newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Woman who killed pregnant mother, cut her baby out scheduled to be executed

A woman who killed a pregnant woman and stole the unborn baby by cutting it from the victim ’ s womb is scheduled to become the first female executed by the federal government in 70 years , the Justice Department announced Friday .
Lisa Montgomery , who was found guilty of the gruesome December 2004 crime , is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Dec. 8 at US Penitentiary Terre Haute , Indiana , the DOJ said .
Montgomery strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett until she lost consciousness , sliced open her body with a kitchen knife and stole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own , the feds said .
The victim briefly regained consciousness when Montgomery first cut into her , briefly putting up a fight , the feds said , before Montgomery succeeded in fatally strangling her .
Montgomery confessed to murdering Stinnett and abducting her child , the feds said .
She was found guilty in October 2007 of federal kidnapping resulting in death .
The last woman to be executed by the federal government was Bonnie Heady .
She was put to death in a gas chamber in Missouri in 1953 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A woman who killed a pregnant woman and stole the unborn baby by cutting it from the victim’s womb is scheduled to become the first female executed by the federal government in 70 years, the Justice Department announced Friday.
Lisa Montgomery, who was found guilty of the gruesome December 2004 crime, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Dec. 8 at US Penitentiary Terre Haute, Indiana, the DOJ said.
Montgomery strangled Bobbie Jo Stinnett until she lost consciousness, sliced open her body with a kitchen knife and stole the baby, passing it off as her own, the feds said.
The victim briefly regained consciousness when Montgomery first cut into her, briefly putting up a fight, the feds said, before Montgomery succeeded in fatally strangling her.
Montgomery confessed to murdering Stinnett and abducting her child, the feds said.
She was found guilty in October 2007 of federal kidnapping resulting in death.
The last woman to be executed by the federal government was Bonnie Heady. She was put to death in a gas chamber in Missouri in 1953, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Utah White Supremacist gangs members busted on meth and drugs charges

Nearly two dozen suspects tied to white supremacist gangs in Utah were arrested for allegedly peddling methamphetamine and other drugs @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors announced Friday .
The group — 21 documented gang members and their associates — @ @ @ @ @ Salt Lake City and the nearby city of Ogden , Utah ’ s US Attorney @ @ @ @ @ a release .
The gang members arrested were connected to either the Soldiers of Aryan @ @ @ @ @ or Noble Elect Thugs , prosecutors said .
Prosecutors said many of those arrested have @ @ @ @ @ criminal activity across Utah .
Federal and local authorities started investigating the alleged syndicate in @ @ @ @ @ probe , investigators purchased 1.65 pounds of meth and recovered 15 guns , officials said @ @ @ @ @ weapons possession and drug charges .

Nearly two dozen suspects tied to white supremacist gangs in Utah were arrested for allegedly peddling methamphetamine and other drugs in the state, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
The group — 21 documented gang members and their associates — are accused of dealing throughout Salt Lake City and the nearby city of Ogden, Utah’s US Attorney’s office said in a release.
The gang members arrested were connected to either the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, Silent Aryan Warriors or Noble Elect Thugs, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said many of those arrested have for years been engaging in criminal activity across Utah.
Federal and local authorities started investigating the alleged syndicate in June 2019.
During the probe, investigators purchased 1.65 pounds of meth and recovered 15 guns, officials said.
The suspects are facing weapons possession and drug charges.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Rhonda Fleming, film star of ’40s and ’50s, dead at 97

Actress Rhonda Fleming , the fiery redhead who appeared with Burt Lancaster , Kirk Douglas , Charlton Heston , Ronald Reagan and other film stars of the 1940s and 1950s , has died .
She was 97 .
Fleming ’ s assistant Carla Sapon told The New York Times that Fleming died Wednesday in Santa Monica , California .
From her first film in color , “ A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur ’ s Court ” ( 1949 ) with Bing Crosby , Fleming became immensely popular with producers because of her vivid hues .
It was an attraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my green eyes were green .
My red hair was flaming red .
My skin was porcelain white , ” Fleming remarked in a 1990 interview .
“ There was suddenly all this attention on how I looked rather than the roles I was playing .
“ I ’ d been painted into a corner by the studios , who never wanted more from me than my looking good and waltzing through a parade of films like ‘ The Redhead and the Cowboy.
’ ” Before Reagan entered politics , the actress co-starred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Tropic Zone , ” “ The Last Outpost ” and “ Tennessee ’ s Partner.
” “ He surprised everyone because he never looked in a mirror , ” she once said of Reagan .
“ How many actors can you say that about ?
” Fleming possessed a fine singing voice , and later in her career sang onstage in Las Vegas and in a touring act .
In the big-studio era , many new personalities were publicized as having been discovered in quirky ways : Kim Novak while riding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office , Lana Turner spotted in a malt shop .
In Fleming ’ s case , young Marilyn Louis was reported to have been headed to class at Beverly Hills High School when a man followed her in a big black car and told her , “ You ought to be in pictures.
” She eluded him , but he turned up at her home and offered to be her agent .
Legend or not , at 19 Louis was awarded a six-month contract at the studio of David O. Selznick and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played a bit part in the 1944 wartime drama “ Since You Went Away , ” and then Alfred Hitchcock chose her to play a nymphomaniac in “ Spellbound , ” starring Ingrid Bergman and Gregory Peck .
“ I rushed home , and my mother and I looked up ‘ nymphomaniac ’ in the dictionary , ” she recalled .
“ We were both shocked.
” “ Spellbound ” led to another suspense film , “ The Spiral Staircase , ” in which she was strangled by the villain , George Brent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his wife , Jennifer Jones , he lost interest in his contract players , and Fleming left the studio to freelance .
Her next films : “ Abilene Town , ” a Randolph Scott Western ; “ Out of the Past , ” a film noir with Robert Mitchum ; and “ Adventure Island , ” a tropics thriller starring Rory Calhoun .
She won a role in “ A Connecticut Yankee , ” a Crosby musical based on the Mark Twain story , after Deanna Durbin dropped out to retire to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he recommended her to Bob Hope , with whom she starred in “ The Great Lover.
” Ironically , the Crosby/Hope films that established her as a luminary proved to be ones she was never able to top .
She remained a star for 15 years , but except for the Lancaster-Douglas “ Gunfight at the OK Corral , ” most of her performances came in B pictures that exploited her looks .
“ I made the mistake of doing lesser films for good money , ” she reflected in a 1976 interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all wanted me — but I didn ’ t have the guidance or background to judge for myself.
” Among her 1950s films were “ While the City Sleeps , ” directed by Fritz Lang and co-starring Dana Andrews .
She played Cleopatra in the 1953 film “ Serpent of the Nile.
” But many titles were forgettable : “ The Eagle and the Hawk , ” “ The Last Outpost , ” “ Little Egypt , ” “ The Killer Is Loose , ” “ Slightly Scarlet , ” “ Crosswinds ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlton Heston ) , “ Inferno , ” “ Those Redheads from Seattle , ” “ Yankee Pasha , ” and “ Gun Glory.
” After her film career cooled off , Fleming took a singing act to Las Vegas , appeared in TV shows and commercials , starred on Broadway in a revival of “ The Women ” and sang as the temptress Lalume in “ Kismet ” for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera .
She was born in Los Angeles in 1923 .
Her mother , Effie Graham , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Al Jolson , and her grandfather was a theatrical producer in Salt Lake City .
She studied acting , but as a backup also took classes in shorthand , typing and bookkeeping .
While still in her teens , Fleming married her high school sweetheart , Thomas Lane .
A son , Kent , was born in 1941 .
When Lane returned from Army service , Rhonda had become a star , and the marriage ended in 1947 .
Three other marriages also ended in divorce , to Beverly Hills surgeon Lewis Morrill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1960-1962 ) ; and producer-director Hall Bartlett ( 1966-1972 ) .
In 1977 Fleming married mogul Ted Mann , who built the Mann Theater chain , and the marriage lasted until his death in 2001 .
For many years , they lived in matching 4,300-square-foot condominiums , one on top of the other in a Century City high-rise .
“ I treasure my privacy , and Ted needs his , ” she once explained .
“ We love each other very much .
I ’ m much more fulfilled today than at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fleming ’ s sister , Beverly Engel , died of cancer in 1991 , Fleming and her husband established the Rhonda Fleming Mann Resource Center for Women with Cancer at the UCLA Medical Center .
They also were active in various other charities for cancer patients , children and the homeless .
A couple of years after Mann died , Fleming married for a sixth time , to Derol W. Carlson , who died in 2017 .

Actress Rhonda Fleming, the fiery redhead who appeared with Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan and other film stars of the 1940s and 1950s, has died. She was 97.
Fleming’s assistant Carla Sapon told The New York Times that Fleming died Wednesday in Santa Monica, California.
From her first film in color, “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court ” (1949) with Bing Crosby, Fleming became immensely popular with producers because of her vivid hues. It was an attraction she would later regret.
“Suddenly my green eyes were green. My red hair was flaming red. My skin was porcelain white,” Fleming remarked in a 1990 interview. “There was suddenly all this attention on how I looked rather than the roles I was playing.
“I’d been painted into a corner by the studios, who never wanted more from me than my looking good and waltzing through a parade of films like ‘The Redhead and the Cowboy.’ ”
Before Reagan entered politics, the actress co-starred with him in “Hong Kong,” “Tropic Zone,” “The Last Outpost” and “Tennessee’s Partner.”
“He surprised everyone because he never looked in a mirror,” she once said of Reagan. “How many actors can you say that about?”
Fleming possessed a fine singing voice, and later in her career sang onstage in Las Vegas and in a touring act.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Texas allows social workers to turn away LGBTQ and disabled clients

AUSTIN , Texas — Texas officials are facing backlash after deciding to allow social workers to turn away clients on the basis of their disability , sexual orientation or gender identity .
At the direction of the governor ’ s office , the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously to eliminate disability , sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of the code of conduct .
The board made the decision during a joint meeting Monday with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council , which oversees regulatory agencies for professions related to mental health .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board ’ s decision to follow the governor ’ s recommendation rather than seek public comment .
Will Francis , director of the association ’ s Texas chapter , told the board during public comments that their decision was “ incredibly disheartening.
” Abbott ’ s office said the change was made simply to align the rules with the state ’ s Occupations Code , which determines how and when the state may discipline social workers .
“ It ’ s not surprising that a board would align its rules with statutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Renae Eze , spokeswoman for Abbott ’ s office .
Francis said the board ’ s decision creates the impression that people with disabilities can be discriminated against despite federal rules that are in place to protect them .
“ It ’ s disturbing , even if it ’ s unintentional , ” Francis said .
“ They created space for people to get the impression that this is allowed now .
What the governor has done is put people with disabilities at risk for discrimination for no reason.
” Seven advocacy groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Network of Texas and Texas Freedom Network , released a joint statement Thursday decrying the board ’ s move .
“ Pro-discrimination groups couldn ’ t get this passed into law , ” Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said in the release , “ but Gov .
Abbott has done their bidding by pushing it through administratively in an obscure meeting when he thought few people were watching.
” Gloria Canseco , presiding officer of the Behavioral Health Council , said topics related to gender and gender identity would be revisited during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not indicate whether the decision to remove protections for people with disabilities would be revisited .

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas officials are facing backlash after deciding to allow social workers to turn away clients on the basis of their disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
At the direction of the governor’s office, the Texas State Board of Social Work Examiners voted unanimously to eliminate disability, sexual orientation and gender identity from the nondiscrimination clause of the code of conduct. The board made the decision during a joint meeting Monday with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, which oversees regulatory agencies for professions related to mental health.
The National Association of Social Workers criticized the board’s decision to follow the governor’s recommendation rather than seek public comment.
Will Francis, director of the association’s Texas chapter, told the board during public comments that their decision was “incredibly disheartening.”
Abbott’s office said the change was made simply to align the rules with the state’s Occupations Code, which determines how and when the state may discipline social workers.
“It’s not surprising that a board would align its rules with statutes passed by the Legislature,” said Renae Eze, spokeswoman for Abbott’s office.
Francis said the board’s decision creates the impression that people with disabilities can be discriminated against despite federal rules that are in place to protect them.
“It’s disturbing, even if it’s unintentional,” Francis said. “They created space for people to get the impression that this is allowed now. What the governor has done is put people with disabilities at risk for discrimination for no reason.”
Seven advocacy groups, including Equality Texas, Transgender Education Network of Texas and Texas Freedom Network, released a joint statement Thursday decrying the board’s move.
“Pro-discrimination groups couldn’t get this passed into law,” Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller said in the release, “but Gov. Abbott has done their bidding by pushing it through administratively in an obscure meeting when he thought few people were watching.”
Gloria Canseco, presiding officer of the Behavioral Health Council, said topics related to gender and gender identity would be revisited during a council meeting this month. She did not indicate whether the decision to remove protections for people with disabilities would be revisited.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Dodgers rally to stay alive in NLCS behind quirky home run scenario

Marcell Ozuna bet on himself last winter and likely will ...

Where there is a Will, there is a Smith.
The Dodgers remain alive in this National League Championship Series in part because their catcher Will Smith staged a huge at-bat against a reliever by the same name Friday night.
A battle of Wills ended with Smith the catcher circling the bases for a go-ahead homer in the sixth inning that helped the Dodgers continue their season with a 7-3 victory over the Braves in Game 5 of the NLCS at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Smith’s three-run blast gave the Dodgers their first lead of the night before they added on against the Braves bullpen.
Could the Dodgers’ Smith ever have imagined facing another Will Smith in such a big spot?
“It’s a common enough name,” Smith said, noting he went to high school with another Will Smith.
For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, this was Independence Day, starring Will Smith.
“I’ll always bet on our Will Smith,” Roberts said.
The normally reserved Dodgers catcher celebrated with a hop-step as he rounded third base.
“It got the team going,” Smith said. “You look over at the dugout and they are all fired up. That energy just bounces off each other.”
Saturday’s Game 6 will feature a pitching rematch from the series opener, with Braves ace Max Fried set to face Walker Buehler. The Braves can clinch their first World Series berth since 1999 with a victory. The Dodgers will try to force a Game 7 in their attempt to become the 14th team in MLB postseason history, out of 88, to rebound from a series deficit of at least 3-1.
“You know they are not going to quit,” Mookie Betts said, referring to the Braves. “They know they are one win away and they have their No. 1 guy going. They are a confident group, but we are, too.”
The Braves led 2-1 in the sixth inning when Max Muncy took six straight pitches and drew a two-out walk against the lefty reliever Smith to put runners on first and second. The catcher Smith then fell behind 1-2 before working the count full and attacking a low fastball, clearing the fence in left center.
Corey Seager blasted two home runs for the Dodgers, setting a franchise postseason series record with four. His 10 RBIs in the series also established a franchise postseason record. Seager’s two-run homer in the seventh extended the Dodgers’ lead to 7-2.
The Dodgers received a huge bullpen effort, with Joe Kelly, Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez, Victor Gonzalez, Brusdar Graterol and Kenley Jansen combining for seven strong innings after starter Dustin May struggled early.
It was a rebound victory for the Dodgers, who watched ace Clayton Kershaw get jumped in the sixth inning a night earlier in the Braves’ 10-2 victory.
A.J. Minter was extracted from the Braves bullpen for his first major league start and couldn’t have fared much better. The left-hander struck out seven over three shutout innings, allowing one hit. It came a day after rookie Bryse Wilson gave the Braves a pleasant surprise by allowing one run over six innings.
“[Minter] went above and beyond,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I had no idea he would go three innings like that.”
A momentum swing occurred in the span of two batters in the third and fourth innings. Marcell Ozuna appeared to score the Braves’ third run on Dansby Swanson’s fly to right, which Betts snagged just inches above the grass. But Ozuna’s run was overturned by a replay challenge that determined he had left third base early, hopping off the bag before the ball reached Betts’ glove.
Moments later, leading off the top of the fourth, Seager cleared the center field fence against Tyler Matzek, pulling the Dodgers within 2-1. The homer was the third in the series for Seager, whose fly to center was tracked by Cristian Pache. The rookie leaped at the fence and just missed a circus catch.
May lasted just two innings in which he allowed two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander threw 31 pitches in his final inning, including an 0-2 curveball that Pache slapped for an RBI single that put the Dodgers in a two-run hole.
Freddie Freeman’s double in the first inning led to the Braves taking a 1-0 lead on Travis d’Arnaud’s sacrifice fly. A key play in the inning was catcher Will Smith’s passed ball that allowed Freeman to reach third with one out, before Ozuna walked.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Judge denies Diocese of Brooklyn request to block state COVID-19 restrictions

A Brooklyn federal judge on Friday denied a request by the Diocese of Brooklyn to block new state coronavirus restrictions that limit capacity at some churches in the borough .
The ruling by Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis stemmed from the lawsuit brought against Gov .
Andrew Cuomo by the diocese , which claims their First Amendment rights are being violated by the restrictions affecting coronavirus hotspots in swaths of Brooklyn and Queens .
In denying the diocese ’ s request for a preliminary injunction as the court case proceeds , Garaufis acknowledged the state mandates harm religious groups .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round of coronavirus infections , it would not be in the public interest to block them , the judge said .
“ In fact , if the court issues an injunction and the state is correct about the acuteness of the threat currently posed by hotspot neighborhoods , the result could be avoidable death on a massive scale like New Yorkers experienced in the spring , ” Garaufis wrote .
The restrictions imposed by Cuomo on Oct. 6 limit capacity in houses of worship that are in state-designated coronavirus zones .
Churches in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s most restrictive , would be limited to 10 people maximum .
Garaufis wrote in his decision that it was clear the state ’ s restrictions had been “ guided by science , not a desire to target religious practice.
” The diocese had argued that churches have implemented successful safety measures and there hasn ’ t been a big increase in cases among its congregants .
“ The State has completely disregarded the fact that our safety protocols have worked and it is an insult to once again penalize all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Church work , ” Nicholas DiMarzio , the Bishop of Brooklyn , had said in a statement .

A Brooklyn federal judge on Friday denied a request by the Diocese of Brooklyn to block new state coronavirus restrictions that limit capacity at some churches in the borough.
The ruling by Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis stemmed from the lawsuit brought against Gov. Andrew Cuomo by the diocese, which claims their First Amendment rights are being violated by the restrictions affecting coronavirus hotspots in swaths of Brooklyn and Queens.
In denying the diocese’s request for a preliminary injunction as the court case proceeds, Garaufis acknowledged the state mandates harm religious groups.
But if the rules help prevent a new round of coronavirus infections, it would not be in the public interest to block them, the judge said.
“In fact, if the court issues an injunction and the state is correct about the acuteness of the threat currently posed by hotspot neighborhoods, the result could be avoidable death on a massive scale like New Yorkers experienced in the spring,” Garaufis wrote.
The restrictions imposed by Cuomo on Oct. 6 limit capacity in houses of worship that are in state-designated coronavirus zones.
Churches in the “red zone,” the state’s most restrictive, would be limited to 10 people maximum.
Garaufis wrote in his decision that it was clear the state’s restrictions had been “guided by science, not a desire to target religious practice.”
The diocese had argued that churches have implemented successful safety measures and there hasn’t been a big increase in cases among its congregants.
“The State has completely disregarded the fact that our safety protocols have worked and it is an insult to once again penalize all those who have made the safe return to Church work,” Nicholas DiMarzio, the Bishop of Brooklyn, had said in a statement.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Rays’ Blake Snell didn’t hide feelings about early ALCS exit

From the Idiots to Dusty and the Scoundrels .
From a ...

Being David doesn’t preclude you from experiencing the same turbulence as Goliath.
Remember in last week’s American League Division Series, when J.A. Happ made his unhappiness over his usage clear? On Friday night, the Rays’ Blake Snell made Happ look like Boutros-Boutros Ghali, so blatant was the younger lefty’s disappointment.
The Rays lost ALCS Game 6 to the Astros, 7-4 at Petco Park in San Diego, and their third straight defeat tied this competition at three games apiece. That set up a loser-goes-home Game 7 on Saturday night at Petco, with former Astros teammates Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers facing off. The game turned in the fifth inning when, as the Rays held a slim, 1-0 lead, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash lifted Snell with two men on and no outs for hard-throwing reliever Diego Castillo, who imploded to the tune of a four-run inning.
“Disappointed, for sure,” Snell said. “I felt really good. I felt locked in. I felt like I had a good game plan against that lineup. It’s just frustrating. I wanted to go deep into that ballgame and I was very confident with everything that I had going. Even with the walk and the ground ball, I still felt very, very, very, very confident that I was going to get through that lineup.”
Yes, four “verys” at the end there, believed to be an ALCS record. The walk was a leadoff free pass to Yuli Gurriel, Snell’s fourth walk of the game. The ground ball was a base hit by Aledmys Diaz, his shot eluding the reach of slick-fielding shortstop Willy Adames. At that point, Snell had thrown 82 pitches. Cash summoned Castillo, who won last week’s thrilling AL Division Series Game 5 over the Yankees. After ninth hitter Martin Maldonado bunted his teammates over to second and third, the next four batters reached base safely: George Springer single, Jose Altuve double, Michael Brantley walk and Carlos Correa single. Snell, who looked miserable upon departing, wore the same expression in the dugout.
“We trusted that Diego could come in there and do what he’s done all season long,” Cash said. “They got the better of us. It’s pretty gut-wrenching, but that’s the way it goes with those decisions.”
“I was confused, for sure, but that’s what he thought the best call and decision was,” said Snell, who added later that “Cash is usually always right.” The southpaw continued: “But for me, it’s very confusing, frustrating. I want to be out there. I want to be the guy that takes the team deep into that ballgame. It’s just very frustrating.”
Whether that frustration and curiosity looms over this franchise will be determined by Saturday night’s result.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Georgia senate race is now about how to pronounce ‘Kamala’

A Georgia Republican mocked fellow Sen. Kamala Harris ’ name as “ Kamala-mala-mala … whatever ” at a campaign rally in Macon — and within the hour , his Democrat opponent was on Twitter and cable TV calling him racist .
Sen. David Perdue , who has been in the senate with Harris for three years , says through a spokesman that he “ didn ’ t mean anything by it ” when he mispronounced his colleague ’ s name .
Perdue was on stage in advance of rally headliner President Trump Friday night when he made this reference to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president : But his opponent in a tight race for Perdue ’ s seat , Jon Ossoff , quickly tweeted a video of Purdue ’ s diss .
“ Senator Purdue never would have done this to a male colleague , ” he said in the tweet .
“ Or a white colleague .
And everyone knows it.
” An hour had not passed before Ossoff was on MSNBC condemning Purdue ’ s “ race-baiting.
” “ This kind of vile , race-baiting trash talk is what President Trump has unleashed from sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told the cable network ’ s Joy Reid .
National Journal reporter Josh Kraushaar was quick to point out the timing .
“ Talk about rapid response , ” he tweeted .
“ The same hour Sen. Perdue mangles Kamala Harris ’ name , Jon Ossoff goes on MSNBC to go on the attack.
” “ Has everyone forgotten that Biden couldn ’ t pronounce it either ?
” he wrote above a link to the clip .

A Georgia Republican mocked fellow Sen. Kamala Harris’ name as “Kamala-mala-mala … whatever” at a campaign rally in Macon — and within the hour, his Democrat opponent was on Twitter and cable TV calling him racist.
Sen. David Perdue, who has been in the senate with Harris for three years, says through a spokesman that he “didn’t mean anything by it” when he mispronounced his colleague’s name.
Perdue was on stage in advance of rally headliner President Trump Friday night when he made this reference to Harris, the Democratic candidate for vice president:
“Kamala? Kamala? Kamala-mala-mala? I don’t know. Whatever.”
But his opponent in a tight race for Perdue’s seat, Jon Ossoff, quickly tweeted a video of Purdue’s diss.
“Senator Purdue never would have done this to a male colleague,” he said in the tweet.
“Or a white colleague. And everyone knows it.”
An hour had not passed before Ossoff was on MSNBC condemning Purdue’s “race-baiting.”
“This kind of vile, race-baiting trash talk is what President Trump has unleashed from sitting Republican members in the Senate,” he told the cable network’s Joy Reid.
National Journal reporter Josh Kraushaar was quick to point out the timing.
“Talk about rapid response,” he tweeted. “The same hour Sen. Perdue mangles Kamala Harris’ name, Jon Ossoff goes on MSNBC to go on the attack.”
In response, @dfinney16 tweeted a video of Harris’ running mate, Joe Biden.
“Has everyone forgotten that Biden couldn’t pronounce it either?” he wrote above a link to the clip.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--SUNY Oneonta president resigns after school’s COVID-19 outbreak

The president of the State University of New York campus in upstate Oneonta has resigned after her school suffered the worst coronavirus outbreak in the SUNY system .
The massive outbreak has forced the school to shut down in-person classes for the fall semester .
Morris will be replaced by Acting President Dennis Craig , who previously led SUNY Purchase through the pandemic , officials announced .
Over 700 people at SUNY Oneonta had tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the fall semester in late August , according to a state coronavirus tracker .
Oneonta in early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date , still the only — of SUNY ’ s 64 colleges and universities to move to full-time remote learning .
“ SUNY Oneonta is at a critical juncture and Acting President Craig will bring steady , focused and collaborative leadership to the campus , ” SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said in a statement announcing the shakeup .
“ For the SUNY Oneonta campus , Acting President Craig ’ s first priority is to ensure students have what they need to complete their fall semester , as well as a clear plan in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Under Craig , SUNY Purchase in late August launched pooled surveillance testing , officials said .
Out of 2,787 tests administered to the campus community since Thursday , just three have been positive .

The president of the State University of New York campus in upstate Oneonta has resigned after her school suffered the worst coronavirus outbreak in the SUNY system.
The massive outbreak has forced the school to shut down in-person classes for the fall semester.
President Barbara Jean Morris departed SUNY Oneonta “to pursue other opportunities,” the school announced Thursday.
Morris will be replaced by Acting President Dennis Craig, who previously led SUNY Purchase through the pandemic, officials announced.
Over 700 people at SUNY Oneonta had tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the fall semester in late August, according to a state coronavirus tracker.
Oneonta in early September became the first — and to date, still the only — of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities to move to full-time remote learning.
“SUNY Oneonta is at a critical juncture and Acting President Craig will bring steady, focused and collaborative leadership to the campus,” SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras said in a statement announcing the shakeup.
“For the SUNY Oneonta campus, Acting President Craig’s first priority is to ensure students have what they need to complete their fall semester, as well as a clear plan in place for the spring,” he added.
Under Craig, SUNY Purchase in late August launched pooled surveillance testing, officials said.
Out of 2,787 tests administered to the campus community since Thursday, just three have been positive.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Five hurt after store explosion near Virginia’s James Madison University

Five people were hurt after a likely gas explosion at a strip mall in Harrisonburg , Va. , just blocks @ @ @ @ @ Madison University , according to reports .
The early Saturday blast could be felt for @ @ @ @ @ fire that eventually caused so much damage , several shops were razed .
Among the @ @ @ @ @ University students who suffered minor injuries .
The trio had been standing outside the store @ @ @ @ @ part of an Army ROTC running group which had been involved in a 10-mile race @ @ @ @ @ which was just yards from the explosion site .
While Gov .
Ralph Northam identified @ @ @ @ @ as a gas explosion , local officials could not confirm the cause , saying more @ @ @ @

Five people were hurt after a likely gas explosion at a strip mall in Harrisonburg, Va., just blocks from the campus of James Madison University, according to reports.
The early Saturday blast could be felt for miles around and sparked a fire that eventually caused so much damage, several shops were razed.
Among the victims were three James Madison University students who suffered minor injuries.
The trio had been standing outside the store when the explosion occurred, part of an Army ROTC running group which had been involved in a 10-mile race, the finish line of which was just yards from the explosion site.
While Gov. Ralph Northam identified the source of the incident as a gas explosion, local officials could not confirm the cause, saying more investigation was needed.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--NYC teacher suspected of sexual relationship with student invokes Fifth Amendment

A Brooklyn teacher invoked the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination when asked by city school investigators about his relationship with a female student , records show .
David Lado , who taught physics at Medgar Evers Preparatory School in Crown Heights , engaged in an “ inappropriate relationship ” with a female student , the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools alleges .
The SCI began a probe after a school official reported receiving an anonymous complaint in an email on June 23 , 2019 , that Lado , 29 , “ was engaged in sexual activities ” with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father , the girl denied having a sexual relationship with Lado , saying she spoke with him only during school hours .
The girl also claimed her younger sister , who was mentioned in the anonymous email , denied telling anyone about the allegation .
But the father would not let investigators question the sister , the report says .
SCI subpoenaed Google to determine who sent the anonymous email .
The records show the account was opened on June 23 , the date of the anonymous message .
“ Possibly for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the report stated .
The person who opened the account did not provide a name or address .
SCI subpoenaed phone records showing that Lado and the girl were in phone contact 129 times .
Lado placed 38 calls to her , she called him 88 times , and three text messages were exchanged .
The calls were between May 1 and July 1 in 2019 , continuing amid the investigation .
Through his lawyer , Lado declined to be interviewed by SCI , invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chancellor Richard Carranza its findings on July 9 — eight days after the Department of Education fired Lado for letting his state teaching license expire .
Because Lado was already terminated , the DOE could not file misconduct charges against him , a DOE spokeswoman said .
But Lado , who had taught at Medgar Evers since September 2015 , is ineligible to work for city schools again , officials said .
According to his LinkedIn page , Lado is currently an MBA candidate at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment .

A Brooklyn teacher invoked the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination when asked by city school investigators about his relationship with a female student, records show.
David Lado, who taught physics at Medgar Evers Preparatory School in Crown Heights, engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with a female student, the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools alleges.
The SCI began a probe after a school official reported receiving an anonymous complaint in an email on June 23, 2019, that Lado, 29, “was engaged in sexual activities” with a student.
In the presence of her father, the girl denied having a sexual relationship with Lado, saying she spoke with him only during school hours.
The girl also claimed her younger sister, who was mentioned in the anonymous email, denied telling anyone about the allegation. But the father would not let investigators question the sister, the report says.
SCI subpoenaed Google to determine who sent the anonymous email. The records show the account was opened on June 23, the date of the anonymous message. “Possibly for the sole purpose of sending the email,” the report stated. The person who opened the account did not provide a name or address.
SCI subpoenaed phone records showing that Lado and the girl were in phone contact 129 times. Lado placed 38 calls to her, she called him 88 times, and three text messages were exchanged. The calls were between May 1 and July 1 in 2019, continuing amid the investigation.
Through his lawyer, Lado declined to be interviewed by SCI, invoking the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, the SCI states.
The SCI sent Chancellor Richard Carranza its findings on July 9 — eight days after the Department of Education fired Lado for letting his state teaching license expire.
Because Lado was already terminated, the DOE could not file misconduct charges against him, a DOE spokeswoman said.
But Lado, who had taught at Medgar Evers since September 2015, is ineligible to work for city schools again, officials said.
“This extremely disturbing alleged conduct has absolutely no place in our schools,” said DOE spokeswoman Danielle Filson.
According to his LinkedIn page, Lado is currently an MBA candidate at the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College. He could not be reached for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s ‘kidnappers’ planned to zap her with Taser: feds

Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s accused would-be kidnappers planned to subdue her with a heart-jolting , 800,000-volt Taser , the Detroit News writes , citing newly released evidence in the case .
The fed ’ s cache of evidence includes video of Adam Fox , 37 — the accused ringleader of the self-appointed anti-government extremist militia — as he practices loading a long gun , the Fox News affilliate in west Michigan also reports .
It also includes text messages exchanged among the accused conspirators , who called their chat group “ F— Around and Find Out.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , suspect Ty Garbin , 25 , allegedly suggests blowing up a bridge near Whitmer ’ s vacation home , in order to slow down the cops responding to Whitmer ’ s abduction .
“ Laying in bed , craziest idea .
Have one person go to her house , ” accused plotter Daniel Harris , 23 , allegedly spitballs as the group talks strategy in another text .
“ Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her , ” the text continues .
The 14 men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliate against Whitmer due to her “ uncontrolled power ” over residents ’ lives during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s accused would-be kidnappers planned to subdue her with a heart-jolting, 800,000-volt Taser, the Detroit News writes, citing newly released evidence in the case.
The fed’s cache of evidence includes video of Adam Fox, 37 — the accused ringleader of the self-appointed anti-government extremist militia — as he practices loading a long gun, the Fox News affilliate in west Michigan also reports.
It also includes text messages exchanged among the accused conspirators, who called their chat group “F— Around and Find Out.”
In one message released by federal prosecutors on Friday, suspect Ty Garbin, 25, allegedly suggests blowing up a bridge near Whitmer’s vacation home, in order to slow down the cops responding to Whitmer’s abduction.
“Laying in bed, craziest idea. Have one person go to her house,” accused plotter Daniel Harris, 23, allegedly spitballs as the group talks strategy in another text.
“Knock on the door and when she answers it just cap her,” the text continues.
The 14 men apprehended in the alleged plot hoped to retaliate against Whitmer due to her “uncontrolled power” over residents’ lives during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Washington Football Team owner told cheerleading director to keep women ‘skinny’: report

While claiming he takes “ full responsibility for the culture of ...

The owner of the Washington Football Team threatened to kill the organization’s cheerleading coach if he didn’t keep the women “skinny with big tits,” a new report alleges.
Donald Wells, who served as coach from 1997 to 2009, told The Washington Post that team owner Dan Snyder made the nasty remark at a 2004 charity event where the squad performed.
“You better keep them skinny with big tits or I’ll f—ing kill you,” Wells alleged Snyder threatened him.
The revelation comes three months after the newspaper alleged that R-rated outtakes from swimsuit calendar shoots featuring the cheerleaders had been turned into lewd video compilations for Snyder’s enjoyment.
Snyder has denied any knowledge of the videos.
The videos showed some of the cheerleaders’ exposed nipples as they shifted positioning and included footage of two women whose pubic areas were covered only by body paint, The Washington Post reported.
Each video was set to classic-rock hits by the Rolling Stones and U2 — bands Snyder said were his favorite in a 2011 interview.
“I don’t think they viewed us as people. They viewed us as replaceable objects,” Chastity Evans, who was on the team’s squad for five seasons and who appeared in the unofficial 2008 video, is quoted in The Washington Post’s most recent story.
Contracts for the cheerleaders from 2008 to 2010, meanwhile, include a strict code-of-conduct, stipulating the women could be canned for posting “inappropriate” online content or appearing nude or seminude in “tasteless” films, videos or photographs, the report said.
“I would have hoped the team, because they held us to these high standards, would treat us with respect and uphold the same standards,” Evans told the paper.,
“Instead, they violated our trust with what sounds like a soft porn video.”
Some of the ex-cheerleaders also told the paper they feared that the unauthorized outtakes videos were still out there.
“I’m going to have two grown sons at some point, and what are they going to find on the internet — some mom porn?” said Lee-Ann Campbell.
Last month, attorneys Lisa Banks and Debra Katz — who are representing 12 of the cheerleaders — notified Snyder of their intent to sue him and the team over the lewd videos.
This week, the team agreed to a request from the attorneys for an “independent forensic investigation” to secure any copies of the videos that might still exist on its internal computer systems.
Wells, the former cheerleading director, said he wished he could have done more to protect the women.
He said he recently told Banks about the alleged threatening encounter with Snyder.
“I would never have told anyone about that if it weren’t for the revelation that the videos were created of my cheerleaders without their knowledge,” he told the Washington Post. “I was embarrassed and scared if I said anything I might be fired.”
Snyder didn’t respond to a request from the Post about Wells’ claim.
In a statement to the Washington Post, the team said that it is “examining its historical practices and behaviors.”
“We take the criticisms of our cheerleading program seriously and we remain committed to reviewing all programs thoroughly.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Love and Monsters’ On VOD, An Apocalyptic Adventure With A Big Heart

Dylan O ’ Brien is no stranger to stories of apocalypse and adventure ; the star of The Maze Runner has faced off with more than a few formidable foes , and his latest role in Love and Monsters is no exception .
Now streaming on VOD , Love and Monsters is part-post-apocalyptic adventure movie , part-love story .
We ’ re here to let you know if it ’ s worth traveling to the ends of the earth with this guy , or if you ’ re better off in other company .
LOVE AND MONSTERS : STREAM IT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Welcome to a post-apocalyptic world where creatures far and wide are now super-sized thanks to the fallout of taking down a massive asteroid with a series of rockets .
95 % of the world ’ s human population has been wiped out , and most of the remaining survivors live underground in bunkers .
One of those humans is Joel Dawson ( Dylan O ’ Brien ) , a nervous artist known in his colony for his minestrone .
Joel hasn ’ t seen his girlfriend Aimee ( Jessica Henwick ) since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he dreams of reuniting with her – and one day , fed up with feeling useless in his colony , he decides to make that dream come true .
Despite colony members ’ objections , Joel heads out on an 85-mile trek to the beach where Aimee ’ s colony is .
On the way , he befriends a dog named Boy , who becomes his most loyal companion .
Not too long into his journey , Joel also encounters Clyde ( Michael Rooker ) and young , scrappy Minnow ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teach him what he needs to survive in this land of massive , human-craving monsters .
With the help of these new friends and a few spots of his own courage , Joel begins to believe in himself and let go of the traumas that haunt him .
Part-apocalypse adventure , part-romantic comedy , part-journey of self discovery , Love and Monsters is a light , ( mostly ) family-friendly film that has something to say .
What Movies Will It Remind You Of ?
: I thought a lot about this while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few familiar flicks ; Love and Monsters feels like Zombieland and Hunt for the Wilderpeople meets adventure movies of the ’ 80s and ’ 90s and the big-heartedness of John Hughes .
Performance Worth Watching : The dog who plays Boy is a STAR .
I think I cried more at this hound ’ s performance than I have at anything in the last week .
( I cry a lot ) .
On a serious note , much like Julia Butters stole every second she was on screen in Once Upon A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishes herself as a star in the making the moment she appears in Love and Monsters .
Her role is not a particularly new one – we saw Abigail Breslin do this schtick in Zombieland – but she breathes life and genuine emotion into it , eliciting laughs with zingers and breaking hearts with her tears .
With any luck , we ’ ll be seeing her on screen for years to come .
Memorable Dialogue : There are a lot of clever lines ( and a good running bit about stealing food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the simple effectiveness of “ You ’ re an asshole if you get eaten ” as a farewell sentiment when Joel embarks on his journey .
Sex and Skin : The film opens with a few references to all the sex-having happening around Joel in the bunker , and we see him almost have car sex with his girlfriend in a flashback , but overall , Love and Monsters is pretty family-friendly .
Our Take : I don ’ t remember the last time I experienced such a full range of emotions watching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smiled , I laughed , I cried , I gasped .
Even when I knew where things were going , they still affected me deeply .
Love and Monsters is something truly special , a delightful romp appealing for both adults and tweens and teens that might be drawn to this kind of story .
In a short amount of time , the film manages to build an exciting world and establish a distinct tone with the use of clever animations and quippy voiceover from Joel .
Even in its apocalyptic state , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dazzling one .
It is a true testament to the filmmakers that they ’ re able to draw us in so quickly without making it feel overly expositional .
As the film ’ s leading man , Dylan O ’ Brien proves himself as a comedic and emotionally genuine force , giving off some serious vibes that evoke Adam Brody , a dash of Chris Pratt , and a sprinkle of beloved adventure stars of the ’ 80s and ’ 90s .
He ’ s awkward without feeling try-hard or grating , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may not have worked quite as well in the hands of another actor .
The script is clever , tight , and well-structured , but the performances from O ’ Brien and the rest of the cast really take it to the next level – and so does his sparky chemistry with Henwick , even when their story doesn ’ t go where we might expect .
Beyond the storytelling and performances , Love and Monsters won me over from a technical and aesthetic perspective with just about every scene ; the monsters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – perhaps the best effects work I ’ ve seen in a minute – and the action set pieces really worked .
The dreamy , occasionally nightmarish scenery also helped sealed the deal .
Perhaps inadvertently , it is a timely film for these days of lockdown and isolation , a reminder that while we can ’ t live our lives the way we ’ re used to , we can step out of our comfort zones in other ways .
Love and Monsters is really a story of tackling monsters both real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there isn ’ t a ton below the surface , it ’ s still a refreshingly heartfelt and light piece of work .
Even the more predictable moments are spirited and energetic , and while it ’ s not always laugh-out-loud funny , the film ’ s warmth drives home everything else .
Love and Monsters is a dose of much-needed hope and open-heartedness with some excellent monsters and action sequences tossed in for good measure .
Our Call : STREAM IT .
Love and Monsters offers an adventure full of excitement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humor and heart .
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes .
Follow her on Twitter : @ jadebudowski .
Where to Stream Love and Monsters

Dylan O’Brien is no stranger to stories of apocalypse and adventure; the star of The Maze Runner has faced off with more than a few formidable foes, and his latest role in Love and Monsters is no exception. Now streaming on VOD, Love and Monsters is part-post-apocalyptic adventure movie, part-love story. We’re here to let you know if it’s worth traveling to the ends of the earth with this guy, or if you’re better off in other company.
LOVE AND MONSTERS: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: Welcome to a post-apocalyptic world where creatures far and wide are now super-sized thanks to the fallout of taking down a massive asteroid with a series of rockets. 95% of the world’s human population has been wiped out, and most of the remaining survivors live underground in bunkers. One of those humans is Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien), a nervous artist known in his colony for his minestrone. Joel hasn’t seen his girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick) since the world went to shit seven years ago, but he dreams of reuniting with her – and one day, fed up with feeling useless in his colony, he decides to make that dream come true.
Despite colony members’ objections, Joel heads out on an 85-mile trek to the beach where Aimee’s colony is. On the way, he befriends a dog named Boy, who becomes his most loyal companion. Not too long into his journey, Joel also encounters Clyde (Michael Rooker) and young, scrappy Minnow (Ariana Greenblatt) an unconventional duo who teach him what he needs to survive in this land of massive, human-craving monsters. With the help of these new friends and a few spots of his own courage, Joel begins to believe in himself and let go of the traumas that haunt him. Part-apocalypse adventure, part-romantic comedy, part-journey of self discovery, Love and Monsters is a light, (mostly) family-friendly film that has something to say.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: I thought a lot about this while watching because it elicited feelings of a few familiar flicks; Love and Monsters feels like Zombieland and Hunt for the Wilderpeople meets adventure movies of the ’80s and ’90s and the big-heartedness of John Hughes.
Performance Worth Watching: The dog who plays Boy is a STAR. I think I cried more at this hound’s performance than I have at anything in the last week. (I cry a lot). On a serious note, much like Julia Butters stole every second she was on screen in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood, young Ariana Greenblatt establishes herself as a star in the making the moment she appears in Love and Monsters. Her role is not a particularly new one – we saw Abigail Breslin do this schtick in Zombieland – but she breathes life and genuine emotion into it, eliciting laughs with zingers and breaking hearts with her tears. With any luck, we’ll be seeing her on screen for years to come.
Memorable Dialogue: There are a lot of clever lines (and a good running bit about stealing food) here, but I really enjoyed the simple effectiveness of “You’re an asshole if you get eaten” as a farewell sentiment when Joel embarks on his journey.
Sex and Skin: The film opens with a few references to all the sex-having happening around Joel in the bunker, and we see him almost have car sex with his girlfriend in a flashback, but overall, Love and Monsters is pretty family-friendly.
Our Take: I don’t remember the last time I experienced such a full range of emotions watching a movie of this nature. I smiled, I laughed, I cried, I gasped. Even when I knew where things were going, they still affected me deeply. Love and Monsters is something truly special, a delightful romp appealing for both adults and tweens and teens that might be drawn to this kind of story. In a short amount of time, the film manages to build an exciting world and establish a distinct tone with the use of clever animations and quippy voiceover from Joel. Even in its apocalyptic state, the world of this story is a dazzling one. It is a true testament to the filmmakers that they’re able to draw us in so quickly without making it feel overly expositional.
As the film’s leading man, Dylan O’Brien proves himself as a comedic and emotionally genuine force, giving off some serious vibes that evoke Adam Brody, a dash of Chris Pratt, and a sprinkle of beloved adventure stars of the ’80s and ’90s. He’s awkward without feeling try-hard or grating, and strangely charming as hell – his character may not have worked quite as well in the hands of another actor. The script is clever, tight, and well-structured, but the performances from O’Brien and the rest of the cast really take it to the next level – and so does his sparky chemistry with Henwick, even when their story doesn’t go where we might expect. Beyond the storytelling and performances, Love and Monsters won me over from a technical and aesthetic perspective with just about every scene; the monsters themselves were impressively executed and totally thrilling – perhaps the best effects work I’ve seen in a minute – and the action set pieces really worked. The dreamy, occasionally nightmarish scenery also helped sealed the deal.
Perhaps inadvertently, it is a timely film for these days of lockdown and isolation, a reminder that while we can’t live our lives the way we’re used to, we can step out of our comfort zones in other ways. Love and Monsters is really a story of tackling monsters both real and in our heads, and while there isn’t a ton below the surface, it’s still a refreshingly heartfelt and light piece of work. Even the more predictable moments are spirited and energetic, and while it’s not always laugh-out-loud funny, the film’s warmth drives home everything else. Love and Monsters is a dose of much-needed hope and open-heartedness with some excellent monsters and action sequences tossed in for good measure.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Love and Monsters offers an adventure full of excitement and emotion, striking a beautiful balance of humor and heart.
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.
Where to Stream Love and Monsters


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Bronx clerk probe highlights billion-dollar scandal of city homeless spending

State Attorney General Tish James ’ criminal investigation of Bronx County Clerk Luis Diaz and several nonprofits highlights an ugly , often-ignored dark side to the city ’ s vast spending on the homeless : Much of the cash is effectively pork for politically connected “ charities.
” Sources tell The Post that James ’ fraud investigation is linked to an ugly dispute ( a hostile takeover , really ) between two homeless-services-providing nonprofits — Aguila Inc. and Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs Inc. ( or NAICA ) .
Jenny Rivera , CEO of Aguila Inc. , worked political contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city contracts to shelter the homeless since 2012 .
A 2015 Department of Investigation report accused Aguila of operating a rat-infested , ramshackle and poorly ventilated cluster-site shelter with 125 open violations of health and safety codes .
City Hall has since shuttered such shelters all across the city .
NAICA also banks multimillion-dollar contracts with DHS ; the “ merger ” may represent Rivera ’ s bid to get back in a very lucrative game .
For example , Acacia Network , yet another Bronx-based homeless-services nonprofit , reported $ 193 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending has more than doubled under Mayor de Blasio and is still accelerating .
The Department of Homeless Services budget for Fiscal Year 2021 tops $ 2 billion — up $ 600 million from FY 2019 ’ s outlays .
Roughly a third goes for adult shelter services , the rest for family shelter costs .
Spending on hotel-based shelters exploded 283 percent amid the pandemic , The Post ’ s Nolan Hicks reported this month , from $ 78 million to $ 299 million .
That ’ s a tempting honeypot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long history of being ripped off by unscrupulous operators .
With the city desperate for organizations to house the homeless and run its shelters , bad apples and past bad actors continue to get contracts , instead of being debarred .
A major rethink is needed here .
If the powers that be allow the Bronx scandal to fully play out , it could soil politicians and nonprofits all cross the city .
Stay tuned .

State Attorney General Tish James’ criminal investigation of Bronx County Clerk Luis Diaz and several nonprofits highlights an ugly, often-ignored dark side to the city’s vast spending on the homeless: Much of the cash is effectively pork for politically connected “charities.”
Sources tell The Post that James’ fraud investigation is linked to an ugly dispute (a hostile takeover, really) between two homeless-services-providing nonprofits — Aguila Inc. and Neighborhood Association for Inter-Cultural Affairs Inc. (or NAICA).
Jenny Rivera, CEO of Aguila Inc., worked political contacts to score over $250 million in city contracts to shelter the homeless since 2012. A 2015 Department of Investigation report accused Aguila of operating a rat-infested, ramshackle and poorly ventilated cluster-site shelter with 125 open violations of health and safety codes.
City Hall has since shuttered such shelters all across the city.
NAICA also banks multimillion-dollar contracts with DHS; the “merger” may represent Rivera’s bid to get back in a very lucrative game. For example, Acacia Network, yet another Bronx-based homeless-services nonprofit, reported $193 million in city contracts in 2017 alone
This spending has more than doubled under Mayor de Blasio and is still accelerating. The Department of Homeless Services budget for Fiscal Year 2021 tops $2 billion — up $600 million from FY 2019’s outlays. Roughly a third goes for adult shelter services, the rest for family shelter costs.
Spending on hotel-based shelters exploded 283 percent amid the pandemic, The Post’s Nolan Hicks reported this month, from $78 million to $299 million.
That’s a tempting honeypot of highly lucrative contracts — and DHS has a long history of being ripped off by unscrupulous operators.
With the city desperate for organizations to house the homeless and run its shelters, bad apples and past bad actors continue to get contracts, instead of being debarred. A major rethink is needed here.
If the powers that be allow the Bronx scandal to fully play out, it could soil politicians and nonprofits all cross the city. Stay tuned.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--‘Die in a fire’: Twitter employees reveal deep hatred for Trump

The tweets are running the asylum .
Twitter ’ s senior executives have a long history of anti-Trump hatred , a Post review of dozens of accounts of top employees found .
The venom , vitriol and , in some cases , vows to help Joe Biden across the finish line in next month ’ s presidential election continue to live online as the company earlier this week decided to censor The New York Post ’ s revelations about Hunter Biden ’ s emails to a consultant for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma .
One manager with almost nine years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keen to watch Biden “ crush [ Trump ] in the election ” and that he hoped the president would “ be utterly humiliated while also suffering greatly from # COVID19.
” In another post he fantasized about the president being put on a ventilator .
He calls Trump “ a f–king idiot ” and the voters who elected him — “ hysterically f–king stupid people.
” At the same time the employee has been a consistent cheerleader of his company ’ s efforts to rein in the president on the platform and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I ’ m really proud of how quickly we ’ ve worked to make this possible for the US elections , ” he wrote .
Others publicly wish the president harm .
One Twitter engineering manager said Trump should “ die in a fire ” in a January 2017 tweet .
A year later , he rang in the new year by saying “ Happy 2018 !
Donald Trump is dead !
” None of these comments have ever been flagged by Twitter or been subject to any other form of official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dishes out discipline to others for sharing legitimate news stories that might hurt Biden .
The company finally ordered the vicious tweet to be deleted on May 29 — years after being posted .
A consistent theme among employees is a desire to see Trump defeated .
A talent brand program manager cried after Trump was elected president and publicly vowed to oppose him .
A global project manager with more than a decade on the job posted proudly that he was phone banking for Biden .
A vice president in sales finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and urged colleagues to spread cash to Dems in competitive Senate races .
After a fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence ’ s head during his debate with Sen. Kamala Harris on Oct. 7 , the Twitter veep noted crudely that flies are “ drawn to sh-t. ” One woman has worked at Twitter since 2012 , with her only career interruption being a four-month stint as a data analyst for Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 presidential campaign .
She boasted how her husband twice sued the Trump administration .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another exec , a group product manager .
One employee took to Twitter last month to inform the world that her pup was part of the resistance as well .
“ Every night my dog takes a crap on the lawn of the one house on our street with a Trump sign , ” she said proudly .
Ad hominem jabs toward Trump and his administration were commonplace among Twitter ’ s longtime ranks .
The company ’ s global creative partnership head has called Trump “ swine.
” An associate brand strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” A sales manager in New York called Trump “ the Enron of presidents.
” Spreading lies about the Trump family is also not beneath Twitter ’ s sentinels .
A senior staff engineer inquired why the media wasn ’ t looking into Melania Trump ’ s “ possible stint as a sex worker.
” ( The first lady denied this allegation and successfully sued over it . )
Twitter ’ s “ head of integrity ” Yoel Roth was infamously busted over a series of old tweets revealing him to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Roth — who helped author the policy update used by the company to flag and label posts from President Trump — compared White House officials to Nazis and Trump to a “ racist tangerine.
” Conservative critics — who have long complained of Twitter ’ s systemic bias against Republicans — were not surprised .
“ It doesn ’ t take a rocket scientist to figure out why they only selectively enforce these rules .
It ’ s because the people who work there all believe the same things , ” GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A liberal [ verified account ] never has to pay a price for advocating violence.
” “ We do not hire based on political beliefs and completely support our employees ’ right to express themselves and support the causes they care about , ” Twitter ’ s Chief Human Resources Officer Jennifer Christie said in a statement to The Post .
“ Our employees are professionals , and we require them to bring objectivity to their work regardless of their personal views .
We will not be dissuaded from continuing to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

The tweets are running the asylum.
Twitter’s senior executives have a long history of anti-Trump hatred, a Post review of dozens of accounts of top employees found.
The venom, vitriol and, in some cases, vows to help Joe Biden across the finish line in next month’s presidential election continue to live online as the company earlier this week decided to censor The New York Post’s revelations about Hunter Biden’s emails to a consultant for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
“GET HIM OUT,” posted a senior site reliability engineer on Aug. 18. “What a f–king baboon.”
One manager with almost nine years on the job said he was quite keen to watch Biden “crush [Trump] in the election” and that he hoped the president would “be utterly humiliated while also suffering greatly from #COVID19.” In another post he fantasized about the president being put on a ventilator.
He calls Trump “a f–king idiot” and the voters who elected him — “hysterically f–king stupid people.”
At the same time the employee has been a consistent cheerleader of his company’s efforts to rein in the president on the platform and curb the spread of “misinformation.”
“I’m really proud of how quickly we’ve worked to make this possible for the US elections,” he wrote.
Others publicly wish the president harm.
One Twitter engineering manager said Trump should “die in a fire” in a January 2017 tweet. A year later, he rang in the new year by saying “Happy 2018! Donald Trump is dead!”
None of these comments have ever been flagged by Twitter or been subject to any other form of official sanction, even as the social-media giant dishes out discipline to others for sharing legitimate news stories that might hurt Biden. The company finally ordered the vicious tweet to be deleted on May 29 — years after being posted.
A consistent theme among employees is a desire to see Trump defeated.
A talent brand program manager cried after Trump was elected president and publicly vowed to oppose him.
A global project manager with more than a decade on the job posted proudly that he was phone banking for Biden.
A vice president in sales finance said supporting Biden alone was not enough, and urged colleagues to spread cash to Dems in competitive Senate races.
After a fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s head during his debate with Sen. Kamala Harris on Oct. 7, the Twitter veep noted crudely that flies are “drawn to sh-t.”
One woman has worked at Twitter since 2012, with her only career interruption being a four-month stint as a data analyst for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. She boasted how her husband twice sued the Trump administration.
“Trump must be defeated,” opined another exec, a group product manager.
One employee took to Twitter last month to inform the world that her pup was part of the resistance as well.
“Every night my dog takes a crap on the lawn of the one house on our street with a Trump sign,” she said proudly.
Ad hominem jabs toward Trump and his administration were commonplace among Twitter’s longtime ranks.
The company’s global creative partnership head has called Trump “swine.” An associate brand strategist labeled the president an “egomaniacal blowhard.” A sales manager in New York called Trump “the Enron of presidents.”
Spreading lies about the Trump family is also not beneath Twitter’s sentinels. A senior staff engineer inquired why the media wasn’t looking into Melania Trump’s “possible stint as a sex worker.” (The first lady denied this allegation and successfully sued over it.)
Twitter’s “head of integrity” Yoel Roth was infamously busted over a series of old tweets revealing him to be a die-hard Trump hater.
In his posts, Roth — who helped author the policy update used by the company to flag and label posts from President Trump — compared White House officials to Nazis and Trump to a “racist tangerine.”
Conservative critics — who have long complained of Twitter’s systemic bias against Republicans — were not surprised.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why they only selectively enforce these rules. It’s because the people who work there all believe the same things,” GOP strategist Chris Barron told The Post. “A liberal [verified account] never has to pay a price for advocating violence.”
“We do not hire based on political beliefs and completely support our employees’ right to express themselves and support the causes they care about,” Twitter’s Chief Human Resources Officer Jennifer Christie said in a statement to The Post.
“Our employees are professionals, and we require them to bring objectivity to their work regardless of their personal views. We will not be dissuaded from continuing to work to fairly and impartially enforce our rules.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Walker Buehler’s gem helps Dodgers top Braves to force NLCS Game 7

Kiké Hernandez described a scene Saturday suggesting the Dodgers were energized and ready to continue their NLCS comeback .
Music , dancing and screaming were all part of the clubhouse revelry .
Hernandez , a veteran infielder , said it was the most energy he had seen from teammates before a day game in his six seasons with the Dodgers .
“ We ’ ve got a good thing going on right now , ” Hernandez said .
Then Game 6 commenced , and Walker Buehler helped keep the vibes going .
With the right-hander firing six shutout innings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Globe Life Field in Arlington , Texas , to set up a winner-take-all Sunday night .
The Braves , trying to reach the World Series for the first time since 1999 , have the momentum against them after losing two straight .
The Dodgers , attempting to win their third pennant in four years , would become the 14th team in MLB postseason history ( out of 88 ) to overcome a series deficit of at least 3-1 if they complete the comeback .
Buehler , dealing with blister problems , was challenged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who allowed three runs in the first inning and then stymied the Dodgers into the seventh .
Blake Treinen , Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen navigated the late innings for the Dodgers after Buehler was removed at 84 pitches .
The right-hander allowed seven hits and struck out six .
Jansen had a second straight perfect ninth inning , after struggling earlier this postseason .
Joc Pederson ’ s diving catch on Austin Riley ’ s line drive to left field leading off the inning helped .
The Braves awoke in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RBI double against Treinen .
But Treinen limited the damage , keeping the Dodgers ’ lead at 3-1 .
Corey Seager continued his postseason tear by swatting a hanging curveball from Fried in the first inning inside the right-field foul pole to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead .
The homer was Seager ’ s fifth in the series , establishing an NLCS record .
The RBI was Seager ’ s 15th in the postseason , which set a Dodgers record .
Before the inning was complete , the Dodgers added two more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Cody Bellinger stroked a RBI single after Max Muncy had walked and Will Smith had singled .
Braves manager Brian Snitker initiated bullpen activity in the first , but Fried survived and lasted 6 ²/₃ innings , allowing eight hits and four walks with six strikeouts .
The Dodgers did not get a hit with a runner on base after the first inning .
Buehler ’ s best work came in the second , after the Braves loaded the bases with nobody out on successive singles by Travis d ’ Arnaud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Riley struck out on a 99-mph fastball and Nick Markakis was caught looking at strike three before Buehler retired Cristian Pache on a ground out .
The Braves had other chances early against Buehler , but couldn ’ t deliver with runners on base .
In the fifth , with Freddie Freeman on first base , Marcell Ozuna hit a drive to right field that Mookie Betts snagged at the fence with a leaping catch to end the inning .
Betts danced off the field following his latest defensive gem — a night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just inches from the grass and turned it into a double play that deprived the Braves a run .
In the fourth , d ’ Arnaud and Swanson singled , but Buehler retired Riley and Markakis in succession to escape .

Kiké Hernandez described a scene Saturday suggesting the Dodgers were energized and ready to continue their NLCS comeback.
Music, dancing and screaming were all part of the clubhouse revelry. Hernandez, a veteran infielder, said it was the most energy he had seen from teammates before a day game in his six seasons with the Dodgers.
“We’ve got a good thing going on right now,” Hernandez said.
Then Game 6 commenced, and Walker Buehler helped keep the vibes going. With the right-hander firing six shutout innings, the Dodgers beat the Braves 3-1 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, to set up a winner-take-all Sunday night.
The Braves, trying to reach the World Series for the first time since 1999, have the momentum against them after losing two straight. The Dodgers, attempting to win their third pennant in four years, would become the 14th team in MLB postseason history (out of 88) to overcome a series deficit of at least 3-1 if they complete the comeback.
Buehler, who has battled recent blister problems, was challenged, but he outgunned Braves ace Max Fried — who allowed three runs in the first inning, then stymied the Dodgers into the seventh.
Blake Treinen, Pedro Baez and Kenley Jansen navigated the late innings for the Dodgers after Buehler was removed at 84 pitches. Buehler allowed seven hits and struck out six. Buehler’s biggest test was a bases-loaded jam in the second with nobody out; the Braves did not score.
“I’ve never felt that calm in a baseball game, especially in a spot like that,” Buehler said. “I have failed in those moments. I can handle that failure. I’ve been through it and I’ve been good after it. That failure doesn’t really scare me anymore. There is a different feeling when you are not scared of that failure.”
The Braves awoke in the seventh on Ronald Acuna Jr.’s RBI double against Treinen. But Treinen limited the damage, keeping the Dodgers’ lead at 3-1.
Corey Seager continued his postseason tear by swatting a hanging curveball from Fried in the first inning inside the right-field foul pole to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The homer was Seager’s fifth in the series, establishing a NLCS record. The RBI was Seager’s 15th in the postseason, which set a Dodgers record.
Before the inning was complete, the Dodgers added two more runs: Justin Turner homered behind Seager and Cody Bellinger stroked a RBI single after Max Muncy had walked and Will Smith had singled.
“If we’re nitpicking, maybe we do a little bit better job of adjusting in the middle of the game and trying to hit some of those breaking balls the other way instead of pull-side ground balls,” Turner said. “But we did what we had to do to force a Game 7.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker initiated bullpen activity in the first, but Fried survived and lasted 6 ²/₃ innings, allowing eight hits and four walks with six strikeouts. The Dodgers did not get a hit with a runner on base after the first inning.
“[Fried] regrouped and that was big,” Snitker said. “He gave us a chance.”
Buehler’s best work came in the second, after the Braves loaded the bases with nobody out on successive singles by Travis d’Arnaud, Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson. But Riley struck out on a 99-mph fastball and Nick Markakis was caught looking at strike three before Buehler retired Cristian Pache on a ground out.
The Braves had other chances early against Buehler, but couldn’t deliver with runners on base. In the fifth, with Freddie Freeman on first base, Marcell Ozuna hit a drive to right field that Mookie Betts snagged at the fence with a leaping catch to end the inning. Betts danced off the field following his latest defensive gem — a night earlier he had caught Swanson’s bloop just inches from the grass and turned it into a double play that deprived the Braves a run.
“It just the athleticism,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “[Betts] just impacts a game in so many different ways.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--The MTA is bleeding out — saving it should be all local

The MTA faces years of “ suffocating ” debt if the federal ...

To return post-COVID to life as it once knew it, New York City will need its subways and buses. Yet state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli now warns of a possible collapse of MTA finances that could “mark the end of regional public transit as we know it.”
Unthinkable, but all too possible.
Officials need to move mountains, pronto, to save the system — which, says DiNapoli, is dealing with its “worst financial crisis in history.”
The details are spelled out in his frightening report last week: MTA ridership remains down dramatically, as much as 70 percent on the subways and even more on the LIRR and MetroNorth. The agency’s debt is skyrocketing. And forget help from the state or city, busy grappling with their own fiscal meltdowns.
DiNapoli warns of “unheard of service cuts” — as much as 40 percent for subways and buses and 50 percent for the commuter rail lines — unless officials find a way to plug enormous holes in the MTA budget sprung by COVID-driven revenue drops and bumped-up costs. Fare hikes, workforce cuts and disruption of maintenance and repair work are also likely.
Debt could spike to “suffocating levels that could take multiple generations to recover from” — with repayments (and rising interest costs) siphoning precious cash.
Just how deep is the abyss? DiNapoli cites gaps of $3.4 billion this year, $6.3 billion in 2021, $3.8 billion in 2022, $2.8 billion in 2023 and $3.1 billion in 2024 — more than $19 billion over five years.
That’s big money: Next year’s hole is more than half the agency’s projected revenue. Shortfalls thereafter are on the order of those during the Great Recession.
It’s a nightmare. The city, state, MTA brass, Washington and — yes — labor, too, can’t let mass transit in America’s most important city wither. Gotham’s economy won’t recover without adequate trains and buses, and its paralysis will drag down economic activity for the state and all of America, too.
So far, Congress hasn’t been able to work out a deal on a major new COVID rescue plan that would rush lifesaving funds to the MTA (it wants $12 billion total, $3.9 billion by year’s end). So the agency is set to lay off as many as 8,500 workers.
Yet it’s hard to see how mass transit can survive without aid from DC, even with layoffs: “Inaction by Congress will not only hurt our customers and employees but also the economic rebound of New York and the nation,” warns MTA boss Pat Foye.
Labor concessions, of course, could help, too — but union leaders would likely prefer to see staff axed (since those off the payroll don’t vote in union elections) than have workers make sacrifices (affecting those who still can vote).
Yet one way or another, those yawning gaps need to be closed — and in a way that protects riders. The alternative is just too painful to contemplate.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Details of black Long Island woman’s harassment complaint against neighbors revealed

The Guardian Angels have begun patrolling Chelsea — the third ...

A black Long Island woman who posted a sign on her front door pleading for help after years of alleged harassment from her white neighbors claims they accused her of playing “the race card” and constantly fired a pellet gun at her property.
The new details surfaced in a sworn statement from Jennifer McLeggan, 39, during a Friday court appearance in the criminal mischief and harassment case against her neighbors, John McEneaney, 57, and his girlfriend, Mindy Canarick, 53, who have denied wrongdoing, according to Newsday.
The bad relationship began almost immediately after McLeggan bought her Valley Stream home in 2017.
More than 60 times, McLeggan said she heard “pops” that seemed to be gunshots coming from McEneaney’s yard, as McEneaney allegedly sent shots flying into and across her property, despite her many calls to police, according to the court papers cited by Newsday.
McEneaney told her at one point to “go back” to where she “came from,” she also claimed, accusing McEneaney of using derogatory terms for her and shouting that she was playing “the race card.”
McLaren’s social media posts in August drew enough attention for her home to become the site of several protests.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement The home of Jennifer McLeggan in Valley Stream, New York. Dennis A. Clark Dennis A. Clark Advertisement
Nassau District Court Judge Eileen Goggin signed new orders of protection Friday requiring both defendants to stay away from McLeggan. The Nassau district attorney is investigating whether McEneaney violated a previous order.
McEneaney told investigators in August he only shot his guns in his yard, never pointed them at anyone or any other house and that his father had surrendered the guns to Nassau police, court records show. McEneaney has denied harassing McLeggan, said he isn’t a racist and called Canarick and himself “the victims.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Giants’ Wayne Gallman starting to provide boost to running game

We have detected signs of life .
The pulse of the Giants ’ running game without Saquon Barkley was weak and barely discernable , until last week .
Sure , they ran for 136 yards against the Rams , but quarterback Daniel Jones got 45 of those yards on designed or non-designed scrambles .
Wayne Gallman , two weeks ago , ran six times for 45 yards .
In last week ’ s 37-34 loss to the Cowboys , Gallman averaged 4.8 yards , rushing five times for 24 yards to augment Devonta Freeman ’ s 17 carries for 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This week ’ s opponent , Washington , allows 129.6 yards per game on the ground , making this an opportune time for Gallman , a 2017 fourth-round pick out of Clemson , to again show he deserves to be on the field and that he can be a suitable option .
“ Wayne has hung in there really good with us , ’ ’ running backs coach Burton Burns said .
“ He ’ s getting better each day by focusing on what he has to do to improve .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with from Day 1 , let ’ s just focus on what you have to do to get better and let ’ s just take it one step at a time .
I think you ’ ve seen some really good things from Wayne .
He ’ s running the ball hard , he ’ s learning how to control his body better .
I ’ m really pleased with his progress at this point.
’ ’ The Giants have been terrible in recent years against the NFC East , but have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyle Allen made his first start of the season , replacing benched Dwayne Haskins , but was forced out with an arm injury in last week ’ s 30-10 loss to the Rams .
That meant Alex Smith made his first appearance in a game since his horrific lower leg injury in 2018 .
Allen practiced this week and will start versus the Giants .
Something to watch : Washington allowed eight sacks to the Rams .
Of course , the Giants do not have anyone close to the caliber of Aaron Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Washington ’ s offensive line should be bolstered by the return of guard Brandon Scherff from injured reserve .
The Cowboys lead the NFC East at 2-3 , followed by the Eagles ( 1-3-1 ) , Washington ( 1-4 ) and Giants ( 0-5 ) .
No one expected this to be a world-beater division , but this is brutal .
“ Well , first of all , you have three new head coaches , ’ ’ Washington coach Ron Rivera said .
“ Philly ’ s been beat up .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players , so physically they ’ re not the team they were before they got hurt .
As they get those guys back , they ’ re going to be better .
We ’ ve got some young teams in our division — when I say ‘ young teams , ’ I look at us and New York , I think they ’ re very young .
I think Dallas is still learning who they are with the new head coach .
They ’ ve got some veteran guys and they lost their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be interesting to see how the rest of this division unfolds.
’ ’ ’ The Giants signed LB Trent Harris to their practice squad earlier in the week and , on Saturday , promoted him to their roster .
Harris played last season for Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when the two were with the Dolphins .
The Giants are thin at outside linebacker , with Lorenzo Carter out for the season following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and Oshane Ximines ( shoulder ) on IR .

We have detected signs of life.
The pulse of the Giants’ running game without Saquon Barkley was weak and barely discernable, until last week. Sure, they ran for 136 yards against the Rams, but quarterback Daniel Jones got 45 of those yards on designed or non-designed scrambles.
Wayne Gallman, two weeks ago, ran six times for 45 yards. In last week’s 37-34 loss to the Cowboys, Gallman averaged 4.8 yards, rushing five times for 24 yards to augment Devonta Freeman’s 17 carries for 60 yards (3.5 yard average).
This week’s opponent, Washington, allows 129.6 yards per game on the ground, making this an opportune time for Gallman, a 2017 fourth-round pick out of Clemson, to again show he deserves to be on the field and that he can be a suitable option.
“Wayne has hung in there really good with us,’’ running backs coach Burton Burns said. “He’s getting better each day by focusing on what he has to do to improve. That’s the one thing we challenged Wayne with from Day 1, let’s just focus on what you have to do to get better and let’s just take it one step at a time. I think you’ve seen some really good things from Wayne. He’s running the ball hard, he’s learning how to control his body better. I’m really pleased with his progress at this point.’’
The Giants have been terrible in recent years against the NFC East, but have a three-game winning streak versus Washington. … Kyle Allen made his first start of the season, replacing benched Dwayne Haskins, but was forced out with an arm injury in last week’s 30-10 loss to the Rams. That meant Alex Smith made his first appearance in a game since his horrific lower leg injury in 2018. Allen practiced this week and will start versus the Giants.
Something to watch: Washington allowed eight sacks to the Rams. Of course, the Giants do not have anyone close to the caliber of Aaron Donald, who got four of the sacks. Washington’s offensive line should be bolstered by the return of guard Brandon Scherff from injured reserve.
The Cowboys lead the NFC East at 2-3, followed by the Eagles (1-3-1), Washington (1-4) and Giants (0-5). No one expected this to be a world-beater division, but this is brutal.
“Well, first of all, you have three new head coaches,’’ Washington coach Ron Rivera said. “Philly’s been beat up. They’ve lost a lot of good players, so physically they’re not the team they were before they got hurt. As they get those guys back, they’re going to be better. We’ve got some young teams in our division — when I say ‘young teams,’ I look at us and New York, I think they’re very young. I think Dallas is still learning who they are with the new head coach. They’ve got some veteran guys and they lost their quarterback, so I think it’s going to be interesting to see how the rest of this division unfolds.’’’
The Giants signed LB Trent Harris to their practice squad earlier in the week and, on Saturday, promoted him to their roster. Harris played last season for Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when the two were with the Dolphins. The Giants are thin at outside linebacker, with Lorenzo Carter out for the season following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and Oshane Ximines (shoulder) on IR.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--‘Corridor of misery, despair and crime’: Guardian Angels patrol NYC’s Chelsea neighborhood

Gov .
Cuomo left a big loophole in his lockdown of ...

The Guardian Angels have begun patrolling Chelsea — the third Manhattan neighborhood the crime-prevention group has descended upon this year.
“These are places, if you would have ever suggested years ago they need Guardian Angels, they would have said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’ Well now they do,” said founder Curtis Sliwa.
Sliwa and other volunteers began walking the Chelsea area Sept. 29, not long after police said a grocery store manager was viciously attacked there by a deranged homeless man, ABC 7 reported.
Ramon Acevedo, 64 was opening the 25th Street store July 23 when Oscar Apronti, 27, suddenly swung a hammer at Acevedo’s head, police said.
Sliwa said his volunteers soon learned there were other problems in the neighborhood, including a “corridor of misery, despair, and crime” on 20th and 21st Streets, between 7th and 8th Avenues, where “people are selling drugs, shooting up. . .emotionally disturbed.”
More than 100 hotels in the city have taken in homeless shelter residents this year to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The once-family-friendly Upper West Side was also plagued by an influx of hotel-shelter residents who slept on the street, shot up and defecated in broad daylight, prompting Sliwa’s volunteers to begin patrolling there this summer.
Earlier this week, the Guardian Angels announced its volunteers would also begin canvassing the Upper East Side.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--Yankees’ Astros-Rays roadblock isn’t going away

Regardless of what happens the rest of October , the Yankees have spent the past week watching the two teams that knocked them out of the playoffs the past two years face off in the ALCS .
And as they prepare for their organizational meetings , which are set to begin this week , they ’ ll be developing their own strategy , but also no doubt considering what the Astros and Rays will look like in 2021 .
The economic impact of a regular season that was shortened and held without fans is still to be determined , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predict teams ’ plans than it was in the past .
Given the fact the Rays won 90-plus games in 2018 and 2019 before finishing this season with the best record in the American League and the Astros overcame the firings of manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow due to Houston ’ s sign-stealing scandal to advance deep into the postseason , there ’ s no reason to believe the Yankees won ’ t have to contend with both again in next year .
The Rays will certainly be creative — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin Kiermaier is due to be their most expensive player next season at $ 11.6 million and is owed another $ 12.1 million in 2022 .
Left-hander Blake Snell could be a trade candidate , since he figures to get a raise to over $ 11 million in arbitration and Tampa Bay has never been shy about dealing players before they get too expensive .
Charlie Morton and Mike Zunino might not be retained , but others that have thrived this postseason — like Tyler Glasnow , Randy Arozarena and Manuel Margot — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to know what to make of Houston , which lost ace Justin Verlander , closer Roberto Osuna and one of its best hitters , Yordan Alvarez , and only made the playoffs because they were expanded this season .
They ’ ll again be without Verlander in 2021 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery , while George Springer and Michael Brantley are set to hit free agency .
Jose Altuve , Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman will remain , and Martin Maldonado has another year on his contract .
The emergence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lineup and Framber Valdez in the rotation likely aren ’ t flukes , and the front office put in place after Luhnow ’ s dismissal will get its first full offseason to make its mark on the roster .
Will general manager James Click try to move any of the long-term contracts that were signed when he was still an assistant with Tampa Bay ?
If so , perhaps Houston will look to the future and see that Correa , Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr. are among those who will be free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market is for them .
Greinke is due to make $ 35 million next season , while McCullers is set to hit his final year of arbitration .
Correa would have made $ 8 million in a full season this year and it ’ s hard to see Houston trading him given his value and role with the franchise .
The Astros won more than 100 games in each of the previous three seasons — although that record looks very different in the wake of the cheating scandal .
Prior to joining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience came with the penny-pinching Rays .
He won ’ t have the same budgetary restrictions with the Astros , although there may be some .
Either way , it ’ s hard to see the Yankees not having to contend with one or both of their new rivals in the future .

Regardless of what happens the rest of October, the Yankees have spent the past week watching the two teams that knocked them out of the playoffs the past two years face off in the ALCS.
And as they prepare for their organizational meetings, which are set to begin this week, they’ll be developing their own strategy, but also no doubt considering what the Astros and Rays will look like in 2021.
The economic impact of a regular season that was shortened and held without fans is still to be determined, so it’s even more difficult to predict teams’ plans than it was in the past. Given the fact the Rays won 90-plus games in 2018 and 2019 before finishing this season with the best record in the American League and the Astros overcame the firings of manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow due to Houston’s sign-stealing scandal to advance deep into the postseason, there’s no reason to believe the Yankees won’t have to contend with both again in next year.
The Rays will certainly be creative — and frugal — again this offseason.
Kevin Kiermaier is due to be their most expensive player next season at $11.6 million and is owed another $12.1 million in 2022.
Left-hander Blake Snell is on a long-term deal (5 years, $50M) and is locked in at $10.5M next year.
Charlie Morton and Mike Zunino might not be retained, but others that have thrived this postseason — like Tyler Glasnow, Randy Arozarena and Manuel Margot — will remain bargains.
It’s hard to know what to make of Houston, which lost ace Justin Verlander, closer Roberto Osuna and one of its best hitters, Yordan Alvarez, and only made the playoffs because they were expanded this season.
They’ll again be without Verlander in 2021 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, while George Springer and Michael Brantley are set to hit free agency.
Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman will remain, and Martin Maldonado has another year on his contract.
The emergence of players like Kyle Tucker in the lineup and Framber Valdez in the rotation likely aren’t flukes, and the front office put in place after Luhnow’s dismissal will get its first full offseason to make its mark on the roster.
Will general manager James Click try to move any of the long-term contracts that were signed when he was still an assistant with Tampa Bay?
If so, perhaps Houston will look to the future and see that Correa, Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr. are among those who will be free agents after next season and test what the market is for them. Greinke is due to make $35 million next season, while McCullers is set to hit his final year of arbitration. Correa would have made $8 million in a full season this year and it’s hard to see Houston trading him given his value and role with the franchise.
The Astros won more than 100 games in each of the previous three seasons — although that record looks very different in the wake of the cheating scandal.
Prior to joining Houston, Click’s only MLB experience came with the penny-pinching Rays. He won’t have the same budgetary restrictions with the Astros, although there may be some.
Either way, it’s hard to see the Yankees not having to contend with one or both of their new rivals in the future.


newyorkpost--2020-10-17--New Yorkers rip Twitter’s Jack Dorsey for censoring Post account

The Post’s Twitter account remains frozen in the wake of our exclusive report on Hunter Biden’s e-mails, so we turned to an old-fashioned form of getting the word out: Street criers.
Our hearty band of newshounds started spreading the news early Saturday from Greenwich Village to Times Square — and found New Yorkers sick and tired of Big Tech’s censorship of their beloved Big Apple read.
“I think it’s f–king terrible!” Erin Peters, 41, told us near Washington Square Park. “This is the United States of America, the only place where you have freedom of speech.”
The misguided muzzling really bytes, she said.
“It was beyond outrageous what they did. It was uncalled for. It’s like they don’t want the truth exposed. Why? Because of the election?”
Nearby, a 69-year-old retired nurse who gave her name as Susan M. had a simple message for Twitter boss Jack Dorsey.
“Let me make my decision myself,” she said. “Let the people decide.”
Put that in your pica and smoke it, Jack.