courthousenews--2020-10-20--Opponents in Landmark Gay Marriage Case Unite Against Barrett Nomination

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The named plaintiff and defendant in the landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the fundamental rights of same-sex couples stood together Tuesday in opposition to Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination to the nation ’ s highest court .
Early next week , the GOP-controlled Senate is expected to confirm President Donald Trump ’ s pick to fill the seat held for 27 years by liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
But Jim Obergefell and Rick Hodges of Obergefell v. Hodges fame raised alarm at Barrett ’ s rise to Supreme Court justice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the constitutional right to full equality for LGBTQ Americans .
“ Rick and I stand here today together , to support that vision of full equality , won through the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that bears both of our names .
We greatly fear that if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court , marriage equality could be chipped away , ” Obergefell said .
Identifying as a lifelong Republican and a person of faith , Hodges , who headed the Ohio Department of Health when Obergefell was decided , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans who support marriage equality .
“ When we start talking about which groups deserve rights and which groups do not deserve rights , that threatens us all , ” he said in a discussion held by video conference .
A Trump nominee to the Seventh Circuit , Barrett told senators last week : “ I assure you , I don ’ t have any agenda , and I ’ m not even expressing a view in disagreement of Obergefell.
” But Obergefell said while Trump ’ s nominee may not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike down rulings that backed LGBTQ rights , her conservative record raises concern about the future of equality for his community .
“ Her record clearly tells us that she would be detrimental to our well-being , and our ability to enjoy equality as full Americans , ” he said .
Barrett has espoused herself as a disciple of Justice Antonin Scalia ’ s originalist philosophy , interpreting the text of the Constitution as written .
Pressed by Democrats to opine on whether landmark cases are settled law , Barrett agreed Brown v. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which protected the rights of Black Americans , were rightly decided .
But she declined to opine on Obergefell or the Supreme Court ’ s recent decision in Bostock v. Clayton County finding sex and gender discrimination of LGBTQ employees unconstitutional .
Barrett tirelessly relied on the words of Ginsburg at her confirmation hearing saying she would provide “ no hints , no previews , no forecasts.
” Three Democratic senators joined Obergefell and Hodges on Tuesday , calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow voters to have a voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first casting their ballots for a president to nominate Ginsburg ’ s successor .
“ They could never overturn Obergefell v. Hodges through the ballot box , or through going through Congress , they know that .
So they turn to the courts to legislate , ” Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio said .
Hodges also stood behind Democrats ’ top concern with Barrett ’ s nomination : her on-the-record opposition to the Affordable Care Act .
While he is “ still skeptical of the financial sustainability ” of so-called Obamacare , Hodges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio Department of Health he recognizes the federal health care law increased the lifespan of Cleveland residents by 26 years .
“ When you hear the statistics about how LGBTQ people are impacted differently by the health care system , and access to care , and suffer more health issues , you have to conclude that it is a fundamental right to life for people to be able to receive health care , ” Hodges said .
“ It ’ s an issue of basic equality and fairness in our country .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me is unconscionable , ” he added .
At the outset of last week ’ s politically charged confirmation hearing , Barrett had said that legal professionals often “ treat the practice of law as all-consuming , while losing sight of everything else , but that makes for a shallow and unfulfilling life.
” Obergefell , who fought in the landmark case bearing his name for the right to be listed as the surviving spouse on his husband ’ s death certificate in 2013 , said Tuesday that LGBTQ families once again face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfulfilling life ” if Barrett ’ s nomination swings the court to a 6-3 conservative majority .
“ Depending on state laws , we were not recognized as the families that we are ; we could not file taxes jointly , or make medical decisions for one another , or , after a death , be treated legally as the surviving spouse … These were the experiences , the routine discrimination , that sent us the message that we and our relationships and families were ‘ less than , ’ ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws before Obergefell , but the justices in a 5-4 ruling affirmed in 2015 that LGBTQ spouses are protected under both the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment .
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas kicked off the Supreme Court term this month by calling into question the soundness of that decision , writing the majority decision “ enables courts and governments to brand religious adherents who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as bigots , making their religious liberty concerns that much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for what she called “ full milk ” marriage , rather than “ skim milk ” marriage , for same-sex couples , ensuring they held onto their constitutional right to full equality , Obergefell recalled Tuesday .

The named plaintiff and defendant in the landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the fundamental rights of same-sex couples stood together Tuesday in opposition to Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the nation’s highest court.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The named plaintiff and defendant in the landmark Supreme Court case that upheld the fundamental rights of same-sex couples stood together Tuesday in opposition to Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the nation’s highest court.
Early next week, the GOP-controlled Senate is expected to confirm President Donald Trump’s pick to fill the seat held for 27 years by liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
But Jim Obergefell and Rick Hodges of Obergefell v. Hodges fame raised alarm at Barrett’s rise to Supreme Court justice, saying her record indicates she will ignore the constitutional right to full equality for LGBTQ Americans.
“Rick and I stand here today together, to support that vision of full equality, won through the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that bears both of our names. We greatly fear that if Judge Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court, marriage equality could be chipped away,” Obergefell said.
Identifying as a lifelong Republican and a person of faith, Hodges, who headed the Ohio Department of Health when Obergefell was decided, said he stands with the 70% of Americans who support marriage equality.
“When we start talking about which groups deserve rights and which groups do not deserve rights, that threatens us all,” he said in a discussion held by video conference.
A Trump nominee to the Seventh Circuit, Barrett told senators last week: “I assure you, I don’t have any agenda, and I’m not even expressing a view in disagreement of Obergefell.”
But Obergefell said while Trump’s nominee may not be joining the court with the motive to strike down rulings that backed LGBTQ rights, her conservative record raises concern about the future of equality for his community.
“Her record clearly tells us that she would be detrimental to our well-being, and our ability to enjoy equality as full Americans,” he said.
Barrett has espoused herself as a disciple of Justice Antonin Scalia’s originalist philosophy, interpreting the text of the Constitution as written.
Pressed by Democrats to opine on whether landmark cases are settled law, Barrett agreed Brown v. Board of Education and Loving v. Virginia, which protected the rights of Black Americans, were rightly decided.
But she declined to opine on Obergefell or the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Bostock v. Clayton County finding sex and gender discrimination of LGBTQ employees unconstitutional. Barrett tirelessly relied on the words of Ginsburg at her confirmation hearing saying she would provide “no hints, no previews, no forecasts.”
Three Democratic senators joined Obergefell and Hodges on Tuesday, calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow voters to have a voice in filling the Supreme Court seat by first casting their ballots for a president to nominate Ginsburg’s successor.
“They could never overturn Obergefell v. Hodges through the ballot box, or through going through Congress, they know that. So they turn to the courts to legislate,” Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio said.
Hodges also stood behind Democrats’ top concern with Barrett’s nomination: her on-the-record opposition to the Affordable Care Act.
While he is “still skeptical of the financial sustainability” of so-called Obamacare, Hodges said as the former director of the Ohio Department of Health he recognizes the federal health care law increased the lifespan of Cleveland residents by 26 years.
“When you hear the statistics about how LGBTQ people are impacted differently by the health care system, and access to care, and suffer more health issues, you have to conclude that it is a fundamental right to life for people to be able to receive health care,” Hodges said.
“It's an issue of basic equality and fairness in our country. And to undermine that by judicial fiat to me is unconscionable,” he added.
At the outset of last week’s politically charged confirmation hearing, Barrett had said that legal professionals often “treat the practice of law as all-consuming, while losing sight of everything else, but that makes for a shallow and unfulfilling life.”
Obergefell, who fought in the landmark case bearing his name for the right to be listed as the surviving spouse on his husband’s death certificate in 2013, said Tuesday that LGBTQ families once again face the possibility of a “shallow and unfulfilling life” if Barrett’s nomination swings the court to a 6-3 conservative majority.
“Depending on state laws, we were not recognized as the families that we are; we could not file taxes jointly, or make medical decisions for one another, or, after a death, be treated legally as the surviving spouse ... These were the experiences, the routine discrimination, that sent us the message that we and our relationships and families were ‘less than,’” he said.
Same-sex couples faced various discriminatory state laws before Obergefell, but the justices in a 5-4 ruling affirmed in 2015 that LGBTQ spouses are protected under both the due process clause and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas kicked off the Supreme Court term this month by calling into question the soundness of that decision, writing the majority decision “enables courts and governments to brand religious adherents who believe that marriage is between one man and one woman as bigots, making their religious liberty concerns that much easier to dismiss."
But Ginsburg fought for what she called “full milk” marriage, rather than “skim milk” marriage, for same-sex couples, ensuring they held onto their constitutional right to full equality, Obergefell recalled Tuesday.


courthousenews--2020-10-20--No Bail for Septuagenarian Mexican General Accused of Helping Cartel

( CN ) — A federal judge denied bail Tuesday to the former Mexican defense secretary who was arrested here last week on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges .
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda , a retired general also known as “ El Padrino ” was apprehended after flying into Los Angeles International Airport with his family .
He faces a four-count federal indictment in Brooklyn that accuses him of taking bribes to help the H-2 Cartel avoid prosecution .
In addition to conspiracy to launder proceeds from selling narcotics , Cienfuegos is charged with conspiracy to manufacture , distribute and import heroin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three of the charges are punishable by a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years .
Citing that severity , and the general ’ s extensive connections in Mexico , prosecutors portrayed Cienfuegos as a significant flight risk at a court hearing this afternoon in Los Angeles .
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander MacKinnon agreed with that assessment .
“ He ’ s in his 70s , and it wouldn ’ t take a very long sentence to basically be a life sentence in these scenarios , ” said MacKinnon , who was appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama .
This scenario , “ for anyone in that position , creates an incentive to flee , ” MacKinnon added .
But defense attorney Duane Lyons said the general ’ s age is precisely the reason he should be allowed to await trial as a free man .
At 72 , Cienfuegos is at particular risk for Covid-19 , Lyons said , arguing as well that an extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico would ensure the general ’ s capture if he did jump bail .
MacKinnon responded , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cienfuegos has in Mexico .
The magistrate also found it likely that the general could evade prosecution if he were released , given his high-ranking position in the country ’ s government .
Plus , he noted , the extradition process can take years .
Cienfuegos will be transferred to Brooklyn for his trial in New York ’ s Eastern District .
At Tuesday ’ s hearing in Los Angeles , Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Balding made the government ’ s case to keep Cienfuegos in custody .
The general had managed Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense secretary from 2012 to 2018 under then-President Enrique Peña Nieto .
Following another high-profile arrest last year , Cienfuegos is the second-highest-ranking former Mexican cabinet official to be held in U.S. custody .
Genaro García Luna , who is awaiting drug-trafficking charges tied to the Sinaloa Cartel , was the secretary of public security under former Mexican President Felipe Calderon .
Like Cienfuegos , Garcia Luna is going to be tried in Brooklyn where drug kingpin Joaquin “ El Chapo ” Guzman was given a life sentence last year .
Recognizing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has affirmed that corruption in the country is deep set .
“ I have always said that it was not just one single crisis but a process of progressive degradation , ” López Obrador said , according to a translation of his remarks by the editor of Mexico Business .
He pledged to suspend or remove any active officials linked to Cienfuegos .
“ All those who are involved in the General Cienfuegos affair , who are acting officials in the government or in the Ministry of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the competent authorities , ” López Obrador said .

A federal judge denied bail Tuesday to the former Mexican defense secretary who was arrested here last week on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges.
(CN) — A federal judge denied bail Tuesday to the former Mexican defense secretary who was arrested here last week on drug-trafficking and money-laundering charges.
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, a retired general also known as “El Padrino” was apprehended after flying into Los Angeles International Airport with his family. He faces a four-count federal indictment in Brooklyn that accuses him of taking bribes to help the H-2 Cartel avoid prosecution. In addition to conspiracy to launder proceeds from selling narcotics, Cienfuegos is charged with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and import heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.
Three of the charges are punishable by a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years. Citing that severity, and the general’s extensive connections in Mexico, prosecutors portrayed Cienfuegos as a significant flight risk at a court hearing this afternoon in Los Angeles.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Alexander MacKinnon agreed with that assessment.
“He’s in his 70s, and it wouldn't take a very long sentence to basically be a life sentence in these scenarios,” said MacKinnon, who was appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama.
This scenario, “for anyone in that position, creates an incentive to flee,” MacKinnon added.
But defense attorney Duane Lyons said the general’s age is precisely the reason he should be allowed to await trial as a free man.
At 72, Cienfuegos is at particular risk for Covid-19, Lyons said, arguing as well that an extradition treaty between the United States and Mexico would ensure the general’s capture if he did jump bail.
MacKinnon responded, however, by pointing to the lifelong connections Cienfuegos has in Mexico. The magistrate also found it likely that the general could evade prosecution if he were released, given his high-ranking position in the country’s government. Plus, he noted, the extradition process can take years.
Cienfuegos will be transferred to Brooklyn for his trial in New York’s Eastern District. At Tuesday’s hearing in Los Angeles, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Balding made the government’s case to keep Cienfuegos in custody.
The general had managed Mexico’s army and air force as defense secretary from 2012 to 2018 under then-President Enrique Peña Nieto. Following another high-profile arrest last year, Cienfuegos is the second-highest-ranking former Mexican cabinet official to be held in U.S. custody. Genaro García Luna, who is awaiting drug-trafficking charges tied to the Sinaloa Cartel, was the secretary of public security under former Mexican President Felipe Calderon. Like Cienfuegos, Garcia Luna is going to be tried in Brooklyn where drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was given a life sentence last year.
Recognizing the charges staining the past two administrations, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has affirmed that corruption in the country is deep set.
“I have always said that it was not just one single crisis but a process of progressive degradation,” López Obrador said, according to a translation of his remarks by the editor of Mexico Business.
He pledged to suspend or remove any active officials linked to Cienfuegos.
“All those who are involved in the General Cienfuegos affair, who are acting officials in the government or in the Ministry of Defense, will be suspended or presented to the competent authorities,” López Obrador said.


courthousenews--2020-10-20--Covid at San Quentin

Covid at San Quentin

SAN FRANCISCO — A California appeals court ordered the state to reduce the number of prisoners held at San Quentin @ @ @ @ @ than 1,775 inmates , calling the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ’ s handling @ @ @ @ @ amounted to “ deliberate indifference .
”

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.


courthousenews--2020-10-20--Houston Police Officer Killed in Shooting, Another Wounded

HOUSTON ( CN ) — A 41-year veteran of the Houston Police Department was fatally shot Tuesday while responding to a call involving a domestic dispute .
Houston Police Sergeant Harold Preston died after he was shot twice in the head and once in the spine at an apartment complex .
Preston and two other officers went to the complex around 8 a.m. after a woman called police and said she was moving out of her apartment but her estranged husband would not let her inside to get some things .
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo identified the suspect as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news conference .
At around 9:30 a.m. , Acevedo said , Manzano ’ s 14-year-old son unlocked the apartment ’ s front door and yelled to police his father had a gun .
Manzano opened fire .
He shot both his son and HPD officer Courtney Waller in the arm and Preston multiple times .
A SWAT team was called in and they moved Preston away from the apartment door .
Houston Fire Department paramedics took Preston , Waller and Manzano ’ s son to the hospital .
Around 10:30 a.m. , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came out and surrendered , Acevedo said at the news conference in front of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center .
“ This man ’ s been around for 41 years and people throw out the word hero all the time and I ’ m not calling him a hero because of the way he died .
But he is a hero , ” Acevedo said of Preston .
“ He ’ s a guy that ’ s in his 60s…And he ’ s leading from where we want our sergeants to lead , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ He ’ s leading with his men and women on the streets instead of choosing to sit in an office , drinking coffee and reading the paper .
That ’ s the man he was.
” Acevedo said Preston lived with and took care of his elderly parents .
The chief said Preston succumbed to his wounds in the hospital after his parents , his 23-year-old daughter , his fiancée and his ex-wife came and saw him take his last breath .
An honor guard of HPD motorcycle officers escorted Preston @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Harris County Medical Examiner ’ s Office on Tuesday afternoon .
A Good Samaritan who was washing his car in the apartment complex when Manzano opened fire reportedly rushed in and grabbed Waller after he was shot in the arm and pulled him out of harm ’ s way .
The shooting comes after a Houston Fire Department arson investigator was fatally shot early Friday morning by a man who then killed himself .
Police said Lemuel Bruce was part of a team investigating a spate of car fires and had just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the suspect ’ s vehicle when shots rang out and Bruce was hit in the torso .
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday urged first responders to rely on their faith to help them deal with the loss of their colleagues .
“ You have to rely on something greater than yourself and for me I rely on my faith , ” said Turner , surrounded by police and firefighters at the news conference .
“ This is a moment in a very tough year where you still have to be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to function , ” he added .
“ And that ’ s what I said to these police officers , even with the hurt and pain everyone is experiencing we still have to do our jobs .
You find your purpose and you move forward .
And you have to believe there ’ s a lot of good that still exists.
” Turner thanked Acevedo for telling about the man who came to Waller ’ s aid .
“ Because in the midst of this tragedy there ’ s a heck of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s right here in our city , ” he said .
Waller , a three-year HPD veteran , is expected to be released soon from the hospital .
Manzano was also shot in the stomach by police .

A 41-year veteran of the Houston police department was fatally shot Tuesday while responding to a call involving a domestic dispute.
HOUSTON (CN) — A 41-year veteran of the Houston Police Department was fatally shot Tuesday while responding to a call involving a domestic dispute.
Houston Police Sergeant Harold Preston died after he was shot twice in the head and once in the spine at an apartment complex.
Preston and two other officers went to the complex around 8 a.m. after a woman called police and said she was moving out of her apartment but her estranged husband would not let her inside to get some things.
Houston Police Sgt. Harold Preston was killed Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Houston Police Department via Twitter)
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo identified the suspect as Elmer Manzano, 51, at a news conference.
At around 9:30 a.m., Acevedo said, Manzano’s 14-year-old son unlocked the apartment’s front door and yelled to police his father had a gun.
Manzano opened fire. He shot both his son and HPD officer Courtney Waller in the arm and Preston multiple times.
A SWAT team was called in and they moved Preston away from the apartment door. Houston Fire Department paramedics took Preston, Waller and Manzano’s son to the hospital.
Around 10:30 a.m., with SWAT officers surrounding his apartment, Manzano came out and surrendered, Acevedo said at the news conference in front of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
“This man’s been around for 41 years and people throw out the word hero all the time and I’m not calling him a hero because of the way he died. But he is a hero,” Acevedo said of Preston. “He’s a guy that’s in his 60s…And he’s leading from where we want our sergeants to lead, from the front.”
The police chief added, “He’s leading with his men and women on the streets instead of choosing to sit in an office, drinking coffee and reading the paper. That’s the man he was.”
Acevedo said Preston lived with and took care of his elderly parents. The chief said Preston succumbed to his wounds in the hospital after his parents, his 23-year-old daughter, his fiancée and his ex-wife came and saw him take his last breath.
An honor guard of HPD motorcycle officers escorted Preston’s body from the hospital to the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office on Tuesday afternoon.
A Good Samaritan who was washing his car in the apartment complex when Manzano opened fire reportedly rushed in and grabbed Waller after he was shot in the arm and pulled him out of harm’s way.
Houston Police Officer Courtney Waller was shot in the arm Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. (Photo courtesy of Houston Police Department via Twitter)
The shooting comes after a Houston Fire Department arson investigator was fatally shot early Friday morning by a man who then killed himself.
Police said Lemuel Bruce was part of a team investigating a spate of car fires and had just discovered a car matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle when shots rang out and Bruce was hit in the torso.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday urged first responders to rely on their faith to help them deal with the loss of their colleagues.
“You have to rely on something greater than yourself and for me I rely on my faith,” said Turner, surrounded by police and firefighters at the news conference.
“This is a moment in a very tough year where you still have to be able to muster the inner strength and peace to continue to function,” he added. “And that’s what I said to these police officers, even with the hurt and pain everyone is experiencing we still have to do our jobs. You find your purpose and you move forward. And you have to believe there’s a lot of good that still exists.”
Turner thanked Acevedo for telling about the man who came to Waller’s aid.
“Because in the midst of this tragedy there’s a heck of a lot of good and it’s right here in our city,” he said.
Waller, a three-year HPD veteran, is expected to be released soon from the hospital.
Manzano was also shot in the stomach by police.


Family Separation

SAN DIEGO — According to a status report in a family separation class action in federal court in California , @ @ @ @ @ from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border have not been reunited with their parents .
@ @ @ @ @ have not been reached are believed to have been deported .


Brush Fire

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit revived a suit brought by a group of landowners against the U.S. over a @ @ @ @ @ thousands of acres , that ignited during an Army training exercise at the Yakima Training @ @ @ @ @ were discrepancies in witness statements as to the weather and conditions updates a commander received @ @ @ @ @ fire .


Cockfighting

SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth Circuit upheld the Board of Immigrations Appeals ’ decision that an immigrant who was involved @ @ @ @ @ cancellation of removal because the offense of exhibiting an animal in a fighting venture is @ @ @ @ @ turpitude .
”


Blind Pedestrians

NEW YORK — New York City is denying blind people their right to walk on the city ’ s streets @ @ @ @ @ of intersections have audible crossing signals , a federal court in New York ruled , @ @ @ @ @ and low-vision pedestrians summary judgment on their claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and @ @ @ @


Post Malone

LOS ANGELES — Part of a copyright case against Post Malone can continue , a federal court in California ruled @ @ @ @ @ claims he co-authored Post Malone ’ s song “ Circles ” and deserves a larger @ @ @ @ @


Election Grants

SHERMAN , Texas — A federal judge in Texas denied a request to block the Center for Tech and Civic @ @ @ @ @ to four heavily Democratic Texas counties , finding that the plaintiffs are essentially complaining that @ @ @ @ @ will lawfully exercise their right to vote .
“ That is not a harm .
@ @ @ @ @ Judge Amos L. Mazzant ruled .
The center , which receives funding from Mark Zuckerberg @ @ @ @ @ awarded grants to dozens of other counties in Texas .
The plaintiffs — the Texas @ @ @ @ @ — had claimed the center ’ s grants targeted areas with progressive voter patterns , @ @ @ @ @ votes and a greater chance that progressive candidates will win .
”

A federal judge in Texas denied a request to block the Center for Tech and Civic Life’s election grants to four heavily Democrat Texas counties, finding that the plaintiffs are essentially complaining that people with different political views will lawfully exercise their right to vote. “That is not a harm. That is democracy,” Judge Amos L. Mazzant ruled.
SHERMAN, Texas — A federal judge in Texas declined to block the Center for Tech and Civic Life’s election grants to four heavily Democratic Texas counties, finding that the plaintiffs are essentially complaining that people with different political views will lawfully exercise their right to vote. “That is not a harm. That is democracy,” Judge Amos L. Mazzant ruled.
The center, which receives funding from Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, also awarded grants to dozens of other counties in Texas. The plaintiffs — the Texas Voter Alliance and four individuals — had claimed the center's grants targeted areas with progressive voter patterns, “resulting in more progressive votes and a greater chance that progressive candidates will win.”


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Fired Texas Tech Coach Sues School, Athletic Director

LUBBOCK , Texas ( CN ) — The former head coach of Texas Tech University ’ s women ’ s basketball team , who was fired in August after several players accused her staff of abuse , sued the school Tuesday , alleging sex discrimination and defamation .
Marlene Stollings sued the school and athletic director Kirby Hocutt in federal court in Lubbock for breach of contract , fraud , fraudulent inducement , sex discrimination and defamation .
The Red Raiders suffered four consecutive losing seasons before Stollings was hired in 2018 .
She quickly turned the program around , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second year before the postseason was canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic in March .
Stollings was abruptly fired two months ago in spite of her success after USA Today published accounts by several of her players alleging a “ toxic atmosphere ” that resulted in 12 of 21 players leaving the program .
Players alleged being punished with reduced game time or conditioning assignments if their game-worn heart-rate monitors dropped below 90 % capacity for more than two minutes of game time .
“ It was basically like a torture mechanism , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Baylor last year , told the newspaper .
“ I felt like the system wasn ’ t supposed to be used how she was using it.
” Five of Stollings ’ players accused former strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella of sexual harassment , of “ making suggestive comments to one player and using a therapy technique that involved applying pressure to some players ’ chests and pubic bones and groins.
” Petrella resigned in March and has denied any misconduct .
Stollings ’ lawsuit downplays the players allegations , claiming some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to less-demanding or less-competitive programs ” due to the program ’ s “ increased expectations ” under Stollings .
She disputes that she was fired for cause .
“ In order to secure a transfer and continue playing without interruption , NCAA rules require that student-athletes must claim that the transfer is based on a desire to avoid a negative atmosphere or for physical and mental health reasons , ” the 33-page complaint states .
“ As a result , some of the departing student-athletes provided negative feedback about their experiences with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted two internal reviews in response to the player complaints and that they concluded she “ had not acted inappropriately or abusively and that any complaints to the contrary were unfounded.
” She claims Hocutt told her before and after the USA Today story was published that the complaints were without basis , but that he started to look “ to deflect blame ” in the wake of the negative publicity .
Stollings claims she is being singled out as a female coach , that male coaches at the school “ engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are worse than Stollings ’ .
She also claims she is one of four members of the gay and lesbian community that have been “ victimized ” this year by the school ’ s athletic department .
“ Following her termination , Mr. Hocutt made knowingly false and malicious defamatory public statements concerning Coach Stollings as a person and as a coach , ” the complaint states .
“ Texas Tech and Mr. Hocutt have grievously harmed Coach Stollings career and damaged Coach Stollings ability to secure future coaching positions , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Texas Tech officials declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday evening .
Stollings ’ attorney , Peter Ginsberg with Michelman & Robinson in New York , said the lawsuit “ is a bold and courageous step ” by his client .
He said Stollings ’ teams achieved the highest grade point averages of all athletics teams at the school in spite of previously being one of the lowest performing .
The complaint alleges that Hocut made malicious statements about Stollings “ in order to preserve his own position.
” “ [ F @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any public attention on the school ’ s Athletics Department threatened not only to shine a light on Hocutt ’ s efforts to cover up abuses in the lucrative men ’ s sports programs , but also call attention to Hocutt ’ s previous and disturbing tenure at both Ohio University and University of Miami , Florida , ” Ginsberg said in a statement .
“ Consequently , the decision was made to sacrifice Stollings , notwithstanding her winning ways on and off the basketball court .
”

The former head coach of Texas Tech University’s women’s basketball team, who was fired in August after several players accused her staff of abuse, sued the school Tuesday, alleging sex discrimination and defamation.
LUBBOCK, Texas (CN) — The former head coach of Texas Tech University’s women’s basketball team, who was fired in August after several players accused her staff of abuse, sued the school Tuesday, alleging sex discrimination and defamation.
Marlene Stollings sued the school and athletic director Kirby Hocutt in federal court in Lubbock for breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, sex discrimination and defamation.
The Red Raiders suffered four consecutive losing seasons before Stollings was hired in 2018. She quickly turned the program around, attaining a winning season in only her second year before the postseason was canceled by the Covid-19 pandemic in March.
Stollings was abruptly fired two months ago in spite of her success after USA Today published accounts by several of her players alleging a “toxic atmosphere” that resulted in 12 of 21 players leaving the program. Players alleged being punished with reduced game time or conditioning assignments if their game-worn heart-rate monitors dropped below 90% capacity for more than two minutes of game time.
“It was basically like a torture mechanism,” former player Erin DeGrate, who transferred to Baylor last year, told the newspaper. “I felt like the system wasn’t supposed to be used how she was using it.”
Five of Stollings’ players accused former strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella of sexual harassment, of “making suggestive comments to one player and using a therapy technique that involved applying pressure to some players’ chests and pubic bones and groins.” Petrella resigned in March and has denied any misconduct.
Stollings’ lawsuit downplays the players allegations, claiming some of her players “decided to transfer to less-demanding or less-competitive programs” due to the program’s “increased expectations” under Stollings. She disputes that she was fired for cause.
“In order to secure a transfer and continue playing without interruption, NCAA rules require that student-athletes must claim that the transfer is based on a desire to avoid a negative atmosphere or for physical and mental health reasons,” the 33-page complaint states. “As a result, some of the departing student-athletes provided negative feedback about their experiences with the Lady Raiders.”
Stollings claims the school conducted two internal reviews in response to the player complaints and that they concluded she “had not acted inappropriately or abusively and that any complaints to the contrary were unfounded.” She claims Hocutt told her before and after the USA Today story was published that the complaints were without basis, but that he started to look “to deflect blame” in the wake of the negative publicity.
Stollings claims she is being singled out as a female coach, that male coaches at the school “engage in confirmed, more-extreme practices and procedures” that are worse than Stollings’. She also claims she is one of four members of the gay and lesbian community that have been “victimized” this year by the school’s athletic department.
“Following her termination, Mr. Hocutt made knowingly false and malicious defamatory public statements concerning Coach Stollings as a person and as a coach,” the complaint states. “Texas Tech and Mr. Hocutt have grievously harmed Coach Stollings career and damaged Coach Stollings ability to secure future coaching positions, in addition to causing her severe emotional injury.”
Texas Tech officials declined to comment on the lawsuit Tuesday evening.
Stollings’ attorney, Peter Ginsberg with Michelman & Robinson in New York, said the lawsuit “is a bold and courageous step” by his client. He said Stollings’ teams achieved the highest grade point averages of all athletics teams at the school in spite of previously being one of the lowest performing.
The complaint alleges that Hocut made malicious statements about Stollings “in order to preserve his own position.”
“[F]or Texas Tech and Hocutt, any public attention on the school’s Athletics Department threatened not only to shine a light on Hocutt’s efforts to cover up abuses in the lucrative men’s sports programs, but also call attention to Hocutt’s previous and disturbing tenure at both Ohio University and University of Miami, Florida,” Ginsberg said in a statement. “Consequently, the decision was made to sacrifice Stollings, notwithstanding her winning ways on and off the basketball court.”


courthousenews--2020-10-21--San Francisco Passes CAREN Act to Outlaw Racist 911 Calls

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — Appalled by recent reports of people calling 911 for non-emergencies to intimidate people of color , the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to outlaw the practice Tuesday .
“ Communities of color have the right to go about daily activities without being threatened by someone calling 911 on them due to someone ’ s racism , ” Supervisor Shamman Walton , who introduced the legislation , said Tuesday .
The Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies ( CAREN ) Act makes it illegal to falsely report someone to police with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The law covers discriminatory 911 calls based on someone ’ s race , color , ancestry , national origin , place of birth , sex , age , religion , creed , disability , sexual orientation , gender identity , weight , or height .
The law enables targets of discriminatory 911 calls to seek $ 1,000 in civil penalties plus attorneys ’ fees and punitive damages against those who call the police on them .
The CAREN acronym doubles as a reference to the name “ Karen , ” a slang term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who engages in acts stemming from her privilege , such as calling on police to unjustly target a person of color .
The legislation was introduced after several recent incidents of white people calling the police on people of color for engaging in non-criminal activities .
In June , a white couple called the police on James Juanillo , who is Filipino , for stenciling “ Black Lives Matter ” on a retaining wall in front of his Pacific Heights home in San Francisco .
Assuming Juanillo was trespassing , Lisa Alexander and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had the homeowner ’ s permission to stencil in front of his house .
They threatened to call the police .
Juanillo recorded the scene on his cellphone and posted the video on Twitter .
It went viral .
The incident caused Alexander to lose business partners for her skincare company , and her husband was fired from his job with the wealth management firm Raymond James .
Both subsequently issued apologies .
That followed other high-profile incidents , including a white woman who called the police on a Black man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her dog , a white woman who threatened to call the police on an African American girl for selling water bottles on the street in San Francisco without a permit , and another white woman who came to be known as BBQ Becky after she called the police on a Black family for cooking with an unpermitted charcoal grill at a park in Oakland , California .
Several people sent letters to the Board of Supervisors stating they do not object to the intent of the legislation , but they opposed the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Karen and Caren with discriminatory behavior .
“ The name of the act places a target on my name as a racist and I am not , ” Caren Batides wrote in a July 9 email to the board .
“ By associating the name ‘ Caren ’ or anyone else [ ‘ ] s name with such a law , [ it ] really is offensive.
” Another woman named Karen Shane asked the board to reconsider the name in a July 8 email , adding she considered including a local TV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board but decided that would be a “ Karen.
” “ While I find the Karen memes funny , to stereotype and stigmatize any group of people , even a group identified solely by their name , is neither funny nor is it appropriate , ” Karen Simon wrote in another July 9 email .
Despite those pleas , Supervisor Walton chose not to alter the name of the legislation .
In the preamble to his legislation , Walton stated that discriminatory 911 calls cause serious harm to those falsely accused of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of color , and put an unnecessary strain on law enforcement officers responding to frivolous and false calls .
“ The CAREN Act will prevent these fraudulent emergency calls from happening , ” Walton said Tuesday .
“ Rather than calling the police or law enforcement on your neighbor or someone who you think doesn ’ t look like they should be your neighbor , try talking to them and getting to know them .
Let ’ s build relationships in our communities .
”

Appalled by recent reports of people calling 911 for non-emergencies to intimidate people of color, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to outlaw the practice Tuesday.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Appalled by recent reports of people calling 911 for non-emergencies to intimidate people of color, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to outlaw the practice Tuesday.
“Communities of color have the right to go about daily activities without being threatened by someone calling 911 on them due to someone’s racism,” Supervisor Shamman Walton, who introduced the legislation, said Tuesday.
The Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies (CAREN) Act makes it illegal to falsely report someone to police with the intent to discriminate against them. The law covers discriminatory 911 calls based on someone’s race, color, ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, weight, or height.
The law enables targets of discriminatory 911 calls to seek $1,000 in civil penalties plus attorneys’ fees and punitive damages against those who call the police on them.
The CAREN acronym doubles as a reference to the name “Karen,” a slang term used to describe an entitled white woman who engages in acts stemming from her privilege, such as calling on police to unjustly target a person of color.
The legislation was introduced after several recent incidents of white people calling the police on people of color for engaging in non-criminal activities. In June, a white couple called the police on James Juanillo, who is Filipino, for stenciling “Black Lives Matter” on a retaining wall in front of his Pacific Heights home in San Francisco.
Assuming Juanillo was trespassing, Lisa Alexander and her husband Robert Larkin asked Juanillo if he had the homeowner’s permission to stencil in front of his house. They threatened to call the police. Juanillo recorded the scene on his cellphone and posted the video on Twitter. It went viral. The incident caused Alexander to lose business partners for her skincare company, and her husband was fired from his job with the wealth management firm Raymond James. Both subsequently issued apologies.
That followed other high-profile incidents, including a white woman who called the police on a Black man in Central Park for asking her to leash her dog, a white woman who threatened to call the police on an African American girl for selling water bottles on the street in San Francisco without a permit, and another white woman who came to be known as BBQ Becky after she called the police on a Black family for cooking with an unpermitted charcoal grill at a park in Oakland, California.
Several people sent letters to the Board of Supervisors stating they do not object to the intent of the legislation, but they opposed the name, arguing it unfairly associates the names Karen and Caren with discriminatory behavior.
“The name of the act places a target on my name as a racist and I am not,” Caren Batides wrote in a July 9 email to the board. “By associating the name ‘Caren’ or anyone else[‘]s name with such a law, [it] really is offensive.”
Another woman named Karen Shane asked the board to reconsider the name in a July 8 email, adding she considered including a local TV news station on her email to the board but decided that would be a “Karen.”
“While I find the Karen memes funny, to stereotype and stigmatize any group of people, even a group identified solely by their name, is neither funny nor is it appropriate,” Karen Simon wrote in another July 9 email.
Despite those pleas, Supervisor Walton chose not to alter the name of the legislation.
In the preamble to his legislation, Walton stated that discriminatory 911 calls cause serious harm to those falsely accused of a crime, cause anxiety and distrust among people of color, and put an unnecessary strain on law enforcement officers responding to frivolous and false calls.
“The CAREN Act will prevent these fraudulent emergency calls from happening,” Walton said Tuesday. “Rather than calling the police or law enforcement on your neighbor or someone who you think doesn’t look like they should be your neighbor, try talking to them and getting to know them. Let’s build relationships in our communities.”


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Authorities Say Lack of Oversight Led to Dive Boat Tragedy That Killed 34

( CN ) — Federal transportation safety officials Tuesday could not definitively say what sparked a deadly California dive boat fire last year but faulted the operator for a lack of oversight that led to the tragedy that claimed 34 lives .
In the early morning of Sept. 2 , 2019 , ocean waves carrying the Conception boat were calm and winds brushed relatively gently against the Santa Cruz Island coast in Southern California .
The 75-foot commercial boat deployed as it had for decades , carrying 33 people aboard for a three-day scuba diving excursion .
A crew member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as passengers and one crew member slept in the Conception ’ s lower deck .
Minutes later , a fire exploded , burning the fiberglass and plywood body of the vessel and filling it with smoke and flames that blocked fire hoses and the exits from sleeping quarters .
Five crew members sleeping in the upper deck later told authorities the smoke and flames forced them to abandon the boat and issue a distress call from a nearby vessel .
Nearly four hours after the fire erupted , the Conception was under 61 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety Board investigated the incident and was set to vote Tuesday on a probable cause .
After a four hour virtual meeting , the five-member board could not definitively say what sparked the fire but said a number of factors made the incident more deadly .
The board faulted boat operator Truth Aquatics for not requiring a roving patrol , or night watchman , aboard the Conception , which investigators say allowed the fire to grow undetected in the rear of the main deck .
Board chairman Robert Sumwalt blasted the company for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards , including failing to give passengers timely safety briefings and not training crew members on emergency protocols .
“ The captain thought having a deckhand sleeping in the bunkroom somehow fulfilled requirements for a roving patrol .
Maybe that person would be sleepwalking , ” Sumwalt said .
“ That ’ s the normalization of deviance.
” Investigator Andrew Ehlers told the board the U.S. Coast Guard doesn ’ t effectively enforce the roving patrol policy and “ never ” inspects vessels during overnight trips or when passengers are on board .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ any vessel operator for not having a roving patrol since 1991 and has not proposed an enforcement plan since the Conception fire , Elhers said .
The NTSB investigation also found the Coast Guard lacks a requirement that smoke detectors be placed in all areas of commercial vessels .
The board voted Tuesday to recommend that all vessels with overnight accommodations install smoke detectors that can independently trigger system-wide alarms if a fire erupts in a certain area .
NTSB investigator Joseph Panagiotou told the board likely sources of the ignition are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charging stations plugged into power outlets , or improperly discarded cigarettes or other smoking materials .
Panagiotou said it ’ s common for passengers to leave cameras , headlamps and other devices plugged into charging stations all night .
A fire aboard the Truth Aquatics vessel Vision occurred months before Conception sank and was caused by sparks from a lithium battery that was charging .
The owner of the company told investigators he was not informed of the fire aboard the Vision .
Board member Jennifer Homendy said the lack of knowledge about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversight .
“ I hate the term accident in this case because , in my opinion , it is not an accident if you fail to operate your company safely , ” Homendy said .
NTSB investigator Adam Tucker said the probe ruled out weather conditions and illegal drug use by crew members as causes of the blaze .
Investigators told the board their access to Truth Aquatics ’ internal records and staff was restricted shortly after the fire when local prosecutors decided to pursue criminal charges .
Board members said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find ways to operate parallel probes .
“ Once they ’ re done prosecuting , we still have a safety issue , ” Homendy said .
The NTSB ’ s final , revised report will be released in the next few weeks.Crew members told investigators the blaze prevented them from reaching passengers in the lower deck , according to NTSB documents released Sep. 16 .

Federal transportation safety officials Tuesday could not definitively say what sparked a deadly California dive boat fire last year but faulted the operator for a lack of oversight that led to the tragedy that claimed 34 lives.
(CN) — Federal transportation safety officials Tuesday could not definitively say what sparked a deadly California dive boat fire last year but faulted the operator for a lack of oversight that led to the tragedy that claimed 34 lives.
In the early morning of Sept. 2, 2019, ocean waves carrying the Conception boat were calm and winds brushed relatively gently against the Santa Cruz Island coast in Southern California.
The 75-foot commercial boat deployed as it had for decades, carrying 33 people aboard for a three-day scuba diving excursion.
A crew member noted the time, 2:15 a.m., as passengers and one crew member slept in the Conception’s lower deck.
Minutes later, a fire exploded, burning the fiberglass and plywood body of the vessel and filling it with smoke and flames that blocked fire hoses and the exits from sleeping quarters.
Five crew members sleeping in the upper deck later told authorities the smoke and flames forced them to abandon the boat and issue a distress call from a nearby vessel.
Nearly four hours after the fire erupted, the Conception was under 61 feet of water.
The National Transportation Safety Board investigated the incident and was set to vote Tuesday on a probable cause.
After a four hour virtual meeting, the five-member board could not definitively say what sparked the fire but said a number of factors made the incident more deadly.
The board faulted boat operator Truth Aquatics for not requiring a roving patrol, or night watchman, aboard the Conception, which investigators say allowed the fire to grow undetected in the rear of the main deck.
Board chairman Robert Sumwalt blasted the company for not following patrol requirements and other safety standards, including failing to give passengers timely safety briefings and not training crew members on emergency protocols.
“The captain thought having a deckhand sleeping in the bunkroom somehow fulfilled requirements for a roving patrol. Maybe that person would be sleepwalking,” Sumwalt said. “That's the normalization of deviance.”
Investigator Andrew Ehlers told the board the U.S. Coast Guard doesn’t effectively enforce the roving patrol policy and “never” inspects vessels during overnight trips or when passengers are on board.
The Coast Guard hasn’t cited any vessel operator for not having a roving patrol since 1991 and has not proposed an enforcement plan since the Conception fire, Elhers said.
The NTSB investigation also found the Coast Guard lacks a requirement that smoke detectors be placed in all areas of commercial vessels.
The board voted Tuesday to recommend that all vessels with overnight accommodations install smoke detectors that can independently trigger system-wide alarms if a fire erupts in a certain area.
NTSB investigator Joseph Panagiotou told the board likely sources of the ignition are the Conception’s internal electrical system, charging stations plugged into power outlets, or improperly discarded cigarettes or other smoking materials.
Panagiotou said it's common for passengers to leave cameras, headlamps and other devices plugged into charging stations all night.
A fire aboard the Truth Aquatics vessel Vision occurred months before Conception sank and was caused by sparks from a lithium battery that was charging.
The owner of the company told investigators he was not informed of the fire aboard the Vision.
Board member Jennifer Homendy said the lack of knowledge about the fire showed a breakdown in company oversight.
“I hate the term accident in this case because, in my opinion, it is not an accident if you fail to operate your company safely,” Homendy said.
NTSB investigator Adam Tucker said the probe ruled out weather conditions and illegal drug use by crew members as causes of the blaze.
Investigators told the board their access to Truth Aquatics’ internal records and staff was restricted shortly after the fire when local prosecutors decided to pursue criminal charges.
Board members said they were confident federal agencies involved in investigations would find ways to operate parallel probes.
“Once they're done prosecuting, we still have a safety issue,” Homendy said.
The NTSB’s final, revised report will be released in the next few weeks.Crew members told investigators the blaze prevented them from reaching passengers in the lower deck, according to NTSB documents released Sep. 16.


courthousenews--2020-10-21--Study Reveals ‘Elegant’ Mechanics of How Birds Fly in Gusty Winds

( CN ) — Stabilizing an aircraft in gusty conditions has perplexed aerospace engineers since the beginning of human flight .
Even in the age of supercomputers , scientists have struggled to develop features that extend the range of safe air travel in difficult conditions .
But sometimes answers to complex questions can be staring us in the face — or at least from a distant height .
Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Royal Veterinary College say they have unlocked the secrets to how birds fly in gusty conditions by studying the flight of a special barn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds cope amazingly well in conditions which challenge engineered air vehicles of a similar size but , until now , we didn ’ t understand the mechanics behind it , ” said Shane Windsor from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol .
The scientist ’ s findings , published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B , demonstrate how bird wings act as a suspension system to cope with wind fluctuations , a discovery that could alter the development of bio-inspired small-scale aircraft .
“ Birds routinely fly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — often in gusts as fast as their flight speed , ” Windsor said .
“ So the ability to cope with strong and sudden changes in wind is essential for their survival and to be able to do things like land safely and capture prey.
” Using a combination of high-speed , video-based 3D surface reconstruction , computed tomography ( CT ) scans , and computational fluid dynamics , researchers filmed Lily gliding through a range of fan-generated vertical gusts , including gusts as fast as her flight speed .
The experiment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laboratory at the Royal Veterinary College in London .
“ We began with very gentle gusts in case Lily had any difficulties , but soon found that – even at the highest gust speeds we could make — Lily was unperturbed ; she flew straight through to get the food reward being held by her trainer , ” said Richard Bomphrey , a professor of comparative biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College .
It takes a special bird to perform naturally in a giant lab surrounded by lights and cameras , and Lily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a veteran of many nature documentaries , was unfazed by all the commotion .
“ Lily flew through the bumpy gusts and consistently kept her head and torso amazingly stable over the trajectory , as if she was flying with a suspension system , ” explained the study ’ s lead author Jorn Cheney , a postdoctoral research associate at the Royal Veterinary College .
Analyzing Lily ’ s technique , researchers were surprised to discover that the “ suspension-system effect ” was due to more than aerodynamics .
The barn owl also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is double the mass of arms in a typical human , allowing her to absorb the gust .
What she demonstrated time and again helped scientists understand how birds change the shape and posture of their wings to absorb gusts through a technique known as wing morphing .
A wing has a “ sweetspot , ” just like a baseball bat .
Researchers realized that the force of the gusts acts near this spot , automatically reducing disturbance to the body during the first fraction of a second .
“ Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very fastest part of the suspension effect is built into the mechanics of the wings , so birds don ’ t actively need to do anything for it to work , ” Windsor said .
“ The mechanics are very elegant.
” Windsor hopes to use the research , which was funded by the European Research Council , Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Wellcome Trust , to develop bio-inspired suspension systems for small-scale aircraft .

Stabilizing an aircraft in gusty conditions has perplexed aerospace engineers since the beginning of human flight. Even in the age of supercomputers, scientists have struggled to develop features that extend the range of safe air travel in difficult conditions.
(CN) — Stabilizing an aircraft in gusty conditions has perplexed aerospace engineers since the beginning of human flight. Even in the age of supercomputers, scientists have struggled to develop features that extend the range of safe air travel in difficult conditions.
But sometimes answers to complex questions can be staring us in the face — or at least from a distant height.
Scientists from the University of Bristol and the Royal Veterinary College say they have unlocked the secrets to how birds fly in gusty conditions by studying the flight of a special barn owl named Lily.
“We know birds cope amazingly well in conditions which challenge engineered air vehicles of a similar size but, until now, we didn't understand the mechanics behind it,” said Shane Windsor from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol.
The scientist’s findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, demonstrate how bird wings act as a suspension system to cope with wind fluctuations, a discovery that could alter the development of bio-inspired small-scale aircraft.
“Birds routinely fly in high winds close to buildings and terrain — often in gusts as fast as their flight speed,” Windsor said. “So the ability to cope with strong and sudden changes in wind is essential for their survival and to be able to do things like land safely and capture prey.”
Using a combination of high-speed, video-based 3-D surface reconstruction, computed tomography (CT) scans, and computational fluid dynamics, researchers filmed Lily gliding through a range of fan-generated vertical gusts, including gusts as fast as her flight speed. The experiment was conducted in the Structure and Motion Laboratory at the Royal Veterinary College in London.
“We began with very gentle gusts in case Lily had any difficulties, but soon found that - even at the highest gust speeds we could make — Lily was unperturbed; she flew straight through to get the food reward being held by her trainer,” said Richard Bomphrey, a professor of comparative biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College.
It takes a special bird to perform naturally in a giant lab surrounded by lights and cameras, and Lily, a trained falconry bird who is a veteran of many nature documentaries, was unfazed by all the commotion.
“Lily flew through the bumpy gusts and consistently kept her head and torso amazingly stable over the trajectory, as if she was flying with a suspension system,” explained the study’s lead author Jorn Cheney, a postdoctoral research associate at the Royal Veterinary College.
Analyzing Lily’s technique, researchers were surprised to discover that the “suspension-system effect” was due to more than aerodynamics. The barn owl also benefited from the mass in her wings, which is double the mass of arms in a typical human, allowing her to absorb the gust.
What she demonstrated time and again helped scientists understand how birds change the shape and posture of their wings to absorb gusts through a technique known as wing morphing.
A wing has a “sweetspot,” just like a baseball bat. Researchers realized that the force of the gusts acts near this spot, automatically reducing disturbance to the body during the first fraction of a second.
“Perhaps most exciting is the discovery that the very fastest part of the suspension effect is built into the mechanics of the wings, so birds don't actively need to do anything for it to work,” Windsor said. “The mechanics are very elegant.”
Windsor hopes to use the research, which was funded by the European Research Council, Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Wellcome Trust, to develop bio-inspired suspension systems for small-scale aircraft.


courthousenews--2020-10-22--Judge Unlikely to Block Trump Order Targeting Social Media Immunity

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — Despite recent action by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to review the limits of liability protection for online platforms , a federal judge said Wednesday he is unlikely to block an executive order that directs federal agencies to crack down on social media firms for censoring the president ’ s speech .
“ Here ’ s my problem with the case , ” U.S. District Judge William Orrick III said during a virtual hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction to block President Donald Trump ’ s May 28 executive order on “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not clear to me that the executive order does anything other than outline a policy goal from the president ’ s perspective regarding content management on the internet and telling agencies to further that goal , ” Orrick said .
“ It ’ s not direct regulation or restriction of the platforms.
” Rock the Vote and four other voter-information and turnout groups sued the president in August , claiming his directive chills free speech by threatening to punish online platforms for adding warning labels to posts that contain falsehoods about mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order was issued after Twitter flagged two of Trump ’ s May 26 tweets claiming that mail-in ballots are “ substantially fraudulent ” and that “ this will be a Rigged Election.
” Twitter slapped fact-checking labels on those tweets directing users to get information about mail-in voting from credible sources .
During the hearing Wednesday , Rock the Vote lawyer Kathleen Hartnett of Cooley LLP said Trump ’ s directive has already made online platforms like Twitter and Facebook more reluctant to warn its users about the president ’ s misinformation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rock the Vote and other groups to spend time and money combatting misinformation , which diverts scarce resources away from their core mission — to register and mobilize voters .
“ Every second they spend fighting misinformation on online platforms , but for the online platforms not doing it because of the executive order , that ’ s time our clients are not spending on their core mission , ” Hartnett argued .
The Department of Justice notes Twitter has placed warning labels on Trump ’ s tweet six times since the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the social media giant has failed to fact check some of Trump ’ s other false statements , and some of its warning labels lack links to credible sources of information .
Last week , Trump railed against social media giants Facebook and Twitter for limiting the reach of a New York Post story on a hacked email relating to an alleged scandal involving Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden ’ s son after questions were raised about the story ’ s credibility .
“ REPEAL SECTION 230 !
!
!
” Trump cried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the portion of the Communications Decency Act that makes online platforms immune from lawsuits over content posted by their users .
The next day , FCC chair Arjit Pai announced the commission would start a rulemaking process to “ clarify ambiguities ” in Section 230 .
Hartnett called that a clear example of Trump using the executive order to retaliate against platforms for exercising their First Amendment rights .
“ Last week the president did not like something else Twitter did , ” Hartnett said .
“ He railed against Section 230 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning it should be stopped , and within hours the FCC initiated rulemaking.
” The executive order also calls for proposing legislation to change Section 230 , and it requires federal agencies report how much they spend on social media advertising to ensure federal taxpayer dollars are not “ financing online platforms that restrict free speech.
” Hartnett said the threat of curtailing government spending aims to dissuade social media platforms from fact-checking the president .
She argued it has resulted in more misinformation being spread online , causing her clients to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less time registering voters .
Defending the executive order , Justice Department lawyer James Luh said the plaintiffs have failed to establish that the president ’ s directive has caused online platforms to reduce their speech .
“ It ’ s just a complaint that perhaps the platforms are not speaking as much as they otherwise should , ” Luh said .
“ They haven ’ t shown that , but if they could , that would be a generalized grievance and couldn ’ t support standing [ to sue ] .
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he has not noticed social media companies changing their speech or behavior as a result of the executive order .
“ It doesn ’ t seem like the platforms are all that cowed by it , ” Orrick said .
The judge added he can not block Congress from considering legislation to alter Section 230 or prevent the FCC from starting a rulemaking process to consider regulations .
Only after a law is passed or a rule is enacted can it be reviewed by the court .
“ The injuries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge said .
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Voto Latino , Common Cause , Free Press and Maplight .

Despite recent action by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to review the limits of liability protection for online platforms, a federal judge said Wednesday he is unlikely to block an executive order that directs federal agencies to crack down on social media firms for censoring the president’s speech.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Finding scant evidence that President Donald Trump’s threats have deterred Facebook and Twitter from fact-checking false claims of voter fraud, a federal judge signaled Wednesday he’s unlikely to block an executive order targeting social media immunity.
“Here’s my problem with the case,” U.S. District Judge William Orrick III said during a virtual hearing on a motion for a preliminary injunction to block Trump’s May 28 executive order on “preventing online censorship.”
“It’s not clear to me that the executive order does anything other than outline a policy goal from the president’s perspective regarding content management on the internet and telling agencies to further that goal,” Orrick said. “It’s not direct regulation or restriction of the platforms.”
Rock the Vote and four other voter-information and turnout groups sued the president in August, claiming his directive chills free speech by threatening to punish online platforms for adding warning labels to posts that contain falsehoods about mail-in voting and voter fraud.
The executive order was issued after Twitter flagged two of Trump’s May 26 tweets claiming that mail-in ballots are “substantially fraudulent” and that “this will be a Rigged Election.” Twitter slapped fact-checking labels on those tweets directing users to get information about mail-in voting from credible sources.
During the hearing Wednesday, Rock the Vote lawyer Kathleen Hartnett of Cooley LLP said Trump’s directive has already made online platforms like Twitter and Facebook more reluctant to warn their users about the president’s misinformation.
The failure to fact-check those falsehoods forces Rock the Vote and other groups to spend time and money combatting misinformation, which diverts scarce resources away from their core mission — to register and mobilize voters.
“Every second they spend fighting misinformation on online platforms, but for the online platforms not doing it because of the executive order, that’s time our clients are not spending on their core mission,” Hartnett argued.
The Department of Justice notes Twitter has placed warning labels on Trump’s tweets six times since the executive order was issued, but plaintiffs say the social media giant has failed to fact check some of Trump’s other false statements, and some of its warning labels lack links to credible sources of information.
Last week, Trump railed against social media giants Facebook and Twitter for limiting the reach of a New York Post story on a hacked email relating to an alleged scandal involving Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son after questions were raised about the story’s credibility.
“REPEAL SECTION 230!!!” Trump cried in an Oct. 14 tweet, referring to the portion of the Communications Decency Act that makes online platforms immune from lawsuits over content posted by their users.
The next day, FCC chair Arjit Pai announced the commission would start a rulemaking process to “clarify ambiguities” in Section 230.
Hartnett called that a clear example of Trump using the executive order to retaliate against platforms for exercising their First Amendment rights.
“Last week the president did not like something else Twitter did,” Hartnett said. “He railed against Section 230 again and announced in a speech that morning it should be stopped, and within hours the FCC initiated rulemaking.”
The executive order also calls for proposing legislation to change Section 230, and it requires federal agencies report how much they spend on social media advertising to ensure federal taxpayer dollars are not “financing online platforms that restrict free speech.”
Hartnett said the threat of curtailing government spending aims to dissuade social media platforms from fact-checking the president. She argued it has resulted in more misinformation being spread online, causing her clients to spend more time and money countering it and less time registering voters.
Defending the executive order, Justice Department lawyer James Luh said the plaintiffs have failed to establish that the president’s directive has caused online platforms to reduce their speech.
“It’s just a complaint that perhaps the platforms are not speaking as much as they otherwise should,” Luh said. “They haven’t shown that, but if they could, that would be a generalized grievance and couldn’t support standing [to sue].”
Judge Orrick was receptive to that argument. He said he has not noticed social media companies changing their speech or behavior as a result of the executive order.
“It doesn’t seem like the platforms are all that cowed by it,” Orrick said.
The judge added he cannot block Congress from considering legislation to alter Section 230 or prevent the FCC from starting a rulemaking process to consider regulations. Only after a law is passed or a rule is enacted can it be reviewed by the court.
“The injuries seem speculative to me,” the judge said.
Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include Voto Latino, Common Cause, Free Press and Maplight.


courthousenews--2020-10-22--France Mourns Beheaded Teacher, Vows to Fight Radical Islam

( CN ) — France mourned the beheading of a 47-year-old middle school history teacher by an 18-year-old Islamic extremist with a somber and emotional national tribute at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Wednesday evening .
The killing of Samuel Paty last Friday at the hands of an Islamic extremist outraged over his decision to use controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed in his freedom of expression class has shocked France and jarringly reignited a national debate over radical Islam , Muslims in French society and the dangers of social media .
The killing also threatens to stir up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe , where anti-Muslim feelings are rampant and fueling a rise of far-right politics .
On Wednesday , European media outlets reported that two Muslim women were stabbed near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday in a racist attack .
Paty has become a symbol for France ’ s fight to rein in radical Islam and uphold the nation ’ s founding values and love for reason , science , the arts , freedom of expression and state secularism , which is known in France as laïcité .
“ On Friday , Samuel Paty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” an emotional French President Emmanuel Macron said during the tribute at the Sorbonne as he stood in front of Paty ’ s coffin .
“ Of our desire to break down terrorist networks , to break down political Islamism , to fight against all that will hurt our nation .
He became the face of our determination to further understand and learn , to continue to teach , to be free.
” Macron said Paty was not anti-Muslim but “ the exact opposite.
” “ Samuel Paty was murdered , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embodied the French republic , the values of the French republic , he embodied the liberty that the French republic wants to give to its students through schools.
” In the wake of the killing , Macron ordered a clampdown on radical Islamists .
Authorities have raided dozens of homes and Islamic groups , threatening to close them if they are found promoting hatred .
The crackdown also is drawing criticism that Macron is fueling anti-Muslim sentiment .
In recent months , Macron has taken a tougher tone against radical Islamists and appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fend off his most serious challenger , the far-right politician Marine Le Pen who is known for her diatribes against Muslims .
He faces re-election in 2022 .
“ Islamists and their ideologists have the objective to turn a part of our citizens because of their religion against the French republic , and we can not let that happen , ” the president said on Tuesday .
Macron touted his government ’ s move to close down Islamist schools since he became president three years ago .
He said those schools “ didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and that they “ were seeking to deconstruct the republic.
” He is vowing to take more action .
“ We have pointed a finger at the evil , we have named it , ” he said .
“ Our citizens today need to be protected.
” The government is looking at stepping up deportations of foreign-born Islamists and better monitoring of online activity .
Yasser Louati , a human rights activist and head of the Justice & Liberties For All Committee , said during a debate on France 24 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going too far and was politically motivated .
He blasted the Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin for saying the raids are taking place to “ send a message.
” “ We have here state-sponsored retaliation and intimidation , ” he said .
He condemned French politicians for insisting Muslims are being radicalized .
“ We have to be extremely cautious when we use and throw around words like radicalization , ” he said .
“ The term is adopted under the pressure of events.
” He said the killing highlighted shortcomings by intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man whose family is from the Russian Muslim-majority region of Chechnya , had been reported to authorities .
“ With all these counterterrorism laws , with a law allowing mass surveillance ; all our communications are under scrutinty and yet again we lose our freedoms on the one hand and we are nowhere safer against terrorism , ” he said .
He also pointed the finger at social media for allowing a classroom row in the outskirts of Paris to snowball and lead to the beheading of a teacher .
The government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to endanger another person by publishing their details online and French ministers are discussing how to fight against “ cyber-Islamism.
” In the wake of Paty ’ s killing , French have poured onto the streets to honor the slain teacher .
They ’ ve carried signs reading , “ They will not behead the republic , ” “ I am a teacher , ” “ No room for obscurantism — no room for barbarism , RIP Samuel.
” There is widespread rejection of radical Islam as a form of “ barbarism ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secularism .
Secularism , the barring of religion from public spaces such as workplaces and classrooms , is considered fundamental to France ’ s national identity .
The killing of a teacher seeking to get his students to debate free expression has touched a nerve in a nation that sees itself as a model of learning , openness and freedom of expression and belief .
“ We ’ re here to defend the republic , the values of the republic , liberty , equality , fraternity and secularism , ” Pierre Fourniou , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can feel that the fatherland is threatened , that those values are under threat .
The government is too inactive , something must be done.
” The tribute at the Sorbonne was a homage not only to Paty but to French culture more generally .
The ceremony included poetry , the republican guard orchestra playing the national anthem , the reading of a letter French novelist Albert Camus wrote to his teacher and a lightshow displaying the principles of the French Revolution : Liberty , equality and fraternity .
“ Samuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of knowledge , he loved it more than anything else , ” a grim-faced Macron said inside the courtyard of the Sorbonne , one of France ’ s oldest universities .
“ The apartment where he lived was a library.
” Macron called Paty “ a man who was murdered because he decided it was up to him to teach his students how to become citizens.
” The president called Paty “ a lover of teaching ” and one of those hard-working devoted teachers “ we do not forget.
” In his speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect teachers “ to whatever extent is necessary either in school or outside of the school.
” “ We will protect them from pressure , we will protect them from ignorance , because ignorance has no place in our French society , ” he said .
Looking at Paty ’ s coffin , Macron vowed to fight for him .
“ We will continue to be free .
We will continue to defend those freedoms that you taught so well , ” he said .
“ Dear teacher , we will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uplifts our souls , and we will continue to teach the power of debate and argumentation , of rhetoric .
“ We will continue to love science in all of its differences ; we will continue to seek new knowledge .
We will continue to fight against all those people who will take that away from us .
We will continue to learn what it means to laugh , what humor is.
” In early October , Paty showed his class cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed published by the French magazine Charlie Hebdo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cartoons led to the killing of 12 people after Islamic extremists attacked the magazine ’ s offices .
A trial in Paris is underway over that attack and another one at a Jewish store .
Depictions of Mohammad can be a grave insult to Muslims because Islamic tradition forbids images of Mohammad and Allah .
After showing the cartoons in class , a disgruntled 48-year-old parent took to social media to denounce Paty and he became the subject of an online hate campaign .
French authorities are now investigating whether the parent ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to kill Paty .
On Monday , seven people , including the parent and two students who allegedly helped the killer identify Paty , appeared before an anti-terrorism judge , according to French media .
The killer , Abdullakh Anzorov , reportedly traveled about 50 miles before attacking Paty , who was on his way home from his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine , about 25 miles northwest of Paris .
Anzorov was killed by police after the killing .
The killer and the disgruntled parent allegedly exchanged WhatsApp messages and spoke by telephone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a group called Sheikh Yassine Collective and its founder , 61-year-old French-Moroccan Abdelhakim Sefrioui , who is in custody .
He went on YouTube to denounce Paty and called for him to be fired .
The group supports the Palestinian militant group Hamas .
Sefrioui had previously been detained but not found guilty , though he was someone French counterterrorism officials were watching , French media reported .
Darmanin , the interior minister , accused Sefrioui and the disgruntled parent of issuing a “ fatwa ” against Paty .
French prosecutors accuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly implicated ” in the killing .
Hassen Chalghoumi , an imam at the Drancy Mosque , said on France 24 that Sebfrioui and other radical clerics are savvy about not breaking the law with their rhetoric .
“ They know the laws , they know the system , so that ’ s why they don ’ t cross any red lines , ” he said .
“ They don ’ t cross them , others do .
Young people , naive and ignorant people.
” Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based @ @ @ @ @

France mourned the beheading of a 47-year-old middle school history teacher by an 18-year-old Islamic extremist with a somber and emotional national tribute at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Wednesday evening.
(CN) — France mourned the beheading of a 47-year-old middle school history teacher by an 18-year-old Islamic extremist with a somber and emotional national tribute at the Sorbonne University in Paris on Wednesday evening.
The killing of Samuel Paty last Friday at the hands of an Islamic extremist outraged over his decision to use controversial images of the Prophet Mohammed in his freedom of expression class has shocked France and jarringly reignited a national debate over radical Islam, Muslims in French society and the dangers of social media.
The killing also threatens to stir up hatred in France and the rest of Europe, where anti-Muslim feelings are rampant and fueling a rise of far-right politics. On Wednesday, European media outlets reported that two Muslim women were stabbed near the Eiffel Tower on Sunday in a racist attack.
Paty has become a symbol for France's fight to rein in radical Islam and uphold the nation's founding values and love for reason, science, the arts, freedom of expression and state secularism, which is known in France as laïcité.
“On Friday, Samuel Paty became the face of our French republic,” an emotional French President Emmanuel Macron said during the tribute at the Sorbonne as he stood in front of Paty's coffin. “Of our desire to break down terrorist networks, to break down political Islamism, to fight against all that will hurt our nation. He became the face of our determination to further understand and learn, to continue to teach, to be free.”
Macron said Paty was not anti-Muslim but “the exact opposite.”
“Samuel Paty was murdered,” the president said, “because he embodied the French republic, the values of the French republic, he embodied the liberty that the French republic wants to give to its students through schools.”
In the wake of the killing, Macron ordered a clampdown on radical Islamists. Authorities have raided dozens of homes and Islamic groups, threatening to close them if they are found promoting hatred. The crackdown also is drawing criticism that Macron is fueling anti-Muslim sentiment.
In recent months, Macron has taken a tougher tone against radical Islamists and appears to be pursuing a right-wing agenda to fend off his most serious challenger, the far-right politician Marine Le Pen who is known for her diatribes against Muslims. He faces re-election in 2022.
“Islamists and their ideologists have the objective to turn a part of our citizens because of their religion against the French republic, and we cannot let that happen,” the president said on Tuesday.
Macron touted his government's move to close down Islamist schools since he became president three years ago. He said those schools “didn't deserve to be called schools” and that they “were seeking to deconstruct the republic.”
He is vowing to take more action.
“We have pointed a finger at the evil, we have named it,” he said. “Our citizens today need to be protected.”
The government is looking at stepping up deportations of foreign-born Islamists and better monitoring of online activity.
Yasser Louati, a human rights activist and head of the Justice & Liberties For All Committee, said during a debate on France 24, a French news channel, that the clampdown was going too far and was politically motivated.
He blasted the Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin for saying the raids are taking place to “send a message.”
“We have here state-sponsored retaliation and intimidation,” he said.
He condemned French politicians for insisting Muslims are being radicalized.
“We have to be extremely cautious when we use and throw around words like radicalization,” he said. “The term is adopted under the pressure of events.”
He said the killing highlighted shortcomings by intelligence services because the killer, an 18-year-old man whose family is from the Russian Muslim-majority region of Chechnya, had been reported to authorities.


courthousenews--2020-10-22--Feds Accuse Russia and Iran of Election Interference

( CN ) — The FBI said Wednesday that Russia and Iran are behind a disinformation campaign to influence the U.S. elections and sow chaos .
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said authorities “ have identified that two foreign actors , Iran and Russia , have taken specific actions ” to influence the upcoming elections .
Voter registration information has been obtained by Russia and Iran according to the FBI , which he said Iran has used to emails to voters in an attempt to undermine confidence in the U.S. elections .
“ To that end , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to intimidate voters , incite social unrest and damage President Trump , ” said Ratcliffe .
These foreign actors are attempting to “ communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion , sow chaos , and undermine your confidence in American democracy , ” said Ratcliffe .
“ These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries , we will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections , ” Ratcliffe said the press conference , held just 13 days before Election Day .
FBI director Christopher Wray added : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference in our elections or any criminal activity that threatens the sanctity of your vote or undermines public confidence in the outcome of the election.
” Iran was behind a video sent to voters about “ fraudulent ” votes in an effort to dissuade confidence in the elections , according to Ratcliffe .
Russia also obtained some voter information as it did in 2016 , according to Ratcliffe , but the agency has not seen any attempts to intimidate or dissuade voters like it has have with Iran .
Officials stressed the alarm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisan issue ” and Ratcliffe said the U.S. is prepared to take “ actions to those hostile to democracy.
” Wray said the U.S. government is working with technology and social media companies to “ make sure that their platforms aren ’ t used by foreign adversaries to spread disinformation and propaganda.
” In a joint statement , Senators Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , acting chairman to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence , and Mark Warner , D- Va. , vice chairman , said they are aware of the attempts made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our confidence ” in the U.S. election systems and infrastructure .
“ As we enter the last weeks before the election , we urge every American — including members of the media — to be cautious about believing or spreading unverified , sensational claims related to votes and voting , ” the senators said .
“ State and local election officials are in regular contact with federal law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals , and they are all working around the clock to ensure that election 2020 is safe , secure , and free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported threatening emails were sent to Democratic voters which sparked investigations in Florida and Alaska .
The emails claimed to be from the hate group the Proud Boys , but the Department of Homeland Security said the emails were sent out by a foreign government .
“ Do not be alarmed and do not spread it , ” said Ratcliffe about the emails being sent from the foreign actors .
“ We are not going to let our guard down .
”

The FBI said Wednesday that Russia and Iran are behind a disinformation campaign to influence the U.S. elections and sow chaos.
(CN) — The FBI said Wednesday that Russia and Iran are behind a disinformation campaign to influence the U.S. elections and sow chaos.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said authorities “have identified that two foreign actors, Iran and Russia, have taken specific actions” to influence the upcoming elections.
Voter registration information has been obtained by Russia and Iran according to the FBI, which he said Iran has used to emails to voters in an attempt to undermine confidence in the U.S. elections.
“To that end, we have already seen Iran sending spoofed emails designed to intimidate voters, incite social unrest and damage President Trump,” said Ratcliffe.
These foreign actors are attempting to “communicate false information to registered voters that they hope will cause confusion, sow chaos, and undermine your confidence in American democracy,” said Ratcliffe.
“These actions are desperate attempts by desperate adversaries, we will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections,” Ratcliffe said the press conference, held just 13 days before Election Day.
FBI director Christopher Wray added: "We are not going to tolerate foreign interference in our elections or any criminal activity that threatens the sanctity of your vote or undermines public confidence in the outcome of the election."
Iran was behind a video sent to voters about “fraudulent” votes in an effort to dissuade confidence in the elections, according to Ratcliffe.
Russia also obtained some voter information as it did in 2016, according to Ratcliffe, but the agency has not seen any attempts to intimidate or dissuade voters like it has have with Iran.
Twitter confirmed it had suspended accounts and limited "the sharing of media specific to this coordinated campaign."
“This attempt to manipulate American voters did not gain traction on Twitter," a Twitter spokesperson said. "As Election Day approaches, we remain vigilant and are working to ensure our service is protected from both foreign and domestic attempts to undermine the public conversation. We’re grateful to the FBI for their partnership."
Officials stressed the alarm raised on Wednesday is not “a partisan issue” and Ratcliffe said the U.S. is prepared to take “actions to those hostile to democracy.”
Wray said the U.S. government is working with technology and social media companies to “make sure that their platforms aren’t used by foreign adversaries to spread disinformation and propaganda.”
In a joint statement, Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., acting chairman to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Mark Warner, D- Va., vice chairman, said they are aware of the attempts made by adversaries to “undermine their credibility and our confidence” in the U.S. election systems and infrastructure.
“As we enter the last weeks before the election, we urge every American — including members of the media — to be cautious about believing or spreading unverified, sensational claims related to votes and voting,” the senators said. “State and local election officials are in regular contact with federal law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals, and they are all working around the clock to ensure that election 2020 is safe, secure, and free from outside interference.”
The Washington Post reported threatening emails were sent to Democratic voters which sparked investigations in Florida and Alaska. The emails claimed to be from the hate group the Proud Boys, but the Department of Homeland Security said the emails were sent out by a foreign government.
“Do not be alarmed and do not spread it,” said Ratcliffe about the emails being sent from the foreign actors. “We are not going to let our guard down.”