newyorkpost--2020-07-03--NYC-funded art programs slashed by $23 million in latest city budget

The latest New York City budget slashed its support for municipal-funded arts programs by 11 percent , the result of the $ 9 billion loss in tax revenue fueled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
The decrease in spending was included in the city ’ s $ 88.19 billion budget passed Wednesday — a sum that included a roughly $ 23 million cut to the Department of Cultural Affairs , the city agency that handles grants to arts organizations , according to the New York Times .
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer , who chairs the cultural affairs committee , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed plan over those cuts , and the fact that the budget also cuts $ 15 million from arts education services .
“ I fight like an animal inside the budget negotiating team for those things , ” Van Bramer said .
John Calvelli — chair of the city ’ s Cultural Institutions Group ( CIG ) , which represents 33 museums and other organizations — said they were “ trying to figure out how we do what we have done with less.
” The Coalition of Theaters of Color , which supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep its funding of $ 3.7 million .
Van Bramer said that in our national time of reckoning over racial injustice , the council wouldn ’ t consider cutting anything from the initiative .
The Bronx Children ’ s museum also faces the possibility of having to limit the programs they usually provide to children as a result of the budget cuts .

The latest New York City budget slashed its support for municipally funded arts programs by 11 percent, the result of the $9 billion loss in tax revenue fueled by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The decrease in spending was included in the city’s $88.19 billion budget passed Wednesday — a sum that included a roughly $23 million cut to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the city agency that handles grants to arts organizations, according to the New York Times.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who chairs the cultural affairs committee, told the outlet that he voted against the proposed plan over those cuts, and the fact that the budget also cuts $15 million from arts education services.
“I fight like an animal inside the budget negotiating team for those things,” Van Bramer said.
John Calvelli — chair of the city’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), which represents 33 museums and other organizations — said they were “trying to figure out how we do what we have done with less.”
The Coalition of Theaters of Color, which supports theaters in communities of color, will keep its funding of $3.7 million. Van Bramer said that in a national time of reckoning over racial injustice, the council wouldn’t consider cutting anything from the initiative.
The Bronx Children’s Museum also faces the possibility of having to limit the programs it usually provides for children as a result of the budget cuts.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Convicted pedophile serving 1,000-year sentence gets parole

A Georgia pedophile sentenced to 1,000 years in prison was let out on parole following an appeals court ruling , prompting the district attorney to lament he was “ powerless to stop it.
” Peter Mallory was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography , tampering with evidence and invasion of privacy in 2011 .
At his sentencing in 2012 , a circuit court judge called him “ probably the most prolific collector of child pornography in the entire world , ” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
But an appeals court ruled in May that the sentence Mallory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released three weeks later , on May 27 .
Before his arrest , Mallory served as a county commissioner and owned an independent television station based on the campus of West Georgia Technical College .
When police began detecting downloads of child porn on the campus , they originally suspected it was the work of a student , according to WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta .
But when the station was raided , investigators found more than 26,000 files of child pornography on Mallory ’ s computer .
“ The evidence demonstrated that Mallory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , downloaded and saved these images and videos of children being raped , tortured and sexually exploited , ” said District Attorney Herb Cranford in a press release .
“ In the current digital age , no amount of supervision can stop a compulsive sexual deviant like Mallory from seeking out the most heinous images and videos of small children being sexually abused .
”

A Georgia pedophile sentenced to 1,000 years in prison was let out on parole following an appeals court ruling, prompting the district attorney to lament that he was “powerless to stop it.”
Peter Mallory was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, tampering with evidence and invasion of privacy in 2011. At his sentencing in 2012, a circuit judge called him “probably the most prolific collector of child pornography in the entire world,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
But an appeals court ruled in May that the sentence Mallory served was appropriate, and he was released three weeks later, on May 27.
Before his arrest, Mallory served as a county commissioner and owned an independent television station based on the campus of West Georgia Technical College.
When police began detecting downloads of child porn on the campus, they originally suspected it was the work of a student, according to WSB-TV 2 in Atlanta. But when the station was raided, investigators found more than 26,000 files of child pornography on Mallory’s computer.
“The evidence demonstrated that Mallory knowingly and intentionally sought out, gathered, downloaded and saved these images and videos of children being raped, tortured and sexually exploited,” said District Attorney Herb Cranford in a press release.
“In the current digital age, no amount of supervision can stop a compulsive sexual deviant like Mallory from seeking out the most heinous images and videos of small children being sexually abused.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--One dead, six wounded in series of shootings across NYC

With coronavirus cases surging in the United States , the media ...

One person was dead and six others wounded after a spate of shootings across New York City Thursday night.
The gunplay began about 6:45 p.m. in Brownsville, Brooklyn, when a 20-year-old man was killed and a 36-year-old woman injured in a shooting on New Lots Avenue near Mother Gaston Boulevard, cops said.
The man was shot in the head and the woman was hit in the arm and torso, police said. Both victims were taken to Brookdale Hospital, where the man died.
Another shooting erupted at about 10:30 p.m. on Avenue H near East 57th Street in Canarsie, Brooklyn, leaving a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg, authorities said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital and was expected to survive.
At about 11 p.m. in East Harlem, two people were shot — a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman — near East 108th Street and the FDR Drive service road, cops said.
The man was struck in the leg, while the woman took bullets to the torso and leg, according to police. Both victims were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.
About five minutes later, a 19-year-old man was shot in the buttocks by a suspect in a dark-colored SUV on Lincoln Place near Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, cops said.
The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital.
Just after 11:30 p.m. in Far Rockaway, a 27-year-old man was shot in the torso outside a residence on Beach 26th Street, police said. He was taken to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital.
As of early Friday, no arrests had been made in any of the shootings.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Media refuse to admit the coronavirus doesn’t care about red vs. blue

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
With coronavirus cases surging in the United States , the media were quick to blame : “ Several Republican-led states that moved quickly to reopen this spring at the urging of President Trump have seen new cases explode , ” The New York Times reported .
Yet hyper-Democratic California is actually seeing the highest number of new cases .
Yes , GOP-led Arizona , Florida , Georgia and Texas are also seeing issues .
But the red-v.-blue template doesn ’ t fit reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw a single-day record of more than 52,000 new COVID-19 cases .
Counting the June numbers as a rise in infections of nearly 50 percent , The Washington Post explained : “ States that took an aggressive approach to reopening led the country in infection spikes — along with California , the nation ’ s most populous state , where leaders have been more cautious.
” Most of the Sun Belt is seeing the same trend , yet California is somehow different ?
Funny : Six states including Cali saw record highs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t one .
Why not flag that ?
Much of California fears hospitals will be overwhelmed , with Los Angeles County saying it could run out of hospital and ICU beds in two to three weeks .
In response , Gov .
Gavin Newsom restored restrictions in counties that hold more than 70 percent of the state population — closing bars entirely and shutting down indoor dining and even zoos .
He ’ s pushing localities to cancel Fourth of July fireworks , too ; LA County has even closed its beaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are similarly rolling back their reopenings in hard-hit counties .
It ’ s all the same story — because the coronavirus doesn ’ t care about red or blue .
Heck , indoor dining also got put on hold in not-remotely-Sun-Belt New York City , while Michigan ( led by a fierce Democratic governor ) closed indoor bar service in much of the state .
In all , 37 states are concerned after seeing their coronavirus cases rise week-over-week last week .
The good news is that deaths so far aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitalizations aren ’ t lasting as long .
In April , the national daily death toll was often above 2,000 .
Now it ’ s around 600 and continues to drop .
So the national surge in cases is concerning but not alarming .
One reason for the disparity is that younger people — for whom the virus is far less deadly — are driving the numbers .
Half of new California cases are under-34s .
Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott says his state ’ s surge is being led by those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged 18 and under double in their positive test rate .
This all means a continued reopening — albeit a careful one — remains the way to go , pending serious signs of danger .
It doesn ’ t fit the incessant Republicans-are-evil narrative , but it does follow the numbers and the science .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
With coronavirus cases surging in the United States, the media were quick to blame: “Several Republican-led states that moved quickly to reopen this spring at the urging of President Trump have seen new cases explode,” The New York Times reported.
Yet hyper-Democratic California is actually seeing the highest number of new cases. Yes, GOP-led Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas are also seeing issues. But the red-v.-blue template doesn’t fit reality.
Last week, the United States saw a single-day record of more than 52,000 new COVID-19 cases.
Counting the June numbers as a rise in infections of nearly 50 percent, The Washington Post explained: “States that took an aggressive approach to reopening led the country in infection spikes — along with California, the nation’s most populous state, where leaders have been more cautious.”
Most of the Sun Belt is seeing the same trend, yet California is somehow different? Funny: Six states including Cali saw record highs in cases on Wednesday — but Florida wasn’t one. Why not flag that?
Much of California fears hospitals will be overwhelmed, with Los Angeles County saying it could run out of hospital and ICU beds in two to three weeks. In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom restored restrictions in counties that hold more than 70 percent of the state population — closing bars entirely and shutting down indoor dining and even zoos. He’s pushing localities to cancel Fourth of July fireworks, too; LA County has even closed its beaches.
Again: Other Sun Belt states are similarly rolling back their reopenings in hard-hit counties. It’s all the same story — because the coronavirus doesn’t care about red or blue.
Heck, indoor dining also got put on hold in not-remotely-Sun-Belt New York City, while Michigan (led by a fierce Democratic governor) closed indoor bar service in much of the state.
In all, 37 states are concerned after seeing their coronavirus cases rise week-over-week last week.
The good news is that deaths so far aren’t surging in the same way, while hospitalizations aren’t lasting as long.
In April, the national daily death toll was often above 2,000. Now it’s around 600 and continues to drop. So the national surge in cases is concerning but not alarming.
One reason for the disparity is that younger people — for whom the virus is far less deadly — are driving the numbers. Half of new California cases are under-34s. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says his state’s surge is being led by those in their 20s while Florida has seen residents aged 18 and under double in their positive test rate.
This all means a continued reopening — albeit a careful one — remains the way to go, pending serious signs of danger. It doesn’t fit the incessant Republicans-are-evil narrative, but it does follow the numbers and the science.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--World’s oldest cat dead at 31

World’s oldest cat dead at 31

He lived life to the feline fullest .
Rubble , long considered the world ’ s oldest cat , has passed away at the age of 31 — or 150 in human years , according to People magazine .
“ He was an amazing companion that I had the pleasure to live with for such a long time , ” said his owner , Michele Heritage of Exeter , England .
Now 52 , Heritage was given Rubble as a gift for her 32nd birthday .
“ He was part of a litter of cats that my sister ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home , ” she recalled .
“ I was lonely living on my own , so I got him in as a kitten.
” Heritage attributed Rubble ’ s longevity to her doting care and attention .
“ I have always treated him like a child , ” she said .
“ I don ’ t have any children and had another cat who passed at the age of 25 .
If you care about something , no matter what it is , it does last.
” Rubble ’ s condition suddenly began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and he eventually stopped eating and would only drink water .
“ He was a creature of habit , ” she added .
“ [ He ] had his favorite places to sleep and liked his food , so when that stopped happening , we knew.
” The aged feline recently left home one day and never returned .
“ We believe he went off to die as cats do , ” Heritage told People .

He lived life to the feline fullest.
Rubble, long considered the world’s oldest cat, has passed away at the age of 31 — or 150 in human years, according to People magazine.
“He was an amazing companion that I had the pleasure to live with for such a long time,” said his owner, Michele Heritage of Exeter, England.
Now 52, Heritage was given Rubble as a gift for her 32nd birthday.
“He was part of a litter of cats that my sister’s friend had and I had just left home,” she recalled. “I was lonely living on my own, so I got him in as a kitten.”
Heritage attributed Rubble’s longevity to her doting care and attention.
“I have always treated him like a child,” she said. “I don’t have any children and had another cat who passed at the age of 25. If you care about something, no matter what it is, it does last.”
Rubble’s condition suddenly began to falter towards the end of his life and he eventually stopped eating and would only drink water.
“He was a creature of habit,” she added. “[He] had his favorite places to sleep and liked his food, so when that stopped happening, we knew.”
The aged feline recently left home one day and never returned.
“We believe he went off to die as cats do,” Heritage told People.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--The Cleveland Indians are considering a name change

The eve of the Fourth of July can now be ...

The Cleveland Indians are considering a name change.
The club, with the NFL’s Washington Redskins launching an internal review of their team nickname this week, issued a statement Friday night expressing a willingness to have internal discussions about the “best path forward with regard to our team name.”
“We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality,” the team said in the statement. “Our organization fully recognizes our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community.
“We have had ongoing discussions organizationally on these issues. The recent unrest in our community and our country has only underscored the need for us to keep improving as an organization on issues of social justice.
“With that in mind, we are committed to engaging our community and appropriate stakeholders to determine the best path forward with regard to our team name.
“While the focus of the baseball world shifts to the excitement of an unprecedented 2020 season, we recognize our unique place in the community and are committed to listening, learning and acting in the manner that can best unite and inspire our city and all those who support our team.”
According to The Athletic, Cleveland plans to consult with the Native American community, fans, players, alumni and staff before coming to a decision. The consideration of a new name comes at a time when the country is calling for social change and taking a second look at history after the death of George Floyd in May.
Cleveland’s baseball team, which was previously the Bluebirds, Broncos and Naps became the Indians in 1915. In recent years, the franchise has made efforts to change, starting with ditching its Chief Wahoo logo in 2019 and elusively using a block C instead.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--There’s absolutely no way Trump will drop out of the 2020 race

President Trump looked every bit the beaten fighter as he ...

After he has repeatedly survived the unsurvivable, we are supposed to believe that President Trump might quit the presidential race before it truly begins because of a spate of negative polling. This is the latest chatter among (unnamed) Republicans, according to a widely circulated Fox News report and cable news talking heads.
Trump is a volatile figure, and things could get weird if he is far behind in the final weeks. But the idea that he is going to fall on his sword because the conventional wisdom has turned sharply against his chances runs counter to everything we know about him.
Good luck convincing him he is going to lose after he survived the “Access Hollywood” tape that had GOP officeholders deserting him in droves — and after he prevailed on an election night when many people closest to him thought he was sure to go down to defeat.
There is nothing any political consultant, pollster or adviser can tell him about his dire political condition that he hasn’t heard, and dismissed, before.
If the polling looks bad for him now, Hillary Clinton had sizable leads in 2016, too.
The assumption behind the Trump-might-drop chatter is that the president would want to avoid the psychological sting of a loss, but he has already signaled how he would handle a defeat — by saying he was robbed.
The anonymous Republicans speculating about this scenario surely are wish-casting and assume some other — any other — GOP presidential candidate would be better for the party’s chances. This, too, is doubtful.
How would the great drop-and-switch even work? The party would be implicitly conceding that the incumbent Republican president was such a disaster that he couldn’t even run for a second term — and then turn around and ask voters for four more years of yet another Republican president.
One of the points of this exercise would be to repudiate Trump, but how could the party plausibly do that after loyally and enthusiastically backing him for four years? Who would be a turn-the-page candidate? The natural successor would be Vice President Mike Pence, but he is obviously more associated with Trump than any other figure in the party besides the president’s direct relatives.
How about a Trump critic, say, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse? But such a choice would be a whiplash-inducing change of direction for a party led the moment before by Trump.
The president’s base wouldn’t go away even if Trump said he wasn’t running again, and its feelings would have to be taken into account — not to mention that Trump loyalists would make up a disproportionate share of Republican convention delegates, who would presumably make the choice of a new candidate.
At a time of great populist passion in the GOP, deciding on a presidential candidate without the direct say of any voters would be fraught with peril, to say the least — and more likely to produce a civil war than comity.
Then there is the question of Trump himself. Unless the Trump-stepping-aside scenario becomes even more implausible and involves him resigning the presidency and getting dropped off by Marine One at a monastery to begin a four-month silent retreat, he isn’t going to quietly abide some other Republican soaking up all the public attention that comes with being one of two people who will be the next president of the United States.
Perhaps former Vice President Joe Biden indeed has a durable 10-point lead, in which case there is nothing that the GOP can do to avoid a terrible drubbing. If Biden is that strong, some emergency replacement Republican candidate, hastily chosen amid a political panic, isn’t going to win, either.
It’s more likely that the race will naturally tighten and that Trump will be behind but within range and have a puncher’s chance. Regardless, there is no way he quits without even trying to win the ultimate vindication for any president — and the ultimate repudiation of his critics.
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Take this 4th of July to reject all the America-haters

The inspiration for the musical 'Hamilton ' founded The New York ...

On July 4, 1926, in a speech in the City of Brotherly Love, President Calvin Coolidge said: “At the end of 150 years, the four corners of the earth unite in coming to Philadelphia as to a holy shrine in grateful acknowledgment of a service so great, which a few inspired men here rendered to humanity, that it is still the preeminent support of free government throughout the world.”
Nearly a century later, the legacy of those inspired men is in question. On this Independence Day, there must be no apologies for the greatest nation that has ever existed. Today, we celebrate the unabashed glory and goodness of the United States of America.
There are those today, members of a hyper-educated but unwise elite, who consider the American experiment a failure. They believe it was never good to begin with. In our own city, The New York Times has dedicated its vast resources to spreading this pernicious lie.
But you won’t read that in these pages on July 4.
About two months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the founder of this newspaper, Alexander Hamilton, was serving under Gen. George Washington — and badly losing the Battle of Brooklyn.
How hopeless must the cause have seemed in their quiet moments, haunted by the foreboding sense that their newborn nation would perish. Many of us have the same fear today.
But they didn’t lose. And neither will we.
This year, as hard-left vandals and their liberal apologists tear down statues of the Founding Fathers in a display of staggering ignorance, we must stand up as Americans and announce with the full-throated harmony of the most diverse nation on earth that the United States is still, and will always be, our beloved homeland.
On Independence Day, my neighbor Bruno, who immigrated here from Italy 50 years ago, will grill sausage and play with his grandkids. On Independence Day, the Chinese family on the other side of my Brooklyn row house, who speak about as much English as I speak Mandarin, will celebrate their new lives as free citizens.
On Independence Day, the sad, broken souls who vent rage against this nation can’t extinguish the joy of ordinary men and women whose daily lives give quiet testament to the enduring promise of 1776.
On Independence Day, there should be no caveats. No self-negating apologies, confessions or Maoist-style struggle sessions. No trigger warnings.
As Donald Rumsfeld once quipped, “Who do we want to provide leadership in the world? Somebody else?” On Independence Day, we remember that freedom wasn’t granted to us — but demanded of us. On Independence Day, we are all full-blooded brothers and sisters in liberty.
This is the nation where, within living memory of slavery, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois climbed the summit of academia and became household names. The land where Jews fleeing pogroms found refuge and opportunity. The land of every creed, every language, every religion. And why does it work? Because, before and after all of our differences, we are all Americans.
Is America just a governmental system, an abstract set of rights and procedures? Is it just a vast and prosperous land? Is it an economic system? No. America is all of those things, to be sure, but America isn’t a mere word, nor a mere abstraction. America is all of us, the great living castle of our freedom that protects even those who foolishly would destroy it. America is a nation.
So be proud on Independence Day, proud of our nation. Don’t let the naysayers get you down.
Sixty years after Coolidge spoke in Philadelphia, another president, Ronald Reagan, gave remarks on Independence Day from New York Harbor.
He said: “My fellow Americans, we’re known around the world as a confident and a happy people.
Tonight, there’s much to celebrate and many blessings to be grateful for. So while it’s good to talk about serious things, it’s just as important and just as American to have some fun. Now, let’s have some fun — let the celebration begin!”
David Marcus is The Federalist’s New York Correspondent.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Video shows looters making off with $1.5M in clothing from SoHo shop

Police have released surveillance footage showing these fashion-conscious looters making off with $ 1.5 million in clothing from the high-end @ @ @ @ @ .
The video captured at least six still-at-large looters grabbing pricey merchandise at the store @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,700 — at about 11 p.m. on May 31 , according to police .
@ @ @ @ @ luxury Soho shops devastated by looting that took place as demonstrators took to the streets @ @ @ @ @ May 25 Minneapolis police-involved death of George Floyd .
The morning after the police-released surveillance @ @ @ @ @ Post reporter witnessed a man with a seemingly empty backpack stroll into Celine through a @ @ @ @ @ Is there anything left ?
” the man said before heading inside at 6:45 a.m. @ @ @ @ @ waited outside .
After several minutes , he fled on foot from the high-end clothing @ @ @ @ @ bag .
His friends followed behind him .
In total , the Wooster Street store @ @ @ @ @ 1,511,000 worth of merchandise , police said .

Police have released surveillance footage showing these fashion-conscious looters making off with $1.5 million in clothing from the high-end Soho store Celine.
The video captured at least six still-at-large looters grabbing pricey merchandise at the store — where blouses go for $1,700 — at about 11 p.m. on May 31, according to police.
Celine was one of many luxury Soho shops devastated by looting that took place as demonstrators took to the streets of Manhattan to protest the May 25 Minneapolis police-involved death of George Floyd.
The morning after the police-released surveillance footage was shot, a Post reporter witnessed a man with a seemingly empty backpack stroll into Celine through a broken glass window.
“Is there anything left?” the man said before heading inside at 6:45 a.m. as three of his pals waited outside.
After several minutes, he fled on foot from the high-end clothing store after apparently filling his bag. His friends followed behind him.
In total, the Wooster Street store lost a total of $1,511,000 worth of merchandise, police said.
Anyone with information in regard to the identities of any of these individuals is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are kept confidential.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--4 hospitalized after shooting at Alabama shopping mall

HOOVER , Ala. — A shooting at an Alabama shopping mall left at least four people hospitalized Friday afternoon , police said .
Multiple shots were reported near the food court inside the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover , Police Capt .
Gregg Rector said in a news release .
He said the victims were hospitalized for treatment .
“ Their conditions are unknown at this time , ” authorities said .
“ We don ’ t know at this point what led to the shooting or how many gunmen were involved , ” Rector added .
Authorities did not say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mall has been evacuated “ and the scene is secure , ” police said .
Annalisa Pope , who works at Hollister in the mall , told WBMA-TV in a telephone interview that she heard six to seven shots fired .
“ It wasn ’ t just one or two , ” she said .
“ That ’ s what got me off guard .
They ( the shots ) just kept going.
” She said the gunshots “ sounded like they were coming from every direction.
” Hoover police asked anyone was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call authorities .
“ It felt so close , ” she said .
“ It was so surreal .
It doesn ’ t even feel real right now .
You wouldn ’ t expect something like that to happen out of nowhere on a normal , Friday afternoon.
” The mall in suburban Birmingham was the site of a 2018 police shooting where an officer fatally shot a Black man with a gun after mistaking him for the gunman in an earlier shooting at the mall .
The shooting of 21-year-old Emantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of protests at the mall .
The Alabama attorney general ’ s office cleared the officer , saying he acted “ reasonably under the circumstances ” in the encounter that spanned approximately five seconds .
“ We are heartbroken by the tragic , senseless incident that took place in our shopping center this afternoon , ” the mall said in a statement Friday .

HOOVER, Ala. — A shooting at an Alabama shopping mall left at least four people hospitalized Friday afternoon, police said.
Multiple shots were reported near the food court inside the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Police Capt. Gregg Rector said in a news release. He said the victims were hospitalized for treatment. “Their conditions are unknown at this time,” authorities said.
“We don’t know at this point what led to the shooting or how many gunmen were involved,” Rector added.
Authorities did not say whether anyone had been arrested.
The mall has been evacuated “and the scene is secure,” police said.
Annalisa Pope, who works at Hollister in the mall, told WBMA-TV in a telephone interview that she heard six to seven shots fired.
“It wasn’t just one or two,” she said. “That’s what got me off guard. They (the shots) just kept going.”
She said the gunshots “sounded like they were coming from every direction.”
Hoover police asked anyone was in the mall who witnessed the shooting to call authorities.
“It felt so close,” she said. “It was so surreal. It doesn’t even feel real right now. You wouldn’t expect something like that to happen out of nowhere on a normal, Friday afternoon.”
The mall in suburban Birmingham was the site of a 2018 police shooting where an officer fatally shot a Black man with a gun after mistaking him for the gunman in an earlier shooting at the mall.
The shooting of 21-year-old Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. prompted a series of protests at the mall. The Alabama attorney general’s office cleared the officer, saying he acted “reasonably under the circumstances” in the encounter that spanned approximately five seconds.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic, senseless incident that took place in our shopping center this afternoon,” the mall said in a statement Friday.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--250-year-old Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead is for sale — and shockingly pristine

Check out this old house .
Brooklyn ’ s Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead , which dates back to around 1766 , has quietly hit the market for $ 3.2 million .
Brownstoner first reported the listing .
Only three families have lived in the rare property over its 250-year history .
There are about a dozen such houses in the borough .
The Dutch Colonial farmhouse , located at 1669 E. 22nd St. in the Homecrest section of Sheepshead Bay , has four bedrooms and four bathrooms over 4,000 square feet .
Period details added over the years include fireplaces with large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and built-in cabinets .
The country kitchen has a vaulted ceiling , while an upstairs bathroom has a clawfoot tub .
A descendant of one of the city ’ s first Dutch settlers , Hendrick Wyckoff , built the house on 100 acres of farmland in the mid-1700s , and sold it to Cornelius Bennett in 1835 .
( Bennett ’ s ancestor landed in Brooklyn in 1636 , which would have made him one of the first residents in the area that later became Brooklyn . )
It had no running water @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property stayed in the Bennett family until 1983 , when Stuart and Annette Mont bought it for $ 160,000 .
With their purchase , the Monts told The New York Times , they inherited historic items , like a spinning wheel , flintlock rifles and a horse-drawn sleigh , as well as furniture , silverware , photographs and documents .
“ It ’ s like owning the Brooklyn Bridge , ” Stuart told the Brooklyn Eagle in 2014 .
Per the Times , the house still has “ dishes , silverware , quilts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daguerreotypes , even an edict of April 3 , 1776 , ordering householders ‘ to preserve for the KING ’ s Use ’ bushels of rye , wheat and barley to provision the redcoat army.
” ( There was , of course , also a ghost . )
A 2012 video shows the proud Brooklyn-born couple giving a tour of their home and its precious artifacts .
The Monts , who were in their 70s , recently passed away , so their surviving relatives ( son Ira and daughter Randi ) have put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Century 21 Homefront Realty has the listing .
Also called the Wyckoff-Bennett house or the Wyckoff-Bennett-Mont house , it sits on half an acre at the intersection of East 22nd Street and Avenue P that also includes a barn , built around 1899 .
The four lots that make up the half-acre are surrounded by a white picket fence .
In addition to the empty lawns surrounding it , the main house has several other urban rarities : a front porch , an attic and a basement .
It ’ s just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ School , where past students include Sen. Bernie Sanders , Sen. Chuck Schumer , Chris Rock , Judge Judy — and Annette Mont .
It also boasts a rich and dramatic history .
George Washington reportedly marched troops up nearby Kings Highway .
Around that time , two Hessian soldiers , German troops who served auxiliaries to the British during the Revolutionary War , scratched their names and ranks into the glass .
The glass has been removed , saved and put into picture frames .
The Wyckoff-Bennett homestead ’ s landmark status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exterior .
It ’ s also on the National Register of Historic Places .
Between about 2000 and 2010 , the Monts and the Parks Department were in negotiations for the city agency to buy the house for about $ 2 million , preserve it and turn it into a museum , all while keeping the couple on as live-in caretakers rent-free .
But negotiations fell apart , The Post reported , after the city lowered its offer to about $ 1.3 million .
Experts agreed that the price wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living museum for the 21st century , ” Brooklyn history aficionado Lee Rosenzweig said at the time .
“ You walk inside and you ’ re back in the 1700s.
” “ The city blew it by not going ahead and purchasing it for the Historic House Trust , ” Brooklyn borough historian Ron Schweiger told The Post .
“ The property itself and the artifacts are worth every penny of $ 2 million.
” “ Let my kids worry about it , ” Stuart Mont told the Times after the deal fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some day .
”

Check out this old house.
Brooklyn’s Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead, which dates back to around 1766, has quietly hit the market for $3.2 million. Brownstoner first reported the listing.
Only three families have lived in the rare property over its 250-year history. There are about a dozen such houses in the borough.
The Dutch Colonial farmhouse, located at 1669 E. 22nd St. in the Homecrest section of Sheepshead Bay, has four bedrooms and four bathrooms over 4,000 square feet.
Period details added over the years include fireplaces with large mantels, wide-planked hardwood floors, wainscoting and built-in cabinets. The country kitchen has a vaulted ceiling, while an upstairs bathroom has a clawfoot tub.
A descendant of one of the city’s first Dutch settlers, Hendrick Wyckoff, built the house on 100 acres of farmland in the mid-1700s, and sold it to Cornelius Bennett in 1835. (Bennett’s ancestor landed in Brooklyn in 1636, which would have made him one of the first residents in the area that later became Brooklyn.) It had no running water or electricity until the 1930s. The property stayed in the Bennett family until 1983, when Stuart and Annette Mont bought it for $160,000.
With their purchase, the Monts told The New York Times, they inherited historic items, like a spinning wheel, flintlock rifles and a horse-drawn sleigh, as well as furniture, silverware, photographs and documents.
“It’s like owning the Brooklyn Bridge,” Stuart told the Brooklyn Eagle in 2014.
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Per the Times, the house still has “dishes, silverware, quilts, toys, clothes, Bibles, daguerreotypes, even an edict of April 3, 1776, ordering householders ‘to preserve for the KING’s Use’ bushels of rye, wheat and barley to provision the redcoat army.” (There was, of course, also a ghost.) A 2012 video by Sarah Kamaras shows the proud Brooklyn-born couple giving a tour of their home and its precious artifacts.
The Monts, who were in their 70s, recently passed away, so their surviving relatives (son Ira and daughter Randi) have put it on the market. Delton Cheng of Century 21 Homefront Realty has the listing.
Also called the Wyckoff-Bennett house or the Wyckoff-Bennett-Mont house, it sits on half an acre at the intersection of East 22nd Street and Avenue P that also includes a barn, built around 1899. The four lots that make up the half-acre are surrounded by a white picket fence. In addition to the empty lawns surrounding it, the main house has several other urban rarities: a front porch, an attic and a basement.
It’s just a few blocks from James Madison High School, where past students include Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Chris Rock, Judge Judy — and Annette Mont.
It also boasts a rich and dramatic history. George Washington reportedly marched troops up nearby Kings Highway. Around that time, two Hessian soldiers, German troops who served auxiliaries to the British during the Revolutionary War, scratched their names and ranks into the glass. The glass has been removed, saved and put into picture frames.
The Wyckoff-Bennett homestead’s landmark status, conferred in 1968, only protects the exterior. It’s also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Between about 2000 and 2010, the Monts and the Parks Department were in negotiations for the city agency to buy the house for about $2 million, preserve it and turn it into a museum, all while keeping the couple on as live-in caretakers rent-free.
But negotiations fell apart, The Post reported, after the city lowered its offer to about $1.3 million.
Experts agreed that the price wasn’t right. “It’s a living museum for the 21st century,” Brooklyn history aficionado Lee Rosenzweig said at the time. “You walk inside and you’re back in the 1700s.”
“The city blew it by not going ahead and purchasing it for the Historic House Trust,” Brooklyn borough historian Ron Schweiger told The Post. “The property itself and the artifacts are worth every penny of $2 million.”
“Let my kids worry about it,” Stuart Mont told the Times after the deal fell through. “I’ll die some day.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Gerrit Cole even more confident in Yankees’ World Series hopes

Caden Cole ’ s arrival on the final day of June supplied a grown-up dose of joy to his father who believes the Yankees can add a World Series trophy to the infant ’ s crib .
“ We liked our chances in February not coming out of the gate 100 percent healthy so I have to say we really like our chances coming out of the gate 100 percent healthy , ’ ’ Cole said Friday on a Zoom call ahead of the Yankees ’ first full-squad workout at Yankee Stadium on Saturday .
“ There is only going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I don ’ t see why you wouldn ’ t want to take that trophy home , especially when you are competing against your peers and there is only going to be one of them .
We are excited and bullish and both Aarons [ Judge and Hicks ] looked great [ Thursday ] and we are chomping at the bit.
’ ’ First , the Yankees and 29 other teams have to make it through spring training 2.0 without COVID-19 shutting the game down for a second time .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 teams reaching the postseason .
An optimist , Cole believes the protocols in place can keep baseball on the field .
“ I think everybody is going to see how these first few weeks play out .
So far the testing has been robust .
I certainly have confidence in my teammates and the staff and Yankees to keep us safe .
My gosh , we worked like five months on this protocol with a lot of outside counsel , ’ ’ Cole said .
“ I have faith we can get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ While MLB hasn ’ t released the entire schedule the Yankees are slated to face the defending World Series champion Nationals in Washington on July 23 , which will likely pit Cole against Max Scherzer .
Submit your Yankees questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag “ [ Brett ] Gardner called it in a group text a few weeks ago , ’ ’ Cole said of the stud right-handers facing each other .
“ I am excited to put the uniform on and get out there .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matchup , having pitched against them in the World Series last year and them being World Series champs .
Hopefully , it draws some good attention and it is a good matchup .
I am really excited for it .
I think opening up in D.C. is perfect for the country.
’ ’ One day after unleashing fastballs that almost touched 100 mph to Aaron Judge , Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit , Cole said his body felt good and the workout provided a measuring stick as to quality of his work during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliever Adam Ottavino and manager Aaron Boone standing in a batter ’ s box at Ottavino ’ s Connecticut home and later progressed to Yankee Stadium where the right-handers have been throwing mound sessions .
“ In terms of where I am now it ’ s a great baseline .
I threw three innings [ Thursday ] at roughly 40 to 45 pitches at normal velocity .
Granted it ’ s a different environment facing your own hitters like it will be progressing through this shortened summer training , ’ ’ Cole said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and good load is a great place to start .
I see no reason why we can ’ t get into the regular season with five innings under our belt and hopefully we can get more.
’ ’ As for Amy and Gerrit ’ s first child , the extremely detailed father ’ s focus is not surprisingly razor sharp .
“ He is a good mix of his dad and his mom .
He is a little towhead , he is absolutely adorable .
He has big blue eyes and gosh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , ’ ’ said Cole , whose first name is the son ’ s middle name .

Caden Cole’s arrival on the final day of June supplied a grown-up dose of joy to his father who believes the Yankees can add a World Series trophy to the infant’s crib.
“We liked our chances in February not coming out of the gate 100 percent healthy so I have to say we really like our chances coming out of the gate 100 percent healthy,’’ Cole said Friday on a Zoom call ahead of the Yankees’ first full-squad workout at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. “There is only going to be one coronavirus World Series champion and I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to take that trophy home, especially when you are competing against your peers and there is only going to be one of them. We are excited and bullish and both Aarons [Judge and Hicks] looked great [Thursday] and we are chomping at the bit.’’
First, the Yankees and 29 other teams have to make it through spring training 2.0 without COVID-19 shutting the game down for a second time. Then there is a 60-game season to navigate with 10 teams reaching the postseason.
An optimist, Cole believes the protocols in place can keep baseball on the field.
“I think everybody is going to see how these first few weeks play out. So far the testing has been robust. I certainly have confidence in my teammates and the staff and Yankees to keep us safe. My gosh, we worked like five months on this protocol with a lot of outside counsel,’’ Cole said. “I have faith we can get through this and get through it safely.’’
While MLB hasn’t released the entire schedule the Yankees are slated to face the defending World Series champion Nationals in Washington on July 23, which will likely pit Cole against Max Scherzer.
Submit your Yankees questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
“[Brett] Gardner called it in a group text a few weeks ago,’’ Cole said of the stud right-handers facing each other. “I am excited to put the uniform on and get out there. I think it’s an enticing matchup, having pitched against them in the World Series last year and them being World Series champs. Hopefully, it draws some good attention and it is a good matchup. I am really excited for it. I think opening up in D.C. is perfect for the country.’’
One day after unleashing fastballs that almost touched 100 mph to Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit, Cole said his body felt good and the workout provided a measuring stick as to quality of his work during the stoppage. Those workouts were with reliever Adam Ottavino and manager Aaron Boone standing in a batter’s box at Ottavino’s Connecticut home and later progressed to Yankee Stadium where the right-handers have been throwing mound sessions.
“In terms of where I am now it’s a great baseline. I threw three innings [Thursday] at roughly 40 to 45 pitches at normal velocity. Granted it’s a different environment facing your own hitters like it will be progressing through this shortened summer training,’’ Cole said. “Three innings with good velo and good load is a great place to start. I see no reason why we can’t get into the regular season with five innings under our belt and hopefully we can get more.’’
As for Amy and Gerrit’s first child, the extremely detailed father’s focus is not surprisingly razor sharp.
“He is a good mix of his dad and his mom. He is a little towhead, he is absolutely adorable. He has big blue eyes and gosh, I can’t stop staring at him,’’ said Cole, whose first name is the son’s middle name.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Frat house outbreak leaves 93 infected with coronavirus at University of Washington

A coronavirus outbreak at the University of Washington ’ s off-campus frat houses has left at least 93 students sickened with the illness , the school announced Friday .
Eighty-nine of the infected students at the Seattle school live on Greek Row , while the other four came into close contact with frat house residents .
“ What is occurring north of campus provides lessons for students as they consider their return to campus this fall , ” Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb , chair of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases , said Tuesday , when the outbreak was first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to establish some semblance of “ normalcy ” — with socializing and attending classes — students must wear face coverings and practice social distancing .
“ If we don ’ t , measures such as what are now required on Greek Row will be inevitable , ” he said .
While the university ’ s official coronavirus count related to Greek Row is 93 , the school ’ s student-led interfraternity council said 117 fraternity members residing in 15 separate houses have self-reported testing positive .
The university said it ’ s working @ @ @ @ @ @

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A coronavirus outbreak at the University of Washington’s off-campus frat houses has left at least 93 students sickened with the illness, the school announced Friday.
Eighty-nine of the infected students at the Seattle school live on Greek Row, while the other four came into close contact with frat house residents.
“What is occurring north of campus provides lessons for students as they consider their return to campus this fall,” Dr. Geoffrey Gottlieb, chair of the UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, said Tuesday, when the outbreak was first reported.
Gottlieb warned that in order to establish some semblance of “normalcy” — with socializing and attending classes — students must wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
“If we don’t, measures such as what are now required on Greek Row will be inevitable,” he said.
While the university’s official coronavirus count related to Greek Row is 93, the school’s student-led interfraternity council said 117 fraternity members residing in 15 separate houses have self-reported testing positive.
The university said it’s working to confirm the increased tally.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Every Essence mag exec named in exposé steps down after tumultuous week

A group going by Black Female Anonymous penned a scathing exposé about Essence magazine and demanded that four top execs step down — and now all four are out , sources told Page Six .
The group declared victory — but Essence denied their allegations and is insisting that the explosive post on Medium did not cause the staff changes , which were already in the works .
Richelieu Dennis resigned as interim CEO , Page Six reported on Wednesday , but will remain on as the chairman of Essence .
Now we ’ ve heard that COO Joy Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief content officer Moana Luu — who were mentioned in the piece that alleged a toxic workplace at Essence — have also followed suit .
Caroline Wanga was announced as interim CEO .
But Essence said in a statement that Dennis “ never held a CEO role … interim or otherwise , ” after multiple outlets reported he ’ d stepped down as CEO .
The magazine also claimed that Ebanks “ has had no role in day-to-day operations since her departure ” as CEO on March 31 , and that “ Profet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months ago … before the anonymous blog was posted.
” The company also said , “ Luu will be recused from day-to-day operations ” during an independent review .
The execs have not individually commented beyond Essence ’ s statements .
A source told us : “ This is a very serious situation and there ’ s more than [ Dennis ] … There are steps being taken.
” Another source said , “ People would not be stepping down , or out , unless there was a verifiable problem.
” The brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Julee Wilson , who said she ’ s not part of Black Female Anonymous , implied she believes the women , but added of Wanga : “ She ’ s amazing .
I ’ m confident she ’ ll be able to help usher Essence into a new era of dopeness.
” The group also has support from fashion vets and activists such as Bethann Hardison and Michaela Angela Davis .
Black Female Anonymous has hinted it could release more info .

A group going by Black Female Anonymous penned a scathing exposé about Essence magazine and demanded that four top execs step down — and now all four are out, sources told Page Six.
The group declared victory — but Essence denied their allegations and is insisting that the explosive post on Medium did not cause the staff changes, which were already in the works.
Richelieu Dennis resigned as interim CEO, Page Six reported on Wednesday, but will remain on as the chairman of Essence. Now we’ve heard that COO Joy Collins Profet, board member Michelle Ebanks and chief content officer Moana Luu — who were mentioned in the piece that alleged a toxic workplace at Essence — have also followed suit.
Caroline Wanga was announced as interim CEO. But Essence said in a statement that Dennis “never held a CEO role … interim or otherwise,” after multiple outlets reported he’d stepped down as CEO. The magazine also claimed that Ebanks “has had no role in day-to-day operations since her departure” as CEO on March 31, and that “Profet notified the company of her departure two months ago … before the anonymous blog was posted.”
The company also said, “Luu will be recused from day-to-day operations” during an independent review. The execs have not individually commented beyond Essence’s statements.
A source told us: “This is a very serious situation and there’s more than [Dennis] … There are steps being taken.” Another source said, “People would not be stepping down, or out, unless there was a verifiable problem.”
The brand’s former global beauty director, Julee Wilson — who said she’s not part of Black Female Anonymous but implied on her Instagram story that she believes the women — added of Wanga: “She’s amazing. I’m confident she’ll be able to help usher Essence into a new era of dopeness.”
The group also has support from fashion vets and activists such as Bethann Hardison and Michaela Angela Davis. Black Female Anonymous has hinted it could release more info.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Staffer at Pennsylvania summer camp tests positive for COVID-19

While day camps will still be able to operate this ...

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A counselor at a Pennsylvania sleep-away camp that serves numerous New York kids is infected with the coronavirus.
Camp Seneca Lake said it is delaying the opening of the camp for children by a “few days” as a health precaution after the staffer tested positive for COVID-19 during staff orientation.
New York parents who want to send their kids to sleep-over camp must send them to a facility out-of-state this summer because Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker banned the opening of such camps in the Empire State as too risky given the COVID-19 crisis.
A group of Jewish camp operators has sued Cuomo over the ban.
“We wanted to update you on a situation that took place at camp over the staff orientation,” Camp Seneca Lake said in a “Dear Parents” letter released Friday.
“As you are aware, we have a process in place that all staff and campers have to be tested [for COVID-19] and results cleared in our office before they are allowed to enter camp.
“All staff that arrived this week had negative results and were allowed to attend orientation.
“On arrival, we tested the staff again and one staff member tested positive for coronavirus when we got the results back last night.”
The letter continued, “He was put into isolation immediately and sent back home this morning.
“This staff member had zero signs of being sick but out of extreme caution we have quarantined any other staff members that came into contact with him and we will retest them again in a few days.”
The camp will open next Tuesday for kindergarten to sixth graders and Wednesday for older kids.
A source familiar with the situation said the counselor had come from Miami to work at the camp.
In the letter to parents, Seneca downplayed the positive test of one staffer — who has since left the grounds — and assured them it has a system in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the camp.
“We set up this process to be prepared for a situation like this and all protocols are being followed accordingly.
“Being July 4th weekend the results from these new tests won’t be available until this Monday evening. As a result of this, unfortunately, we will have to delay the start date of camp by a few days as we want to be overly cautious and be absolutely clear that anyone that was in contact with this staff member tests negative again.
“We have been in close contact with the Board of Health and have informed them of our plan.”
But a source familiar with the situation asked why Camp Seneca isn’t shutting down — or at least quarantining the counselors who were exposed to the infected staffer for at least 14 days.
Many Orthodox Jewish parents send their kids to the Camp Seneca Lake camp, a source said.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--New York reports 918 new coronavirus infections, its highest total since mid-June

New York state reported 918 new coronavirus infections and nine deaths from COVID-19 , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Friday .
The 918 figure recorded Thursday represents the first time more than 900 new infections have been reported since June 12 , when 916 people tested positive for the virus statewide .
“ The more than 900 new cases in New York yesterday , while representing just 1.38 % of tests , is a reminder that the virus is still here , ” the Democratic governor said in a news release .
He added , “ I can not repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of individuals being smart and following all precautions , and local governments enforcing the state ’ s guidelines — will determine which direction these numbers go.
” The percentage of New York state residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 each day has hovered around 1 % to 2 % over the past week , despite concerns that protests last month over the death of George Floyd might have fueled a new surge .
More than 24,800 people with COVID-19 have died in New York hospitals and nursing homes since the first deaths @ @ @ @ @

New York state reported 918 new coronavirus infections and nine deaths from COVID-19, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.
The 918 figure recorded Thursday represents the first time more than 900 new infections have been reported since June 12, when 916 people tested positive for the virus statewide.
“The more than 900 new cases in New York yesterday, while representing just 1.38% of tests, is a reminder that the virus is still here,” the Democratic governor said in a news release.
He added, “I cannot repeat enough that our actions today — those of individuals being smart and following all precautions, and local governments enforcing the state’s guidelines — will determine which direction these numbers go.”
The percentage of New York state residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 each day has hovered around 1% to 2% over the past week, despite concerns that protests last month over the death of George Floyd might have fueled a new surge.
More than 24,800 people with COVID-19 have died in New York hospitals and nursing homes since the first deaths were reported in March.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--The story behind America’s national hymn

Katharine Lee Bates , a 33-year-old English literature teacher at Wellesley College , was on “ a merry expedition up Pike ’ s Peak ” in Colorado in 1893 when she looked out “ over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies.
” In an instant , she said , “ the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.
” Those lines became “ America the Beautiful.
” Everyone knows the first verse , with its evocation of “ amber waves of grain ” and “ purple mountain majesties.
” But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sung — the entire song ?
The full hymn is more than just a poetic appreciation of the country ’ s wonders of nature .
It evokes the vitality of an ever-widening America , celebrates its storied past and — most important — evokes its limitless future potential .
It hails the pioneering forebears who beat “ a thoroughfare of freedom .
.
.
across the wilderness ” and pays tribute to the nation ’ s defenders in war , the brave “ heroes .
.
.
who more than self their country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a day when America ’ s “ alabaster cities ” finally will “ gleam undimmed by human tears.
” The song has always stirred deep emotion .
“ I can ’ t read the lines without swallowing hard , ” one early reader wrote Bates .
Voices quavered as crowds solemnly sang the song outside the White House in 1941 after Pearl Harbor and , six decades later , at Ground Zero after 9/11 .
In 1979 , Pope John Paul II recited its fervent prayer — “ America , America , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — as he descended from his plane on his first trip to this country .
The many memorable recordings and renditions — from Ray Charles , Aretha Franklin , Willie Nelson , Mariah Carey and others — all share a moving simplicity , without the vocal acrobatics that too often accompany “ The Star-Spangled Banner.
” The music plays a large part in the song ’ s mystique .
Samuel Howe , a church organist , composed it during an 1882 ferry ride from Coney Island to his home in Newark — for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attached to Bates ’ words in 1904 after his death .
Today ’ s certainly the day to fully appreciate this magnificent tribute to America and all that it represents .
Have a glorious Fourth !
O beautiful for spacious skies , For amber waves of grain , For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain !
America !
America !
God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea !
O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
God mend thine every flaw , Confirm thy soul in self-control , Thy liberty in law !
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife .
Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life !
America !
America !
May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine !
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears !
America !
America !
God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Katharine Lee Bates, a 33-year-old English literature teacher at Wellesley College, was on “a merry expedition up Pike’s Peak” in Colorado in 1893 when she looked out “over the sea-like expanse of fertile country spreading away so far under those ample skies.”
In an instant, she said, “the opening lines of the hymn floated into my mind.” Those lines became “America the Beautiful.”
Everyone knows the first verse, with its evocation of “amber waves of grain” and “purple mountain majesties.” But how many have read — let alone sung — the entire song?
The full hymn is more than just a poetic appreciation of the country’s wonders of nature. It evokes the vitality of an ever-widening America, celebrates its storied past and — most important — evokes its limitless future potential.
It hails the pioneering forebears who beat “a thoroughfare of freedom . . . across the wilderness” and pays tribute to the nation’s defenders in war, the brave “heroes . . . who more than self their country loved.”
More: It looks forward to a day when America’s “alabaster cities” finally will “gleam undimmed by human tears.”
The song has always stirred deep emotion. “I can’t read the lines without swallowing hard,” one early reader wrote Bates. Voices quavered as crowds solemnly sang the song outside the White House in 1941 after Pearl Harbor and, six decades later, at Ground Zero after 9/11.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II recited its fervent prayer — “America, America, God shed his grace on thee” — as he descended from his plane on his first trip to this country.
The many memorable recordings and renditions — from Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Mariah Carey and others — all share a moving simplicity, without the vocal acrobatics that too often accompany “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The music plays a large part in the song’s mystique. Samuel Howe, a church organist, composed it during an 1882 ferry ride from Coney Island to his home in Newark — for an entirely different hymn. It was attached to Bates’ words in 1904 after his death.
Today’s certainly the day to fully appreciate this magnificent tribute to America and all that it represents. Have a glorious Fourth!
“America the Beautiful”
By Katharine Lee Bates (1859-1929)
Music by Samuel Augustus Howe (1847-1903)
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--UK scraps quarantine for some visitors as pubs set to reopen

Like millions of other Britons , the prime minister will be able to have a trim and a tipple on Saturday , when the country takes its biggest step yet out of coronavirus lockdown with the reopening in England of restaurants , pubs and hairdressers , along with secular and sacred venues including cinemas and churches .
Britain is also opening up to travel , announcing Friday that it will scrap a requirement for people arriving from dozens of countries to spend 14 days in isolation .
Starting July 10 , quarantine will be lifted for arrivals from countries deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Australia , Japan , France , Spain , Germany and Italy — but not the United States , the world ’ s worst-hit country from COVID-19 .
For isolation-weary Britons and cash-starved businesses , relief at easing the three-month lockdown is mixed with trepidation .
Britain has the highest COVID-19 toll in Europe , with more than 44,000 confirmed deaths , and scientists say the coronavirus is still on the loose .
Even the usually ebullient Johnson said this week that the virus was “ still circling like a shark in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown has saved many hundreds of thousands of lives , ” Johnson said at a news conference Friday .
“ But it has also had a devastating impact on our way of life and our economy.
” Johnson urged Britons to enjoy themselves , and has said he plans to have a pint and get his shaggy blond locks trimmed this weekend .
But he also urged people to be careful and follow social distancing rules .
“ This is a big turning point for us , ” he said .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” When pubs and restaurants reopen Saturday , it will be anything but business as usual .
They will have to take contact details for each group , and people can only socialize with one other household at a time .
There will be more cleaning , a ban on queuing at the bar for a drink , and reduced capacity , with patrons told to stay at least one meter ( three feet ) apart .
“ I think the vast majority of pubs and restaurants are welcoming and opening with enthusiasm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive of Hospa , the Hospitality Professionals Association .
“ Still , the restrictions are making it tough .
“ And of course , the pub environment , the restaurant environment is going to have a very different vibe , ” she said .
Some pubs are staying closed over the weekend , or even longer .
Even so , police have questioned the wisdom of reopening pubs on a Saturday .
Tim Clarke of the Metropolitan Police Federation warned the weekend could be “ as busy as policing New Year ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be joining in the reopening .
Leicester , population 300,000 , was sent back into lockdown this week amid a spike in coronavirus infections .
Non-essential shops have been closed and pubs and restaurants won ’ t be reopening on Saturday .
They are also staying shut north of the border in Scotland .
Johnson ’ s Conservative government is increasingly at odds on virus-fighting strategy with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon .
Scotland controls its own health policy , and Sturgeon has been more cautious about lifting lockdown than authorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beer gardens from Monday , but won ’ t be able to serve people indoors until July 15 .
Scotland also hasn ’ t agreed to the plan to end quarantine for travelers , which for now applies only to England .
The list of 73 countries and territories exempted from quarantine includes Australia , New Zealand and much of western Europe — though not Portugal or Sweden , which have relatively high infection rates .
Also on the list are Asian nations such as South Korea and Vietnam that have tamed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some of those countries will still quarantine British visitors .
The U.S. , which has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world , isn ’ t on the list .
Neither are China , Russia or Brazil .
The British government also changed its official advice against all but essential travel outside the country .
Starting Saturday , travel for work or leisure has been OKed to dozens of countries , including some , such as Canada , that are not on the quarantine-free list .
The U.K. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sturgeon accused the U.K. government of changing its list of safe countries up to the last minute .
“ When so much is at stake , as it is right now , we can ’ t allow ourselves to be dragged along in the wake of another government ’ s , to be quite frank , shambolic decision-making process , ” she said .
The leader of Wales , Mark Drakeford , also said dealing with Johnson ’ s government over the travel plan had been “ an utterly shambolic experience.
” Bharat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Exeter Medical School , said the government was sending “ mixed messages.
” “ The virus is still in circulation , ” he said .
“ I do worry that the enormous cost of the lockdown , the pain and suffering , may be undone very , very quickly.
” England ’ s chief medical officer , Chris Whitty , said authorities were trying “ to balance as best we can the multiple risks ” “ No one believes … this is a risk-free next step , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
“ This virus is a long way from gone .
”

LONDON — Boris Johnson wants a haircut and a beer.
Like millions of other Britons, the prime minister will be able to have a trim and a tipple on Saturday, when the country takes its biggest step yet out of coronavirus lockdown with the reopening in England of restaurants, pubs and hairdressers, along with secular and sacred venues including cinemas and churches.
Britain is also opening up to travel, announcing Friday that it will scrap a requirement for people arriving from dozens of countries to spend 14 days in isolation. Starting July 10, quarantine will be lifted for arrivals from countries deemed “lower risk” for the coronavirus, including Australia, Japan, France, Spain, Germany and Italy — but not the United States, the world’s worst-hit country from COVID-19.
For isolation-weary Britons and cash-starved businesses, relief at easing the three-month lockdown is mixed with trepidation. Britain has the highest COVID-19 toll in Europe, with more than 44,000 confirmed deaths, and scientists say the coronavirus is still on the loose. Even the usually ebullient Johnson said this week that the virus was “ still circling like a shark in the water.”
“Without doubt, lockdown has saved many hundreds of thousands of lives,” Johnson said at a news conference Friday. “But it has also had a devastating impact on our way of life and our economy.”
Johnson urged Britons to enjoy themselves, and has said he plans to have a pint and get his shaggy blond locks trimmed this weekend. But he also urged people to be careful and follow social distancing rules.
“This is a big turning point for us,” he said. “We’ve got to get it right.”
When pubs and restaurants reopen Saturday, it will be anything but business as usual.
They will have to take contact details for each group, and people can only socialize with one other household at a time. There will be more cleaning, a ban on queuing at the bar for a drink, and reduced capacity, with patrons told to stay at least one meter (three feet) apart.
“I think the vast majority of pubs and restaurants are welcoming and opening with enthusiasm,” said Jane Pendlebury, chief executive of Hospa, the Hospitality Professionals Association. “Still, the restrictions are making it tough.
“And of course, the pub environment, the restaurant environment is going to have a very different vibe,” she said.
Some pubs are staying closed over the weekend, or even longer. Even so, police have questioned the wisdom of reopening pubs on a Saturday. Tim Clarke of the Metropolitan Police Federation warned the weekend could be “as busy as policing New Year’s Eve.”
One city in England will not be joining in the reopening. Leicester, population 300,000, was sent back into lockdown this week amid a spike in coronavirus infections. Non-essential shops have been closed and pubs and restaurants won’t be reopening on Saturday.
They are also staying shut north of the border in Scotland.
Johnson’s Conservative government is increasingly at odds on virus-fighting strategy with Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Scotland controls its own health policy, and Sturgeon has been more cautious about lifting lockdown than authorities in England. Pubs in Scotland can open beer gardens from Monday, but won’t be able to serve people indoors until July 15.
Scotland also hasn’t agreed to the plan to end quarantine for travelers, which for now applies only to England.
The list of 73 countries and territories exempted from quarantine includes Australia, New Zealand and much of western Europe — though not Portugal or Sweden, which have relatively high infection rates. Also on the list are Asian nations such as South Korea and Vietnam that have tamed their outbreaks and several Caribbean nations including Jamaica.
Some of those countries will still quarantine British visitors.
The U.S., which has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, isn’t on the list. Neither are China, Russia or Brazil.
The British government also changed its official advice against all but essential travel outside the country. Starting Saturday, travel for work or leisure has been OKed to dozens of countries, including some, such as Canada, that are not on the quarantine-free list. The U.K. still advises against travel to the U.S.
Sturgeon accused the U.K. government of changing its list of safe countries up to the last minute.
“When so much is at stake, as it is right now, we can’t allow ourselves to be dragged along in the wake of another government’s, to be quite frank, shambolic decision-making process,” she said.
The leader of Wales, Mark Drakeford, also said dealing with Johnson’s government over the travel plan had been “an utterly shambolic experience.”
Bharat Pankhania, an expert in communicable diseases at the University of Exeter Medical School, said the government was sending “mixed messages.”
“The virus is still in circulation,” he said. “I do worry that the enormous cost of the lockdown, the pain and suffering, may be undone very, very quickly.”
England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, said authorities were trying “to balance as best we can the multiple risks”
“No one believes … this is a risk-free next step,” he said. “It’s absolutely not.
“This virus is a long way from gone.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--The first Black Lives Matter wave led to 2K extra black homicides — but new wave will be worse

Protesters threw lit fireworks into the broken glass doors of ...

It took several months for the first iteration of the Ferguson Effect to become obvious. Michael Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson, Missouri, police officer in August 2014, triggering local riots and a national narrative about lethally racist police. Officers backed off proactive policing in minority neighborhoods, having been told that such discretionary enforcement was racially oppressive. By early 2015, the resulting spike in shootings and homicides had become patent and would lead to an additional 2,000 black homicide victims in 2015 and 2016, compared with 2014 numbers.
Today’s violent-crime increase — call it Ferguson Effect 2.0 or the Minneapolis Effect — has come on with a speed and magnitude that make Ferguson 1.0 seem tranquil. George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police in late May was justly condemned — but the event has now spurred an outpouring of contempt against the pillars of law and order that has no precedent in American history. Every day, another mainstream institution — from McDonald’s to Harvard — denounces the police, claiming without evidence that law enforcement is a threat to black lives.
To be sure, the first manifestation of the Black Lives Matter movement had a mouthpiece in the Oval Office, lacking now. It doesn’t matter. Presidential imprimatur or no, the reborn Black Lives Matter has gained billions of dollars in corporate support, more billions in free round-the-clock media promotion, and a ruthless power to crush dissent from the now-universal narrative about murderous police bigots.
During the two weeks of national anarchy that followed the death of George Floyd, cops were shot, slashed, and assaulted; their vehicles and station houses were firebombed and destroyed. American elites stayed silent. Since then, police have continued to be shot at and attacked; the elites remain silent. Monuments to America’s greatest leaders are being defaced with impunity; anarchists took over a significant swathe of a major American city, including a police precinct, without resistance from the authorities. And a push to defund the police gains traction by the day.
The rising carnage in the inner city is the consequence of this official repudiation of the criminal-justice system. The current tolerance and justification for vandalism and violence; the silencing of police supporters; and police unwillingness to intervene, even when their own precincts are assaulted — all send a clear message to criminals that society has lost the will to prevent lawlessness. In Minneapolis, shootings have more than doubled this year compared to last. Nearly half of all those shootings have occurred since George Floyd’s death, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune analysis. On Father’s Day, a mass shooting on a crowded street uptown struck 11 people. The next day saw a chain of retaliatory shootings — the first next to a park filled with children, the next, 90 minutes later, on a notorious gang-dominated street intersection. In nearby St. Paul, reported firearms discharges have more than doubled. The same gangbangers are getting shot repeatedly. One 17-year-old boy has been shot in four different events over the last month and a half.
In Chicago, 18 people were killed and 47 wounded in drive- and walk-by shootings last weekend. The fatalities included a one-year-old boy riding in a car with his mother (the gunman drove up alongside and emptied his gun into the vehicle) and a 10-year-old girl struck in the head inside her home; a group of youth on the street outside her house had started shooting at another group of youth nearby. The previous weekend in Chicago, 104 people were shot, 15 fatally. The deceased included a 3-year-old boy riding in a car with his father on Father’s Day — his gangbanger father was the intended victim — and a 13-year-old girl shot in her head in her home.
New York City’s homicide rate is at a five-year high; the number of shooting victims was up over 42 percent through June 21 compared with the same period in 2019. The number of shootings in the first three weeks of June was over twice that of the same period in 2019, making this June the city’s bloodiest in nearly a quarter century, according to The New York Times. At 4 a.m. last Sunday, a 30-year-old woman was shot in the head in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at a house party. On Saturday afternoon, a man and a woman were shot to death outside a Brooklyn home. Early Friday morning, a 19-year-old girl was shot to death in the heart of Manhattan, near Madison Square Park, on East 26th Street.
Milwaukee’s homicides have increased 132 percent. “In 25 years, I’ve never seen it like this,” a Milwaukee police inspector told the Police Executive Research Forum, referring to the violence and the low officer morale. Shootings are spiking in Indianapolis. Other cities will show similar increases once their crime data are published.
By now, these drearily mindless gang shootings echo one another. Another 3-year-old boy was shot in Chicago with his gangbanger father on another Father’s Day, this one in 2016; the boy is paralyzed for life. The young children recently shot inside their homes also recall Ferguson 1.0 incidents.
In August 2016, a nine-year-old girl was shot to death in Ferguson on her mother’s bed while doing homework. The gunman was a 21-year-old felon on probation from a robbery conviction who deliberately shot at least six bullets into the home, located near a memorial for Michael Brown. But the pedigree of these domestic drive-bys is longer and more ominous. In New York, children used to sleep in bathtubs before Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Police Commissioner William Bratton began restoring lawfulness to the city in 1994; we are fast returning to that pre-Giuliani era.
So far this year, more people have been killed in Baltimore than at this point in 2019, which ended with the highest homicide rate on record for that city. June’s killings, which eclipse those of June 2019, include a 23-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant and her three-year-old daughter. They were gunned down in their car by the father of the woman’s unborn child, according to the police.
The victims in these shootings are overwhelmingly black. So far this year, 78 percent of all homicide victims in Chicago are black, though blacks are less than a third of the population. But the defund-the-police advocates and the Democratic establishment have said nothing about the growing loss of black lives.
Instead, the Black Lives Matter movement is tweeting about police defunding, last weekend’s gay pride marches and NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace, the subject of yet another hate-crime hoax. DeRay Mckesson, an early BLM organizer in Ferguson, is retweeting about whether homophobes are secretly gay.
Activist Shaun King, who recently called for vandals to destroy stained-glass windows portraying the Baby Jesus and Mary, is retweeting that Mount Rushmore is an act of vandalism. Ja’Mal Green, a Black Lives Matter organizer in Chicago who was arrested in 2016 for assaulting and attempting to disarm an officer, offered a $5,000 reward on Saturday for information on the killing of the 1-year-old boy in Chicago, but coupled that offer with another call to defund the police. Since then, Green has been tweeting about abortion rights and the extradition of President Trump to Iran. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is tweeting about abortion rights, gay pride and Trump’s culpability for the coronavirus epidemic. The Vera Institute for Justice, a liberal criminal-justice think tank, announced on Monday that “now is the time to spend less on policing” in order to “create safer communities for Black people.”
Actually, now would seem not to be the time to spend less on policing, with gunslingers retaking control of urban streets. The timing of the defund movement was always a puzzle, coming as it did after weeks of destructive riots during which law enforcement was wildly overmatched. Such a demonstration of the violence that lies just beneath the surface of civilization would not, one might think, be the best opening pitch for an argument to shrink police manpower and resources further.
Yet the defund idea took off, with the media making sure that the looting and arson became a hazy memory (at least for those whose life’s work did not go up in flames) while alleged police racism remained in the headlines. The establishment, in further proof of the elite betrayal of the principle of law, was happy to forgive and forget the riots as an understandable release of black rage. And now, the self-described champions of black lives are pressing ahead with their anti-cop campaign, with a breezy indifference to countervailing evidence.
While 307 people have been murdered this year in Chicago, the Chicago police have killed three suspects, all armed and dangerous. In 2018, the New York Police Department recorded its lowest number of fatal civilian shootings — five — since records were first kept in 1971. (Data from 2019 have not been published.) All five victims were threatening or appeared to be threatening officers with guns or knives.
The Minneapolis Effect will not be confined to intra-racial gang violence. Sadistic and gratuitous attacks on elderly citizens have been accelerating in recent weeks — a 78-year-old woman punched casually on the head in Brooklyn; an 80-year-old man knocked to the ground, dragged and robbed in the Bronx; and a 92-year-old woman slammed into a fire hydrant in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park. The high-volume delegitimization of American justice and the incessant drumbeat about white supremacy will likely result in an increase in black-on-white violence, which already accounts for 85 percent of all interracial attacks between blacks and whites.
Meanwhile, criminal-justice leaders themselves are surrendering. The New York Police Commissioner has disbanded the department’s most effective tool for getting illegal guns off the street, the plainclothes Anti-Crime Unit. Officers across the country are being told to ignore low-level offenses, and urban D.A.s are refusing to prosecute public-order arrests, on the ground that Broken Windows policing is racist — until, that is, an outbreak of particularly irksome disorder becomes too widespread, as is the case with the current fireworks discharges. The head of the Lieutenants Benevolent Association in New York has advised its members to use their “utmost discretion” in responding to fireworks complaints unless New York Mayor Bill de Blasio “unequivocally commits to having our officers enforce fireworks infractions and the District Attorneys verbally commit to processing fireworks offenses” (emphasis in original). Otherwise, warns the LBA president, officers are merely being set up for a new slew of phony civilian complaints.
Ambushes await officers who respond to gunfire alerts, illegal house parties and other crimes. This weekend, New York officers were assaulted with bottles and garbage by a group of about 500 people at 3:45 a.m. in Harlem as they tried to find the source of a shooting picked up by ShotSpotter technology. A Baltimore officer was shot in the stomach earlier this month while trying to break up a large party in West Baltimore. Such parties are the seedbed of gun violence; the day before, a gunman had shot into a crowd at another large Baltimore party. One of Baltimore’s defunding groups, “Organizing Black,” was unmoved. “ABOLISH THE POLICE is the goal,” it wrote on Twitter, “F–K THE POLICE is the Attitude.” Two car thieves in Chicago struck an officer with their stolen car and dragged him a short distance this June. In late May, crowds threw glass bottles at Chicago officers as they tried to arrest gun suspects; in one case, the crowd tried to free the suspect from a patrol car.
These are no longer the warning signs of a possible breakdown of civilized life. That breakdown is upon us. If local and national leaders are unable to summon the will to defend our most basic institutions from false and inflammatory charges of racism, they have forfeited their right to govern. Unless new leaders come forth who understand their duty to maintain the rule of law, the country will not pull back from disaster.
Heather Mac Donald is a contributing editor of City Journal, from which this column was adapted.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Kelly Rowland says she ‘almost lost everything,’ went ‘rich broke’

Kelly Rowland said that in spite of being in one of the most successful groups of all time , she @ @ @ @ @ careless overspending .
The Destiny ’ s Child star said she “ almost lost everything @ @ @ @ @ so much trying to “ keep up ” with a lavish wardrobe , car and @ @ @ @ @ , Bills , Bills ” singer said in a YouTube interview with her pastor , @ @ @ @ @ was ‘ rich broke , ’ and I will never forget having this moment … @ @ @ @ @ and I said , ‘ I just don ’ t know what to do.
’ @ @ @ @ @ to donate to the church , despite her financial woes .
Though her business manager @ @ @ @ @ t afford the donation , she gave the gift anyway — and said she believes @ @ @ @ @ .

Kelly Rowland said that in spite of being in one of the most successful groups of all time, she nearly went broke due to careless overspending.
The Destiny’s Child star said she “almost lost everything” because she was spending so much trying to “keep up” with a lavish wardrobe, car and home.
The “Bills, Bills, Bills” singer said in a YouTube interview with her pastor, Erwin McManus: “I was ‘rich broke,’ and I will never forget having this moment … I called my best friend and I said, ‘I just don’t know what to do.’ ”
Her friend advised her to donate to the church, despite her financial woes. Though her business manager told her she couldn’t afford the donation, she gave the gift anyway — and said she believes it turned her situation around.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--Brazil set to pass 1.5M coronavirus cases as cities reopen

SAO PAULO — Brazil was set to pass 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday , as the virus continues to ravage Latin America ’ s largest country even as cities reopen bars , restaurants and gyms sparking fears infections will keep rising .
Brazil has the world ’ s second largest outbreak after the United States and the virus has killed over 60,000 people in the country .
In Rio de Janeiro , crowds gathered to drink on the sidewalk of an upscale beach-side neighborhood on Thursday night , the first evening bars in the city were allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leblon , where few were wearing face masks and people were huddled close together , went viral on social media drawing condemnation and concern .
“ A tragedy foretold , ” David Miranda , a federal congressman for Rio , wrote on Twitter above a picture of the crowded sidewalk .
He criticized the city ’ s mayor Marcelo Crivella .
“ Crivella ’ s decision to throw open the doors of business will come with a high cost , ” he added .
In an emailed statement , Crivella ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishments to close on Thursday as public health rules prohibit the gathering of crowds drinking outside bars .
It said enforcement would be ramped up over the weekend .
In Rio alone , more than 6,600 people have died of COVID-19 in the past four months .
Only 14 countries in the world have a death toll higher than the city .
Intensive care units in public hospitals are at 70 % capacity .
Sao Paulo , Brazil ’ s largest and worst hit city , is expected to open bars and restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been widely criticized by health experts for downplaying the severity of the virus which he has dismissed as just “ a little flu.
” Bolsonaro has pressured governors and mayors for months to reverse lockdown measures and reopen the economy .
On Friday , Bolsonaro vetoed parts of a law that would have made wearing a face mask obligatory in enclosed spaces where large groups gather — such as churches and schools .
Bolsonaro has regularly flouted social distancing guidelines advised by most health experts , shaking hands and embracing supporters .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an athlete makes him immune to the worst symptoms of the virus .

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SAO PAULO — Brazil was set to pass 1.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, as the virus continues to ravage Latin America’s largest country even as cities reopen bars, restaurants and gyms sparking fears infections will keep rising.
Brazil has the world’s second largest outbreak after the United States and the virus has killed over 60,000 people in the country.
In Rio de Janeiro, crowds gathered to drink on the sidewalk of an upscale beach-side neighborhood on Thursday night, the first evening bars in the city were allowed to reopen.
Pictures of the revelry in Leblon, where few were wearing face masks and people were huddled close together, went viral on social media drawing condemnation and concern.
“A tragedy foretold,” David Miranda, a federal congressman for Rio, wrote on Twitter above a picture of the crowded sidewalk. He criticized the city’s mayor Marcelo Crivella.
“Crivella’s decision to throw open the doors of business will come with a high cost,” he added.
In an emailed statement, Crivella’s office said local law enforcement had asked several establishments to close on Thursday as public health rules prohibit the gathering of crowds drinking outside bars. It said enforcement would be ramped up over the weekend.
In Rio alone, more than 6,600 people have died of COVID-19 in the past four months. Only 14 countries in the world have a death toll higher than the city. Intensive care units in public hospitals are at 70% capacity.
Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest and worst hit city, is expected to open bars and restaurants next week.
President Jair Bolsonaro has been widely criticized by health experts for downplaying the severity of the virus which he has dismissed as just “a little flu.” Bolsonaro has pressured governors and mayors for months to reverse lockdown measures and reopen the economy.
On Friday, Bolsonaro vetoed parts of a law that would have made wearing a face mask obligatory in enclosed spaces where large groups gather — such as churches and schools.
Bolsonaro has regularly flouted social distancing guidelines advised by most health experts, shaking hands and embracing supporters. He has said publicly that his past as an athlete makes him immune to the worst symptoms of the virus.


newyorkpost--2020-07-03--City Hall admits new budget dismantles unit for placard crackdown

You better watch out , you better not bribe … Accused ...

City Hall has pulled the plug on its latest effort to tackle rampant placard abuse by municipal employees, shutting down the NYPD unit meant to enforce the most recent crackdown.
Officials said Friday they are axing all 116 positions that were dedicated to placard enforcement through attrition and zeroing out the unit’s $5.4 million annual budget — just a little more than a year after Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out the effort to great fanfare.
“A dedicated unit is no longer needed because we are enhancing enforcement coverage by introducing new technology and other advancements that allow any TEA to do this work more seamlessly,” said City Hall spokeswoman Laura Feyer, explaining away the budget cuts.
The cuts are projected to remain in effect for at least the next four years — effectively permanently disbanding the effort.
The de Blasio administration also admitted in response to questions submitted early Friday that officials had yanked just five placards from city employees under de Blasio’s three-strike policy for placard abuse, which was another highly touted policy announced in City Hall’s February 2019 crackdown.
Warning letters are supposed to go out to another 389 city employees this week, Feyer said. That’s just a tiny fraction of the more than 125,000 parking placards in circulation in New York City.
Placards are only supposed to be used to help on-duty employees of city and state agencies to work more efficiently by allowing them to briefly park in places where most other drivers are barred from leaving their cars.
But the system has been abused for years with city employees turning sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, bus lanes, and no-standing zones into permanent parking for their cars.
Placards sat at the center of the pay-to-play charges against de Blasio donors Jeremy Reichberg and Jona Rechnitz — one of the biggest corruption scandals at the NYPD and City Hall in recent years — and have so infuriated New Yorkers there is even a Twitter account dedicated to exposing misuse.
Officials have for years responded to abuse complaints with promises they will finally get serious about the problem.
That happened once more in February 2019, when City Hall announced its then-latest crackdown and highlighted the creation of the new unit, which would be “dedicated to targeted enforcement of placard rules.”
“This dedicated team will focus on particular hot spots in Lower Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn, the two areas most plagued by placard abuse,” it added in the press release.
But like every other crackdown, this one ended 17 months later — with a return to privileges as usual.