courthousenews--2020-07-01--Cannabis Rule Changes in LA Aim to Level Playing Field for Entrepreneurs

LOS ANGELES ( CN ) — Two years after throwing the doors open on what was set to be one of the most lucrative legal cannabis markets in the nation , Los Angeles hit the reset button Wednesday on its rules and who can get a business license .
In 2017 , LA laid out its framework for a legal cannabis industry including a component that would give business licenses to people from communities targeted by aggressive policing during an era many say was failed war on drugs .
That era , from the 1970s through the 1990s , hurt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city sought to give those residents the chance to jump into the legal cannabis market by giving them priority with business licenses .
In the initial phase , medical dispensaries could apply for licenses , followed by nonretail , legal businesses and those eligible under a social equity program .
Then there was a fumble in September 2019 , when some applicants were given early access to an online application portal .
The city ’ s Department of Cannabis Regulation inadvertently gave early access in a first-come , first-serve process , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicants could potentially see temporary approval to operate their businesses .
That misstep is at the center of a lawsuit that challenges the city ’ s licensing process and who gets to participate in the social equity program .
On Wednesday , the city approved changes to streamline its application process and the temporary approval for business applicants if they meet certain benchmarks .
That also includes weeding out investors who take advantage of social equity applicants and making sure that an investor can not be forced out of their business .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virgil Grant , he proposed the concept of a social equity program to LA leaders several years ago .
But the program running today is “ watered down ” and does not benefit those impacted by the war on drugs , Grant said in an interview .
Grant operates medical marijuana dispensaries and also transitioned his business to include adult recreational use , with locations in South Central LA , Boyle Heights and Hollywood .
Grant said cannabis businesses are overtaxed by the state and city and have to deal with the illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and well and taking a big chunk of their profit .
This could have been a lucrative industry , Grant said , but with so many missteps — including some investors using social equity applicants to game the system — it ’ s unlikely many of those budding entrepreneurs will survive .
“ I feel sorry for them .
For anyone who doesn ’ t have 10 to 15 years ’ experience in the retail market it ’ s going to be near impossible for them to survive .
For many , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Grant .
“ This wasn ’ t supposed to be a program for political play for politicians or jockeying rich white investors who wanted to take advantage of people of color.
” The Los Angeles Times reported one company has partnered with 32 social equity applicants , employing aggressive language in contract agreements that gives the company leverage to buy out social equity applicants over minor disputes .
Other cannabis entrepreneurs say the company also partnered with the top 13 of the first 100 applicants and gives the applicants it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and cannabis market .
The next round of applications will be determined by a lottery system for those who have been arrested or convicted on a cannabis charge while living in a community impacted by the war on drugs or a low-income neighborhood .
Adam Spiker with the cannabis trade group Southern California Coalition said LA “ overpromised and underdelivered ” on how businesses could get licenses , including delivery services .
“ It doesn ’ t mean we give up , ” said Spiker .
“ Forget that my job title @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because my main job title is being a psychologist for our trade group ’ s members who have had to put up with LA ’ s bureaucracy.
” Many of the rule changes for LA will go into effect immediately while others will roll out in the next few years .
The final rules await Mayor Eric Garcetti ’ s final approval .

Two years after throwing the doors open on what was set to be one of the most lucrative legal cannabis markets in the nation, Los Angeles hit the reset button Wednesday on its rules and who can get a business license.
LOS ANGELES (CN) — Two years after throwing the doors open on what was set to be one of the most lucrative legal cannabis markets in the nation, Los Angeles hit the reset button Wednesday on its rules and who can get a business license.
In 2017, LA laid out its framework for a legal cannabis industry including a component that would give business licenses to people from communities targeted by aggressive policing during an era many say was failed war on drugs.
That era, from the 1970s through the 1990s, hurt communities of color in LA. The city sought to give those residents the chance to jump into the legal cannabis market by giving them priority with business licenses.
In the initial phase, medical dispensaries could apply for licenses, followed by nonretail, legal businesses and those eligible under a social equity program.
Then there was a fumble in September 2019, when some applicants were given early access to an online application portal. The city’s Department of Cannabis Regulation inadvertently gave early access in a first-come, first-serve process, according to a city audit. The first 100 applicants could potentially see temporary approval to operate their businesses.
That misstep is at the center of a lawsuit that challenges the city’s licensing process and who gets to participate in the social equity program.
On Wednesday, the city approved changes to streamline its application process and the temporary approval for business applicants if they meet certain benchmarks. That also includes weeding out investors who take advantage of social equity applicants and making sure that an investor cannot be forced out of their business.
According to cannabis nonprofit California Minority Alliance co-founder Virgil Grant, he proposed the concept of a social equity program to LA leaders several years ago. But the program running today is “watered down” and does not benefit those impacted by the war on drugs, Grant said in an interview.
Grant operates medical marijuana dispensaries and also transitioned his business to include adult recreational use, with locations in South Central LA, Boyle Heights and Hollywood. Grant said cannabis businesses are overtaxed by the state and city and have to deal with the illegal cannabis market, which is still alive and well and taking a big chunk of their profit.
This could have been a lucrative industry, Grant said, but with so many missteps — including some investors using social equity applicants to game the system — it’s unlikely many of those budding entrepreneurs will survive.
“I feel sorry for them. For anyone who doesn’t have 10 to 15 years’ experience in the retail market it’s going to be near impossible for them to survive. For many, this is their first time legally selling cannabis,” said Grant. “This wasn’t supposed to be a program for political play for politicians or jockeying rich white investors who wanted to take advantage of people of color.”
The Los Angeles Times reported one company has partnered with 32 social equity applicants, employing aggressive language in contract agreements that gives the company leverage to buy out social equity applicants over minor disputes. Other cannabis entrepreneurs say the company also partnered with the top 13 of the first 100 applicants and gives the applicants it works with an unfair advantage over the process and cannabis market.
The next round of applications will be determined by a lottery system for those who have been arrested or convicted on a cannabis charge while living in a community impacted by the war on drugs or a low-income neighborhood.
Adam Spiker with the cannabis trade group Southern California Coalition said LA “overpromised and underdelivered” on how businesses could get licenses, including delivery services.
“It doesn’t mean we give up,” said Spiker. “Forget that my job title with the coalition is executive director. Because my main job title is being a psychologist for our trade group’s members who have had to put up with LA’s bureaucracy.”
Many of the rule changes for LA will go into effect immediately while others will roll out in the next few years. The final rules await Mayor Eric Garcetti’s final approval.


courthousenews--2020-07-01--Big Pharma Sues to Block Minnesota Insulin Program

ST. PAUL , Minn. ( CN ) — A Minnesota law creating an insulin safety net for impoverished diabetics went into effect Wednesday , but it was met with a surprise legal challenge from major manufacturers of the lifesaving hormone .
The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act – named after a 26-year-old Minneapolis man who died in 2017 after being unable to afford the $ 1,300 monthly price tag for insulin , treatment and testing – allows qualified insulin users to buy a 30-day supply for $ 35 or less .
The law , pushed largely by Democrats but with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of very few passed by Minnesota ’ s divided government in 2019 .
Governor Tim Walz , a Democrat , had harsh words for the pharmaceutical industry at a press conference Wednesday afternoon .
Walz and legislators said they had passed a weakened version of the bill with assurances from Republicans that it would not be a target of lawsuits from the industry .
That didn ’ t stop the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America , or PhRMA , a D.C. lobbying nonprofit representing large pharmaceutical companies , from filing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenging the law .
The group claims the Alec Smith Act violates the takings clause of the U.S. Constitution by requiring manufacturers who make over $ 2 million on insulin sales annually and sell it at prices over $ 8 per milliliter in Minnesota to provide insulin to pharmacies for the $ 35 monthly supplies .
“ We ’ ve advocated for real policy reforms that states like Minnesota can pursue to make the system work better for patients , ” PhRMA Executive Vice President James Stansel said in a statement .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overlooks common sense solutions to help patients afford their insulin and , despite its claims , still allows for patients to be charged at the pharmacy for the insulin that manufacturers are required to provide for free.
” Spokesman Nick McGee emphasized that PhRMA would not be seeking an emergency ruling to block the law from going into effect , but would be seeking its eventual overturn because of the constitutional claims .
Supporters on both sides of the aisle decried the lawsuit Wednesday , with Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timed ” in light of the time spent working on a compromised bill .
“ Senate Republicans remain committed to providing emergency insulin for those in crisis , ” he said in a statement .
“ This isn ’ t just about bad timing , this is about bad faith , ” Walz said at the press conference , where several speakers said the lawsuit would not be able to stop advocates from celebrating their success .
“ They have my phone number .
I never heard a word .
I heard no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I heard no chatter out there at all , ” the Democratic governor continued .
“ I got ta be honest , they did something that I didn ’ t think was possible– they ’ re more hated than Covid-19.
” State Senator Matt Little and Representative Michael Howard , Democrats who co-sponsored the bill in their respective legislative bodies , confirmed that they ’ d received the guarantee from their Republican co-sponsors that Big Pharma wouldn ’ t sue .
Questions about where that information came from , Little said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jensen and Eric Pratt .
Jensen , reached Wednesday evening , said he was as surprised as Little .
“ I ’ m very disappointed that they filed the lawsuit in the 11th hour .
I think we had great conversations , and stakeholders indicated that they much preferred the Senate version versus the House version , ” he said .
“ We all sat at the same tables and had the same kinds of meetings… That doesn ’ t mean [ the industry ] give up or forfeit their right to challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their minds.
” “ I had a couple of conversations today from stakeholders that I think– they ’ re feeling sort of sheepish , ” Jensen added .
“ There are many people who were involved with crafting the bill , and I think 90 % of them thought the bill was going to stand just the way it was , and somewhere , there was a decision made sometime in the last few days.
” He speculated that the suit could have been brought to ensure that other states couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when defending similar laws .
Diabetes activists at the conference , including Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt , Smith ’ s parents , were no more forgiving toward PhRMA .
Alexis Stanley , a 21-year-old college student with Type 1 diabetes , came to the podium wearing a shirt that read “ My Life > Their Profit.
” “ These companies claim to have solutions to our problems already in place , but if that was the case , one in four diabetics would not be rationing their insulin , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost between $ 2 and $ 7 per vial to produce , has seen skyrocketing prices around the country in recent years .
Price-fixing schemes have left diabetics paying hundreds of dollars for the nearly century-old drug , making insulin a major target for health care reformers .
“ This is a small bill , just to get insulin into the hands of people who need it .
This bill doesn ’ t lower the cost of insulin , and that ’ s a problem , ” Little said .
“ You shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should just be able to get your insulin.
” Republican Rod Hamilton , who supported the bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives , said he would like to see the pharmaceutical industry more involved in fixing the insulin issue .
“ The pharmaceutical companies need to be part of the solution as well , ” he said in a phone interview .
“ I will be the last person that will stand up to defend Big Pharma , I ’ ve had my own personal run-ins with them , with my health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the solution , they have some skin in the game here.
” Little was less conciliatory .
“ I want to end just speaking directly to PhRMA , the organization that has filed a lawsuit , ” he concluded at the press conference .
“ Spend more money , hire more lobbyists , hire more lawyers , because you are in a fight against Nicole , James and Alexis , and I do not like your odds .
”

A Minnesota law creating an insulin safety net for impoverished diabetics went into effect Wednesday, but it was met with a surprise legal challenge from major manufacturers of the lifesaving hormone.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CN) — A Minnesota law creating an insulin safety net for impoverished diabetics went into effect Wednesday, but it was met with a surprise legal challenge from major manufacturers of the lifesaving hormone.
The Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act — named after a 26-year-old Minneapolis man who died in 2017 after being unable to afford the $1,300 monthly price tag for insulin, treatment and testing — allows qualified insulin users to buy a 30-day supply for $35 or less.
The law, pushed largely by Democrats but with Republican co-sponsors in both legislative chambers, was one of very few passed by Minnesota’s divided government in 2019.
Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, had harsh words for the pharmaceutical industry at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Walz and legislators said they had passed a weakened version of the bill with assurances from Republicans that it would not be a target of lawsuits from the industry.
That didn’t stop the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, a Washington lobbying nonprofit representing large pharmaceutical companies, from filing a complaint Tuesday evening in federal court challenging the law.
The group claims the Alec Smith Act violates the takings clause of the U.S. Constitution by requiring manufacturers who make over $2 million on insulin sales annually and sell it at prices over $8 per milliliter in Minnesota to provide insulin to pharmacies for the $35 monthly supplies.
“We’ve advocated for real policy reforms that states like Minnesota can pursue to make the system work better for patients,” PhRMA Executive Vice President James Stansel said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this law is unconstitutional, overlooks common sense solutions to help patients afford their insulin and, despite its claims, still allows for patients to be charged at the pharmacy for the insulin that manufacturers are required to provide for free.”
Spokesman Nick McGee emphasized that PhRMA would not be seeking an emergency ruling to block the law from going into effect, but would be seeking its eventual overturn because of the constitutional claims.
Supporters on both sides of the aisle decried the lawsuit Wednesday, with Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, a Republican, calling it “poorly timed” in light of the time spent working on a compromised bill.
“Senate Republicans remain committed to providing emergency insulin for those in crisis,” he said in a statement.
“This isn’t just about bad timing, this is about bad faith,” Walz said at the press conference, where several speakers said the lawsuit would not be able to stop advocates from celebrating their success.
“They have my phone number. I never heard a word. I heard no inkling they were going to do this, I heard no chatter out there at all,” the Democratic governor continued. “I gotta be honest, they did something that I didn’t think was possible-- they’re more hated than Covid-19.”
State Senator Matt Little and Representative Michael Howard, Democrats who co-sponsored the bill in their respective legislative bodies, confirmed that they’d received the guarantee from their Republican co-sponsors that Big Pharma wouldn’t sue.
Questions about where that information came from, Little said, should be directed to GOP Senators Scott Jensen and Eric Pratt.
Jensen, reached Wednesday evening, said he was as surprised as Little.
"I'm very disappointed that they filed the lawsuit in the 11th hour. I think we had great conversations, and stakeholders indicated that they much preferred the Senate version versus the House version,” he said. “We all sat at the same tables and had the same kinds of meetings… That doesn't mean [the industry] give up or forfeit their right to challenge it, and I guess they changed their minds."
"I had a couple of conversations today from stakeholders that I think-- they're feeling sort of sheepish,” Jensen added. “There are many people who were involved with crafting the bill, and I think 90% of them thought the bill was going to stand just the way it was, and somewhere, there was a decision made sometime in the last few days.”
He speculated that the suit could have been brought to ensure that other states couldn’t point to an unchallenged bill in Minnesota when defending similar laws.
Diabetes activists at the conference, including Nicole Smith-Holt and James Holt, Smith’s parents, were no more forgiving toward PhRMA. Alexis Stanley, a 21-year-old college student with Type 1 diabetes, came to the podium wearing a shirt that read “My Life > Their Profit.”
“These companies claim to have solutions to our problems already in place, but if that was the case, one in four diabetics would not be rationing their insulin,” she said.
Insulin, which is estimated to cost between $2 and $7 per vial to produce, has seen skyrocketing prices around the country in recent years. Price-fixing schemes have left diabetics paying hundreds of dollars for the nearly century-old drug, making insulin a major target for health care reformers.
“This is a small bill, just to get insulin into the hands of people who need it. This bill doesn’t lower the cost of insulin, and that’s a problem,” Little said. “You shouldn’t need emergency insulin. You should just be able to get your insulin.”
Republican Rod Hamilton, who supported the bill in the Minnesota House of Representatives, said he would like to see the pharmaceutical industry more involved in fixing the insulin issue.
“The pharmaceutical companies need to be part of the solution as well,” he said in a phone interview. “I will be the last person that will stand up to defend Big Pharma, I’ve had my own personal run-ins with them, with my health issues as well… but they must be part of the solution, they have some skin in the game here.”
Little was less conciliatory.
“I want to end just speaking directly to PhRMA, the organization that has filed a lawsuit,” he concluded at the press conference. “Spend more money, hire more lobbyists, hire more lawyers, because you are in a fight against Nicole, James and Alexis, and I do not like your odds.”


Top Eight

Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including California will shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and order movie theaters , zoos and museums to bar indoor operations in 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections ; A federal watchdog report found that Boeing failed to provide regulators with documents about changes it made in a key system blamed for the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets ; Europe ’ s top rights court heard from the lawyers of Czech parents who don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday through Friday .
1 . )
A federal watchdog report released Wednesday found that Boeing failed to provide regulators with documents about changes it made in a key system blamed for the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets last year .
2 . )
President Donald Trump ’ s job approval rating among white evangelical Protestants has slipped in the last two months , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve of the president by overwhelming percentages and most plan to vote for him in November .
3 . )
Payroll numbers were surprisingly positive , but Wall Street reacted Wednesday with much less of the enthusiasm than it displayed after last month ’ s shocking jobs report .
4 . )
California will shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and order movie theaters , zoos and museums to bar indoor operations in 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections .
5 . )
Despite City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues of Confederate leaders are being torn down Wednesday afternoon in the former capital of the Confederacy .
6 . )
As the virus rages in other parts of the county , New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delayed the opening of indoor dining in the city .
7 . )
Europe ’ s top rights court on Wednesday heard from the lawyers of Czech parents who don ’ t want to vaccinate their children , while the government argued it has a responsibility to safeguard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advocates praised a federal judge on Wednesday for striking down a Trump administration asylum ban that targeted Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States .

Top eight CNS stories for today including California will shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and order movie theaters, zoos and museums to bar indoor operations in 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections; A federal watchdog report found that Boeing failed to provide regulators with documents about changes it made in a key system blamed for the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets; Europe’s top rights court heard from the lawyers of Czech parents who don’t want to vaccinate their children, and more.
Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including California will shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and order movie theaters, zoos and museums to bar indoor operations in 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections; A federal watchdog report found that Boeing failed to provide regulators with documents about changes it made in a key system blamed for the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets; Europe’s top rights court heard from the lawyers of Czech parents who don’t want to vaccinate their children, 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 federal watchdog report released Wednesday found that Boeing failed to provide regulators with documents about changes it made in a key system blamed for the deadly crashes of two 737 Max jets last year.
A Boeing 737 MAX jet heads to a landing at Boeing Field in Seattle following a test flight in June 2020. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
2.) President Donald Trump’s job approval rating among white evangelical Protestants has slipped in the last two months, according to a poll released Wednesday, but they still approve of the president by overwhelming percentages and most plan to vote for him in November.
President Donald Trump holds a Bible as he visits outside St. John's Church across Lafayette Park from the White House Monday, June 1, 2020, in Washington. Part of the church was set on fire during protests on Sunday night. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
3.) Payroll numbers were surprisingly positive, but Wall Street reacted Wednesday with much less of the enthusiasm than it displayed after last month’s shocking jobs report.
In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Aman Patel wears a protective face mask as he works on the partially reopened trading floor, Tuesday, May 26, 2020. Stocks surged on Wall Street in afternoon trading Tuesday, driving the S&P 500 to its highest level in nearly three months, as hopes for economic recovery overshadow worries about the coronavirus pandemic. (New York Stock Exchange by Colin Zimmer via AP)
Regional
4.) California will shut down indoor services at restaurants and wineries and order movie theaters, zoos and museums to bar indoor operations in 19 counties that have seen a surge in novel coronavirus infections.
Locals having lunch in Visalia, Calif. (Courthouse News photo / Dustin Manduffie)
5.) Despite City Council members not yet authorizing the move, statues of Confederate leaders are being torn down Wednesday afternoon in the former capital of the Confederacy.
Workers take down a statue of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in downtown Richmond, Va., on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Brad Kutner)
6.) As the virus rages in other parts of the county, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo delayed the opening of indoor dining in the city.
A man peers out of a coffee shop while watching demonstrators in a queer liberation march for Black Lives Matter and against police brutality pass the shop, Sunday, June 28, 2020, in Lower Manhattan in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
International
7.) Europe’s top rights court on Wednesday heard from the lawyers of Czech parents who don’t want to vaccinate their children, while the government argued it has a responsibility to safeguard public health.
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. (Photo by CherryX from Wikipedia Commons via Courthouse News)
8.) Immigration advocates praised a federal judge on Wednesday for striking down a Trump administration asylum ban that targeted Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States.


courthousenews--2020-07-01--House Answers Decaying US Infrastructure With $1.5 Trillion Bill

WASHINGTON ( CN ) — The House of Representatives passed a sweeping infrastructure bill on Wednesday , a $ 1.5 trillion package that pours money into clean-transportation initiatives , renewable energy , and programs for affordable housing and internet development .
With additional investments in building up school and health care infrastructure , the bill also gives $ 25 billion to the U.S .
Postal Service .
It passed the House 233-188 on Wednesday afternoon , but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already said it will not have the same success in the Senate .
The Kentucky Republican dismissed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Green New Deal masquerading as a highway bill.
” At the heart of the package is a nearly $ 500 billion fund to upgrade transportation networks , including $ 300 billion to repair existing roads and bridges and $ 100 billion to build out low-emission bus systems .
Amtrak also receives a significant boost in funding meant to allow for additional passenger rail service .
Another $ 100 billion in the bill would go to building affordable housing , while $ 70 billion is set aside for upgrading the electrical grid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An amendment adopted just before the bill ’ s passage Wednesday blocks money in the legislation from going to companies owned by China .
Other amendments adopted Wednesday would allow Puerto Rico to issue driver ’ s licenses and add $ 4.5 billion per year to a fund for replacing lead water lines .
“ This bill is about making sure that our citizens get the support from their government that they deserve , to make sure that their communities are safer , that our schools are safer , that our drinking water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a California Democrat , said on the House floor Wednesday .
“ This is about making sure that we put the resources into this country that ’ s so desperately needed and much of which has been neglected for far too long.
” The sprawling bill has earned the support of labor unions , who say its investments in infrastructure will create jobs in a time of unprecedented losses .
“ These investments in American jobs could not come at a more critical time for the working people of this country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AFL-CIO wrote in a letter to members of Congress on Tuesday .
But to Republicans , the package is an unrealistic compilation of long-held Democratic objectives that balloons federal spending and has no chance of becoming law .
A report from the Congressional Budget Office found the Democrats ’ bill would increase the deficit by $ 449 billion over the next decade .
“ Rather than pushing partisan wish-lists that would heap enormous amounts of debt on future generations , we instead need to find commonsense solutions to modernize our infrastructure spending so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollar invested , ” Representative Virginia Foxx , a North Carolina Republican , said Wednesday .
Though President Donald Trump has pushed for increased infrastructure spending , including in a $ 1.5 trillion bill released in 2018 , the White House has threatened a veto of the House bill .
In a statement of administration policy , the White House said the plan would unfairly advantage cities over rural settings and does not address delays caused by permitting .
“ The administration continues to stand ready to work with Congress to pass much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House said .

The House of Representatives passed a sweeping infrastructure bill on Wednesday, a $1.5 trillion package that pours money into clean-transportation initiatives, renewable energy, and programs for affordable housing and internet development.
WASHINGTON (CN) — The House of Representatives passed a sweeping infrastructure bill on Wednesday, a $1.5 trillion package that pours money into clean-transportation initiatives, renewable energy, and programs for affordable housing and internet development.
With additional investments in building up school and health care infrastructure, the bill also gives $25 billion to the U.S. Postal Service.
It passed the House 233-188 on Wednesday afternoon, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already said it will not have the same success in the Senate. The Kentucky Republican dismissed it Wednesday as a “multi-thousand-page cousin of the Green New Deal masquerading as a highway bill.”
At the heart of the package is a nearly $500 billion fund to upgrade transportation networks, including $300 billion to repair existing roads and bridges and $100 billion to build out low-emission bus systems. Amtrak also receives a significant boost in funding meant to allow for additional passenger rail service.
Another $100 billion in the bill would go to building affordable housing, while $70 billion is set aside for upgrading the electrical grid to bring online more renewable energy.
An amendment adopted just before the bill’s passage Wednesday blocks money in the legislation from going to companies owned by China. Other amendments adopted Wednesday would allow Puerto Rico to issue driver’s licenses and add $4.5 billion per year to a fund for replacing lead water lines.
“This bill is about making sure that our citizens get the support from their government that they deserve, to make sure that their communities are safer, that our schools are safer, that our drinking water is safer,” Representative Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, said on the House floor Wednesday. “This is about making sure that we put the resources into this country that’s so desperately needed and much of which has been neglected for far too long.”
The sprawling bill has earned the support of labor unions, who say its investments in infrastructure will create jobs in a time of unprecedented losses.
“These investments in American jobs could not come at a more critical time for the working people of this country,” the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO wrote in a letter to members of Congress on Tuesday.
But to Republicans, the package is an unrealistic compilation of long-held Democratic objectives that balloons federal spending and has no chance of becoming law. A report from the Congressional Budget Office found the Democrats’ bill would increase the deficit by $449 billion over the next decade.
“Rather than pushing partisan wish-lists that would heap enormous amounts of debt on future generations, we instead need to find commonsense solutions to modernize our infrastructure spending so we can get the most from every dollar invested,” Representative Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, said Wednesday.
Though President Donald Trump has pushed for increased infrastructure spending, including in a $1.5 trillion bill released in 2018, the White House has threatened a veto of the House bill. In a statement of administration policy, the White House said the plan would unfairly advantage cities over rural settings and does not address delays caused by permitting.
“The administration continues to stand ready to work with Congress to pass much needed bipartisan infrastructure legislation,” the White House said.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Vietnam v. Covid: The Champion of the World

No one has died of Covid-19 in Vietnam , a nation of 100 million people .
( CN ) — The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19 , without any real competition , is Vietnam .
Despite a 900-mile border with China , Vietnam mobilized and halted the spread of the virus with a mere 355 cases , all of whom recovered .
No one has died from Covid-19 in a nation of 100 million people .
Vietnam ’ s success can be attributed to strict quarantine of infected patients and rigorous contact tracing .
Even in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , there have been 936 cases and 27 deaths , in a country of 3 million people .
One patient in Vietnam was near death .
Stephen Cameron , a Scottish pilot for Vietnam Airlines , visited a few bars in Ho Chi Minh City on the night of March 14 .
The ex-pat bar in the pricey part of town was filled with Saint Patrick ’ s Day revelers celebrating the last night before the lockdown and closure of bars and restaurants in Vietnam .
Daily reports in the Vietnamese press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravely ill Brit .
He was placed in an induced coma for 68 days while his blood was pumped out of his body , oxygenated , and pumped back into his body .
He was on a ventilator the entire time .
When his lung function fell to 10 % capacity , hundreds of Vietnamese offered lungs for a transplant .
According to the BBC , teams of medical specialists from across the country held daily conferences in the effort to save Cameron ’ s life .
Finally , in mid-June , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and now , 45 pounds lighter and awake , he has begun what will be a long rehabilitation .
His flight back to Scotland is scheduled for next week .
I went to Vietnam in March of last year .
I spent a month in the capital , Hanoi , and another month in Hue , the ancient capital and the site of the most significant battle of the war against the United States .
I also visited a couple of smaller cities .
In economic terms , Vietnam has performed admirably .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has virtually eliminated severe poverty and is now an emerging industrial powerhouse with GDP increases approaching those of China .
My first hotel in Hanoi had few rooms , but the owner spoke English and reminded me that Hanoi is 1,000 years old .
“ We live without crime and with increasing prosperity and without repression .
Of course we are content .
Just one generation ago nearly 90 % of the families were surviving by growing rice.
” In Sapa , a tourist town in the mountains near the Chinese border , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toy minorities .
The economic activity is entirely devoted to upper tier tourism , financed by Chinese companies and built for Chinese tourists .
Western tourists are regularly visited by English-speaking fabric vendors from the ethnic communities .
One Hmong woman invited me to spend the night with her family , a common alternative to hotels known as home stays .
“ For $ 25 we ’ ll rent a motorbike and go to my hamlet .
You can spend the night and we will roast some pig meat .
You have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fabrics these women offered were gorgeous , multiple shades of indigo woven into small purses and totes .
“ My husband farms rice and corn and never comes to town .
I stay three days to try to sell my fabrics .
I sleep outdoors rather than pay for a room , ” she told me .
Sapa is in the midst of a building boom , for the most part high-rise hotels for Chinese middle-class tourists .
Nearby is the highest mountain in Indochina , Fan Si Pan , 10,300 feet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sapa lies Vinh , an industrial city nearly destroyed by U.S. bombing during the war .
Rebuilt , the capital of Nghe An province , Vinh is the most important city in North Central Vietnam .
Twenty miles outside the city is Hue , the village where Ho Chi Minh was born .
Hue is where the U.S. Marines suffered their biggest losses during the war .
It was the only time the U.S. was forced into house-to-house combat during the war .
The battle of Hue involved the complete takeover of Vietnam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong and the weeks-long battle to retake it by the South Vietnamese Army and the Marines .
The United States suffer 218 dead and 1,364 wounded , according to the Pentagon .
Within weeks of the Battle of Hue , in March 1968 , President Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection .
Most historians see the battle as the turning point of the war , when the United States turned against it .
Many of the Americans who visit Hue and the surrounding demilitarized zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who return to the battlefields that altered their lives .
Some insist on riding around the Hue battle zones on rickshaw bicycles .
Within the Citadel , the 10-mile in circumference walled old city on the north side of the Perfume River , the battle raged for weeks .
South Vietnamese casualties were greater than U.S. losses .
The main battle of the Tet offensive of 1968 caused Walter Cronkite , a beloved CBS nightly news anchor , to declare opposition to the war .
In Hanoi all public schools mandate the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing of proficiency involves an interview with an English speaker and English-speaking visitors today are continually asked to participate in a taped English language interview .
which becomes the final exam not only for sixth-graders but for adult English-learners too .
So committed to the campaign to learn English , public television broadcasts Disney Channel shows for toddlers in English , along with Sesame Street for older kids .
Whenever one interviews a veteran of the American war there is a young student translating .
One rarely feels negative responses to questions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the conflict were eager to discuss the war and what their assignments were .
My journalist friends reminded me that most old people would assume I was another one of those veterans coming back to make amends of some sort .
They taught me the word for comrade ( dong chi ) and were right that when I used it people would trust me and speak more freely .
I met several university students who asked for the chance to speak English to me .
One , a 30-year-old environmental engineer , explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the countryside and bringing them to the cities to study .
Every student I met at the Hanoi Technological University and the medical school in Hue was born into a family of rice farmers , some of whom also farm corn and cassava .
All of them were on the threshold of attaining middle-class status , yet all of them were intending to bring their skills and talents back to their villages and small towns , not to prosper but to share .
Thoa , an engineering student at the University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
I mentioned that in my country there had been a contested election and she was puzzled .
I explained that some political systems invite voters to decide public policy .
“ Why would anyone want to second-guess the leaders ?
” she asked .
“ If everyone has a job and nobody is poor and life is getting better , why would you want to vote against that ?
”

The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19, without any real competition, is Vietnam. Despite a 900-mile border with China, Vietnam mobilized and halted the spread of the virus with a mere 355 cases, all of whom recovered. No one has died from Covid-19 in a nation of 100 million people.
(CN) — The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19, without any real competition, is Vietnam. Despite a 900-mile border with China, Vietnam mobilized and halted the spread of the virus with a mere 355 cases, all of whom recovered. No one has died from Covid-19 in a nation of 100 million people.
Vietnam’s success can be attributed to strict quarantine of infected patients and rigorous contact tracing. Even in Uruguay, the success story of Latin America, there have been 936 cases and 27 deaths, in a country of 3 million people.
One patient in Vietnam was near death. Stephen Cameron, a Scottish pilot for Vietnam Airlines, visited a few bars in Ho Chi Minh City on the night of March 14. The ex-pat bar in the pricey part of town was filled with Saint Patrick’s Day revelers celebrating the last night before the lockdown and closure of bars and restaurants in Vietnam.
Daily reports in the Vietnamese press and television followed the case of the gravely ill Brit. He was placed in an induced coma for 68 days while his blood was pumped out of his body, oxygenated, and pumped back into his body. He was on a ventilator the entire time.
When his lung function fell to 10% capacity, hundreds of Vietnamese offered lungs for a transplant. According to the BBC, teams of medical specialists from across the country held daily conferences in the effort to save Cameron's life.
Finally, in mid-June, he began to recover without a lung transplant and now, 45 pounds lighter and awake, he has begun what will be a long rehabilitation. His flight back to Scotland is scheduled for next week.
Vietnam. (Quang Nguyen Vinh photo/Pixabay)
I went to Vietnam in March of last year. I spent a month in the capital, Hanoi, and another month in Hue, the ancient capital and the site of the most significant battle of the war against the United States. I also visited a couple of smaller cities.
In economic terms, Vietnam has performed admirably. According to the World Bank the country has virtually eliminated severe poverty and is now an emerging industrial powerhouse with GDP increases approaching those of China.
My first hotel in Hanoi had few rooms, but the owner spoke English and reminded me that Hanoi is 1,000 years old. "We live without crime and with increasing prosperity and without repression. Of course we are content. Just one generation ago nearly 90% of the families were surviving by growing rice."
In Sapa, a tourist town in the mountains near the Chinese border, the area is populated by Hmong and Toy minorities. The economic activity is entirely devoted to upper tier tourism, financed by Chinese companies and built for Chinese tourists.
Western tourists are regularly visited by English-speaking fabric vendors from the ethnic communities. One Hmong woman invited me to spend the night with her family, a common alternative to hotels known as home stays.
"For $25 we'll rent a motorbike and go to my hamlet. You can spend the night and we will roast some pig meat. You have a private bathroom like France."
This hand-carved Buddha was for sale at a Hue arts festival for $300. (Courthouse News photo/Miguel Patricio)
The embroidered fabrics these women offered were gorgeous, multiple shades of indigo woven into small purses and totes. "My husband farms rice and corn and never comes to town. I stay three days to try to sell my fabrics. I sleep outdoors rather than pay for a room," she told me.
Sapa is in the midst of a building boom, for the most part high-rise hotels for Chinese middle-class tourists. Nearby is the highest mountain in Indochina, Fan Si Pan, 10,300 feet.


Nintendo Controllers

HUNTSVILLE , Ala. — A federal court in Alabama compelled arbitration of a class action suit against Nintendo brought by @ @ @ @ @ controllers who claim the controllers were defective because they “ drifted , ” registering a @ @ @ @ @ not move the device .

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.


courthousenews--2020-07-02--Biden Outraises Trump for Second Month in a Row

( CN ) — Former Vice President Joe Biden and Democrats outraised President Donald Trump and Republicans for the second straight month in a row , garnering $ 141 million in June and $ 282.1 million in the second quarter , compared to $ 131 million in June and $ 266 for the quarter for the GOP .
The Trump campaign announced their numbers earlier on Wednesday , with campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeting of “ record ” fundraising highs .
That message would be dwarfed later in the evening as the Biden campaign announced their own numbers , outraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June and $ 16 million overall in the second quarter .
As the country grapples with a deadly pandemic that continues to trend in a dangerous direction and police brutality protests still rage across numerous city streets , new data released today by the Trump campaign suggests that Americans are still using their time – and cash – to donate to the political campaign of their choosing .
The numbers are significant as the president held two fundraisers in June while Biden didn ’ t hold any .
Jen O ’ Malley Dillon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday that 68 % of the campaigns donors were new , noting that 2.6 million people were added to their campaign donor list .
The Trump campaign released a fundraising update that announced that Donald J. Trump for President Inc. , the Republican National Committee and a series of joint fundraising committees have together raised over $ 266 million in the second quarter of 2020 , an amount that stands as a second quarter record , according to the campaign .
Almost half of this nearly-quarter-billion-dollar haul came from just a single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June alone , a month that saw Trump struggling in the polls against presumptive Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden in several key battleground states , Trump ’ s campaign raised around $ 131 million – a figure the campaign says far outperforms any single fundraising month witnessed during Trump ’ s 2016 run .
This fundraising feat represents an over 70 % increase for the president ’ s reelection bid compared to 2020 ’ s first quarter .
The $ 266 million averaged out to around $ 4.3 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spike .
On June 14th – Trump ’ s birthday – the campaign raised an online figure of $ 14 million , which the campaign also says stands as a new record .
With Trump holding just two fundraising events in the second quarter of this year , the campaign said that much of this success is attributed to their large donor base spread throughout digital , mail and online platforms .
Kimberly Guilfoyle , the National Chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee , said these numbers show that voter support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign ’ s approach to fundraising has proved to be a success .
“ The enthusiasm for President Trump ’ s re-election continues to be reflected by the campaign ’ s historic fundraising hauls , ” Guilfoyle said in a statement .
“ Over the past three months , Trump Victory Finance Committee , in concert with the Republican National Committee , spearheaded an innovative approach to digital fundraising that allowed the campaign to continue engaging donors and bundlers in a way never before seen in politics.
” With these new numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over $ 947 million in the past two years and currently sits atop $ 295M war chest for the upcoming election .
Trump ’ s 2020 rival , however , is also engaged in fundraising efforts of his own .
The campaign announced earlier this month that the campaign raised $ 80.8 million in May , with the campaign saying that at least half of the donors that contributed to that sum were new donors .
The campaign also says that educators continue to make of the largest occupational group for Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has tripled its online donor base compared to February when Biden was still locked in a contested Democratic primary .
Biden said that he values the resources people are willing to put into his campaign – particularly given that just a few months ago many believed Biden ’ s campaign was floundering during the primary stage – and says that each dollar earned will go towards defeating Trump come November .
“ I ’ m humbled and honored that you have put your trust in me as your presumptive Democratic nominee .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support I ’ ve received from you all , ” Biden said .
“ Just a few months ago , people were ready to write this campaign off .
Now , we are making huge dents in Donald Trump ’ s warchest .
Every single dollar is going to make sure he is only a one-term president.
” While these financial numbers can certainly help provide a snapshot into the health and voter enthusiasm of a political campaign , recent election history serves as a reminder that better fundraising does not always ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than double what Trump ’ s 2016 campaign managed to raise – and ultimately fell short in November .

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Democrats outraised President Donald Trump and Republicans for the second straight month in a row, garnering $141 million in June and $282.1 million in the second quarter, compared to $131 million in June and $266 for the quarter for the GOP.
(CN) — Former Vice President Joe Biden and Democrats outraised President Donald Trump and Republicans for the second straight month in a row, garnering $141 million in June and $282.1 million in the second quarter, compared to $131 million in June and $266 for the quarter for the GOP.
The Trump campaign announced their numbers earlier on Wednesday, with campaign manager Brad Parscale tweeting of "record" fundraising highs. That message would be dwarfed later in the evening as the Biden campaign announced their own numbers, outraising the president by $10 million in June and $16 million overall in the second quarter.
As the country grapples with a deadly pandemic that continues to trend in a dangerous direction and police brutality protests still rage across numerous city streets, new data released today by the Trump campaign suggests that Americans are still using their time — and cash — to donate to the political campaign of their choosing.
The numbers are significant as the president held two fundraisers in June while Biden didn't hold any. Jen O'Malley Dillon, Biden's campaign manager, said Wednesday that 68% of the campaigns donors were new, noting that 2.6 million people were added to their campaign donor list.
"There's real, grassroots energy for Joe," she tweeted Wednesday night.
The Trump campaign released a fundraising update that announced that Donald J. Trump for President Inc., the Republican National Committee and a series of joint fundraising committees have together raised over $266 million in the second quarter of 2020, an amount that stands as a second quarter record, according to the campaign.
Almost half of this nearly-quarter-billion-dollar haul came from just a single month. The campaign said that in June alone, a month that saw Trump struggling in the polls against presumptive Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden in several key battleground states, Trump’s campaign raised around $131 million — a figure the campaign says far outperforms any single fundraising month witnessed during Trump’s 2016 run.
This fundraising feat represents an over 70% increase for the president’s reelection bid compared to 2020’s first quarter.
The $266 million averaged out to around $4.3 million in donations per day, with one notable spike. On June 14th — Trump’s birthday — the campaign raised an online figure of $14 million, which the campaign also says stands as a new record.
With Trump holding just two fundraising events in the second quarter of this year, the campaign said that much of this success is attributed to their large donor base spread throughout digital, mail and online platforms.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the National Chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee, said these numbers show that voter support for the president is high and that the campaign’s approach to fundraising has proved to be a success.
“The enthusiasm for President Trump's re-election continues to be reflected by the campaign's historic fundraising hauls,” Guilfoyle said in a statement. “Over the past three months, Trump Victory Finance Committee, in concert with the Republican National Committee, spearheaded an innovative approach to digital fundraising that allowed the campaign to continue engaging donors and bundlers in a way never before seen in politics.”
With these new numbers, Trump’s reelection campaign has amassed over $947 million in the past two years and currently sits atop $295M war chest for the upcoming election.
Trump’s 2020 rival, however, is also engaged in fundraising efforts of his own. The campaign announced earlier this month that the campaign raised $80.8 million in May, with the campaign saying that at least half of the donors that contributed to that sum were new donors.
The campaign also says that educators continue to make of the largest occupational group for Biden’s donor base and that the campaign has tripled its online donor base compared to February when Biden was still locked in a contested Democratic primary.
Biden said that he values the resources people are willing to put into his campaign — particularly given that just a few months ago many believed Biden’s campaign was floundering during the primary stage — and says that each dollar earned will go towards defeating Trump come November.
“I’m humbled and honored that you have put your trust in me as your presumptive Democratic nominee. And I’m incredibly honored by the support I’ve received from you all,” Biden said. “Just a few months ago, people were ready to write this campaign off. Now, we are making huge dents in Donald Trump’s warchest. Every single dollar is going to make sure he is only a one-term president.”
While these financial numbers can certainly help provide a snapshot into the health and voter enthusiasm of a political campaign, recent election history serves as a reminder that better fundraising does not always ensure ballot victory. Hillary Clinton reportedly earned more than double what Trump’s 2016 campaign managed to raise — and ultimately fell short in November.


Shackling

CINCINNATI — A man was improperly convicted of first-degree murder because he was forced to appear in shackles at his @ @ @ @ @ ruled .
The shackling was unconstitutional because there was no justification for it and the @ @ @ @ @


Genetic Mutation

CINCINNATI — Diagnosis of the BRCA1 mutation — a gene that substantially limits normal cell growth and increases the risk @ @ @ @ @ be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act , the Sixth Circuit ruled @ @ @ @ @ discrimination claims against a day care brought by a former employee who was fired after @ @ @ @ @


courthousenews--2020-07-02--NY Appeals Court Lifts Restraining Order Against Publisher of Trump Tell-All Book

( CN ) – Overturning a key aspect of an extraordinary restraining order blocking publication of a book by the president ’ s niece Mary Trump , a New York appeals court ruled on Wednesday night that Simon & Schuster is not bound by it .
“ Unlike Ms. Trump , [ Simon & Schuster ] has not agreed to surrender or relinquish any of its First Amendment rights , ” Justice Alan Scheinkman , the presiding judge of the state ’ s Appellate Division , Second Department , wrote in a 6-page ruling .
The effect of the ruling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order prevents “ Mary L. Trump , together with any agent , ” from publishing , printing or distributing the book .
Whether or not Simon & Schuster qualifies as an “ agent ” is for the trial judge to decide .
“ We are gratified with the Appellate Court ’ s decision to overturn the temporary restraining order issued by the lower court against Simon & Schuster , ” the publisher ’ s spokesman Adam Rothman said in a statement .
“ We support Mary L. Trump ’ s right to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never Enough , ’ a work of great interest and importance to the national discourse that fully deserves to be published for the benefit of the American public .
As all know , there are well-established precedents against prior restraint and pre-publication injunctions , and we remain confident that the preliminary injunction will be denied.
” Ever since the Supreme Court allowed The New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers , the U.S. judiciary set an extraordinarily high bar against prior restraint of the press .
President Trump first tried to weaken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication of his former Secretary of State John Bolton ’ s book “ The Room Where It Happened.
” His brother Robert Trump then went on the offensive against Mary Trump ’ s tell-all , which he claimed violated a non-disclosure agreement signed after the death of Fred Trump , the family patriarch .
“ While Ms. Trump unquestionably possesses the same First Amendment expressive rights belonging to all Americans , she also possesses the right to enter into contracts , including the right to contract away her First Amendment rights , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free to limit their First Amendment rights by contract.
” Subtitled “ How My Family Created the World ’ s Most Dangerous Man , ” Mary Trump hopes to break a silence that has been contractually enforced since 2001 .
Early previews of its contents reported that she steps forward as the source of the New York Times reporting that Trump inherited his fortune through tax fraud .
Today ’ s ruling indicates that the non-disclosure deal was particularly sweeping .
“ The confidentiality agreement here does not have any temporal or geographic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The passage of time and changes in circumstances may have rendered at least some of the restrained information less significant than it was at the time and , conversely , whatever legitimate public interest there may have been in the family disputes of a real estate developer and his relatives maybe considerably heightened by that real estate developer now being president of the United States and a current candidate for re-election.
” The ruling indicates that whether the book goes to print will be a judgment call for Justice Hal Greenwald , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a state court in Robert Trump ’ s home of Dutchess County .
“ It bears noting that , while parties are free to enter into confidentiality agreements , courts are not necessarily obligated to specifically enforce them , ” Justice Scheinkman wrote .
“ Whether to issue an injunction is a matter of equity.
” One of those factors is the public interest .
“ Stated differently , the legitimate interest in preserving family secrets maybe one thing for the family of a real estate developer , no matter how successful ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the President of the United States , ” the ruling states .
Mary Trump ’ s attorney Ted Boutrous , from the firm Gibson Dunn , said he will file a brief on Thursday urging to vacate the restraining order .
Robert Trump ’ s attorney Charles Harder did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Wednesday evening .

Overturning a key aspect of an extraordinary restraining order blocking publication of a book by the president’s niece Mary Trump, a New York appeals court ruled on Wednesday night that Simon & Schuster is not bound by it.
(CN) — Overturning a key aspect of an extraordinary restraining order blocking publication of a book by the president’s niece Mary Trump, a New York appeals court ruled on Wednesday night that Simon & Schuster is not bound by it.
“Unlike Ms. Trump, [Simon & Schuster] has not agreed to surrender or relinquish any of its First Amendment rights,” Justice Alan Scheinkman, the presiding judge of the state’s Appellate Division, Second Department, wrote in a 6-page ruling.
The effect of the ruling is not immediately clear because the revised order prevents “Mary L. Trump, together with any agent,” from publishing, printing or distributing the book. Whether or not Simon & Schuster qualifies as an “agent” is for the trial judge to decide.
Represented by Davis Wright Tremaine, Simon & Schuster celebrated the victory.
“We are gratified with the Appellate Court’s decision to overturn the temporary restraining order issued by the lower court against Simon & Schuster,” the publisher’s spokesman Adam Rothman said in a statement.
“We support Mary L. Trump’s right to tell her story in ‘Too Much and Never Enough,’ a work of great interest and importance to the national discourse that fully deserves to be published for the benefit of the American public. As all know, there are well-established precedents against prior restraint and pre-publication injunctions, and we remain confident that the preliminary injunction will be denied.”
Gabe Rottman, from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, also applauded the decision.
"The court's ruling is heartening — if the First Amendment means anything, it's that a court can't ban a book," Rottman, who heads the Reporters Committee's Technology and Press Freedom Project, said in a statement. "Further, imbuing an almost two decade-old confidentiality agreement with the power to block or punish the authorship or publication of a book about the president of the United States would be an extreme affront to the public's right to know."
Ever since the Supreme Court allowed The New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers, the U.S. judiciary set an extraordinarily high bar against prior restraint of the press. President Trump first tried to weaken that watershed precedent by trying to block publication of his former Secretary of State John Bolton’s book “The Room Where It Happened.”
His brother Robert Trump then went on the offensive against their niece Mary Trump, claiming her plans to publish a tell-all violated a nondisclosure agreement signed after the death of her grandfather, Fred Trump.
“While Ms. Trump unquestionably possesses the same First Amendment expressive rights belonging to all Americans, she also possesses the right to enter into contracts, including the right to contract away her First Amendment rights,” Justice Scheinkman wrote. “Parties are free to limit their First Amendment rights by contract.”
Subtitling her book “How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Mary Trump hopes to break a silence that has been contractually enforced since 2001. Early previews of its contents reported that she steps forward as the source of The New York Times reporting that Trump inherited his fortune through tax fraud.
Today’s ruling indicates that the nondisclosure deal was particularly sweeping.
“The confidentiality agreement here does not have any temporal or geographic limitation,” the opinion states. “The passage of time and changes in circumstances may have rendered at least some of the restrained information less significant than it was at the time and, conversely, whatever legitimate public interest there may have been in the family disputes of a real estate developer and his relatives maybe considerably heightened by that real estate developer now being president of the United States and a current candidate for re-election.”
The ruling indicates that whether the book goes to print will be a judgment call for Justice Hal Greenwald, who is presiding over the case in a state court in Robert Trump’s home of Dutchess County.
“It bears noting that, while parties are free to enter into confidentiality agreements, courts are not necessarily obligated to specifically enforce them,” Justice Scheinkman wrote. “Whether to issue an injunction is a matter of equity.”
One of those factors is the public interest.
“Stated differently, the legitimate interest in preserving family secrets maybe one thing for the family of a real estate developer, no matter how successful; it is another matter for the family of the President of the United States,” the ruling states.
Mary Trump’s attorney Ted Boutrous, from the firm Gibson Dunn, said he will file a brief on Thursday urging to vacate the restraining order.
Robert Trump’s attorney Charles Harder did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment Wednesday evening.


Voter Rolls

MADISON , Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court refused to expedite a complaint against the state ’ s Election Commission @ @ @ @ @ represented by the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty — seeking to purge from the @ @ @ @ @ within the state but have not updated their addresses .
Oral arguments in the case @ @ @ @ @ 29 .


courthousenews--2020-07-02--PG&E Emerges From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

PG&E Emerges From Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

SAN FRANCISCO ( CN ) — Pacific Gas and Electric emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday , depositing its first payment into a wildfire victims ’ compensation trust and ensuring it can take part in a crucial insurance fund to protect it from future wildfire liabilities .
“ Today ’ s announcement is significant for PG & E and for the many wildfire victims who are now one step closer to getting paid , ” said PG & E interim CEO Bill Smith .
“ Compensating these victims fairly and quickly has been our primary goal throughout these proceedings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today we funded the Fire Victim Trust for their benefit.
” Smith , a former AT & T executive , assumed the role of interim chief executive after outgoing CEO Bill Johnson resigned at the end of June .
In accordance with its plan , the company unloaded its first $ 5.4 billion cash deposit into a trust for victims of wildfires sparked by the company ’ s equipment .
The trust will also get 22.19 % of stock in the reorganized PG & E to be liquidated at a future date .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ another two payments of $ 1.35 billion into the trust in 2021 and 2022 .
The company said it would accelerate a $ 700 million payment scheduled for 2022 if state regulators approve its application to issue bonds to cover wildfire costs .
Wildfire victims were supposed to obtain approximately $ 13.5 billion in compensation through a mixture of stock and cash , but a 19 % drop in PG & E ’ s stock price over the last month has raised doubt as to whether victims will get the full $ 6.75 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PG & E also paid out an $ 11 billion settlement for insurers that covered wildfire losses and $ 1 billion to 18 regional and local government entities .
PG & E ’ s announcement comes one day after Gov .
Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 350 , which would allow the state to revoke PG & E ’ s operating license and take over the company over if it fails to achieve safety targets or causes another catastrophic wildfire .
“ No more business as usual for PG & E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we head into wildfire season amid a pandemic , Californians need to have confidence that their utility is focused on customer safety — preventing wildfire sparks and making critical safety upgrades .
SB 350 marks a critical step in the transformation of PG & E into a utility that is accountable to those it serves — the people of California.
” The company ’ s official exit from bankruptcy also ensures it can partake of a multibillion-dollar insurance fund created by Assembly Bill 1054 .
The insurance account will be equally funded by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 2.50 surcharge on monthly utility bills through 2036 .
As part of its bankruptcy plan , PG & E also formed a new 14-member board of directors , 11 of whom are new .
The new board members include a retired Navy admiral , former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator and erstwhile energy company executives .
In its May 28 approval of PG & E ’ s bankruptcy plan , the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC ) required that at least half of PG & E ’ s board consist of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents “ would result in a more qualified board overall.
” Six of the board ’ s 14 members reside in California .
The CPUC also required that the company appoint an independent safety monitor to take over the role of a federal court-appointed monitor when PG & E ’ s criminal probation term expires in January 2022 .
PG & E is currently on probation for felony convictions related to the fatal 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion .
Last month , the company also pleaded guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Camp Fire , the most deadly and destructive fire in California history .
A Butte County grand jury investigation found the company repeatedly ignored warning signs about its antiquated power equipment , failed to learn from past tragedies and conducted inadequate inspections as it focused on profits over safety .
Interim CEO Smith said PG & E is committed to comprehensive and meaningful change .
“ This is an important milestone , but our work is far from over , ” Smith said .
“ Our emergence from Chapter 11 marks just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next era — as a fundamentally improved company and the safe , reliable utility that our customers , communities and California deserve .
”

Pacific Gas and Electric emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday, depositing its first payment into a wildfire victims’ compensation trust and ensuring it can take part in a crucial insurance fund to protect it from future wildfire liabilities.
SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Pacific Gas and Electric emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday, depositing its first payment into a wildfire victims’ compensation trust and ensuring it can take part in a crucial insurance fund to protect it from future wildfire liabilities.
“Today’s announcement is significant for PG&E and for the many wildfire victims who are now one step closer to getting paid,” said PG&E interim CEO Bill Smith. “Compensating these victims fairly and quickly has been our primary goal throughout these proceedings, and I am glad to say that today we funded the Fire Victim Trust for their benefit.”
Smith, a former AT&T executive, assumed the role of interim chief executive after outgoing CEO Bill Johnson resigned at the end of June.
In accordance with its plan, the company unloaded its first $5.4 billion cash deposit into a trust for victims of wildfires sparked by the company’s equipment. The trust will also get 22.19% of stock in the reorganized PG&E to be liquidated at a future date. PG&E is obligated to deposit another two payments of $1.35 billion into the trust in 2021 and 2022. The company said it would accelerate a $700 million payment scheduled for 2022 if state regulators approve its application to issue bonds to cover wildfire costs.
Wildfire victims were supposed to obtain approximately $13.5 billion in compensation through a mixture of stock and cash, but a 19% drop in PG&E’s stock price over the last month has raised doubt as to whether victims will get the full $6.75 billion in stock that was expected.
PG&E also paid out an $11 billion settlement for insurers that covered wildfire losses and $1 billion to 18 regional and local government entities.
PG&E’s announcement comes one day after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 350, which would allow the state to revoke PG&E’s operating license and take over the company over if it fails to achieve safety targets or causes another catastrophic wildfire.
“No more business as usual for PG&E,” said Newsom. “As we head into wildfire season amid a pandemic, Californians need to have confidence that their utility is focused on customer safety — preventing wildfire sparks and making critical safety upgrades. SB 350 marks a critical step in the transformation of PG&E into a utility that is accountable to those it serves — the people of California.”
The company’s official exit from bankruptcy also ensures it can partake of a multibillion-dollar insurance fund created by Assembly Bill 1054. The insurance account will be equally funded by private utility shareholders and ratepayers through a $2.50 surcharge on monthly utility bills through 2036.
As part of its bankruptcy plan, PG&E also formed a new 14-member board of directors, 11 of whom are new. The new board members include a retired Navy admiral, former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator and erstwhile energy company executives.
In its May 28 approval of PG&E’s bankruptcy plan, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) required that at least half of PG&E’s board consist of California residents unless appointing certain qualified non-California residents “would result in a more qualified board overall.” Six of the board’s 14 members reside in California.
The CPUC also required that the company appoint an independent safety monitor to take over the role of a federal court-appointed monitor when PG&E’s criminal probation term expires in January 2022. PG&E is currently on probation for felony convictions related to the fatal 2010 San Bruno gas pipeline explosion.
Last month, the company also pleaded guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter and one count of recklessly starting the Camp Fire, the most deadly and destructive fire in California history. A Butte County grand jury investigation found the company repeatedly ignored warning signs about its antiquated power equipment, failed to learn from past tragedies and conducted inadequate inspections as it focused on profits over safety.
Interim CEO Smith said PG&E is committed to comprehensive and meaningful change.
“This is an important milestone, but our work is far from over,” Smith said. “Our emergence from Chapter 11 marks just the beginning of PG&E’s next era — as a fundamentally improved company and the safe, reliable utility that our customers, communities and California deserve.”


Emergency Declaration

HARRISBURG , Pa. — The Pennsylvania General Assembly ’ s resolution attempting to end the governor ’ s declaration of @ @ @ @ @ which was issued in response to the Covid-19 pandemic , is a legal nullity , @ @ @ @ @ Court ruled .
The governor did not have an opportunity to approve or veto the @ @


Ballot Access

CINCINNATI — The Sixth Circuit denied Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ’ s request for a stay pending appeal of a @ @ @ @ @ requirements .
Proponents of a criminal justice reform initiative say the combination of the governor @ @ @ @ @ the signature requirements create an unconstitutionally severe restriction on their access to the ballot .


courthousenews--2020-07-03--Tesla Employees Accuse Automaker of Covering Up Covid Outbreak

( CN ) — A workers ’ rights group took to the streets in downtown Oakland on Thursday , accusing automaker Tesla of covering up a coronavirus outbreak at its assembly plant in nearby Fremont .
A group calling itself Workers United Against Covid-19 assembled in front of the Alameda County Public Health Department demanding that county health officer Erica Pan investigate whether Tesla is concealing large numbers of coronavirus cases at the plant .
“ This is a dire health and safety emergency because the state is not taking care of workers at Tesla , ” said group member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knows of 30 people who have contracted the novel coronavirus at the Fremont plant , but said because Tesla performs its own contact tracing , the determination that all 30 people caught the disease outside of the confines of the factory doesn ’ t hold water .
Neither Tesla nor the Alameda County Health Department responded to requests for comment about the nature of the contract tracing or number of infections at the Fremont plant .
Both Gabriel and Zeltzer said they believe Pan caved to Musk ’ s demands to allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the CEO of the world ’ s most valuable automaker threatened to move his plant to Texas or other states with more relaxed social distancing restrictions .
Musk has long been a skeptic of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of its infectiousness and its virulence .
“ Coronavirus panic is dumb , ” he tweeted in April during the initial stages of the outbreak in the United States .
Recently , Musk questioned whether a rising count in confirmed cases in California and the United States could be tied to a high rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gabriel said this was all part of a campaign to put profits over the safety of his workers .
“ He was calling Pan a fascist and ignorant and threatening to sue , ” said Gabriel .
Zeltzer said the state of California also failed to do its job as the California Department of Industrial Relations is experiencing staffing shortages during the pandemic .
“ The agency is in a state of collapse , ” Zeltzer said .
The state department also did not return a request for comment as of press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases as of Thursday afternoon , with 136 deaths .
Alameda County and other San Francisco Bay Area counties in general have experienced a spike in cases since California reopened , though the spike has not been as pronounced as in Southern California , particularly Los Angeles County , or the Central Valley .
As a point of comparison , Los Angeles County has approximately 106,000 confirmed cases and about 3,400 deaths .
Los Angeles County is the most populous of California ’ s 58 counties .
Tesla is the world ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became the most valuable automotive company in the world after its stock rose sharply over the past week .
At close of markets Friday , Tesla stock was worth $ 1,208.66 per share .
The company also reported it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the second quarter despite the overarching economic slowdown , shattering Wall Street expectations .
Musk taunted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and thanked Tesla customers and shareholders after the news broke Thursday afternoon .
While Tesla is one of the great business success stories of the last few years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was sued after he called a man who rescued young boys trapped in a cave in Thailand a pedophile , though a jury cleared Musk after deliberating less than an hour .
He also landed in trouble with the SEC after he tweeted plans to take the company private after the stock reached a certain price point .
He was disciplined by being removed from Tesla ’ s board to provide further internal oversight .
He retained his position as CEO .
Musk also has a mixed record on labor .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musk broke labor laws when he criticized Tesla employees who were considering forming a labor union .
He received a slap on the wrist and was ordered to rehire a fired employee and not interfere in future efforts of employees to unionize .

A workers’ rights group took to the streets in downtown Oakland on Thursday, accusing automaker Tesla of covering up a coronavirus outbreak at its assembly plant in nearby Fremont.
(CN) — A workers’ rights group took to the streets in downtown Oakland on Thursday, accusing automaker Tesla of covering up a coronavirus outbreak at its assembly plant in nearby Fremont.
A group calling itself Workers United Against Covid-19 assembled in front of the Alameda County Public Health Department demanding that county health officer Erica Pan investigate whether Tesla is concealing large numbers of coronavirus cases at the plant.
“This is a dire health and safety emergency because the state is not taking care of workers at Tesla,” said group member Steve Zeltzer.
Carlos Gabriel said he knows of 30 people who have contracted the novel coronavirus at the Fremont plant, but said because Tesla performs its own contact tracing, the determination that all 30 people caught the disease outside of the confines of the factory doesn’t hold water.
“There is a definite trust issue there,” Gabriel said.
Neither Tesla nor the Alameda County Health Department responded to requests for comment about the nature of the contract tracing or number of infections at the Fremont plant.
Both Gabriel and Zeltzer said they believe Pan caved to Musk’s demands to allow the plant to reopen in May, when the CEO of the world’s most valuable automaker threatened to move his plant to Texas or other states with more relaxed social distancing restrictions.
Musk has long been a skeptic of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of its infectiousness and its virulence.
“Coronavirus panic is dumb,” he tweeted in April during the initial stages of the outbreak in the United States.
Recently, Musk questioned whether a rising count in confirmed cases in California and the United States could be tied to a high rate of false positives from certain coronavirus tests.
Gabriel said this was all part of a campaign to put profits over the safety of his workers.
“He was calling Pan a fascist and ignorant and threatening to sue,” said Gabriel.
Zeltzer said the state of California also failed to do its job as the California Department of Industrial Relations is experiencing staffing shortages during the pandemic.
“The agency is in a state of collapse,” Zeltzer said.
The state department also did not return a request for comment as of press time.
Alameda County has reported 6,177 confirmed cases as of Thursday afternoon, with 136 deaths. Alameda County and other San Francisco Bay Area counties in general have experienced a spike in cases since California reopened, though the spike has not been as pronounced as in Southern California, particularly Los Angeles County, or the Central Valley.
As a point of comparison, Los Angeles County has approximately 106,000 confirmed cases and about 3,400 deaths. Los Angeles County is the most populous of California’s 58 counties.
Tesla is the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer and recently became the most valuable automotive company in the world after its stock rose sharply over the past week.
At close of markets Friday, Tesla stock was worth $1,208.66 per share.
The company also reported it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the second quarter despite the overarching economic slowdown, shattering Wall Street expectations. Musk taunted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and thanked Tesla customers and shareholders after the news broke Thursday afternoon.
While Tesla is one of the great business success stories of the last few years, Musk has been dogged by controversy. He was sued after he called a man who rescued young boys trapped in a cave in Thailand a pedophile, though a jury cleared Musk after deliberating less than an hour.
He also landed in trouble with the SEC after he tweeted plans to take the company private after the stock reached a certain price point. He was disciplined by being removed from Tesla’s board to provide further internal oversight. He retained his position as CEO.
Musk also has a mixed record on labor. A judge ruled this past September that Musk broke labor laws when he criticized Tesla employees who were considering forming a labor union.
He received a slap on the wrist and was ordered to rehire a fired employee and not interfere in future efforts of employees to unionize.


Execution Stay

TERRE HAUTE , Ind .
— A Buddhist priest who says he ’ s the spiritual adviser of a federal @ @ @ @ @ this month sued the Justice Department on Thursday , claiming the execution should be stayed @ @ @ @ @ it impossible to tend to the inmate ’ s spiritual needs in person .


Top Eight

Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News Top eight CNS stories for today including political experts disagree about whether President Trump ’ s plummeting poll numbers reflect a hardening verdict of the electorate or another temporary swing ; The economy added back 4.8 million jobs last month but a surge in coronavirus cases threatens to abruptly halt recovery ; The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19 is Vietnam , and more .
Sign up for CNS Top Eight , a roundup of the day ’ s top stories delivered directly to your email Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s plummeting poll numbers have Republicans concerned , but political experts sharply disagree about whether the polls reflect a hardening verdict of the electorate or simply another temporary extreme of the wildly swinging 2020 pendulum .
2 . )
Across the U.S. a group equivalent to the population of San Diego filed initial jobless claims last week .
Some 1.4 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits on top of the 20.3 million receiving them .
3 . )
The American economy added back 4.8 million jobs in June as the unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a new surge in coronavirus cases this summer threatens to abruptly halt recovery .
4 . )
Ghislaine Maxwell , a British socialite whom many women have accused of helping groom underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein , was arrested and charged Thursday in New York on six charges tied to that conspiracy .
5 . )
An Air Force sergeant suspected of ties to a far-right extremist movement pleaded not guilty Thursday to the first-degree murder and attempted murder of two Federal Protective Services officers as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oakland on May 29 .
6 . )
Fallout from a bungled Houston police raid that left a married couple dead deepened as prosecutors charged several retired officers with felony records tampering , and the police department released an audit detailing corruption that led to the raid .
7 . )
The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19 , without any real competition , is Vietnam .
Despite a 900-mile border with China , Vietnam mobilized and halted the spread of the virus with a mere 355 cases , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died from Covid-19 in a nation of 100 million people .
8 . )
Residents of European Union member states can contest the release of their personal financial information as part of an exchange of data between tax authorities in different countries , an adviser to the EU ’ s highest court said Thursday .

Top eight CNS stories for today including political experts disagree about whether President Trump’s plummeting poll numbers reflect a hardening verdict of the electorate or another temporary swing; The economy added back 4.8 million jobs last month but a surge in coronavirus cases threatens to abruptly halt recovery; The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19 is Vietnam, and more.
Your Thursday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top eight CNS stories for today including political experts disagree about whether President Trump’s plummeting poll numbers reflect a hardening verdict of the electorate or another temporary swing; The economy added back 4.8 million jobs last month but a surge in coronavirus cases threatens to abruptly halt recovery; The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19 is Vietnam, 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.) President Trump’s plummeting poll numbers have Republicans concerned, but political experts sharply disagree about whether the polls reflect a hardening verdict of the electorate or simply another temporary extreme of the wildly swinging 2020 pendulum.
President Donald Trump supporters cheer as Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the BOK Center, Saturday, June 20, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
2.) Across the U.S. a group equivalent to the population of San Diego filed initial jobless claims last week. Some 1.4 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits on top of the 20.3 million receiving them.
Many businesses like Fancy Tiger crafts on Broadway in Denver, Colorado, have reopened amid the pandemic. (Courthouse News photo/Amanda Pampuro)
3.) The American economy added back 4.8 million jobs in June as the unemployment rate ticked down to 11.1%, but a new surge in coronavirus cases this summer threatens to abruptly halt recovery.
A reopening sign illuminates the parking lot of DJ’s Pizza & Steak House in Woodbury, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. (Courthouse News photo/Kevin Lessmiller)
4.) Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite whom many women have accused of helping groom underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested and charged Thursday in New York on six charges tied to that conspiracy.
This photo of Jeffrey Epstein embracing Ghislaine Maxwell was included in Maxwell's federal indictment filed Thursday, July 2, 2020, in New York. (SDNY via Courthouse News)
Regional
5.) An Air Force sergeant suspected of ties to a far-right extremist movement pleaded not guilty Thursday to the first-degree murder and attempted murder of two Federal Protective Services officers as they guarded the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on May 29.
This May 29, 2020 surveillance photo provided by the FBI shows a van with the passenger side door open as U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Steven Carrillo shot and killed federal officer Dave Patrick Underwood, 53, and wounded of another officer outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on May 29, 2020. (FBI via AP)
6.) Fallout from a bungled Houston police raid that left a married couple dead deepened as prosecutors charged several retired officers with felony records tampering, and the police department released an audit detailing corruption that led to the raid.
This combination of undated photos provided by the Houston Police Department shows Steven Bryant and Gerald Goines in Houston. The former Houston police officers are facing federal charges for their roles in a January 2019 drug raid that left two people dead and several officers injured. Federal authorities said Wednesday, Nov. 20 that the charges against the pair are the result of a civil rights investigation by the FBI. (Houston Police Department via AP)
International
7.) The champion of the world in the fight against Covid-19, without any real competition, is Vietnam. Despite a 900-mile border with China, Vietnam mobilized and halted the spread of the virus with a mere 355 cases, all of whom recovered. No one has died from Covid-19 in a nation of 100 million people.
Terraced fields in Sapa, Vietnam, near the Chinese border. (Creative Commons photo.)
8.) Residents of European Union member states can contest the release of their personal financial information as part of an exchange of data between tax authorities in different countries, an adviser to the EU’s highest court said Thursday.