courthousenews--2020-06-09--Portland, Oregon Police Chief Resigns Under Pressure

After 10 consecutive nights of protests , Portland police did not fire tear gas at the crowds Monday night .
PORTLAND , Ore. ( CN ) — Protesters in Portland shut down a major freeway in Oregon Monday night , and unlike almost every one of the previous 10 nights of mass demonstrations here , police refrained from shooting copious amounts of tear gas into largely peaceful crowds .
The change in police behavior could have something to do with big changes at the top .
Portland Police Chief Jami Resch resigned Monday , under criticism for her bureau ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week of citywide protests in the growing movement for black lives .
The big question in the city Monday was whether her replacement , a black lieutenant sworn in as chief at noon , would scale back the violence police have used night after night against largely peaceful protestors .
As far as Chief Chuck Lovell ’ s first day on the job , the answer appeared to be in the affirmative .
Thousands of protesters claimed all lanes of Interstate 84 for roughly two dozen blocks without police interference , while hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each night in Portland , thousands have been meeting in a field next to the concert venue Revolution Hall to protest police brutality epitomized in the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd , an unarmed black man whose heart stopped when a white cop kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes .
It ’ s often one of several daily marches , and it ’ s reliably the largest .
The group marches over one of the many bridges that cross the Willamette River running through the heart of the city , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ march north to Irving Park or to Northeast Portland ’ s historic Alberta Arts District .
Whatever their destination , organizers set up makeshift stages where speakers describe many and varied experiences with systemic racism , including a mortal fear of police racial profiling and groundless , race-based accusations of shoplifting .
Other speakers , such as Jo Ann Hardesty , the only black member of Portland ’ s City Council , or Kent Ford , a 77-year-old founding member of the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party , propose changes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the city ’ s parks have emerged as a place for the movement ’ s ideas , the downtown Multnomah County Justice Center has become a front line in the battle between protesters and police .
On May 29 , the first night of mass protests here , activists broke the windows of the justice center and tossed in fireworks , starting several small fires that were extinguished by sprinklers .
Afterward , the city erected chain link fencing around the building , which holds several hundred prisoners .
The nightly exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a growing crowd gathers around the fence .
Some shake the fence and toss over plastic water bottles , half-eaten apples and other items police categorize as “ projectiles.
” The police announce over a loudspeaker that they will use force against anyone tampering with the fence .
Soon , riot cops advance on the crowd , firing multiple rounds of tear gas , swinging clubs and pepper spraying people as they run .
On Monday , Chief Resch resigned amid criticism from the ACLU and others of the bureau ’ s increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chuck Lovell was immediately sworn in as the city ’ s fourth black police chief .
“ To say this was unexpected would be an understatement , ” Lovell said at a news conference Monday .
Lovell signaled his sympathy for the protests that have so far resulted in the removal of police from schools in the metro area ’ s three districts , the loss of his former boss ’ s job , and calls for bans on police use of tear gas , pepper spray and rubber bullets .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lovell said .
“ I don ’ t have any illusions about that .
But meeting every day at Revolutionary Square and marching into downtown Portland — standing up against injustice , that ’ s hard too.
” Mayor Ted Wheeler said Friday he would likely ban police use of tear gas , as Seattle recently did for 30 days .
But on Saturday he retracted that , issuing a directive that police can use it only as a last resort .
But police continued to unleash copious amounts of the chemical weapon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday .
Monday night was a test of the change in leadership , and after midnight , the crowd surrounding the justice center tossed around a beach ball and chanted , after having stood in the rain for hours .
For the first time in four days , police let the night expire without advancing on the crowd with the violence that has become commonplace .
Some community members said it wasn ’ t enough .
Portland ’ s African American Leadership Forum and Unite Oregon , a social justice organization that fights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rural communities and the poor , said in a statement Monday that their members “ are not fooled ” by Resch ’ s resignation and called for the dismantling of the Portland Police Bureau , similar to the move announced Sunday by Minneapolis City Council members .
“ It does not matter who serves as chief of the Portland Police Bureau , because police are the problem , ” the groups said in the statement .
“ Policing is and always has been a racist system .
We are in the fight for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Protesters in Portland shut down a major freeway in Oregon Monday night, and unlike almost every one of the previous 10 nights of mass demonstrations here, police refrained from shooting copious amounts of tear gas into largely peaceful crowds.
PORTLAND, Ore. (CN) — Protesters shut down a major freeway in Portland, Oregon, Monday night, and unlike almost every one of the previous 10 nights of mass demonstrations here, police refrained from shooting copious amounts of tear gas into largely peaceful crowds.
The change in police behavior could have something to do with big changes at the top. Portland Police Chief Jami Resch resigned Monday, under criticism for her bureau’s violent handling of more than a week of citywide protests in the growing movement for black lives.
The big question in the city Monday was whether her replacement, a black lieutenant sworn in as chief at noon, would scale back the violence police have used night after night against largely peaceful protestors.
As far as Chief Chuck Lovell’s first day on the job, the answer appeared to be in the affirmative. Thousands of protesters claimed all lanes of Interstate 84 for roughly two dozen blocks without police interference, while hundreds faced off peacefully with police downtown.
Each night in Portland, thousands have been meeting in a field next to the concert venue Revolution Hall to protest police brutality epitomized in the killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd, an unarmed black man whose heart stopped when a white cop kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. It’s often one of several daily marches, and it’s reliably the largest.
The group marches over one of the many bridges that cross the Willamette River running through the heart of the city, to fill Waterfront Park. Or they march north to Irving Park or to Northeast Portland’s historic Alberta Arts District. Whatever their destination, organizers set up makeshift stages where speakers describe many and varied experiences with systemic racism, including a mortal fear of police racial profiling and groundless, race-based accusations of shoplifting.
Protesters occupy Interstate 84 on Monday in Northeast Portland, Oregon. (Courthouse News photo/Karina Brown)
Other speakers, such as Jo Ann Hardesty, the only black member of Portland’s City Council, or Kent Ford, a 77-year-old founding member of the Portland chapter of the Black Panther Party, propose changes and exhort the protesters to keep going.
If the city’s parks have emerged as a place for the movement’s ideas, the downtown Multnomah County Justice Center has become a front line in the battle between protesters and police. On May 29, the first night of mass protests here, activists broke the windows of the justice center and tossed in fireworks, starting several small fires that were extinguished by sprinklers. Afterward, the city erected chain link fencing around the building, which holds several hundred prisoners.
The nightly exchange has become routine. After dark, a growing crowd gathers around the fence. Some shake the fence and toss over plastic water bottles, half-eaten apples and other items police categorize as “projectiles.” The police announce over a loudspeaker that they will use force against anyone tampering with the fence. Soon, riot cops advance on the crowd, firing multiple rounds of tear gas, swinging clubs and pepper spraying people as they run.
On Monday, Chief Resch resigned amid criticism from the ACLU and others of the bureau’s increasingly violent response to the protests. Lieutenant Chuck Lovell was immediately sworn in as the city’s fourth black police chief.
“To say this was unexpected would be an understatement,” Lovell said at a news conference Monday.
Lovell signaled his sympathy for the protests that have so far resulted in the removal of police from schools in the metro area’s three districts, the loss of his former boss’s job, and calls for bans on police use of tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets.
“This is going to be hard,” Lovell said. “I don’t have any illusions about that. But meeting every day at Revolutionary Square and marching into downtown Portland — standing up against injustice, that’s hard too.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler said Friday he would likely ban police use of tear gas, as Seattle recently did for 30 days. But on Saturday he retracted that, issuing a directive that police can use it only as a last resort. But police continued to unleash copious amounts of the chemical weapon on protesters every night since — until Monday.
Monday night was a test of the change in leadership, and after midnight, the crowd surrounding the justice center tossed around a beach ball and chanted, after having stood in the rain for hours. For the first time in four days, police let the night expire without advancing on the crowd with the violence that has become commonplace.
Some community members said it wasn’t enough. Portland’s African American Leadership Forum and Unite Oregon, a social justice organization that fights for people of color, immigrants, rural communities and the poor, said in a statement Monday that their members “are not fooled” by Resch’s resignation and called for the dismantling of the Portland Police Bureau, similar to the move announced Sunday by Minneapolis City Council members.
“It does not matter who serves as chief of the Portland Police Bureau, because police are the problem,” the groups said in the statement. “Policing is and always has been a racist system. We are in the fight for abolition until it’s won.”


Unauthorized Photo

PHILADELPHIA — A federal court in Pennsylvania dismissed claims against Facebook , Imgur and Reddit brought by a local news @ @ @ @ @ unlawfully published an image of her captured by a security camera in a New York @ @ @ @ @ image was being used for erectile dysfunction and dating websites .

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.


Oil Drilling

SAN FRANCISCO — Oil and gas company E & B Natural Resources Management Corp. does not have a vested right @ @ @ @ @ Oil Field , a federal court in California ruled .
The company claimed Alameda County @ @ @ @ @ continue operating at the field because it “ could ” contaminate the aquifer .


Potato Skin Snacks

NEW YORK — Consumer fraud claims against the manufacturer of “ TGI Friday ’ s Potato Skin Snacks ” may @ @ @ @ @ in New York ruled .
A consumer was dismayed to learn the snacks did not @ @ @ @ @


Campus Murder

SALT LAKE CITY — The parents of Lauren McCluskey , who was murdered on the University of Utah ’ s @ @ @ @ @ reported to campus officials that she was being threatened and extorted , are seeking $ @ @ @ @ @ a wrongful death suit against the state , university and others .


courthousenews--2020-06-10--Austin-Area Sheriff Asked to Resign Following Refusal to Cooperate in Death Investigation

AUSTIN , Texas ( CN ) – County leaders demanded an Austin-area sheriff resign Tuesday over accusations he is refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the death of unarmed black motorist Javier Ambler recorded by the Live PD reality docuseries – a police killing that has drawn heightened public outrage since the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police two weeks ago .
Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long expressed “ shock ” at Sheriff Robert Chody ’ s refusal to cooperate with the investigation by Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore , saying he “ lacks the moral authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Terri Cook agreed , expressing “ no confidence ” that Chody “ has the temperament , operational intelligence , administrative ability nor the people skills to handle the job.
” Ambler , 40 , was initially pulled over by Williamson County sheriff deputies March 28 , 2019 for failure to dim his lights to oncoming traffic .
Ambler allegedly refused to stop his car and led the deputies and responding Austin police on a 20-minute chase into Williamson County north of Austin .
The Austin Police Department released a disturbing six-minute body camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the car .
Ambler is shot with a Taser four times as police struggle to handcuff him behind his back while on his stomach .
Ambler is heard exclaiming “ I can ’ t breathe ” multiple times , “ I have congestive heart failure ” and “ save me ” while addressing the officers as “ sir.
” Police quickly realize Ambler is unconscious after shaking him and saying “ wake up ” several times .
An officer is heard calling for an ambulance as other officers say they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is heard gasping “ I ’ m not resisting ” as officers initially tried to handcuff him on the ground .
This contradicts the state ’ s custodial death report from April 2019 that stated Ambler was resisting being handcuffed .
The report further stated Ambler exited the car but “ did not immediately comply with the deputy ’ s verbal commands.
” DA Moore said Monday that initial findings of her year-long investigation indicate Ambler was indeed not resisting arrest .
She claims Williamson County has “ stonewalled ” her investigation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tweeting Tuesday that she stands by her accusations that Sheriff Chody is not cooperating .
“ We planned to take this case before a grand jury in April , but [ because ] of COVID-19 we ’ ll be empaneling this summer , ” she tweeted Monday .
“ We ’ re taking this case seriously & working to seek justice for Javier & his family.
” Chody ’ s office declined to comment on Ambler ’ s death Tuesday due to Moore ’ s investigation , but did say “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore has made .
Chody ’ s office claims it is “ ready and willing ” to participate in the investigation , but that Moore has not contacted it .
“ Any attempt to say we have slowed or otherwise impeded the investigation is absolutely false , ” Chody ’ s office said in a statement .
“ We participated fully in the investigations launched by the Austin Police Department , the results of which have been forwarded to the Travis County D.A..
In terms of any Live PD Footage , as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ footage .
However , I join the Travis County D.A .
in requesting that Live PD make any existing footage available for review by Travis County prosecutors.
” The commissioners ’ calls for Chody to step down come one month after they sued him and Live PD producer Big Fish Entertainment LLC to stop his office ’ s filming of the show .
Live PD broadcasts new episodes weekly on A & E Networks , with cameras following police officers live on their shifts during “ a typical Friday night ” while on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in several different jurisdictions with in-studio commentary mixed in .
The commissioners ’ attorney , Sean Breen with Howry , Breen & Herman in Austin , said at the time the lawsuit was filed that Chody “ doesn ’ t need live TV to do his job , but he doesn ’ t like losing the spotlight.
” He accused Chody of being “ more concerned about show business than sheriff business.
” “ Chody went behind the commissioners ’ backs and secretly and illegally tried to re-contract with the show , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because he doesn ’ t have the authority to do that , and because he won ’ t obey the cease-and-desist order of the commissioners court , we had to file suit to make the sheriff abide by the law.
” According to the lawsuit , the commissioners terminated Live PD ’ s contract in August 2019 .
Chody then tweeted nine months later that his office signed an “ access agreement ” to reinstate filming .
“ I believe having # LivePd in WilCo is a necessary tool for our office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
“ In addition , the community at a large scale approves .
”

County leaders demanded an Austin-area sheriff resign Tuesday over accusations he is refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the death of unarmed black motorist Javier Ambler recorded by the Live PD reality docuseries – a police killing that has drawn heightened public outrage since the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police two weeks ago.
AUSTIN, Texas (CN) — County leaders demanded an Austin-area sheriff resign Tuesday over accusations he is refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the death of unarmed black motorist Javier Ambler recorded by the Live PD reality docu-series — a police killing that has drawn heightened public outrage since the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police two weeks ago.
Williamson County Commissioner Cynthia Long expressed “shock” at Sheriff Robert Chody’s refusal to cooperate with the investigation by Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore, saying he “lacks the moral authority” to be a policeman.
“Sheriff Chody must resign,” Long said.
Commissioner Terri Cook agreed, expressing “no confidence” that Chody “has the temperament, operational intelligence, administrative ability nor the people skills to handle the job.”
Commissioner Russ Boles added “the citizens have lost faith” in the sheriff, meaning three of the five members of the commissioners court want Chody’s resignation.
Ambler, 40, was initially pulled over by Williamson County sheriff deputies March 28, 2019 for failure to dim his lights to oncoming traffic. Ambler allegedly refused to stop his car and led the deputies and responding Austin police on a 20-minute chase into north Austin.
The Austin Police Department released a disturbing six-minute body camera video Monday, showing police dragging Ambler out of the car. Ambler is shot with a Taser four times as police struggle to handcuff him behind his back while on his stomach. Ambler is heard exclaiming “I can’t breathe” multiple times, “I have congestive heart failure” and “save me” while addressing the officers as “sir.”
Police quickly realize Ambler is unconscious after shaking him and saying “wake up” several times. An officer is heard calling for an ambulance as other officers say they are unable to find a pulse.
Ambler is heard gasping “I’m not resisting” as officers initially tried to handcuff him on the ground. This contradicts the state’s custodial death report from April 2019 that stated Ambler was resisting being handcuffed. The report further stated Ambler exited the car but “did not immediately comply with the deputy’s verbal commands.”
DA Moore said Monday that initial findings of her year-long investigation indicate Ambler was indeed not resisting arrest. She claims Williamson County has “stonewalled” her investigation and demands for the Live PD video footage, tweeting Tuesday that she stands by her accusations that Sheriff Chody is not cooperating.
“We planned to take this case before a grand jury in April, but [because] of COVID-19 we’ll be empaneling this summer,” she tweeted Monday. “We’re taking this case seriously & working to seek justice for Javier & his family.”
Chody’s office declined to comment on Ambler’s death Tuesday due to Moore’s investigation, but did say “we can correct misleading statements” it alleges Moore has made. Chody’s office claims it is “ready and willing” to participate in the investigation, but that Moore has not contacted it.
“Any attempt to say we have slowed or otherwise impeded the investigation is absolutely false,” Chody’s office said in a statement. “We participated fully in the investigations launched by the Austin Police Department, the results of which have been forwarded to the Travis County D.A.. In terms of any Live PD Footage, as a department, we do not control the footage. However, I join the Travis County D.A. in requesting that Live PD make any existing footage available for review by Travis County prosecutors.”
The commissioners’ calls for Chody to step down come one month after they sued him and Live PD producer Big Fish Entertainment LLC to stop his office’s filming of the show. Live PD broadcasts new episodes weekly on A&E Networks, with cameras following police officers live on their shifts during “a typical Friday night” while on duty. The show shifts between officers in several different jurisdictions with in-studio commentary mixed in.
A&E Networks confirmed late Tuesday that Live PD’s video of the Amblin’s arrest has since been destroyed. It claims Austin investigators did not ask for the recordings or seek to interview its producers.
“As is the case with all footage taken by Live PD producers, we no longer retained the unaired footage after learning that the investigation had concluded,” A&E Networks said in a statement.
The network said the arrest did not make it to air and the video was not broadcast later, either.
The commissioners’ attorney, Sean Breen with Howry, Breen & Herman in Austin, said at the time the lawsuit was filed that Chody “doesn’t need live TV to do his job, but he doesn’t like losing the spotlight.” He accused Chody of being “more concerned about show business than sheriff business.”
“Chody went behind the commissioners’ backs and secretly and illegally tried to re-contract with the show,” Breen said in a statement. “Because he doesn’t have the authority to do that, and because he won’t obey the cease-and-desist order of the commissioners court, we had to file suit to make the sheriff abide by the law."
According to the lawsuit, the commissioners terminated Live PD’s contract in August 2019. Chody then tweeted nine months later that his office signed an “access agreement” to reinstate filming.
“I believe having #LivePd in WilCo is a necessary tool for our office for many reasons,” Chody said at the time. “In addition, the community at a large scale approves.”


courthousenews--2020-06-10--Police Find Human Remains at Property of Idaho Man Linked to Missing Kids

( CN ) — Chad Daybell , the husband of Lori Vallow whose children have been missing since last fall , was taken into police custody Tuesday morning after police found human remains at his Idaho home .
Rexburg , Idaho police held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce that they discovered what is believed to be unidentified human remains on the property , while serving a warrant on Daybell ’ s Fremont County property .
Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen said that Daybell was taken into police custody for questioning .
Law enforcement officials did not take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reveal any further details on the unidentified remains .
Chad Daybell has not been officially charged with a crime at this time .
Tuesday ’ s development comes after Daybell and his wife Lori Vallow has been at the center of an investigation into the disappearances of Vallow ’ s children , 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan .
Neither of the children have been seen since last September .
Vallow is currently being held at an Idaho jail and has been charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misdemeanor charges for resisting or obstructing officers , criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court .
These charges came after Vallow and Daybell left their home in Rexburg last November after JJ ’ s grandparents began to raise concerns over the wellbeing of the of the children .
A resulting welfare check left police unable to locate JJ .
Vallow reportedly told authorities that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona , but law enforcement said that was not true .
When officers returned to Vallow ’ s home the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daybell had fled .
Vallow and Daybell were later found in Hawaii , where Vallow was charged and brought back to Idaho .
While this string of developments has attracted intense focus , the case has been enflamed even further after Vallow and Daybell have been reportedly linked to four mysterious deaths .
The first is the death of Vallow ’ s third husband Joseph Ryan .
While Ryan appeared to have died from a heart attack in 2018 , law enforcement reportedly began to look deeper into the matter when the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 , Vallow ’ s fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Alex Cox , Vallow ’ s brother .
The police initially determined that the shooting was in self-defense , but the case was later reopened .
In December , Alex Cox was found dead in Arizona and his death was placed under investigation as well .
Chad Daybell ’ s former wife Tammy Daybell was found dead at the couple ’ s Idaho home in October , a death that was at first listed as natural after Chad reportedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chad Daybell were married just two weeks after Tammy ’ s death in Hawaii – after the children had been reported missing .
Police have launched an investigation into Tammy ’ s death and both Daybell and Vallow have been named as suspects .
The story develops further , as family members have reportedly claimed that Daybell and Vallow are members of a doomsday cult .
According to reports , before the disappearance of the children , Vallow asked Daybell , a doomsday author , to determine the “ light or dark spirits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October of 2018 , when both Daybell and Vallow were still married to other people , Daybell reportedly sent Vallow an email that contained a rubric that could be used to determine the light or dark spirit value of the children .
Daybell reportedly believed in a number system that suggested an individual was either a light spirit or a dark spirit , and that while those with two or three denominations were “ fluid ” and could “ change sides during earth life ” those with a 4.1 rating or above “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vallow in the email that Tylee was a 4.1 dark spirit and JJ was 4.2 light spirit .
Daybell ’ s email was reportedly sent to Vallow less than 11 months before the children disappeared .
Police have maintained that both Vallow and Daybell know where the children are and what may have happened to them .
A preliminary hearing for Vallow is currently set for July , where prosecutors will make the case that the charges against Vallow are supported by enough evidence to be allowed to proceed .
Spokespeople for Chad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment .

Chad Daybell, the husband of Lori Vallow whose children have been missing since last fall, was taken into police custody Tuesday morning after police found human remains at his Idaho home.
(CN) — Chad Daybell, the husband of Lori Vallow whose children have been missing since last fall, was taken into police custody and charged with two counts of felony destruction and concealment of evidence after police found human remains at his Idaho home Tuesday.
Rexburg, Idaho police held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to announce that they discovered what is believed to be unidentified human remains on the property, while serving a warrant on Daybell’s Fremont County property.
On Wednesday, Daybell was brought before Judge Farren Eddins where he was charged with two counts of felony destruction and concealment of evidence. His bail is currently set at $1 million.
Rexburg Police Assistant Chief Gary Hagen said early Tuesday that Daybell was taken into police custody for questioning.
Law enforcement officials did not take questions during the conference and did not reveal any further details on the unidentified remains. Chad Daybell has not been officially charged with a crime at this time.
Wednesday's development comes after Daybell and his wife Lori Vallow has been at the center of an investigation into the disappearances of Vallow’s children, 7-year-old JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. Neither of the children have been seen since last September.
Vallow is currently being held at an Idaho jail and has been charged with two felony counts of desertion and nonsupport of dependent children. She is also facing misdemeanor charges for resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.
These charges came after Vallow and Daybell left their home in Rexburg last November after JJ's grandparents began to raise concerns over the wellbeing of the of the children. A resulting welfare check left police unable to locate JJ. Vallow reportedly told authorities that JJ was visiting relatives in Arizona, but law enforcement said that was not true.
When officers returned to Vallow’s home the next day, they discovered that Vallow and Daybell had fled.
Vallow and Daybell were later found in Hawaii, where Vallow was charged and brought back to Idaho.
While this string of developments has attracted intense focus, the case has been enflamed even further after Vallow and Daybell have been reportedly linked to four mysterious deaths.
The first is the death of Vallow’s third husband Joseph Ryan. While Ryan appeared to have died from a heart attack in 2018, law enforcement reportedly began to look deeper into the matter when the investigation into the missing children intensified.
In 2019, Vallow’s fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Alex Cox, Vallow’s brother. The police initially determined that the shooting was in self-defense, but the case was later reopened.
In December, Alex Cox was found dead in Arizona and his death was placed under investigation as well.
Chad Daybell’s former wife Tammy Daybell was found dead at the couple’s Idaho home in October, a death that was at first listed as natural after Chad reportedly declined an autopsy.
Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell were married just two weeks after Tammy’s death in Hawaii – after the children had been reported missing. Police have launched an investigation into Tammy’s death and both Daybell and Vallow have been named as suspects.
The story develops further, as family members have reportedly claimed that Daybell and Vallow are members of a doomsday cult.
According to reports, before the disappearance of the children, Vallow asked Daybell, a doomsday author, to determine the “light or dark spirits” of JJ and Tylee.
In October of 2018, when both Daybell and Vallow were still married to other people, Daybell reportedly sent Vallow an email that contained a rubric that could be used to determine the light or dark spirit value of the children.
Daybell reportedly believed in a number system that suggested an individual was either a light spirit or a dark spirit, and that while those with two or three denominations were “fluid” and could “change sides during earth life” those with a 4.1 rating or above “rarely switched sides.”
Daybell reportedly told Vallow in the email that Tylee was a 4.1 dark spirit and JJ was 4.2 light spirit.
Daybell's email was reportedly sent to Vallow less than 11 months before the children disappeared.
Police have maintained that both Vallow and Daybell know where the children are and what may have happened to them.
A preliminary hearing for Vallow is currently set for July, where prosecutors will make the case that the charges against Vallow are supported by enough evidence to be allowed to proceed.
Spokespeople for Chad Daybell did not immediately respond to request for comment.


Stay of Execution

BROWNSVILLE , Texas — A federal court in Texas stayed the scheduled execution of Ruben Gutierrez , who has maintained @ @ @ @ @ stabbing and has long sought DNA testing of potentially exculpatory evidence .
The execution was @ @ @ @ @


Top Eight

Your Tuesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement ; Voters in Georgia ’ s primary election faced long lines and problems with new voting machines ; Dozens of California lawmakers vowed support for police and criminal justice reforms , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
1 . )
A horse-drawn carriage led the golden casket of 46-year-old Houston native George Floyd to his final resting place Tuesday afternoon as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words , “ I can ’ t breathe , I can ’ t breathe , ” have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and catalyst for police reforms nationwide .
2 . )
Alaskan hunters can once again use donuts to bait bears from their dens , and they can kill wolf and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the latest regulatory rollback of the Trump administration Tuesday .
3 . )
As senators debate the future of an expanded unemployment benefit passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic , Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday Congress should not extend the program beyond July 31 as economic indicators begin to tick up .
4 . )
Four men scheduled to be among the first federal prisoners executed in 17 years have asked the Supreme Court to resolve whether the new national protocols trample the law .
5 . )
Markets regained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday but still ended down for the day , ending hopes for a seven-day rally .
6 . )
Voters preparing to cast their ballot in person in the metro Atlanta area during Tuesday ’ s primary election were advised to brace for long lines and problems with new voting machines .
7 . )
Kneeling on the steps of the state Capitol , dozens of California lawmakers on Tuesday paid tribute to George Floyd and vowed support for pending police and criminal justice reforms .
8 . )
Just 1 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of Tuesday , Mayor Bill de Blasio announced with jubilation two months after the city hit its high of 71 % confirmed infections .

Top eight CNS stories for today including George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement; Voters in Georgia’s primary election faced long lines and problems with new voting machines; Dozens of California lawmakers vowed support for police and criminal justice reforms, and more.
Your Tuesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including George Floyd was laid to rest in Houston as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement; Voters in Georgia’s primary election faced long lines and problems with new voting machines; Dozens of California lawmakers vowed support for police and criminal justice reforms, and more.
Sign up for CNS Top Eight, a roundup of the day’s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday.
National
1.) A horse-drawn carriage led the golden casket of 46-year-old Houston native George Floyd to his final resting place Tuesday afternoon as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and catalyst for police reforms nationwide.
A horse-drawn carriage carrying the body of George Floyd passes through a Pearland, Texas, street on Tuesday, June 9, 2020, to his final resting place where the Houston native was buried alongside his mother in a private burial ceremony. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
2.) Alaskan hunters can once again use donuts to bait bears from their dens, and they can kill wolf and coyote pups during denning season, thanks to the latest regulatory rollback of the Trump administration Tuesday.
The Porcupine caribou herd crosses a river on the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (Photo by Peter Mather)
3.) As senators debate the future of an expanded unemployment benefit passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday Congress should not extend the program beyond July 31 as economic indicators begin to tick up.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., left, elbow bumps Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia before a Senate Finance Committee hearing on "COVID-19/Unemployment Insurance" on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/Pool via AP)
4.) Four men scheduled to be among the first federal prisoners executed in 17 years have asked the Supreme Court to resolve whether the new national protocols trample the law.
The U.S. Supreme Court. (Jack Rodgers/Courthouse News)
5.) Markets regained some of their early morning losses on Tuesday but still ended down for the day, ending hopes for a seven-day rally.
Jeffrey Holinka wears a protective face mask as he waits to receive an order at the On Ocean 7 Cafe along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla. during the new coronavirus pandemic, Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Ocean Drive was closed to traffic as restaurants in Miami Beach reopened Wednesday after being closed to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Regional
6.) Voters preparing to cast their ballot in person in the metro Atlanta area during Tuesday’s primary election were advised to brace for long lines and problems with new voting machines.
Voters line up to cast their ballots at West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta’s historically black West End neighborhood on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Kayla Goggin)
7.) Kneeling on the steps of the state Capitol, dozens of California lawmakers on Tuesday paid tribute to George Floyd and vowed support for pending police and criminal justice reforms.
Assemblywoman Kamlager-Dove leads lawmakers in a moment of silence. (Nick Cahill)
8.) Just 1% of New Yorkers tested positive for the coronavirus as of Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced with jubilation two months after the city hit its high of 71% confirmed infections.


courthousenews--2020-06-09--Labor Secretary Opposes Extension of Coronavirus Jobless Benefits

WASHINGTON ( CN )  — As senators debate the future of an expanded unemployment benefit passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic , Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday Congress should not extend the program beyond July 31 as economic indicators begin to tick up .
As part of the $ 2.2 trillion CARES Act , Congress temporarily bumped up the maximum unemployment benefit by $ 600 dollars a week and allowed people to receive the benefit over a longer period of time .
The expansion is set to expire on July 31 .
The initiative has been controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns that it would offer an incentive to stay out of the workforce to people who stand to make more from unemployment than in their jobs .
An amendment to cap the benefit at an employee ’ s pre-layoff salary failed , but earned 48 Republican votes .
Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday , Secretary Scalia said even with the stronger-than-expected jobs report last week , it appears the expanded unemployment benefit is having a drag on employment .
A report the Congressional Budget Office released last week found if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit for another six months , economic output would likely increase , but employment would be lower than if the benefit expired .
More than 80 % of people who receive the enhanced benefits would bring in more than what they could expect to earn at their job if the program is extended , the report found .
Scalia said the expanded benefit has been a critical support during state-ordered closures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus , even though states were slow in ramping up their often-outdated unemployment systems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose systems were so old , the state had to bring in programmers from Latvia to help .
Still , he told senators the ultimate goal is to have people return to work as states continue to reopen and that the expanded benefit will need to change to support that goal .
“ We want people who are not able to get to work to have the safety net of an unemployment program , but you ’ re right , if people have the opportunity to return and don ’ t , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them , but to the functioning of what ’ s a very , very interconnected economy , ” Scalia told Senator Pat Toomey , R-Pa .
But Scalia was not definitive on what should happen to the expanded benefit after July 31 , saying the economic outlook of the pandemic has changed rapidly .
He pointed to the latest jobs report , which showed a gain of 2.5 million jobs during a time period when many were projecting further steep job losses .
“ Our economy has turned the corner against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed a variety of perspectives for what Congress should do with the expanded benefit , including gradually reducing the payout or pegging it to economic conditions .
Senator Ron Wyden was one of the main proponents of tying the unemployment benefit to how the economy is performing and Scalia said he would be willing to talk to the Oregon Democrat more about the plan .
Wyden suggested Republicans were overplaying the extent to which the boosted unemployment is causing people to choose not to rejoin the workforce .
“ In my view , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s an insult to American workers , ” Wyden said .
Wyden also wondered whether states now are in the position to accommodate full wage replacement for laid-off workers .
He said the idea was the initial aim for Democrats when the CARES Act was first debated , but that Scalia had indicated state unemployment systems would not be up to the task .
On Tuesday , Scalia said state systems are more prepared now , but did not say directly whether they could handle Wyden ’ s proposal .
On the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the expanded benefits are slowing job growth .
Senator Chuck Grassley , R-Iowa , read letters from business owners in his state who said they were struggling to rehire people because they are competing against an unemployment benefit they can no longer exceed .
On a panel after Scalia ’ s testimony , Les Neilly , president of the Pittsburgh-based Neilly Canvas Goods Company , told the committee employees he brought back on the payroll complained when they realized they were making less than they were when they weren ’ t working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work for two days after realizing the pay cut that came with coming back to the job .
Senator Rob Portman , R-Ohio , noted people do not just rely on work for their paychecks , but also for retirement benefits , health care and less easily quantified benefits like self-respect .
He floated the idea of giving workers who return to their jobs a portion of the expanded unemployment benefit they would have received as a bonus .
“ The 600 bucks was necessary in my view to get us started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a situation where the economy is starting to reopen and people are looking for workers , ” Portman said .

As senators debate the future of an expanded unemployment benefit passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday Congress should not extend the program beyond July 31 as economic indicators begin to tick up.
WASHINGTON (CN)  — As senators debate the future of an expanded unemployment benefit passed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday Congress should not extend the program beyond July 31 as economic indicators begin to tick up.
As part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, Congress temporarily bumped up the maximum unemployment benefit by $600 dollars a week and allowed people to receive the benefit over a longer period of time. The expansion is set to expire on July 31.
The initiative has been controversial from the beginning, with Republicans raising concerns that it would offer an incentive to stay out of the workforce to people who stand to make more from unemployment than in their jobs. An amendment to cap the benefit at an employee’s pre-layoff salary failed, but earned 48 Republican votes.
Testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, Secretary Scalia said even with the stronger-than-expected jobs report last week, it appears the expanded unemployment benefit is having a drag on employment.
A report the Congressional Budget Office released last week found if Congress were to extend the expanded unemployment benefit for another six months, economic output would likely increase, but employment would be lower than if the benefit expired. More than 80% of people who receive the enhanced benefits would bring in more than what they could expect to earn at their job if the program is extended, the report found.
Scalia said the expanded benefit has been a critical support during state-ordered closures aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, even though states were slow in ramping up their often-outdated unemployment systems. Scalia said he talked to one governor whose systems were so old, the state had to bring in programmers from Latvia to help.
Still, he told senators the ultimate goal is to have people return to work as states continue to reopen and that the expanded benefit will need to change to support that goal.
“We want people who are not able to get to work to have the safety net of an unemployment program, but you’re right, if people have the opportunity to return and don’t, it can function as a hinderance not just to them, but to the functioning of what’s a very, very interconnected economy,” Scalia told Senator Pat Toomey, R-Pa.
But Scalia was not definitive on what should happen to the expanded benefit after July 31, saying the economic outlook of the pandemic has changed rapidly. He pointed to the latest jobs report, which showed a gain of 2.5 million jobs during a time period when many were projecting further steep job losses.
“Our economy has turned the corner against the coronavirus,” Scalia said.
Senators proposed a variety of perspectives for what Congress should do with the expanded benefit, including gradually reducing the payout or pegging it to economic conditions.
Senator Ron Wyden was one of the main proponents of tying the unemployment benefit to how the economy is performing and Scalia said he would be willing to talk to the Oregon Democrat more about the plan.
Wyden suggested Republicans were overplaying the extent to which the boosted unemployment is causing people to choose not to rejoin the workforce.
“In my view, that is dead wrong and it’s an insult to American workers,” Wyden said.
Wyden also wondered whether states now are in the position to accommodate full wage replacement for laid-off workers. He said the idea was the initial aim for Democrats when the CARES Act was first debated, but that Scalia had indicated state unemployment systems would not be up to the task.
On Tuesday, Scalia said state systems are more prepared now, but did not say directly whether they could handle Wyden’s proposal.
On the Republican side, senators generally restated their concerns that the expanded benefits are slowing job growth. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, read letters from business owners in his state who said they were struggling to rehire people because they are competing against an unemployment benefit they can no longer exceed.
On a panel after Scalia’s testimony, Les Neilly, president of the Pittsburgh-based Neilly Canvas Goods Company, told the committee employees he brought back on the payroll complained when they realized they were making less than they were when they weren’t working. One employee didn’t report to work for two days after realizing the pay cut that came with coming back to the job.
Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, noted people do not just rely on work for their paychecks, but also for retirement benefits, health care and less easily quantified benefits like self-respect. He floated the idea of giving workers who return to their jobs a portion of the expanded unemployment benefit they would have received as a bonus.
“The 600 bucks was necessary in my view to get us started in this, but now we have a situation where the economy is starting to reopen and people are looking for workers,” Portman said.


courthousenews--2020-06-09--Treatment of the Press

Treatment of the Press

MINNEAPOLIS — A federal court in Minnesota denied injunctive relief to journalists challenging the treatment by law enforcement of members @ @ @ @ @ events in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd .
The judge , noting that @ @ @ @ @ sustained severe injuries and were allegedly threatened or subject to unlawful arrests , says they @ @ @ @ @ police have not used tear gas or rubber bullets since May 31 and injunctive release @ @ @ @ @ time .

A federal court in Minnesota denied injunctive relief to journalists challenging the treatment by law enforcement of members of the media reporting on events in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd.
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal court in Minnesota denied injunctive relief to journalists challenging the treatment by law enforcement of members of the media reporting on events in Minneapolis after the death of George Floyd.
The judge, noting that several members of the press sustained severe injuries and were allegedly threatened or subject to unlawful arrests, says they “deserve better.” But police have not used tear gas or rubber bullets since May 31 and injunctive release is not necessary at this time.


Utility Rates

HONOLULU — The Public Utilities Commission in Hawaii failed to uphold its duty to consider all of the effects of @ @ @ @ @ Gas ’ liquid natural gas projects when it approved a rate increase for the energy @ @ @ @ @ s Supreme Court ruled .


courthousenews--2020-06-09--George Floyd Laid to Rest in Houston ‘Homegoing Celebration’

Floyd , whose death sparked massive anti-racism protests around the world , was remembered as a fun-loving friend , mentor and avid sports fan .
HOUSTON ( CN ) — A horse-drawn carriage led the golden casket of 46-year-old Houston native George Floyd to his final resting place Tuesday afternoon as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words , “ I can ’ t breathe , I can ’ t breathe , ” have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and catalyst for police reforms nationwide .
An estimated 500 mourners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of them wearing white , inside the Fountain of Praise church in Houston for the funeral service , dedicated as a “ homegoing celebration.
” They included political leaders , civil rights and pop culture icons , as well as family members of other slain African Americans including Eric Garner , Trayvon Martin , Michael Brown , Botham Jean and Ahmaud Arbery .
“ I am so grateful today to be able to say a man by the name of Big Floyd walked amongst us and began to mentor and make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee told mourners , making reference to Floyd ’ s nickname .
At the Tuesday morning service , family members eulogized Floyd as a fun-loving friend , mentor and avid sports fan who was “ spiritually grounded , ” including his aunt , Kathleen McGee , a niece and his brothers , one of which called him his “ own personal superman.
” “ The world knows George Floyd .
I know Perry Jr. ” McGee said .
“ He was a pesky little rascal , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a chuckle .
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner , who proclaimed June 9 “ George Perry Floyd Day ” during his remarks , said he would sign an executive order ushering in police reforms in the city , including banning chokeholds and requiring officers to engage in de-escalation techniques , among other changes .
The more than three-hour service also featured moving musical tributes to Floyd , including a montage of images of Floyd alongside images of marchers protesting his death , and a rendition of the 1964 Sam Cooke song “ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Dray Tate , which showcased an artist painting a portrait of Floyd on a large canvas on stage .
Floyd ’ s May 25 death while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked massive protests against police brutality in over 140 American cities and across the world .
Derek Chauvin , 44 , who is seen in a now-viral video of the arrest with his knee on Floyd ’ s neck for nearly nine minutes , faces second-degree murder charges — which in Minnesota carries a maximum sentence of 40 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane , officers who assisted Chauvin in Floyd ’ s detainment , face aiding and abetting murder charges .
Survived by a son , a 6-year-old daughter and a grandchild , Floyd , who was born in North Carolina , became the first of his five siblings to graduate from high school in 1993 .
He went on to attend South Florida Community College as a basketball recruit , but left the school in 1995 for a short stint at Texas A & M University-Kingsville , before returning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minnesota in 2017 to seek drug addiction treatment at a center in Minneapolis and found work as a bouncer at a restaurant-nightclub , a job he reportedly lost after the restaurant closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
But it will be his final moments of life that transformed him from an ordinary man into a worldwide symbol of change .
Posters depicting Floyd with the words “ I can ’ t breathe ” along his mouth were displayed on fences along the funeral procession route , where red and yellow ribbons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mater , were wrapped around light poles and thousands of onlookers paused to pay respects .
“ It ’ s unfortunate for someone to lose their life for a change to come but it ’ s definitely been on its way , ” said Houston resident Mike McDonald , who waited along a Pearland street about 20 miles from the church for Floyd ’ s procession to pass .
The Reverend Al Sharpton , the final speaker to deliver a eulogy to Floyd , said the movement sparked by Floyd ’ s death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get justice , until we have one standard of justice.
” “ Your family is going to miss you , George , but your nation is going to always remember your name because your neck was one that represented all of us , and how you suffered represented our suffer , ” Sharpton said .
After the funeral service , Floyd ’ s casket was carried by car to Pearland before being transferred into a white horse-drawn carriage for the final mile to the cemetery , where six pallbearers and a line of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of mourners lined the route , many also walking it .
Floyd was laid to rest beside his mother in a private burial ceremony .

A horse-drawn carriage led the golden casket of 46-year-old Houston native George Floyd to his final resting place Tuesday afternoon as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and catalyst for police reforms nationwide
HOUSTON (CN) — A horse-drawn carriage led the golden casket of 46-year-old Houston native George Floyd to his final resting place Tuesday afternoon as thousands of mourners paid final respects to a man whose last words, “I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,” have become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement and catalyst for police reforms nationwide.
An estimated 500 mourners joined Floyd’s family and friends, many of them wearing white, inside the Fountain of Praise church in Houston for the funeral service, dedicated as a “homegoing celebration.” They included political leaders, civil rights and pop culture icons, as well as family members of other slain African Americans including Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Botham Jean and Ahmaud Arbery.
“I am so grateful today to be able to say a man by the name of Big Floyd walked amongst us and began to mentor and make a legacy that no one can deny,” Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee told mourners, making reference to Floyd’s nickname.
Helen Shih and her daughters Aruna Muthupillai and Vidya Muthupillai wait along the funeral procession route in Pearland, Texas for the casket of George Floyd to pass by on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
At the Tuesday morning service, family members eulogized Floyd as a fun-loving friend, mentor and avid sports fan who was “spiritually grounded,” including his aunt, Kathleen McGee, a niece and his brothers, one of which called him his “own personal superman.”
“The world knows George Floyd. I know Perry Jr.” McGee said. “He was a pesky little rascal, but we loved him,” she said with a chuckle.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who proclaimed June 9 “George Perry Floyd Day” during his remarks, said he would sign an executive order ushering in police reforms in the city, including banning chokeholds and requiring officers to engage in de-escalation techniques, among other changes.
The more than three-hour service also featured moving musical tributes to Floyd, including a montage of images of Floyd alongside images of marchers protesting his death, and a rendition of the 1964 Sam Cooke song “A Change is Gonna Come” sung by Dray Tate, which showcased an artist painting a portrait of Floyd on a large canvas on stage.
Floyd’s May 25 death while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked massive protests against police brutality in over 140 American cities and across the world. Derek Chauvin, 44, who is seen in a now-viral video of the arrest with his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, faces second-degree murder charges — which in Minnesota carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Savannah Epting waits along the funeral procession route in Pearland, Texas, for the casket of George Floyd to pass by on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane, officers who assisted Chauvin in Floyd’s detainment, face aiding and abetting murder charges.
Survived by a son, a 6-year-old daughter and a grandchild, Floyd, who was born in North Carolina, became the first of his five siblings to graduate from high school in 1993. He went on to attend South Florida Community College as a basketball recruit, but left the school in 1995 for a short stint at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, before returning back to Houston.
Floyd arrived in Minnesota in 2017 to seek drug addiction treatment at a center in Minneapolis and found work as a bouncer at a restaurant-nightclub, a job he reportedly lost after the restaurant closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
But it will be his final moments of life that transformed him from an ordinary man into a worldwide symbol of change. Posters depicting Floyd with the words “I can’t breathe” along his mouth were displayed on fences along the funeral procession route, where red and yellow ribbons, the colors of his high school alma mater, were wrapped around light poles and thousands of onlookers paused to pay respects.
Houston residents JaMarcus Jones and Mike McDonald wait along the funeral procession route in Pearland, Texas, for the casket of George Floyd to pass by in T-shirts dedicated to Floyd on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Cameron Langford)
“It’s unfortunate for someone to lose their life for a change to come but it’s definitely been on its way,” said Houston resident Mike McDonald, who waited along a Pearland street about 20 miles from the church for Floyd’s procession to pass.
The Reverend Al Sharpton, the final speaker to deliver a eulogy to Floyd, said the movement sparked by Floyd’s death won’t rest “until we get justice, until we have one standard of justice.”
“Your family is going to miss you, George, but your nation is going to always remember your name because your neck was one that represented all of us, and how you suffered represented our suffer,” Sharpton said.
After the funeral service, Floyd’s casket was carried by car to Pearland before being transferred into a white horse-drawn carriage for the final mile to the cemetery, where six pallbearers and a line of Pearland police officers led the procession and thousands of mourners lined the route, many also walking it.
Floyd was laid to rest beside his mother in a private burial ceremony.


No Prisoner Release

BROOKLYN — A federal judge in New York denied six inmates ’ request to release all prisoners at the Metropolitan @ @ @ @ @ age or medical condition puts them at a heightened risk from Covid-19 .
The judge @ @ @ @ @ Covid-related fatalities and only one Covid-related hospitalization at the facility .


courthousenews--2020-06-09--California Courts Covid Update

California Courts Covid Update

June 5 , 2020 : Clerks for Civil , Family Law and Probate will begin processing filings as of June @ @ @ @ @ : Update regarding procedure for Family Law stipulations/orders , and other permissible filings June 1 @ @ @ @ @ filing for civil , complex civil , and small claims cases .
Electronic filing is @ @ @ @ @ after the initial complaint in Criminal Division matters , including for all attorneys/ Justice Partners @ @ @ @ @ and bail bond companies June 8 , 2020 : Order vacates the order to stop @ @ @ @ @ 3 , 2002 : Order to stop transporting inmates to any Sonoma County Superior courtroom @ @ @ @ @ Court to begin opening as of June 4 , traffic and small claims hearings to @ @ @ @ @ distancing required , public service counters to reopen June 10 by appointment only , access @ @ @ @ @ appear or conducting necessary business , remote appearance strongly encouraged , drive up drop box @ @ @ @ @ 9


courthousenews--2020-06-10--Galapagos Welcomes Six New Darwin’s Flycatcher Chicks

Only 40 breeding pairs of the brilliantly colored bird remain , in the Galapagos Islands .
QUITO , Ecuador ( AFP ) — Six little vermilion flycatcher chicks have hatched in the Galapagos Islands , officials said Tuesday , in a boost to the dwindling numbers of the seriously endangered , brilliantly colored songbird .
Just 40 breeding pairs remain on the upper part of Santa Cruz island in the archipelago , 620 miles off the coast of Ecuador and made famous by Charles Darwin ’ s studies of their breathtaking biodiversity .
Also known as Darwin ’ s flycatcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dozen islands .
Park officials are trying to boost the population by clearing introduced plant species from the island floor that make it difficult for the chicks to feed , Galapagos National Park Director Danny Rueda said .
Rangers are also placing larvicide at the base of their nests to prevent parasitic flies from entering the hatchlings , where they feed off their blood with fatal consequences .
The island province is a Natural World Heritage Site and home to unique flora and fauna .
In January a scientific expedition to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ strong ” genetic link to a presumed-extinct subspecies made famous by a popular specimen named Lonesome George .
George , the last known member of the Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii Pinta tortoise species , died on Santa Cruz in 2012 at more than 100 years old , without ever breeding .

Six little vermilion flycatcher chicks have hatched in the Galapagos Islands, officials said Tuesday, in a boost to the dwindling numbers of the seriously endangered, brilliantly colored songbird.
QUITO, Ecuador (AFP) — Six little vermilion flycatcher chicks have hatched in the Galapagos Islands, officials said Tuesday, in a boost to the dwindling numbers of the seriously endangered, brilliantly colored songbird.
Just 40 breeding pairs remain on the upper part of Santa Cruz island in the archipelago, 620 miles off the coast of Ecuador and made famous by Charles Darwin’s studies of their breathtaking biodiversity.
Also known as Darwin’s flycatcher, the bird has been registered on a dozen islands.
Park officials are trying to boost the population by clearing introduced plant species from the island floor that make it difficult for the chicks to feed, Galapagos National Park Director Danny Rueda said.
Rangers are also placing larvicide at the base of their nests to prevent parasitic flies from entering the hatchlings, where they feed off their blood with fatal consequences.
The island province is a Natural World Heritage Site and home to unique flora and fauna.
In January a scientific expedition to the Galapagos Islands discovered a tortoise with a "strong" genetic link to a presumed-extinct subspecies made famous by a popular specimen named Lonesome George.
George, the last known member of the Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii Pinta tortoise species, died on Santa Cruz in 2012 at more than 100 years old, without ever breeding.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-06-10--European Union Expresses ‘Concern’ Over Israel’s Annexation Plan

JERUSALEM ( AFP ) — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas travelled to Jerusalem on Wednesday to voice European “ concern ” over Israel ’ s annexation plans for the occupied West Bank .
Maas , the first high-level European visitor to visit Israel since the coronavirus pandemic hit , touched elbows with his Israeli counterpart on arrival , both wearing face masks .
The focal point of talks will be Israel ’ s proposed annexation of West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley , with initial steps slated to begin July 1 , the same day Germany takes the rotating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the move , although it remains divided on how to react , with Maas ’ s visit seen as an opportunity for Israel to try to tone down the bloc ’ s response .
The German foreign ministry said on its website that “ in the Middle East conflict , Germany and its European Union partners are committed to the resumption of negotiations and a two-state solution .
In Israel , Foreign Minister Maas will also express European concern about the possible consequences of annexation , as announced by the Israeli government.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz .
Israeli annexation forms part of a U.S. peace plan unveiled in January , which allegedly paves the way for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state .
But it excludes core Palestinian demands such as a capital in east Jerusalem and has been rejected by the Palestinian Authority .
Palestinians have sent a counterproposal for the creation of a “ sovereign Palestinian state , independent and demilitarized ” to the Quartet , made up of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European Union and Russia , Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said Tuesday .
“ We want Israel to feel international pressure , ” Shtayyeh said .
Maas then will travel on to Jordan , where he will hold a video conference with Shtayyeh and meet with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi .
Jordan ’ s King Abdullah II warned in May that Israeli annexation risked sparking a “ conflict ” with his country , speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel .
While Berlin shares Amman ’ s opposition to annexation , the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any .
Sanctions would need the approval of all 27 member states .
Europe holds significant financial clout in Israel as the country ’ s top business partner , with trade totaling 30 billion euros ( $ 34 billion ) last year , according to EU figures .
Some European countries could formally recognize a Palestinian state , but according to an Israeli official , Germany would not be one of them .
“ Germany even with annexation would not recognize a Palestinian state and is not going to support sanctions against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Looking beyond the West Bank , other matters on Maas ’ s Jerusalem agenda include Israeli foe Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah .
Berlin was one of the European parties to a landmark 2015 accord with Iran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief .
But President Donald Trump ’ s decision to pull out of the deal and reimpose crippling economic penalties — a move praised by Israel — has led Tehran to suspend its compliance with some of the curbs .
Under pressure from Trump and Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new deal , Iran responded : “ We had a deal.
” Germany won praise from Israel in April for announcing a ban on all Hezbollah activities after previously tolerating the militant group ’ s political wing .
Israel occupied a swath of southern Lebanon from 1978 to 2000 and fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006 .

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas traveled to Jerusalem on Wednesday to voice European “concern” over Israel’s annexation plans for the occupied West Bank.
JERUSALEM (AFP) — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas traveled to Jerusalem on Wednesday to voice European “concern” over Israel’s annexation plans for the occupied West Bank.
Maas, the first high-level European visitor to visit Israel since the coronavirus pandemic hit, touched elbows with his Israeli counterpart on arrival, both wearing face masks.
The focal point of talks will be Israel's proposed annexation of West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley, with initial steps slated to begin July 1, the same day Germany takes the rotating EU presidency.
The European Union opposes the move, although it remains divided on how to react, with Maas’s visit seen as an opportunity for Israel to try to tone down the bloc’s response.
The German foreign ministry said on its website that "in the Middle East conflict, Germany and its European Union partners are committed to the resumption of negotiations and a two-state solution. In Israel, Foreign Minister Maas will also express European concern about the possible consequences of annexation, as announced by the Israeli government."
Germany's top diplomat held talks with Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi before meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
Israeli annexation forms part of a U.S. peace plan unveiled in January, which allegedly paves the way for the eventual creation of a Palestinian state.
But it excludes core Palestinian demands such as a capital in east Jerusalem and has been rejected by the Palestinian Authority.
Palestinians have sent a counterproposal for the creation of a "sovereign Palestinian state, independent and demilitarized" to the Quartet, made up of the United Nations, United States, the European Union and Russia, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh said Tuesday.
"We want Israel to feel international pressure," Shtayyeh said.
Maas then will travel on to Jordan, where he will hold a video conference with Shtayyeh and meet with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi.
Jordan's King Abdullah II warned in May that Israeli annexation risked sparking a "conflict" with his country, speaking to German magazine Der Spiegel.
While Berlin shares Amman's opposition to annexation, the EU has yet to outline retaliatory measures, if any. Sanctions would need the approval of all 27 member states.
Europe holds significant financial clout in Israel as the country's top business partner, with trade totaling 30 billion euros ($34 billion) last year, according to EU figures.
Some European countries could formally recognize a Palestinian state, but according to an Israeli official, Germany would not be one of them.
"Germany even with annexation would not recognize a Palestinian state and is not going to support sanctions against Israel," he told AFP.
Looking beyond the West Bank, other matters on Maas's Jerusalem agenda include Israeli foe Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.
Berlin was one of the European parties to a landmark 2015 accord with Iran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
But President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the deal and reimpose crippling economic penalties — a move praised by Israel — has led Tehran to suspend its compliance with some of the curbs. Under pressure from Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to negotiate a new deal, Iran responded: “We had a deal.”
Germany won praise from Israel in April for announcing a ban on all Hezbollah activities after previously tolerating the militant group's political wing.
Israel occupied a swath of southern Lebanon from 1978 to 2000 and fought a war with Hezbollah in 2006.
© Agence France-Presse


courthousenews--2020-06-10--The Dalai Lama Will Release His First Album in July

Two Buddhist musicians from New Zealand persuaded the Dalai Lama to record an album of Buddhist mantras set to music .
NEW YORK ( AP ) — Stressed out while working at a bank in New Zealand , Junelle Kunin began searching for music paired with teachings from the Dalai Lama to calm herself down and help herself focus .
But she couldn ’ t find it online .
That ’ s when the musician and practicing Buddhist proposed an idea to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama : Let ’ s make an album fusing music with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader .
She was politely turned down .
But on a trip to India — where Kunin says she typically gets a chance to meet the Dalai Lama — she asked again , this time writing a letter and handing it to one of his assistants .
Five years later , “ Inner World ” was born .
The album featuring teachings and mantras by the Dalai Lama set to music will be released on July 6 , his 85th birthday .
“ I ’ d never heard him speak like this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ He actually proceeded to explain to me how important music is , ” Kunin said .
“ He leaned forward and his eyes were sparkling , and his fingers were rubbing together and he ( talked ) about how music can help people in a way that he can ’ t ; it can transcend differences and return us to our true nature and our good-heartedness.
” The 11-track project will be released in conjunction with a companion booklet .
On her trip to India in 2015 , Kunin wrote a list of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great for the album , and recorded the conversations with the Dalai Lama for “ Inner World.
” The religious leader recites the mantras of seven Buddhas on the album , discussing topics such as wisdom , courage , healing and children .
The track “ Compassion , ” one of the most famous Buddhist prayers , was released Tuesday .
When Kunin returned home , her husband , Abraham , also a musician and producer , helped her create music and sounds to enhance the Dalai Lama ’ s messages and powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve worked on the album for five years , it feels extremely relevant releasing it now .
“ The entire purpose of this project is to try to help people .
It ’ s not a Buddhist project , it ’ s to help everyday people like myself , even though I am Buddhist , ” she said .
“ The messages couldn ’ t be more poignant for our current social climate and needs as humanity.
” Net proceeds from the sales of the album will benefit Mind & Life Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( SEE Learning ) , an international education program developed by Emory University and the Dalai Lama .
Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar makes a guest appearance on the album , playing on “ Ama La , ” a track honoring mothers .
Shankar said being invited to perform on the album was “ a huge honor.
” She first met The Dalai Lama as a child with her father , the legendary musician Ravi Shankar .
For the new album , she said , “ What I was given was a beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ) voice speaking .
… It was very evocative with his speaking .
It ’ s so clear what the mood is about … that it kind of flowed quite simply to just play over that and try to add a musical enhancement to the words he ’ s speaking.
” Dozens of other musicians were invited to help on the project , while Kunin ’ s husband had multiple roles , from playing guitar and percussion to drum and synth programming .
Kunin co-produced the album and added vocals to three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote the piano part of that track with her hospitalized mother in mind , growing more nervous as the coronavirus pandemic spread .
“ I really thought we were going to lose her .
And so I wrote what I would want her to feel and hear at the time of her dying , ” Kunin said .
Her mother survived , but weeks later Kunin ’ s nephew died .
Because of Covid-19 restrictions , she and her family could not carry out the tradition of sleeping surrounding his body , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sacred place , for three days .
On top of that , her husband was back home finishing the album to make its deadline .
“ ( My husband ) was home weeping at this point , which is when the inspiration came to complete the song ‘ Purification , ' ” Kunin said , adding that they dedicated the track to their nephew Izyah Micah Toli .

Stressed out while working at a bank in New Zealand, Junelle Kunin began searching for music paired with teachings from the Dalai Lama to calm herself down and help herself focus.
NEW YORK (AP) — Stressed out while working at a bank in New Zealand, Junelle Kunin began searching for music paired with teachings from the Dalai Lama to calm herself down and help herself focus.
But she couldn't find it online.
That’s when the musician and practicing Buddhist proposed an idea to The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Let’s make an album fusing music with mantras and chants from the Tibetan spiritual leader.
She was politely turned down.
But on a trip to India — where Kunin says she typically gets a chance to meet the Dalai Lama — she asked again, this time writing a letter and handing it to one of his assistants.
Five years later, "Inner World" was born. The album featuring teachings and mantras by the Dalai Lama set to music will be released on July 6, his 85th birthday.
"I'd never heard him speak like this. He really was so excited. ... He actually proceeded to explain to me how important music is," Kunin said.
"He leaned forward and his eyes were sparkling, and his fingers were rubbing together and he (talked) about how music can help people in a way that he can’t; it can transcend differences and return us to our true nature and our good-heartedness."
The 11-track project will be released in conjunction with a companion booklet.
On her trip to India in 2015, Kunin wrote a list of topics and mantras she thought would be great for the album, and recorded the conversations with the Dalai Lama for "Inner World." The religious leader recites the mantras of seven Buddhas on the album, discussing topics such as wisdom, courage, healing and children. The track "Compassion," one of the most famous Buddhist prayers, was released Tuesday.
When Kunin returned home, her husband, Abraham, also a musician and producer, helped her create music and sounds to enhance the Dalai Lama's messages and powerful words.
Kunin said that although they've worked on the album for five years, it feels extremely relevant releasing it now.
"The entire purpose of this project is to try to help people. It's not a Buddhist project, it's to help everyday people like myself, even though I am Buddhist," she said. "The messages couldn't be more poignant for our current social climate and needs as humanity."
Net proceeds from the sales of the album will benefit Mind & Life Institute and Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning), an international education program developed by Emory University and the Dalai Lama.
Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar makes a guest appearance on the album, playing on "Ama La," a track honoring mothers. Shankar said being invited to perform on the album was "a huge honor."
She first met The Dalai Lama as a child with her father, the legendary musician Ravi Shankar.
For the new album, she said, "What I was given was a beautiful template of (the Dalai Lama's) voice speaking. ... It was very evocative with his speaking. It's so clear what the mood is about ... that it kind of flowed quite simply to just play over that and try to add a musical enhancement to the words he’s speaking."
Dozens of other musicians were invited to help on the project, while Kunin's husband had multiple roles, from playing guitar and percussion to drum and synth programming. Kunin co-produced the album and added vocals to three songs, including "Purification."
She wrote the piano part of that track with her hospitalized mother in mind, growing more nervous as the coronavirus pandemic spread.
"I really thought we were going to lose her. And so I wrote what I would want her to feel and hear at the time of her dying," Kunin said.
Her mother survived, but weeks later Kunin's nephew died. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, she and her family could not carry out the tradition of sleeping surrounding his body, which would typically lie in a marae, a sacred place, for three days. On top of that, her husband was back home finishing the album to make its deadline.
"(My husband) was home weeping at this point, which is when the inspiration came to complete the song 'Purification,'" Kunin said, adding that they dedicated the track to their nephew Izyah Micah Toli.
"And he finished it."
By MESFIN FEKADU


courthousenews--2020-06-10--Fired Atlanta Officers Sue Mayor & Police Chief

ATLANTA ( AP ) — Two Atlanta police officers who were fired after video showed them using stun guns on two college students pulled from a car in traffic during a protest against police brutality have sued the city to try to get their jobs back .
Former Investigators Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter sued Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Erika Shields on Monday .
They claim they were fired in violation of the city ’ s code , without investigation , proper notice or a pre-disciplinary hearing .
Bottoms and Shields have said they reviewed body camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to fire the officers immediately and place three others on desk duty .
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard brought criminal charges on June 2 against Gardner , Streeter and four other officers involved in the incident .
Gardner and Streeter are charged with aggravated assault — Gardner for using a Taser against 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim and Streeter for using a Taser against 22-year-old Messiah Young — according to warrants .
Pilgrim and Young , who are dating , are students at different historically black colleges near downtown Atlanta .
Pilgrim was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no charges .
Young was arrested and charged with eluding police , but the mayor has said she ordered the charges dropped .
Shields has since questioned the timing and appropriateness of the charges against the officers .
In their lawsuit , the fired officers seek reinstatement to their jobs , back pay and benefits .
They claims they were denied due process , and that the other officers who “ engaged in substantially similar conduct ” were not dismissed .
Both Gardner and Streeter are African American .
Neither Bottoms nor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment late Monday , the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .
Attorneys for the college students have said their clients were caught in traffic caused by a protest over the May 25 police custody death of George Floyd in Minnesota .
Four Minneapolis officers were arrested in the death of the African American man .

Two Atlanta police officers who were fired after video showed them using stun guns on two college students pulled from a car in traffic during a protest against police brutality have sued the city to try to get their jobs back.
ATLANTA (AP) — Two Atlanta police officers who were fired after video showed them using stun guns on two college students pulled from a car in traffic during a protest against police brutality have sued the city to try to get their jobs back.
Former Investigators Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter sued Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Erika Shields on Monday.
This photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows Ivory Streeter. Atlanta Chief Erika Shields fired two officers and benched three others involved in an incident with two college students during protests in the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020. A prosecutor announced criminal charges, Tuesday, June 2 against six officers. Streeter is charged with Aggravated Assault and Pointing or Aiming Pistol or Gun at Another. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
They claim they were fired in violation of the city's code, without investigation, proper notice or a pre-disciplinary hearing.
Bottoms and Shields have said they reviewed body camera footage from the May 30 incident and decided to fire the officers immediately and place three others on desk duty. Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard brought criminal charges on June 2 against Gardner, Streeter and four other officers involved in the incident.
Gardner and Streeter are charged with aggravated assault — Gardner for using a Taser against 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim and Streeter for using a Taser against 22-year-old Messiah Young — according to warrants.
This photo provided by Fulton County Sheriff’s Office shows Mark Gardner. Atlanta Chief Erika Shields fired two officers and benched three others involved in an incident with two college students during protests in the death of George Floyd who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020. A prosecutor announced criminal charges, Tuesday, June 2 against six officers. Gardner is charged with Aggravated Assault. (Fulton County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Pilgrim and Young, who are dating, are students at different historically black colleges near downtown Atlanta. Pilgrim was released the night of the incident with no charges. Young was arrested and charged with eluding police, but the mayor has said she ordered the charges dropped.
Shields has since questioned the timing and appropriateness of the charges against the officers.
In their lawsuit, the fired officers seek reinstatement to their jobs, back pay and benefits. They claims they were denied due process, and that the other officers who "engaged in substantially similar conduct" were not dismissed. Both Gardner and Streeter are African American.
Neither Bottoms nor the police department responded to a request for comment late Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Attorneys for the college students have said their clients were caught in traffic caused by a protest over the May 25 police custody death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Four Minneapolis officers were arrested in the death of the African American man.


courthousenews--2020-06-10--Senate Unanimously Confirms First Black Air Force Chief

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Gen. Charles Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force , making him the first black officer to lead one of the nation ’ s military services .
Vice President Mike Pence took the unusual step of presiding over the vote , something he usually does to break ties .
But Brown ’ s confirmation , 98-0 , was not close .
Pence called the moment “ historic.
” The vote came as the Trump administration and the mostly white Senate Republican conference grapple with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in police custody in Minneapolis .
Protests have convulsed the nation alongside the coronavirus pandemic , with racial discrimination being the common thread between them .
The vote in Washington overlapped with Floyd ’ s funeral in Houston .
Brown most recently served as the commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces .
He is a fighter pilot , with more than 2,900 flying hours , including 130 in combat .
He posted a video on social media Friday describing a lifetime of dealing with racial bias and the struggle to fit into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m thinking about my Air Force career where I was often the only African American in my squadron or , as a senior officer , the only African American in the room , ” he said in a raw tone .
“ I ’ m thinking about wearing the same flight suit with the same wings on my chest as my peers and being questioned by another military member : ‘ Are you a pilot ? '
” Brown was commissioned in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels , and commanded a fighter squadron and two fighter wings .
He also was an F-16 instructor at the Air Force Weapons School .
The military , with African Americans making up a little over 17 % of its active-duty ranks , is more racially diverse than the country , which is 13 % African American , according to 2019 Census estimates .
The Army is the most diverse , with more than 21 % African Americans , while the Marine Corp is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blacks make up about 17 % of the Navy and less than 15 % of the Air Force .
But there is a much greater racial divide within the active-duty military based on rank .
Nineteen percent of active-duty enlisted troops are black , but they make up only 9 % of the officer corps .
Of those , there are just 71 who are general or flag officers , wearing one to four stars , including only two who have attained the top four-star rank .

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Gen. Charles Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, making him the first black officer to lead one of the nation's military services.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Gen. Charles Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, making him the first black officer to lead one of the nation's military services.
Vice President Mike Pence took the unusual step of presiding over the vote, something he usually does to break ties. But Brown's confirmation, 98-0, was not close. Pence called the moment "historic."
FILE - In this May 7, 2020, file photo Charles Q. Brown, Jr., nominated for reappointment to the grade of General and to Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee nominations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Senate on Tuesday, June 9, unanimously confirmed Gen. Charles Brown Jr. as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, making him the first black officer to lead one of the nation's military services. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP, File)
The vote came as the Trump administration and the mostly white Senate Republican conference grapple with the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis. Protests have convulsed the nation alongside the coronavirus pandemic, with racial discrimination being the common thread between them. The vote in Washington overlapped with Floyd's funeral in Houston.
Brown most recently served as the commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces. He is a fighter pilot, with more than 2,900 flying hours, including 130 in combat.
He posted a video on social media Friday describing a lifetime of dealing with racial bias and the struggle to fit into a predominantly white society.
"I'm thinking about my Air Force career where I was often the only African American in my squadron or, as a senior officer, the only African American in the room," he said in a raw tone. "I'm thinking about wearing the same flight suit with the same wings on my chest as my peers and being questioned by another military member: 'Are you a pilot?'"
Brown was commissioned in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University.
He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels, and commanded a fighter squadron and two fighter wings. He also was an F-16 instructor at the Air Force Weapons School.
The military, with African Americans making up a little over 17% of its active-duty ranks, is more racially diverse than the country, which is 13% African American, according to 2019 Census estimates. The Army is the most diverse, with more than 21% African Americans, while the Marine Corp is the least, with 10%. Blacks make up about 17% of the Navy and less than 15% of the Air Force.
But there is a much greater racial divide within the active-duty military based on rank.
Nineteen percent of active-duty enlisted troops are black, but they make up only 9% of the officer corps. Of those, there are just 71 who are general or flag officers, wearing one to four stars, including only two who have attained the top four-star rank.
By LAURIE KELLMAN