donations from around the world already assure that Floyd ’ s 6-year-old daughter will be able to afford a college education .
HOUSTON ( CN ) — A counterfeit $ 20 bill allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to George Floyd ’ s death .
Days later , more than $ 20 million has been donated to his family and to charities in his honor and the outpouring is growing by the minute .
As Floyd ’ s 6-year-old daughter Gianna stood by her mother Roxie Washington behind a podium at a news conference in Minneapolis on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said Floyd will never see Gianna graduate , donations were flooding into a GoFundMe page set up that day for Gianna .
Nearly 52,000 people had donated $ 1.61 million to the fund as of 6 a.m. Eastern time Friday , exceeding its goal of $ 1.5 million .
“ All money that is donated will be placed in a trust for Gianna and her mother , ” the page states .
With his remains yet to be interred , Floyd already has become a universal symbol of racial injustice , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social media .
His face and some of his last words — “ I can ’ t breathe ” — are on the T-shirts of people protesting his death around the world .
Dozens of companies are selling the shirts online , competing to cash in on Floyd ’ s posthumous fame .
Billionaire rapper and fashion designer Kanye West said Thursday he had established a college savings fund for Gianna , and donated $ 2 million to the families of Floyd , Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and the families ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot to death on Feb. 23 by a white father and son after they chased him in their pickup truck while he was jogging .
One of the shooters said he saw Arbery “ hauling ass ” through his neighborhood and he thought he was a burglar .
Police in Louisville , Kentucky shot Taylor , 26 , in her apartment on March 13 after they broke down the front door without announcing themselves while executing a no-knock drug warrant .
Taylor ’ s boyfriend reportedly shot at the police before they opened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Police found no drugs .
Floyd ’ s brother Philonise Floyd said some of the more than $ 12.9 million donated in another online fundraiser for his family will be used to cover funeral and burial services .
Organizers of his Houston memorial services said officers from multiple law enforcement agencies will provide security for a public viewing Monday , as tens of thousands people are expected to descend on the Fountain of Praise Church for the event , CBS affiliate KHOU 11 reported .
It is not just celebrities and individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
The world ’ s largest health insurance company , UnitedHealth Group , ranked No .
7 on Forbes ’ Magazine ’ s Fortune 500 list , announced Monday it is setting up a trust fund to pay for the college education of Floyd ’ s children .
The insurer is also donating $ 5 million to the YMCA Equity Innovation Center in its hometown Minneapolis , in memory of Floyd , and another $ 5 million to help business owners in Minneapolis and St. Paul whose shops were destroyed by people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death to loot stores .
Prairie View A & M University President Ruth Simmons , in a letter issued Monday , said the historically black college 50 miles northwest of Houston will establish a Center for Race and Justice and require all students to take a course on the history of race and class in America .
“ The stark brutality of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has further deepened the crisis in the country and reawakened a sense of fear and outrage across the world and especially among African @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parcel of the reality that they endure every day , ” Simmons wrote .
Floyd , 46 , died on Memorial Day as Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck and two other officers put their weight on his back .
All four officers involved were immediately fired and are facing criminal charges .
The officers arrested Floyd after employees of a grocery store said he had bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $ 20 bill .
He was reportedly a regular customer of the store .
Its owner said Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fake , according to news reports .

A counterfeit $20 bill allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to George Floyd’s death. Days later, more than $20 million has been donated to his family and to charities in his honor and the outpouring is growing by the minute.
HOUSTON (CN) — A counterfeit $20 bill allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to George Floyd’s death. Days later, more than $20 million has been donated to his family and to charities in his honor and the outpouring is growing by the minute.
As Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter Gianna stood by her mother Roxie Washington behind a podium at a news conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday, and Washington choked up as she said Floyd will never see Gianna graduate, donations were flooding into a GoFundMe page set up that day for Gianna.
Nearly 52,000 people had donated $1.61 million to the fund as of 6 a.m. Eastern time Friday, exceeding its goal of $1.5 million. “All money that is donated will be placed in a trust for Gianna and her mother,” the page states.
With his remains yet to be interred, Floyd already has become a universal symbol of racial injustice, his reach propelled by the mushroom cloud effect of social media.
His face and some of his last words — “I can’t breathe” — are on the T-shirts of people protesting his death around the world. Dozens of companies are selling the shirts online, competing to cash in on Floyd’s posthumous fame.
Billionaire rapper and fashion designer Kanye West said Thursday he had established a college savings fund for Gianna, and donated $2 million to the families of Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and the families’ attorneys.
Arbery, 25, was shot to death on Feb. 23 by a white father and son after they chased him in their pickup truck while he was jogging.
A demonstrator holds a sign with the names of black people killed by police at the Thursday rally for George Floyd in Houston. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
One of the shooters said he saw Arbery “hauling ass” through his neighborhood and he thought he was a burglar.
Police in Louisville, Kentucky shot Taylor, 26, in her apartment on March 13 after they broke down the front door without announcing themselves while executing a no-knock drug warrant.
Taylor’s boyfriend reportedly shot at the police before they opened fire and fatally shot Taylor eight times. Police found no drugs.
Champion boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. cut an $88,000 check to cover Floyd’s funeral expenses.
Floyd’s brother Philonise Floyd said some of the more than $12.9 million donated in another online fundraiser for his family will be used to cover funeral and burial services.
Organizers of his Houston memorial services said officers from multiple law enforcement agencies will provide security for a public viewing Monday, as tens of thousands people are expected to descend on the Fountain of Praise Church for the event, CBS affiliate KHOU 11 reported.
It is not just celebrities and individual donors who are helping Floyd’s family.
Members of the Nonstop Trail Riders Club attend the Tuesday rally for the late George Floyd in Houston. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
The world’s largest health insurance company, UnitedHealth Group, ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ Magazine’s Fortune 500 list, announced Monday it is setting up a trust fund to pay for the college education of Floyd’s children.
The insurer is also donating $5 million to the YMCA Equity Innovation Center in its hometown Minneapolis, in memory of Floyd, and another $5 million to help business owners in Minneapolis and St. Paul whose shops were destroyed by people who exploited protests sparked by Floyd’s death to loot stores.
Floyd’s legacy has also touched academia.
Prairie View A&M University President Ruth Simmons, in a letter issued Monday, said the historically black college 50 miles northwest of Houston will establish a Center for Race and Justice and require all students to take a course on the history of race and class in America.
“The stark brutality of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis has further deepened the crisis in the country and reawakened a sense of fear and outrage across the world and especially among African Americans who recognize the crime as part and parcel of the reality that they endure every day,” Simmons wrote.
Floyd, 46, died on Memorial Day as Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck and two other officers put their weight on his back. All four officers involved were immediately fired and are facing criminal charges.
The officers arrested Floyd after employees of a grocery store said he had bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.
He was reportedly a regular customer of the store. Its owner said Floyd may not have known the bill was fake, according to news reports.


courthousenews--2020-06-06--Panel Finds Ex-Colorado Gov. Hickenlooper Violated State Ban on Gifts

DENVER ( CN ) — The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission voted Friday to sanction Democratic senate candidate John Hickenlooper for violating the state ’ s ban on elected officials accepting gifts while he was governor .
“ The people need to pay for what the people want , and the state needs to pay for state business , ” said Commissioner William Leone during a virtual hearing on WebEx .
Hickenlooper faces potential penalties for accepting a ride on a private jet to the commissioning of the USS Colorado in Groton , Connecticut , and for accepting complimentary travel arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Italy .
Both events took place in 2018 , at the end of Hickenlooper ’ s second term as governor of Colorado .
The commissioners agreed Friday to dismiss four other ethics complaints also taking place in 2018 .
Frank McNulty , an attorney associated with the conservative Colorado-based Public Trust Institute , filed the initial ethics complaint against Hickenlooper in October 2018 , alleging Hickenlooper accepted gifts of travel on private jets and travel accommodations .
Amendment 41 of the Colorado Constitution bans elected officials from accepting gifts except from personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in office , any freebies were capped at $ 59 .
Attorney Suzanne Staiert , director of the Public Trust Institute , cross-examined Hickenlooper before a precise analog clock , parsing through various flights Hickenlooper accepted while in office .
Staiert is running to represent Colorado ’ s 27th Senate District in Denver .
In addition to taking six trips on private jets , the complaint alleged Hickenlooper accepted complimentary stays in luxury a hotel , travel in a Maserati limo , and various meals while attending the 2018 Bilderberg Meetings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paid $ 1,500 to attend the conference , believing it covered the cost .
“ Rather than follow the principles set forth in the Constitution , he traveled the country in violation of Colorado ’ s ethics laws , ” Staiert said during her closing argument .
“ He took corporate jets to mingle with billionaires and the world ’ s elite.
” While Staiert asserted that the travel arrangements appeared questionable , Hickenlooper said he accepted travel as a gift on special occasions from personal friends , as allowed by the rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who he said helped secure housing for the homeless and build the state ’ s economy .
After Commissioner Debra Johnson asked Hickenlooper if he was able to take personal leave while on the job , he said it was a 24-hour job .
“ I tried to take a week of vacation every year .
Some years I did , and some years I didn ’ t , ” he said .
“ My job was to go out and sell Colorado .
Every day I was looking for opportunities to drive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hard to describe how competitive it is out there , ” Hickenlooper said .
Grueksin countered that the Public Trust Institute ’ s claims against Hickenlooper were steeped in rhetoric rather than the evidence .
“ We set a dangerous precedent where you can say , ‘ I didn ’ t know , ’ and that ’ s a defense .
That seriously guts this amendment , ” Commissioner Leone said .
“ It ’ s part of being an elected official in Colorado that you have to be vigilant.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tabling the discussion of possible penalties to the next meeting .
On Thursday , the commission voted to hold Hickenlooper in contempt after he failed to appear on a subpoena .
Hickenlooper attempted to quash the subpoena through a petition filed in the Denver District Court , which was denied June 3 .
While Hickenlooper may be held liable for twice the amount of the value of the gifts received , the bigger question is whether this will overshadow his bid for a hotly contested Senate seat .
“ The Republicans who launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission dismissed 95 , ” said Melissa Miller , communications director at Hickenlooper for Colorado .
“ We fully expect the special interests who ’ ve exploited this process to continue to mislead Coloradans with negative attacks because they know John Hickenlooper will be an independent voice in the U.S. Senate.
” A two-term mayor of Denver and two-term governor of Colorado , Hickenlooper withdrew a bid for the White House last year .
In August 2019 , he launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate and is running against former Colorado House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Democratic primary on June 30 .
The seat , considered an important battleground for Democrats , is currently occupied by Republican Cory Gardner .

The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission voted Friday to sanction Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper for violating the state's ban on elected officials accepting gifts while he was governor.
DENVER (CN) — The Colorado Independent Ethics Commission voted Friday to sanction Democratic Senate candidate John Hickenlooper for violating the state's ban on elected officials accepting gifts while he was governor.
“The people need to pay for what the people want, and the state needs to pay for state business,” said Commissioner William Leone during a virtual hearing on WebEx.
Hickenlooper faces potential penalties for accepting a ride on a private jet to the commissioning of the USS Colorado in Groton, Connecticut, and for accepting complimentary travel arrangements while attending the Bilderberg Meetings in Turin, Italy. Both events took place in 2018, at the end of Hickenlooper’s second term as governor of Colorado.
The commissioners agreed Friday to dismiss four other ethics complaints also taking place in 2018.
Frank McNulty, an attorney associated with the conservative Colorado-based Public Trust Institute, filed the initial ethics complaint against Hickenlooper in October 2018, alleging Hickenlooper accepted gifts of travel on private jets and travel accommodations.
Amendment 41 of the Colorado Constitution bans elected officials from accepting gifts except from personal friends on special occasions. While Hickenlooper was in office, any freebies were capped at $59.
Attorney Suzanne Staiert, director of the Public Trust Institute, cross-examined Hickenlooper before a precise analog clock, parsing through various flights Hickenlooper accepted while in office.
Staiert is running to represent Colorado's 27th Senate District in Denver.
In addition to taking six trips on private jets, the complaint alleged Hickenlooper accepted complimentary stays in luxury a hotel, travel in a Maserati limo, and various meals while attending the 2018 Bilderberg Meetings in Turin, Italy.
Hickenlooper said he paid $1,500 to attend the conference, believing it covered the cost.
“Rather than follow the principles set forth in the Constitution, he traveled the country in violation of Colorado’s ethics laws,” Staiert said during her closing argument. “He took corporate jets to mingle with billionaires and the world’s elite.”
While Staiert asserted that the travel arrangements appeared questionable, Hickenlooper said he accepted travel as a gift on special occasions from personal friends, as allowed by the rules. He defended friendships with business owners who he said helped secure housing for the homeless and build the state’s economy.
After Commissioner Debra Johnson asked Hickenlooper if he was able to take personal leave while on the job, he said it was a 24-hour job.
“I tried to take a week of vacation every year. Some years I did, and some years I didn’t,” he said.
“My job was to go out and sell Colorado. Every day I was looking for opportunities to drive the cause for Colorado, and it’s hard to describe how competitive it is out there,” Hickenlooper said.
Attorney Mark Grueskin represented Hickenlooper before the commission.
Grueksin countered that the Public Trust Institute’s claims against Hickenlooper were steeped in rhetoric rather than the evidence.
“We set a dangerous precedent where you can say, ‘I didn’t know,’ and that’s a defense. That seriously guts this amendment,” Commissioner Leone said. “It’s part of being an elected official in Colorado that you have to be vigilant.”
The commission concluded the nine-hour hearing by tabling the discussion of possible penalties to the next meeting.
On Thursday, the commission voted to hold Hickenlooper in contempt after he failed to appear on a subpoena. Hickenlooper attempted to quash the subpoena through a petition filed in the Denver District Court, which was denied June 3.
While Hickenlooper may be held liable for twice the amount of the value of the gifts received, the bigger question is whether this will overshadow his bid for a hotly contested Senate seat.
“The Republicans who launched these attacks pursued 97 allegations and the commission dismissed 95,” said Melissa Miller, a spokeswoman at Hickenlooper for Colorado. “We fully expect the special interests who’ve exploited this process to continue to mislead Coloradans with negative attacks because they know John Hickenlooper will be an independent voice in the U.S. Senate.”
A two-term mayor of Denver and two-term governor of Colorado, Hickenlooper withdrew a bid for the White House last year. In August 2019, he launched a campaign for the U.S. Senate and is running against former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff in the state's Democratic primary on June 30.
The seat, considered an important battleground for Democrats, is currently occupied by Republican Cory Gardner.


courthousenews--2020-06-06--Meat Producers Fight California Standards on Animal Treatment

( CN ) — Farmers who sell their products in California say the state ’ s requirements that they upgrade their facilities to be more humane discriminates against out-of-state producers .
On Friday , a lawyer representing the agriculture trade group North American Meat Institute told a Ninth Circuit panel its request for an injunction of the law should be revived because it violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution .
The trade group boasts a large membership of meat packing and processor groups , including Tyson Foods , Butterball and many other businesses who supply most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re fighting against the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act — approved by voters in 2018 — which set new minimum standards for the treatment of egg-laying hens , breeding pigs and calves raised for veal .
The measure passed with 62 % voter approval .
Under the law , eggs and meat from producers that have not met the state ’ s standards can not be sold in California — and the law applies to out-of-state producers as well .
To abide by California ’ s confinement standards , farmers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space for calves , 24 square feet for pigs and more than a foot for hens .
In its complaint , filed in Los Angeles federal court , the trade group said the ban on meat that was not in compliance with California ’ s new standards violates the Commerce Clause by essentially erecting a “ trade barrier.
” U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder denied the groups request to block the law in November 2019 , finding trade barriers are not imposed because the law does not force out-of-state farmers to move to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday during virtual oral arguments , the trade group ’ s attorney Paul Zidlicky of Sidley Austin said California ’ s law will devastate the veal and pork industry and hurt thousands of farmers across the country .
“ We think that it ’ s discriminatory because it takes away an advantage , ” Zidlicky said , arguing out-of-state farmers should not have to improve confinement conditions of their animals just to export their products to California .
Sitting with the Ninth Circuit panel by designation from the Southern District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bencivengo , an Obama appointee , said California voters wanted to ensure the meat they eat has not been raised in a cruel manner .
She asked by the trade group argues that ’ s not a legitimate reason .
“ You ’ re saying it ’ s not because you don ’ t want to do it , ” said Bencivengo , noting the Supreme Court has ruled animal cruelty is a legitimate concern for people to be concerned .
She asked how the lower court abused its discretion by denying an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal welfare in the Golden State but not outside its borders .
He then raised a hypothetical : Can California ban imports made by workers that do not receive the state ’ s minimum wage ?
U.S .
Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta , a George W. Bush appointee , asked California Deputy Attorney General Matthew Wise about that hypothetical and whether that was constitutional .
Wise said only under narrow circumstances would it apply .
Ikuta asked the same question to Riley Safer attorney Bruce Wagman , arguing for intervenor the Humane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it would depend on California ’ s motivation for asking businesses to meet a minimum wage standard .
He said the current case involves health and safety , which have always been under the authority of a state and do not touch at all on the economics of other states .
U.S .
Circuit Judge Consuelo Callahan , a George W. Bush appointee , asked Wise why California should be allowed to set the standard for everyone .
Citing the Supreme Court ruling Exxon Corp. v. Governor of Maryland , Wise said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulate its sovereign power and that while some burdens of a state ’ s laws may fall on out-of-state parties , it does not in itself amount to discrimination .
But Zidlicky said there ’ s no way around California ’ s law for out-of-state farmers .
He cited the case C & A Carbone , Inc. v. Town of Clarkstown , which says a state can not attach restrictions to exports or imports in order to control commerce in other states .
The panel did not indicate when it will issue its @ @

Farmers who sell their products in California say the state’s requirements that they upgrade their facilities to be more humane discriminates against out-of-state producers.
(CN) — Farmers who sell their products in California say the state’s requirements that they upgrade their facilities to be more humane discriminates against out-of-state producers.
On Friday, a lawyer representing the agriculture trade group North American Meat Institute told a Ninth Circuit panel its request for an injunction of the law should be revived because it violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The trade group boasts a large membership of meat packing and processor groups, including Tyson Foods, Butterball and many other businesses who supply most of the nation’s meat.
But they’re fighting against the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act — approved by voters in 2018 — which set new minimum standards for the treatment of egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and calves raised for veal. The measure passed with 62% voter approval.
Under the law, eggs and meat from producers that have not met the state’s standards cannot be sold in California — and the law applies to out-of-state producers as well.
To abide by California’s confinement standards, farmers must provide 43 square feet of floor space for calves, 24 square feet for pigs and more than a foot for hens.
In its complaint, filed in Los Angeles federal court, the trade group said the ban on meat that was not in compliance with California’s new standards violates the Commerce Clause by essentially erecting a “trade barrier.”
U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder denied the groups request to block the law in November 2019, finding trade barriers are not imposed because the law does not force out-of-state farmers to move to California and set up their businesses there.
On Friday during virtual oral arguments, the trade group’s attorney Paul Zidlicky of Sidley Austin said California’s law will devastate the veal and pork industry and hurt thousands of farmers across the country.
“We think that it’s discriminatory because it takes away an advantage,” Zidlicky said, arguing out-of-state farmers should not have to improve confinement conditions of their animals just to export their products to California.
Sitting with the Ninth Circuit panel by designation from the Southern District of California, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo, an Obama appointee, said California voters wanted to ensure the meat they eat has not been raised in a cruel manner. She asked by the trade group argues that’s not a legitimate reason.
“You’re saying it’s not because you don’t want to do it,” said Bencivengo, noting the Supreme Court has ruled animal cruelty is a legitimate concern for people to be concerned. She asked how the lower court abused its discretion by denying an injunction.
Zidlicky said California can dictate animal welfare in the Golden State but not outside its borders. He then raised a hypothetical: Can California ban imports made by workers that do not receive the state’s minimum wage?
U.S. Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta, a George W. Bush appointee, asked California Deputy Attorney General Matthew Wise about that hypothetical and whether that was constitutional.
Wise said only under narrow circumstances would it apply.
Ikuta asked the same question to Riley Safer attorney Bruce Wagman, arguing for intervenor the Humane Society of the United States. Wagman said it would depend on California’s motivation for asking businesses to meet a minimum wage standard.
He said the current case involves health and safety, which have always been under the authority of a state and do not touch at all on the economics of other states.
U.S. Circuit Judge Consuelo Callahan, a George W. Bush appointee, asked Wise why California should be allowed to set the standard for everyone.
Citing the Supreme Court ruling Exxon Corp. v. Governor of Maryland, Wise said in a federal system each state can regulate its sovereign power and that while some burdens of a state’s laws may fall on out-of-state parties, it does not in itself amount to discrimination.
But Zidlicky said there’s no way around California’s law for out-of-state farmers. He cited the case C&A Carbone, Inc. v. Town of Clarkstown, which says a state cannot attach restrictions to exports or imports in order to control commerce in other states.
The panel did not indicate when it will issue its ruling.


courthousenews--2020-06-06--California Set to Reopen Schools, Bars and Gyms Next Week

If they can handle the modifications , winery tasting rooms and amusement parks have also been given the green light to reopen to customers .
( CN ) — California will permit bars , gyms , hotels and other facilities to reopen with certain restrictions starting June 12 in locations that meet state criteria for Covid-19 containment and preparedness , California health officials announced Friday .
The new guidelines will also allow professional sports leagues to train and compete without live audiences .
They also permit the resumption of music , television and film production starting June 12 .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval from county public health officials before they can resume .
The state says athletes , cast and crew members and other workers must adhere to state guidelines for reducing the risk of Covid-19 transmission and abide by labor agreements with management .
Although the state is moving forward to reopen more sectors of its economy , California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell warned that residents should keep following recommendations aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus .
“ Just because some businesses are opening doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Angell said in a statement Friday .
“ We all need to continue to keep physical distancing , wash our hands and wear face coverings in public.
” California health officials also released guidelines for reopening schools and school-based programs on Friday .
The school reopening plans include requirements for temperature and symptom checks , social distancing of students and teachers , cleaning procedures and nose-and-mouth coverings .
The state will dole out 47,000 no-touch thermometers , 2.4 million face shields for every teacher and child care provider , 14 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 16 million disposable masks , 123,000 N-95 masks for school health professionals and 143,000 gallons of hand sanitizer .
The supplies will be distributed to public schools , private schools and child care facilities .
Some California counties have already begun moving forward with plans to reopen schools .
Santa Clara County announced Thursday that it will reopen schools in the fall .
San Francisco public schools are scheduled to reopen Aug. 17 .
Both counties are still working with public health officials to develop protocols for in-person instruction and distance learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reopening day camps , gyms , bars and wineries , amusement parks , hotels , casinos and campgrounds .
The guidelines generally require new trainings for staff and volunteers , checking staff and patrons for Covid-19 symptoms , limited sharing of communal materials , wearing face coverings , maintaining adequate space for social distancing and more frequent and thorough cleaning of facilities .
The state has not yet authorized the reopening of nail salons .
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that hair salons , restaurants and barbershops would be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 58 counties as part of the state ’ s Phase 3 reopening plan .
The state also authorized county health officials last week to permit churches to reopen with gatherings limited to 100 people or 25 % of building capacity , whichever is lower .
That announcement came after a Pentecostal church in San Diego County lost its federal appeal seeking a court order to allow it to reopen immediately .
California reported 122,901 positive Covid-19 cases and 4,485 deaths from the virus as of Thursday , June 4 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests came back positive and hospitalizations declined 2.9 % over the last 14 days .

California will permit bars, gyms, hotels and other facilities to reopen with certain restrictions starting June 12 in locations that meet state criteria for Covid-19 containment and preparedness, California health officials announced Friday.
(CN) — California will permit bars, gyms, hotels and other facilities to reopen with certain restrictions starting June 12 in locations that meet state criteria for Covid-19 containment and preparedness, California health officials announced Friday.
The new guidelines will also allow professional sports leagues to train and compete without live audiences. They also permit the resumption of music, television and film production starting June 12.
Both sports and the entertainment industry must have approval from county public health officials before they can resume. The state says athletes, cast and crew members and other workers must adhere to state guidelines for reducing the risk of Covid-19 transmission and abide by labor agreements with management.
Although the state is moving forward to reopen more sectors of its economy, California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sonia Angell warned that residents should keep following recommendations aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus.
“Just because some businesses are opening doesn't mean your risk for Covid-19 is gone,” Angell said in a statement Friday. “We all need to continue to keep physical distancing, wash our hands and wear face coverings in public.”
California health officials also released guidelines for reopening schools and school-based programs on Friday. The school reopening plans include requirements for temperature and symptom checks, social distancing of students and teachers, cleaning procedures and nose-and-mouth coverings.
The state will dole out 47,000 no-touch thermometers, 2.4 million face shields for every teacher and child care provider, 14 million cloth face coverings for students and staff, 16 million disposable masks, 123,000 N-95 masks for school health professionals and 143,000 gallons of hand sanitizer. The supplies will be distributed to public schools, private schools and child care facilities.
Some California counties have already begun moving forward with plans to reopen schools. Santa Clara County announced Thursday that it will reopen schools in the fall. San Francisco public schools are scheduled to reopen Aug. 17. Both counties are still working with public health officials to develop protocols for in-person instruction and distance learning.
The state also released additional guidelines for reopening day camps, gyms, bars and wineries, amusement parks, hotels, casinos and campgrounds.
The guidelines generally require new trainings for staff and volunteers, checking staff and patrons for Covid-19 symptoms, limited sharing of communal materials, wearing face coverings, maintaining adequate space for social distancing and more frequent and thorough cleaning of facilities.
The state has not yet authorized the reopening of nail salons.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced last week that hair salons, restaurants and barbershops would be allowed to open in 47 of the state’s 58 counties as part of the state’s Phase 3 reopening plan.
The state also authorized county health officials last week to permit churches to reopen with gatherings limited to 100 people or 25% of building capacity, whichever is lower. That announcement came after a Pentecostal church in San Diego County lost its federal appeal seeking a court order to allow it to reopen immediately.
California reported 122,901 positive Covid-19 cases and 4,485 deaths from the virus as of Thursday, June 4. The state reported that 4.5% of Covid-19 tests came back positive and hospitalizations declined 2.9% over the last 14 days.


courthousenews--2020-06-05--Protest Turns Into Celebration of Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota

FARGO , N.D. ( CN ) — What originally started as a small sit-in at Fargo City Hall to protest the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis grew into a city-sanctioned event as over 1,000 attendees came out to celebrate the life of Floyd at Island Park in downtown Fargo .
Coming out hand in hand with the Fargo Police , the peaceful event featured members of community group OneFargo who had originally planned the sit-in but canceled it after threats popped up on social media calling for City Hall to be burned down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the event and members of OneFargo made it clear that the day was not for violence but a day of celebration and coming together with police to fight against racism , racial profiling and discrimination .
“ Racism is still prevalent in our society , and it ’ s disgusting .
I think this was a good step to bring focus on it , ” said Brook Hanson , who attended the event .
“ I ’ ve never been more proud than I am right now , ” said Fargo Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature of the day .
Community organizers strongly urged that following the event everyone needed to go home , stating the importance of not loitering with the intent to cause trouble afterward .
OneFargo and Black Lives Matter asked the crowd to not “ change the narrative ” with violence and to keep the event peaceful in nature , so the “ media and online conversation ” wouldn ’ t be able to depict the event in a negative light .
“ I think people are talking more about the riots and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about all the good things that are going on with this protest , ” said Liegh Jones , another attendee .
“ All of these communities coming together is not being portrayed as much as all the negativity from outside forces.
” Fighting back tears while speaking , a young black woman named Millie Hanninen explained her struggles and experiences and what the protests meant to her .
“ I ’ ve faced a lot of racism in my life .
It ’ s been really hard for me and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other people , and I ’ m just scared .
I have siblings that are black and I don ’ t want anything to happen to them , ” Hanninen said .
Black Lives Matter members used the even to make a list of demands for the surrounding metro areas of Fargo , West Fargo and Moorhead .
Jamaal Abegaz of Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America read the demands , which were met with cheers of excitement and agreement from the attendees .
The demands call for Mahoney and Mayor Jonathan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the three officers who were with Officer Derek Chauvin — who faces second-degree murder charges in the Memorial Day death of Floyd — as well as mandatory cultural diversity training and improved psychological examinations for police officers .
The three officers so far face aiding and abetting charges , and all four have been fired by the Minneapolis Police Department .
“ I ’ m super happy that this whole situation turned out to be a success , it was peaceful , I think we ’ ve had a lot of open-at-heart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed , ” said Sgt .
Cristie Jacobsen of the Fargo Police Department .
“ We ’ ve all been able to come together and we ’ re always looking for partners in our community engagement .
I ’ m excited that this turned out to be exactly what they wanted.
” The event closed with Jacobsen closely huddled with community organizers on stage while the entire park sang “ Lean on Me ” in unison .

What originally started as a small sit-in at Fargo City Hall to protest the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis grew into a city-sanctioned event as over 1,000 attendees came out to celebrate the life of Floyd at Island Park in downtown Fargo.
FARGO, N.D. (CN) — What originally started as a small sit-in at Fargo City Hall to protest the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis grew into a city-sanctioned event as over 1,000 attendees came out to celebrate the life of Floyd at Island Park in downtown Fargo.
Coming out hand in hand with the Fargo Police, the peaceful event featured members of community group OneFargo who had originally planned the sit-in but canceled it after threats popped up on social media calling for City Hall to be burned down in addition to other violent acts.
Speakers at the event and members of OneFargo made it clear that the day was not for violence but a day of celebration and coming together with police to fight against racism, racial profiling and discrimination.
“Racism is still prevalent in our society, and it’s disgusting. I think this was a good step to bring focus on it,” said Brook Hanson, who attended the event.
“I’ve never been more proud than I am right now,” said Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, speaking to the peaceful nature of the day.
Community organizers strongly urged that following the event everyone needed to go home, stating the importance of not loitering with the intent to cause trouble afterward. OneFargo and Black Lives Matter asked the crowd to not “change the narrative” with violence and to keep the event peaceful in nature, so the “media and online conversation” wouldn’t be able to depict the event in a negative light.
“I think people are talking more about the riots and the looting than they should be and not about all the good things that are going on with this protest,” said Liegh Jones, another attendee. “All of these communities coming together is not being portrayed as much as all the negativity from outside forces.”
Scenes from a peaceful city-sanctioned protest of the killing of George Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota. (Courthouse News photo / Levi Lass)
Scenes from a peaceful city-sanctioned protest of the killing of George Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota. (Courthouse News photo / Levi Lass)
Scenes from a peaceful city-sanctioned protest of the killing of George Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota. (Courthouse News photo / Levi Lass)
Scenes from a peaceful city-sanctioned protest of the killing of George Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota. (Courthouse News photo / Levi Lass)
Scenes from a peaceful city-sanctioned protest of the killing of George Floyd in Fargo, North Dakota. (Courthouse News photo / Levi Lass)
Fighting back tears while speaking, a young black woman named Millie Hanninen explained her struggles and experiences and what the protests meant to her.
“I’ve faced a lot of racism in my life. It’s been really hard for me and it’s even harder to see it happening to other people, and I’m just scared. I have siblings that are black and I don’t want anything to happen to them,” Hanninen said.
Black Lives Matter members used the even to make a list of demands for the surrounding metro areas of Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead. Jamaal Abegaz of Red River Valley Democratic Socialists of America read the demands, which were met with cheers of excitement and agreement from the attendees.
The demands call for Mahoney and Mayor Jonathan Judd of Moorhead to publicly support charges for the three officers who were with Officer Derek Chauvin — who faces second-degree murder charges in the Memorial Day death of Floyd — as well as mandatory cultural diversity training and improved psychological examinations for police officers.
The three officers so far face aiding and abetting charges, and all four have been fired by the Minneapolis Police Department.
“I’m super happy that this whole situation turned out to be a success, it was peaceful, I think we’ve had a lot of open-at-heart questions answered and dialog had and relationships developed,” said Sgt. Cristie Jacobsen of the Fargo Police Department. “We’ve all been able to come together and we’re always looking for partners in our community engagement. I’m excited that this turned out to be exactly what they wanted.”
The event closed with Jacobsen closely huddled with community organizers on stage while the entire park sang “Lean on Me'' in unison.


courthousenews--2020-06-05--Landlords Can’t Interrupt Suspension on NY Tenant Evictions

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — New York landlords whose tenants couldn ’ t make rent during the coronavirus pandemic failed Friday to jumpstart evictions that Governor Andrew Cuomo put on hold for 60 days .
Though the case is not yet over — Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon set oral arguments for June 24 after declining this morning to issue a temporary restraining order — Cuomo ’ s executive order will have already expired by then on June 20 .
Friday ’ s hearing was conducted as a teleconference , and McMahon noted that she expects the federal court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic by the time of the next hearing .
New York City , which has been the national hotspot of the global pandemic , is set to begin only the first phase of Cuomo ’ s reopening plan Monday .
Cuomo issued his executive order pausing evictions on May 7 .
In addition to instituting a 60-day hold on new eviction proceedings , the order allows tenants to demand that landlords use their security deposits to pay rent that is due or in arrears .
Three Westchester-based landlords — Elmsford Apartment Associates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 66 Apartment Associates J.V .
— brought a federal complaint alleging that Cuomo ’ s order violates the takings and due-process clauses of the 14th Amendment .
“ The order thus improperly places upon landlords the sole obligation to provide housing for tenants who are unable to pay for same—an obligation that should by right be borne by society as a whole , ” their attorney Mark Guterman , from the firm Lehrman , Lehrman & Guterman , wrote in a 22-page memo .
New York Attorney General Letitia James has not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistant Matthew Conrad said little at today ’ s conference , dedicated mostly to preliminary matters like scheduling .
Judge McMahon , who heads the Southern District of New York , said she anticipated no need for evidence-gathering , as the case concerned a purely legal dispute .
Unlike New York ’ s federal judiciary , state courts reopened late last month on Memorial Day to a rush of lawsuits .
“ Does this make any impact on any arguments that you have made ?
” McMahon asked , referring to the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not impact the suspension of evictions .
Despite unexpectedly adding 2.5 million jobs last month , U.S. unemployment still remains enormous from virus-related layoffs .
That rate shot up to 14.5 % in April , the highest ever recorded in the state ’ s 44-year history .

New York landlords whose tenants couldn’t make rent during the coronavirus pandemic failed Friday to jumpstart evictions that Governor Andrew Cuomo put on hold for 60 days.
MANHATTAN (CN) — New York landlords whose tenants couldn’t make rent during the coronavirus pandemic failed Friday to jumpstart evictions that Governor Andrew Cuomo put on hold for 60 days.
Though the case is not yet over — Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon set oral arguments for June 24 after declining this morning to issue a temporary restraining order — Cuomo’s executive order has been extended until Aug. 20.
Friday’s hearing was conducted as a teleconference, and McMahon noted that she expects the federal court will still be closed because of the coronavirus pandemic by the time of the next hearing. New York City, which has been the national hotspot of the global pandemic, is set to begin only the first phase of Cuomo’s reopening plan Monday.
Cuomo issued his executive order pausing evictions on May 7. In addition to instituting a 60-day hold on new eviction proceedings, the order allows tenants to demand that landlords use their security deposits to pay rent that is due or in arrears.
Three Westchester-based landlords — Elmsford Apartment Associates LLC, 36 Apartment Associates LLC and 66 Apartment Associates J.V. — brought a federal complaint alleging that Cuomo’s order violates the takings and due-process clauses of the 14th Amendment.
“The order thus improperly places upon landlords the sole obligation to provide housing for tenants who are unable to pay for same—an obligation that should by right be borne by society as a whole,” their attorney Mark Guterman, from the firm Lehrman, Lehrman & Guterman, wrote in a 22-page memo.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has not yet responded to those arguments, and her assistant Matthew Conrad said little at today’s conference, dedicated mostly to preliminary matters like scheduling.
Judge McMahon, who heads the Southern District of New York, said she anticipated no need for evidence-gathering, as the case concerned a purely legal dispute.
Unlike New York’s federal judiciary, state courts reopened late last month on Memorial Day to a rush of lawsuits.
“Does this make any impact on any arguments that you have made?” McMahon asked, referring to the court openings.
Guterman noted that decision that did not impact the suspension of evictions.
Despite unexpectedly adding 2.5 million jobs last month, U.S. unemployment still remains enormous from virus-related layoffs. That rate shot up to 14.5% in April, the highest ever recorded in the state’s 44-year history.


courthousenews--2020-06-05--Appeal Over Brain-Injured Wrestlers Stumbles in 2nd Circuit

MANHATTAN ( CN ) — Hoping to keep concussion-related claims from former wrestlers pinned down , a lawyer for the WWE told the Second Circuit on Friday that the decades-old claims are hopelessly out of date .
“ Some of these claims were time-barred literally when Richard Nixon was president or Jimmy Carter was the president , ” Jerry McDevitt , longtime counsel for World Wrestling Entertainment , said this morning during a teleconference .
“ These claims have been time-barred for decades and there was no attempt to separate any of them out , ” added McDevitt , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ L Gates .
Representing Joe “ Road Warrior Animal ” Laurinaitis , Jimmy “ Superfly ” Snuka and dozens of others , Hingham , Massachusetts-based attorney Konstantine Kyros says the WWE hid the long-term neurological damage that wrestlers faced from years of being pounded in and out of the ring .
Kyros filed the first of six lawsuits on behalf of former WWE wrestlers on Jan. 16 , 2015 .
The following year , Kyros brought a class action against the Connecticut-based WWE and its owner , Vince McMahon , featuring a who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s past stars , including “ Mr .
Wonderful ” Paul Orndorff , King Kong Bundy , Ahmed Johnson and Ken Patera .
Seven of the wrestlers have died since the suits were filed “ without seeing their day in court , ” Kyros told Friday ’ s appellate panel .
One of the deceased wrestlers , Ashley Massaro , was suffering from depression and killed herself last year at age 39 , just two months before Kyros filed his brief with the federal appeals court .
Kyros on Friday emphasized that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be studied to demonstrate for others the effects of concussive brain damage .
In email after the hearing , Kyros said the WWE ’ s reliance on caselaw from the 2018 Supreme Court case Hall v. Hall sets the Second Circuit up to “ create precedent that forecloses several of the wrestlers ’ appeals.
” These appeals were taken pursuant to an earlier mandate in the case of his client Billy Jack Haynes , Kyros wrote , but “ the court is now tasked with deciding whether he now has no rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall.
” “ This would be a manifestly unjust result as no appeal could have been taken under the rules then in existence and even though he followed the earlier mandate of the Second Circuit , ” Kyros added .
Two Trump appointees , U.S .
Circuit Judges , Michael Park and William Nardini , presided over Friday ’ s hearing , along with U.S .
Circuit Judge Barrington Parker , a George W. Bush appointee .
McDevitt declined to comment after the hearing , which concluded without a ruling .
In his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filing “ duplicative ” class actions as part of “ an internet-based scheme to solicit former wrestlers to sue WWE in the hopes of replicating the settlement by the NFL in the class action case against it over chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
” Citing the widespread publicity of the a CTE diagnosis in former wrestler Chris Benoit in 2007 , McDevitt also said that Kyros lacks a good faith basis to assert a tolling doctrine .
“ One appellant ceased performing in the 1970s , ” WWE ’ s brief states .
“ Thirteen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ceased performing in the 1990s .
Thirty-three ceased performing between 2000-2010.
” At Friday ’ s hearing , Kyros responded on rebuttal to McDevitt ’ s reference to the Nixon ’ s administration , recalling a 2018 ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court in a case over Steve Schmitz , a running back and receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 1970s who was diagnosed with a latent neurological disease in 2012 .
Writing for the majority in Schmitz , Judge Judith French found that , even if former college player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CTE diagnosis in December 2012 , there was no way to conclusively determine that his claims are barred by the statute of limitations since he did not know and had no reason to know that he had suffered a latent brain injury while playing football .
Most of the wrestlers ’ claims were dismissed in U.S. District Court as time barred , but McDevitt noted in court Friday that one — Evan Singleton ’ s fraud-by-omission claim — was tossed as meritless at summary judgment .
Presiding in the District of Connecticut , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singleton , who wrestled professionally as Adam Mercer , had not offered any evidence suggesting that WWE intentionally omitted any information in order to induce him to continue wrestling .

Hoping to keep concussion-related claims from former wrestlers pinned down, a lawyer for the WWE told the Second Circuit on Friday that the decades-old claims are hopelessly out of date.
MANHATTAN (CN) — Hoping to keep concussion-related claims from former wrestlers pinned down, a lawyer for the WWE told the Second Circuit on Friday that the decades-old claims are hopelessly out of date.
“Some of these claims were time-barred literally when Richard Nixon was president or Jimmy Carter was the president,” Jerry McDevitt, longtime counsel for World Wrestling Entertainment, said this morning during a teleconference.
“These claims have been time-barred for decades and there was no attempt to separate any of them out,” added McDevitt, who is with the Pittsburgh firm K&L Gates.
Representing Joe “Road Warrior Animal” Laurinaitis, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and dozens of others, Hingham, Massachusetts-based attorney Konstantine Kyros says the WWE hid the long-term neurological damage that wrestlers faced from years of being pounded in and out of the ring.
Kyros filed the first of six lawsuits on behalf of former WWE wrestlers on Jan. 16, 2015. The following year, Kyros brought a class action against the Connecticut-based WWE and its owner, Vince McMahon, featuring a who’s who of the sport’s past stars, including “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, King Kong Bundy, Ahmed Johnson and Ken Patera.
Seven of the wrestlers have died since the suits were filed “without seeing their day in court,” Kyros told Friday’s appellate panel.
One of the deceased wrestlers, Ashley Massaro, was suffering from depression and killed herself last year at age 39, just two months before Kyros filed his brief with the federal appeals court. Kyros on Friday emphasized that he is ensuing that the athletes’ brains will be studied to demonstrate for others the effects of concussive brain damage.
In email after the hearing, Kyros said the WWE’s reliance on caselaw from the 2018 Supreme Court case Hall v. Hall sets the Second Circuit up to “create precedent that forecloses several of the wrestlers’ appeals.”
These appeals were taken pursuant to an earlier mandate in the case of his client Billy Jack Haynes, Kyros wrote, but “the court is now tasked with deciding whether he now has no rights to an appeal under the reasoning in Hall.”
“This would be a manifestly unjust result as no appeal could have been taken under the rules then in existence and even though he followed the earlier mandate of the Second Circuit,” Kyros added.
Two Trump appointees, U.S. Circuit Judges, Michael Park and William Nardini, presided over Friday’s hearing, along with U.S. Circuit Judge Barrington Parker, a George W. Bush appointee.
McDevitt declined to comment after the hearing, which concluded without a ruling.
In his appellate brief, McDevitt accused Kyros of filing “duplicative” class actions as part of “an internet-based scheme to solicit former wrestlers to sue WWE in the hopes of replicating the settlement by the NFL in the class action case against it over chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”
Citing the widespread publicity of the a CTE diagnosis in former wrestler Chris Benoit in 2007, McDevitt also said that Kyros lacks a good faith basis to assert a tolling doctrine.
“One appellant ceased performing in the 1970s,” WWE’s brief states. “Thirteen ceased performing in the 1980s. Nineteen ceased performing in the 1990s. Thirty-three ceased performing between 2000-2010.”
At Friday’s hearing, Kyros responded on rebuttal to McDevitt’s reference to the Nixon’s administration, recalling a 2018 ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court in a case over Steve Schmitz, a running back and receiver for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 1970s who was diagnosed with a latent neurological disease in 2012.
Writing for the majority in Schmitz, Judge Judith French found that, even if former college player experienced some neurological impairment prior to his CTE diagnosis in December 2012, there was no way to conclusively determine that his claims are barred by the statute of limitations since he did not know and had no reason to know that he had suffered a latent brain injury while playing football.
Most of the wrestlers’ claims were dismissed in U.S. District Court as time barred, but McDevitt noted in court Friday that one — Evan Singleton’s fraud-by-omission claim — was tossed as meritless at summary judgment.
Presiding in the District of Connecticut, U.S. District Judge Vanessa Bryant found that Singleton, who wrestled professionally as Adam Mercer, had not offered any evidence suggesting that WWE intentionally omitted any information in order to induce him to continue wrestling.


Top Eight

Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including California Governor Gavin Newsom called for new police crowd control procedures and the banning of a chokehold that stops the flow of blood to the brain ; More than $ 20 million has been donated to George Floyd ’ s family and to charities in his honor ; At least 16 countries have passed new laws targeting misinformation about the coronavirus , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 . )
A counterfeit $ 20 bill allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to George Floyd ’ s death .
Days later , more than $ 20 million has been donated to his family and to charities in his honor and the outpouring is growing by the minute .
2 . )
After shedding more than 20 million jobs in April , the U.S. economy added back 2.5 million last month as the unemployment rate dipped to 13.3 % .
3 . )
A stunning jobs report gave Wall Street a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as markets boomed upward .
4 . )
Heeding calls for reform made by the thousands relentlessly protesting the death of George Floyd , California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday called for new police crowd control procedures and the banning of a chokehold that stops the flow of blood to the brain .
5 . )
The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday to ban city police officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints and put heavier restrictions on the use of chemical irritants as part of a temporary restraining order .
6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City protestors were arrested , both the mayor and the governor insisted Friday that the crime situation in the city is improving .
7 . )
The Austria-based International Press Institute has tracked 16 countries that have passed new laws targeting misinformation about the coronavirus .
8 . )
EU workers are not entitled to save up time off they get for special occasions to avoid overlapping with holidays , the EU ’ s top court ruled Thursday .

Top eight CNS stories for today including California Governor Gavin Newsom called for new police crowd control procedures and the banning of a chokehold that stops the flow of blood to the brain; More than $20 million has been donated to George Floyd’s family and to charities in his honor; At least 16 countries have passed new laws targeting misinformation about the coronavirus, and more.
Your Friday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including California Governor Gavin Newsom called for new police crowd control procedures and the banning of a chokehold that stops the flow of blood to the brain; More than $20 million has been donated to George Floyd’s family and to charities in his honor; At least 16 countries have passed new laws targeting misinformation about the coronavirus, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) A counterfeit $20 bill allegedly triggered the chain of events leading to George Floyd’s death. Days later, more than $20 million has been donated to his family and to charities in his honor and the outpouring is growing by the minute.
A crowd gathers in front of Houston City Hall on Tuesday, June 3, 2020, to remember the late George Floyd. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
2.) After shedding more than 20 million jobs in April, the U.S. economy added back 2.5 million last month as the unemployment rate dipped to 13.3%.
In this photo taken Thursday, June 4, 2020, a customer walks out of a U.S. Post Office branch and under a banner advertising a job opening, in Seattle. The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3% in May, and 2.5 million jobs were added — a surprisingly positive reading in the midst of a recession that has paralyzed the economy and depressed the job market in the wake of the viral pandemic (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
3.) A stunning jobs report gave Wall Street a much-needed adrenaline shot heading into the weekend, as markets boomed upward.
In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Aman Patel wears a protective face mask as he works on the partially reopened trading floor, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Stocks surged on Wall Street in afternoon trading Tuesday, driving the S&P 500 to its highest level in nearly three months, as hopes for economic recovery overshadow worries about the coronavirus pandemic. (New York Stock Exchange by Colin Zimmer via AP)
Regional
4.) Heeding calls for reform made by the thousands relentlessly protesting the death of George Floyd, California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday called for new police crowd control procedures and the banning of a chokehold that stops the flow of blood to the brain.
In this June 1, 2020 photo, California Gov. Gavin Newsom takes off his face mask before news conference after meeting leaders of the African American community in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, Pool, File)
5.) The Minneapolis City Council voted Friday to ban city police officers from using chokeholds and neck restraints and put heavier restrictions on the use of chemical irritants as part of a temporary restraining order.
EDS NOTE: OBSCENITY - A police vehicle passes a building on East Lake Street that was destroyed during protests two days prior, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
6.) The morning after hundreds of New York City protestors were arrested, both the mayor and the governor insisted Friday that the crime situation in the city is improving.
(Courthouse News photo/Josh Russell)
International
7.) The Austria-based International Press Institute has tracked 16 countries that have passed new laws targeting misinformation about the coronavirus.
Russian army officers wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus walk in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Russia has continued to see a steady rise of new infections, and new hot spots have emerged across the vast country of 147-million people that ranks the second in the world behind the United States in the number of coronavirus cases. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
8.) EU workers are not entitled to save up time off they get for special occasions to avoid overlapping with holidays, the EU’s top court ruled Thursday.


courthousenews--2020-06-05--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

June 5 , 2020 : The following LA County courthouses are open June 5 , providing essential , time-sensitive and @ @ @ @ @ Beach ) , Hollywood , Inglewood , Inglewood Juvenile , Stanley Mosk and Pasadena May @ @ @ @ @ to court operations , face coverings required in courtrooms , clerk ’ s office open @ @ @ @ @ , filings accepted via drop box or mail June 5 , 2020 : Criminal matters @ @ @ @ @ session beginning June 22 , masks required on courthouse grounds , social distancing required

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.