newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Aaron Judge facing Yankees test after hitting ‘a little bit’

The Yankees have set their roster for summer camp , using ...

Aaron Judge is part of the Yankees’ 60-man player pool announced Sunday, but it’s still to be determined if the right fielder will be ready for Opening Day, which is in less than a month.
Judge had been in Tampa and said in an interview with Sports Illustrated published Sunday that he’s been able to “hit a little bit” during MLB’s COVID-19 shutdown.
Judge has been recovering from a fractured rib believed to have been suffered last September. It sidelined him in spring training and general manager Brian Cashman said in May he’d expected Judge to be out until “the summertime.”
Now comes the real test, with players due to report to Spring Training 2.0 (or Summer Camp, as the Yankees are calling it) by Wednesday for three weeks of work before a 60-game schedule is supposed to begin.
“This break has allowed some of the players, including myself, to get healthy,” Judge told SI. “Luckily, I’ve been able to go into our facility in Tampa Bay with five or six teammates to work out, get on the field and run around and hit a little bit. For us, it’s kind of been business as usual and has felt like an extended spring training.”
Aaron Hicks, coming back from offseason Tommy John surgery, could be healthy enough to play, as well.
“I honestly can’t wait to get back out there,” said Judge, who was shown in a picture on Instagram arriving in the New York area on Saturday. “It’s going to be an exciting year. … As a Yankee, we’ve been out there on the field every day staying in shape. I feel like other guys haven’t been as lucky to have access to a field or facility which could post problems. But I think this three-week spring training we are about to have will allow guys to get into game shape soon.”
Judge called some of the new coronavirus rules the league will impose — like a ban on sunflower seeds and high fives — “challenging.”
“Missing out on some sunflower seeds is going to be tough, but I’ll take playing baseball over that aspect any day,’’ Judge said. “It’s time to get things rolling. The fans need baseball back.”
They won’t be in The Bronx, at least at the beginning of the season.
“I’m not sure how long it will be without them, but hopefully New York will see some improvement [with the pandemic], so we can start getting some fans in the stands, even if it’s at 20 percent capacity,” Judge said.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Rudy Gobert still has smelling issue months after coronavirus diagnosis

Wilson Chandler has said no to Orlando .
The Nets veteran ...

The NBA shut down in March when Rudy Gobert became its first player to test positive for coronavirus.
More than three months later, with the league now preparing for a return, the Jazz center is still experiencing its effects.
“The taste has returned, but the smell is still not 100 percent,” Gobert recently told L’Equipe in his native France, as translated by HoopsHype. “I can smell the smells, but not from afar. I spoke to specialists, who told me that it could take up to a year.”
A loss of taste and smell is one of the virus’ symptoms. The 28-year-old Gobert is still expected to play when the NBA resumes its season in Orlando on July 30.
The NBA tested 302 players last Tuesday and 16 tested positive, the league said Friday.
The Jazz announced on March 27 that Gobert and teammate Donovan Mitchell had both been cleared of the virus. Gobert was the NBA’s patient zero, with his positive test coming back the night of March 11, immediately leading the NBA to suspend its season.
The virus wasn’t Gobert’s only problem, though. He was also reportedly “careless” in the Jazz’s locker room leading up to his diagnosis. It caused a reported rift with Mitchell, who later tested positive, and The Athletic reported that their relationship “doesn’t appear salvageable.” But with the resumption of the season now on the horizon, the two have worked to mend the relationship.
“I think right now, we’re in good shape,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder recently said on ESPN’s “First Take.” “Those guys are getting ready to play, they’re as excited as anybody on our team or anybody in the league.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--Montana man arrested for pulling down Ten Commandments monument

Montana police arrested a man who they said pulled down a courthouse Ten Commandments monument with a chain and a pickup truck , according to reports .
Anthony Weimer was booked into jail on a charge of felony criminal mischief following the incident Saturday in Kalispell , KHQ reported .
Police said they responded after callers reported seeing a man on the grounds of the Flathead County Courthouse attach a chain to a pickup truck before pulling down the monument into the street , according to the station .
The man was then said to have collected the chain before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ station reported .
Officers later located the truck , found the suspect and arrested him , according to the station .
Police said they didn ’ t know what provoked the act of vandalism .
The Associated Press reported in 2011 that the Kalispell City Council was asked to take possession of the statue and six others that included historical texts from the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence at the courthouse .
Together , the monuments formed a “ cornerstone of law ” display .
The council declined , fearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and state grounds .
The AP reported that the Fraternal Order of the Eagles had given the Ten Commandments statue to Flathead County in 1950 .
At that time it was placed in front of the courthouse .
The group took possession again prior to 2011 when the monuments became the target of a legal challenge .
Workers later moved the monument to the courthouse ’ s southwest corner during a courthouse renovation .
The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Montana police arrested a man who they said pulled down a courthouse Ten Commandments monument with a chain and a pickup truck, according to reports.
Anthony Weimer was booked into jail on a charge of felony criminal mischief following the incident Saturday in Kalispell, KHQ reported.
Police said they responded after callers reported seeing a man on the grounds of the Flathead County Courthouse attach a chain to a pickup truck before pulling down the monument into the street, according to the station.
The man was then said to have collected the chain before driving off in the pickup, the station reported.
Officers later located the truck, found the suspect and arrested him, according to the station.
Police said they didn’t know what provoked the act of vandalism.
Online records show Weimer has a court appearance on Monday.
The Associated Press reported in 2011 that the Kalispell City Council was asked to take possession of the statue and six others that included historical texts from the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence at the courthouse. Together, the monuments formed a “cornerstone of law” display.
The council declined, fearing a lawsuit on First Amendment separation of church and state grounds.
The AP reported that the Fraternal Order of the Eagles had given the Ten Commandments statue to Flathead County in 1950. At that time it was placed in front of the courthouse.
The group took possession again prior to 2011 when the monuments became the target of a legal challenge.
Workers later moved the monument to the courthouse’s southwest corner during a courthouse renovation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


newyorkpost--2020-06-28--‘I’ll Be Gone In The Dark’: The True Story Behind HBO’s Docuseries

One of the most shocking true crime cases in recent years is getting the premium documentary treatment .
This summer marks the premiere of I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark , director Liz Garbus ’ six-episode deep dive into the Golden State Killer and the surprising woman who indirectly led to his arrest .
Every part of the Golden State Killer ’ s case is gruesome and fascinating .
But Garbus deftly intertwines the monster at the docuseries ’ center with the story of the unspoken hero who dedicated her life to bringing him down .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case , and why Michelle McNamara is such a big deal .
Who Was the Golden State Killer , aka the East Area Rapist ?
He was known by three names .
The first was the Visalia Ransacker back when his crime spree was limited to burglaries .
He then progressed to the East Area Rapist or the Original Night Stalker once his heinous appetite increased .
He was finally and most chillingly known as the Golden State Killer .
Between 1974 to 1986 this mysterious figure haunted the state of California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out his targeted house , always focusing on quiet and deceptively peaceful suburbs .
Initially when he began raping his victims he avoided houses with large dogs or husbands .
But even that changed once the media tried to summarize his habits .
As if to prove he was paying attention to the endless reports about him , the EAR started to target couples later in his crime spree .
Many of the stories were the same .
He would bind and blind these couples before stacking dishes atop the man .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warn that if he heard a single dish rattle he would murder them both .
Eventually he moved on to do just that .
Though the EAR terrorized an entire state for over a decade , he was far from a prolific criminal .
The Golden State Killer would often take trinkets from his victims , and it wasn ’ t unusual to find distinctive shoe prints at the scene of his crimes .
This sloppiness speaks to one of the true tragedies of the EAR case .
This case was always solvable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different police precincts during a time when law enforcement didn ’ t regularly share information with other officers in many ways this horrifying monster fell through the cracks .
If you love true crime there ’ s a very good chance you already know McNamara ’ s name .
The writer first started to gain fame through her blog , TrueCrimeDiary .
Most true crime writing falls into one of two categories .
Either it ’ s hopelessly dry or it ’ s so sensationalized it feels gross to read it .
McNamara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traps .
TrueCrimeDiary added humanity to its crime stories .
It rarely turned these criminals into heroes or antiheroes as often happens but always kept the victims and survivors front and center .
McNamara brought that remarkable style to her book I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark : One Woman ’ s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer .
Half a story about her own fascination with true crime and the EAR case in particular , half an actual attempt to identify the Original Night Stalker , the book is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sadly , as praised as McNamara ’ s book is , it was never supposed to be released in the manner it was .
While working on the book McNamara overdosed on a combination of medications .
She died in April of 2016 at the age of 46 .
She is survived by her husband , comedian Patton Oswalt , and their daughter Alice .
What Is I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark ?
That ’ s the name of McNamara ’ s book .
Released in February of 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There ’ s also a good case to be made that I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark and McNamara ’ s tireless work on it led to the arrest of the actual Golden State Killer .
While researching material for the book , McNamara worked closely with several detectives , highlighting details and connections they overlooked in this cold case .
The chilling title of the book and the docuseries were taken from the killer and rapist himself .
The Golden State Killer reportedly said to one of his victims , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and I ’ ll be gone in the dark.
” Was the Golden State Killer Ever Found ?
He certainly was .
Roughly two months after the release of McNamara ’ s book Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested .
A U.S. navy veteran and former police officer , DeAngelo ’ s life and moves throughout California almost perfectly match the EAR ’ s crime spree .
He was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder based on DNA evidence as well as 13 kidnapping counts .
The police were able to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DNA ancestry testing , something that McNamara long suspected would eventually bring him down .
Earlier this month it was reported that DeAngelo would plead guilty to 13 murder and kidnapping charges and just as many rapes .
This admission will be part of a deal to avoid the death penalty .
DeAngelo is supposed to confess his guilt on June 29 .
Watch I 'll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO

Where to Stream: I'll Be Gone in the Dark
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One of the most shocking true crime cases in recent years is getting the premium documentary treatment. This summer marks the premiere of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, director Liz Garbus’ six-episode deep dive into the Golden State Killer and the surprising woman who indirectly led to his arrest.
Every part of the Golden State Killer’s case is gruesome and fascinating. But Garbus deftly intertwines the monster at the docuseries’ center with the story of the unspoken hero who dedicated her life to bringing him down. Here’s what you need to know about the case, and why Michelle McNamara is such a big deal.
Who Was the Golden State Killer, aka the East Area Rapist?
He was known by three names. The first was the Visalia Ransacker back when his crime spree was limited to burglaries. He then progressed to the East Area Rapist or the Original Night Stalker once his heinous appetite increased. He was finally and most chillingly known as the Golden State Killer.
Between 1974 to 1986 this mysterious figure haunted the state of California. He would often spend days scoping out his targeted house, always focusing on quiet and deceptively peaceful suburbs. Initially when he began raping his victims he avoided houses with large dogs or husbands. But even that changed once the media tried to summarize his habits. As if to prove he was paying attention to the endless reports about him, the EAR started to target couples later in his crime spree. Many of the stories were the same. He would bind and blind these couples before stacking dishes atop the man. Before he assaulted the helpless women he would warn that if he heard a single dish rattle he would murder them both. Eventually he moved on to do just that.
Though the EAR terrorized an entire state for over a decade, he was far from a prolific criminal. The Golden State Killer would often take trinkets from his victims, and it wasn’t unusual to find distinctive shoe prints at the scene of his crimes. This sloppiness speaks to one of the true tragedies of the EAR case. This case was always solvable. But because it spanned so many different police precincts during a time when law enforcement didn’t regularly share information with other officers in many ways this horrifying monster fell through the cracks.
Who Was Michelle McNamara?
If you love true crime there’s a very good chance you already know McNamara’s name. The writer first started to gain fame through her blog, TrueCrimeDiary. Most true crime writing falls into one of two categories. Either it’s hopelessly dry or it’s so sensationalized it feels gross to read it. McNamara’s writing never fell into these traps.
TrueCrimeDiary added humanity to its crime stories. It rarely turned these criminals into heroes or antiheroes as often happens but always kept the victims and survivors front and center. McNamara brought that remarkable style to her book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. Half a story about her own fascination with true crime and the EAR case in particular, half an actual attempt to identify the Original Night Stalker, the book is unlike anything else in the genre.
Sadly, as praised as McNamara’s book is, it was never supposed to be released in the manner it was. While working on the book McNamara overdosed on a combination of medications. She died in April of 2016 at the age of 46. She is survived by her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, and their daughter Alice.
What Is I’ll Be Gone in the Dark?
That’s the name of McNamara’s book. Released in February of 2018, the book has been largely praised. There’s also a good case to be made that I’ll Be Gone in the Dark and McNamara’s tireless work on it led to the arrest of the actual Golden State Killer. While researching material for the book, McNamara worked closely with several detectives, highlighting details and connections they overlooked in this cold case.
The chilling title of the book and the docuseries were taken from the killer and rapist himself. The Golden State Killer reportedly said to one of his victims, “You’ll be silent forever, and I’ll be gone in the dark.”
Was the Golden State Killer Ever Found?
He certainly was. Roughly two months after the release of McNamara’s book Joseph James DeAngelo was arrested. A U.S. navy veteran and former police officer, DeAngelo’s life and moves throughout California almost perfectly match the EAR’s crime spree. He was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder based on DNA evidence as well as 13 kidnapping counts. The police were able to find him due to the recent surge of DNA ancestry testing, something that McNamara long suspected would eventually bring him down.
Earlier this month it was reported that DeAngelo would plead guilty to 13 murder and kidnapping charges and just as many rapes. This admission will be part of a deal to avoid the death penalty. DeAngelo is supposed to confess his guilt on June 29.
Watch I'll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--US calls for arms embargo renewal on Iran amid Trump arrest warrant

WASHINGTON — Iran will become the “ arms dealer of choice ...

The top US envoy to Iran said the expiring UN arms embargo against the Islamic Republic should be renewed to prevent it from “becoming the arms dealer of choice for rogue regimes and terrorist organizations” – hours before Tehran issued an arrest warrant for President Trump over the killing of a top general.
“If we let it expire, you can be certain that what Iran has been doing in the dark, it will do in broad daylight and then some,” Brian Hook told the Associated Press on Sunday.
“If we play by Iran’s rules, Iran wins. It is a Mafia tactic where people are intimidated into accepting a certain kind of behavior for fear of something far worse,” Hook said about the mullahs’ threats to retaliate if the embargo, which is set to expire in October, is extended.
Hours after his comments, Iran issued an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for assistance in detaining Trump and a group of other officials who it said were involved in the US drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
The top military commander’s Jan. 3 killing in Baghdad prompted Iran to launch missiles at American targets in Iraq.
In retaliation for an extension of the arms embargo, Iran could kick out international inspectors monitoring its nuclear program, deepening a crisis sparked when Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
The UN embargo has so far prevented Iran from buying fighter jets, tanks and warships, but has failed to stop its smuggling of weapons into war zones.
Despite that, Hook insisted that both an import and export ban on Tehran must remain in place to secure the wider region.
Iran’s mission to the UN did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the AP on Hook’s remarks.
However, President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday described 2020 as his country’s “most difficult year” due to the American economic pressure campaign and the coronavirus pandemic.
Since Trump withdrew from the nuclear accord, Iran has broken all of the pact’s production limits.
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors Tehran’s nuclear activity as part of the agreement, said the country’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium continues to grow.
Meanwhile, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Monday that Trump and more than 30 others face “murder and terrorism charges,” the semi-official ISNA news agency reported, according to al Jazeera.
Alqasimehr also said Iran had requested a “red notice” to be put out for Trump and the others, the highest-level notice issued by Interpol, which is based in Lyon, France.
The international police agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the news outlet.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--‘SNL’ Needs To Hire Sarah Cooper To Replace Alec Baldwin’s Tired Trump Impression

Alec Baldwin seems as complacent about impersonating Donald J. Trump in 2020 as Trump does about impersonating a president .
Watching them on our screens , it ’ s ironic how resigned each of them feel while inhabiting their current roles in our lives , and yet their respective egos are too huge to allow them to resign either of their gigs .
Even the most ardent supporters of Baldwin and Trump likely would agree on this , if not anything else .
The problem of parodying Trump , as any comedian has tried to tell you over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives a life of hyperbole .
Saturday Night Live tried giving Trump the Sarah Palin treatment five years ago , inviting him five years ago to host alongside his SNL impersonators , but that attempt at satire backfired spectacularly , both comedically and politically .
Despite Trump ’ s uncanny ability to entertain the masses at rallies , as candidate or president , reading off cue cards makes him underwhelming .
So Lorne Michaels has given up trying , instead having his writers and famous friends re-enact scenes from Trump ’ s presidency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casting has worn off .
There is a solution : Hire Sarah Cooper .
A former Google employee ( she was a design lead for Google Docs ) who started performing stand-up comedy 10 years ago , Cooper first went viral back in 2013 not as a social media star or as stand-up , but as a blogger , writing a humorous post on Medium advising readers how to look smart in meetings .
Cooper became popular on Twitter afterward , and landed a three-book deal .
I interviewed her in 2018 while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ books , How To Be Successful Without Hurting Men ’ s Feelings .
When live stand-up comedy vanished in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Cooper , like many comedians , looked for other ways to express herself and experimented on TikTok .
She tried emulating the popular dance challenges but quickly deleted almost all of them .
The kids on TikTok also love lip-synching songs and dialogue , and Cooper did that , too , before finding her muse in Trump in mid-April .
In those first few weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lampooning life at Google , walking her dog or miming a memorable confession from Married At First Sight , as well as soundbites from Trump .
Then Trump delivered his riff in a press briefing wondering if UV lights and disinfectants could go inside our bodies to heal us from the novel coronavirus .
Cooper put on a blazer , grabbed a couple of props and captured the hearts and minds of millions ( 21.7 million views by now ) , just by using her hands , eyes and facial expressions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she received a signal boost via RT from Jerry Seinfeld .
The following day , TMZ wrote about Cooper , and she was off to the races .
Cooper told Essence in an interview published April 27 that her approach provided audiences with a fresh perspective on the president , simply by stripping all the pomp and circumstance away and allowing us to focus on what he was saying rather than who was saying it .
And because she isn ’ t a White guy ( Cooper immigrated with her parents from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child , all sponsored by her grandmother ) , her status as a Black American adds comedic value .
“ If a White guy in a suit [ is speaking ] and people are nodding around him , it ’ s like we ’ ve been trained to think , Well , I guess it sounds like it could be true , ” she said .
“ If you see anybody else , especially me , saying [ the same words ] , I think it highlights just how ridiculous it is.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But as her fame grew online , she found she had to subtweet her fans and friends , writing : “ I think the biggest thing I learned from going viral is how easy it is to get on SNL.
” Cooper ’ s Trump routine would not be unprecedented for SNL .
Here ’ s why .
SNL already has a history of repurposing real-life dialogue , from Tina Fey ’ s Palin re-enactments at the end of the 2008 campaign , and even for more than a decade before that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animated “ TV Funhouse ” segments .
From 1996-2006 , “ TV Funhouse ” ran with a series of animated shorts called “ Fun with Real Audio , ” mocking politicians and celebrities using their own soundbites against them .
Targets included the O.J .
Simpson trial ; talk-show hosts Tom Snyder , Sally Jesse Raphael and Bryant Gumbel ; talk-show guests such as David Brenner ; Jewel ; U.S. Sen. John McCain ; Supreme Court Justice John Roberts ; and Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush .
The first of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portions of the presidential debate between Clinton and Bob Dole .
A compilation of speeches from W. aired as a cartoon short in December 2003 .
Why it makes even more sense than you think !
Ben Stiller , who has portrayed former Trump attorney Michael Cohen on SNL , called Cooper ’ s video work “ understated perfection.
” Eric McCormack , the Will of NBC ’ s Will & Grace , said : “ As terrified as I am about what the future holds , I know I ’ m REALLY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sarahcpr stars in.
” Cooper already has penetrated the realm of Lorne , debuting a recent video on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon .
Even if Lorne himself didn ’ t see it , Fallon ’ s sidekick and longtime SNL producer Steve Higgins probably knows what ’ s up .
And there ’ s a possibility the only audience who needs to see Cooper still hasn ’ t .
As Cooper told Ellen DeGeneres when appearing on her show , Trump blocked Cooper on Twitter back in 2017 .
Which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work of art .
Besides , if SNL hired Cooper , they ’ d also gain a valuable voice in the writers ’ room .
Just check out how well a couple of these Tweets have aged .
Even if SNL remains under self-quarantine come September , Cooper already has proved she can work from home .
So hire her already !
A tired comedy audience is begging you , please .
Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper , The Comic ’ s Comic ; before that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop : Ice cream or news .
He also tweets @ thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories : The Comic ’ s Comic Presents Last Things First .

Alec Baldwin seems as complacent about impersonating Donald J. Trump in 2020 as Trump does about impersonating a president.
Watching them on our screens, it’s ironic how resigned each of them feel while inhabiting their current roles in our lives, and yet their respective egos are too huge to allow them to resign either of their gigs. Even the most ardent supporters of Baldwin and Trump likely would agree on this, if not anything else. The problem of parodying Trump, as any comedian has tried to tell you over the past four years, is that he already lives a life of hyperbole. Saturday Night Live tried giving Trump the Sarah Palin treatment five years ago, inviting him five years ago to host alongside his SNL impersonators, but that attempt at satire backfired spectacularly, both comedically and politically. Despite Trump’s uncanny ability to entertain the masses at rallies, as candidate or president, reading off cue cards makes him underwhelming. So Lorne Michaels has given up trying, instead having his writers and famous friends re-enact scenes from Trump’s presidency. Any shock value from that stunt casting has worn off. There is a solution: Hire Sarah Cooper.
Who is Sarah Cooper?
A former Google employee (she was a design lead for Google Docs) who started performing stand-up comedy 10 years ago, Cooper first went viral back in 2013 not as a social media star or as stand-up, but as a blogger, writing a humorous post on Medium advising readers how to look smart in meetings. Cooper became popular on Twitter afterward, and landed a three-book deal. I interviewed her in 2018 while she was promoting the third of those books, How To Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings. When live stand-up comedy vanished in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper, like many comedians, looked for other ways to express herself and experimented on TikTok. She tried emulating the popular dance challenges but quickly deleted almost all of them. The kids on TikTok also love lip-synching songs and dialogue, and Cooper did that, too, before finding her muse in Trump in mid-April.
In those first few weeks, Cooper posted a variety of humorous videos, lampooning life at Google, walking her dog or miming a memorable confession from Married At First Sight, as well as soundbites from Trump. Then Trump delivered his riff in a press briefing wondering if UV lights and disinfectants could go inside our bodies to heal us from the novel coronavirus. Cooper put on a blazer, grabbed a couple of props and captured the hearts and minds of millions (21.7 million views by now), just by using her hands, eyes and facial expressions to reinterpret the president.
Within a day, she received a signal boost via RT from Jerry Seinfeld. The following day, TMZ wrote about Cooper, and she was off to the races.
Why Sarah Cooper?
Cooper told Essence in an interview published April 27 that her approach provided audiences with a fresh perspective on the president, simply by stripping all the pomp and circumstance away and allowing us to focus on what he was saying rather than who was saying it. And because she isn’t a White guy (Cooper immigrated with her parents from Jamaica to Maryland when she was a child, all sponsored by her grandmother), her status as a Black American adds comedic value. “If a White guy in a suit [is speaking] and people are nodding around him, it’s like we’ve been trained to think, Well, I guess it sounds like it could be true,” she said. “If you see anybody else, especially me, saying [the same words], I think it highlights just how ridiculous it is.”
Cooper now has 1.6 million Twitter followers. But as her fame grew online, she found she had to subtweet her fans and friends, writing: “I think the biggest thing I learned from going viral is how easy it is to get on SNL.”
Cooper’s Trump routine would not be unprecedented for SNL. Here’s why.
SNL already has a history of repurposing real-life dialogue, from Tina Fey’s Palin re-enactments at the end of the 2008 campaign, and even for more than a decade before that, thanks to Robert Smigel’s animated “TV Funhouse” segments.
From 1996-2006, “TV Funhouse” ran with a series of animated shorts called “Fun with Real Audio,” mocking politicians and celebrities using their own soundbites against them. Targets included the O.J. Simpson trial; talk-show hosts Tom Snyder, Sally Jesse Raphael and Bryant Gumbel; talk-show guests such as David Brenner; Jewel; U.S. Sen. John McCain; Supreme Court Justice John Roberts; and Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
The first of these aired Oct. 19, 1996, re-animating portions of the presidential debate between Clinton and Bob Dole.
A compilation of speeches from W. aired as a cartoon short in December 2003.
Why it makes even more sense than you think!
Ben Stiller, who has portrayed former Trump attorney Michael Cohen on SNL, called Cooper’s video work “understated perfection.”
Eric McCormack, the Will of NBC’s Will & Grace, said: “As terrified as I am about what the future holds, I know I’m REALLY looking forward to watching whatever show @sarahcpr stars in.”
Cooper already has penetrated the realm of Lorne, debuting a recent video on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Even if Lorne himself didn’t see it, Fallon’s sidekick and longtime SNL producer Steve Higgins probably knows what’s up.
And there’s a possibility the only audience who needs to see Cooper still hasn’t. As Cooper told Ellen DeGeneres when appearing on her show, Trump blocked Cooper on Twitter back in 2017.
Which means he may not yet have seen this work of art.
Besides, if SNL hired Cooper, they’d also gain a valuable voice in the writers’ room. Just check out how well a couple of these Tweets have aged.
Even if SNL remains under self-quarantine come September, Cooper already has proved she can work from home. So hire her already! A tired comedy audience is begging you, please.
UPDATE: Seems like none other than Alec Baldwin himself is game for this!
Sean L. McCarthy works the comedy beat for his own digital newspaper, The Comic’s Comic; before that, for actual newspapers. Based in NYC but will travel anywhere for the scoop: Ice cream or news. He also tweets @thecomicscomic and podcasts half-hour episodes with comedians revealing origin stories: The Comic’s Comic Presents Last Things First.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--NYPD hunting for violent ex-con in Brooklyn double-homicide

An upstate New York man flagged down a black driver ...

Cops are hunting a violent ex-con who they believe used an AR-15-style rifle to gun down a man and a woman in East New York over the weekend.
Charles Hernandez, 47, is wanted in connection to the pair of slayings on Van Siclen Avenue near Livonia Avenue around 12:30 p.m. Saturday, NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said in a Sunday tweet.
Disturbing video included in Harrison’s tweet shows the gunman running up the street before 27 rounds can be heard popping off in quick succession.
The gunman, wearing a blond wig and blue trench coat, is shown darting back down the street as screams are heard in the background.
Police sources on Saturday identified the victims as Chioteke Thompson, 23, and Stephanie Perkins, 39.
Thompson was shot once in the face and Perkins struck once in the back as they sat on a front stoop. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Police at the scene of a multi-victim shooting in Brooklyn. Kevin C. Downs Police at the scene of a multi-victim shooting in Brooklyn. Kevin C. Downs Advertisement Police at the scene of a multi-victim shooting in Brooklyn. William Miller Advertisement
Thompson and Perkins were found slumped over on the stoop with their arms around each other, a source said, with Thompson cradling Perkins’ head.
Hernandez, who is also identified as Charles Joy in state corrections records, was sentenced to five to 15 years behind bars in 1992 for assault, weapons possession and reckless endangerment. In 2006, he returned to prison on a 12- to 15-year sentence for criminal possession of a weapon. He was released on parole in October 2018, records show.
Police say Hernandez is known to drive a blue 2007 Chevrolet CBT with the New York plate JHV7930. He is described as armed and dangerous.
Police did not have details on the motive for the slaying as of Monday morning.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Upstate NY man caught on video shouting N-word at black driver

Over 30 years later , the song remains an anthem for ...

An upstate New York man flagged down a black driver to tell her “black lives don’t matter” and scream “I hate n—ers!” in a caught-on-camera attack that’s now under police investigation.
Jakeila Phillips filmed the passenger in a hatchback trying to get her attention while driving alongside her in Utica, with her winding down her window and asking, “What did you say?”
“I said I hate n—ers!” the man, who told her he was a cook named Barry Wardell, shouted back.
“Put me on Facebook. Black lives don’t matter! N—er!” he screamed, leaning out the window as they drove down Genesee Street.
Chuckling at the brazen verbal assault, Phillips calmly asked if he had “anything else” to say.
“Blacks should be slaves. Give me back my grandparents’ property,” he said, referring to her “f—ing ancestors.”
When she asked what he did for a living, Wardell replied, “I cook. I’m a chef. And I hang n—ers on the weekend.”
“But no disrespect to you,” he bizarrely added as Phillips drove away, still laughing.
As well as Wardell’s challenge to put it on social media, Phillips said she posted the video Saturday to prove that she experiences “racist/prejudice encounters all the time,” saying, “I finally got to catch one on camera.”
Utica police said Sunday they were “actively looking into the incident to identify if any crimes have been committed.”
“Regardless of the criminality of it we were disgusted and horrified by the words used,” police said in a statement. “It is one of the most ignorant things anyone has ever said and is not indicative of the citizens here and the city we are all proud of.”
Hamilton College’s president, David Wippman, slammed the “despicable racist slurs” made by the man who it confirmed had been a contract worker for the college’s food services provider.
“He will not work here again and has been banned from our campus effective immediately,” Wippman said.
“The behavior shown on the video is an extreme violation of our community standards and will not be tolerated.”
Previous 1 of 6 Next Advertisement The racist man identified himself as Barry Wardell. Jam Press Jakeila Phillips Facebook Advertisement Jam Press Jam Press Advertisement
Wardell’s employer, Bon Appétit, told the Observer-Dispatch that he had been put on leave in February because of the coronavirus pandemic — and wouldn’t ever be coming back.
“Bon Appétit has a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism,” company officials said in a statement. “We condemn these vile comments whole-heartedly.”
Wardell’s Facebook page was deleted soon after the video started going viral.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Jennifer Hudson transforms into Aretha Franklin in new ‘Respect’ trailer

Jennifer Hudson transforms into Aretha Franklin in the new trailer for the Franklin biopic “ Respect.
” The film is @ @ @ @ @ .
The official trailer for “ Respect ” debuted during the BET Awards on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ winner ’ s powerful cover of “ Respect ” soundtracking the preview .
The clip @ @ @ @ @ and asserting herself during interactions with the men in her life and those in the @ @ @ @ @ Liesl Tommy , the film also stars Marlon Wayans , Audra McDonald , Forest Whitaker @ @ @ @ @ Marc Maron .
Prior to the trailer ’ s debut , Hudson covered Franklin ’ @ @ @ @ @ & Black ” during the awards show .
In an emerald green gown , Hudson @ @ @ @ @ piano before moving to a standing microphone .
White-clad back-up singers surrounded Hudson for the @ @ @

Jennifer Hudson transforms into Aretha Franklin in the new trailer for the Franklin biopic “Respect.” The film is set to premiere this December.
The official trailer for “Respect” debuted during the BET Awards on Sunday night, with the Oscar winner’s powerful cover of “Respect” soundtracking the preview.
The clip features scenes of Franklin performing and asserting herself during interactions with the men in her life and those in the music industry. Directed by Liesl Tommy, the film also stars Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Forest Whitaker, Mary J. Blige and Marc Maron.
Prior to the trailer’s debut, Hudson covered Franklin’s “Young, Gifted & Black” during the awards show. In an emerald green gown, Hudson first sat behind a white piano before moving to a standing microphone. White-clad back-up singers surrounded Hudson for the striking performance.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’s Liz Garbus Explains How Michelle McNamara’s Philosophy Shaped Her Docuse

‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’s Liz Garbus Explains How Michelle McNamara’s Philosophy Shaped Her Docuseries

Just as Michelle McNamara ’ s book rewrote the true crime genre , Liz Garbus ’ I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark is rewriting the true crime documentary .
Half an investigation into the horrifying trail of rape and murder the Golden State Killer left behind , half a deep dive into the extraordinary citizen who devoted her life to discovering his identity , I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark is the rare true crime docuseries that isn ’ t about the criminal .
Instead it takes away this monster ’ s power to focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garbus that narrative shift was inspired directly from McNamara ’ s work .
Decider spoke with Garbus about the challenges of making this rule-breaking docuseries , what it was like talking to Patton Oswalt about his late wife , and what this team has in store for Joseph James DeAngelo ’ s ongoing case .
Decider : What drew you to this story , originally ?
Liz Garbus : Well , HBO sent me the manuscripts before the book was published .
I didn ’ t know about Michelle McNamara , I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Killer .
What drew me in was reading her manuscript , which was a combination of incredibly fascinating sleuthery — if that ’ s a word — and investigations .
Portraits of survivors .
And of course , an inquiry to her own life .
I was totally hooked .
I guess she wasn ’ t alive by the time they sent the manuscript to you , because they had to complete it .
In a lot of true crime documentaries the killer or criminal becomes the protagonist , for lack of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perversely highlighting that person .
This documentary completely sidesteps that .
Michelle ’ s the hero .
Was that always the intention ?
Yeah , Michelle said it herself .
It ’ s the powerful absence [ of knowing these criminals ’ identities ] that draws you in .
Once you know their name , it ’ s just like Bill or Bob .
Whatever .
Or Joe .
You ’ re like , “ Oh , that ’ s just this awful loser.
” In many ways , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting , because you want to understand how somebody could be responsible for all this .
But at the same time there ’ s no understanding that .
Because plenty of people have had trauma , or plenty of people have had rotten childhoods .
They don ’ t go on to become serial rapists and murderers .
For us , what was more interesting was Michelle ’ s journey , and the journey of the survivors and their resilience .
Those were stories that we really wanted to get to .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Golden State Killer out of the limelight , the whole documentary is so much more humanizing and more powerful .
Especially when it comes to hearing the survivors talk about the stories in their own words .
Thank you .
We took the lead from Michelle , in foregrounding the story of the survivors .
Their stories are obviously filled with a lot of darkness , but also are uplifting and teach you so much about resilience and getting through trauma .
Michelle had a saying : “ It ’ s chaos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think about their struggles .
We really don ’ t understand them .
What we can offer is kindness .
Patience .
Listening .
It was an honor to listen to all of their stories .
The final episode when all of the survivors are together at a garden party is so powerful .
That ’ s one of the parts where I was crying the most .
It ’ s uplifting .
They ’ re so resilient .
For us , that was truly the finale of the show .
Seeing them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15-year-old girl being told not to talk about it by her father .
They come to a place where you ’ re welcoming survivors and cameras into your home , talking about it and not taking on the shame that was like a cancer .
For us , that was like the true finale .
It feels like that .
Was it hard to find a balance between talking about these horrific crimes and telling Michelle McNamara ’ s story ?
Because there ’ s sort of two documentaries happening at once .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great challenge of the show was how to intertwine these stories .
That was a challenge we were all really excited to rise to .
There is a reason Michelle herself was so interested in these stories .
There ’ s a way that she related to the survivors .
Intertwining those stories , that balance was something we drove to keep throughout .
The stories are richer for their juxtaposition with one another .
Which interviews , for you , were the most difficult to tackle ?
I had a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three other directors on this film .
For my team members , talking to survivors is emotional and hard .
We want to support them in their process , and also get the stories on film .
Be compassionate throughout .
Also , working with Patton [ Oswalt ] — Patton had suffered a tremendous loss himself we were really sensitive to .
He can be funny , but there ’ s a gaping hole there for him .
It was about being sensitive to people ’ s loss and supporting them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a thorough , respectful manner of how you kind of get through that .
The eventual loss of Michelle , you see it happening throughout the docuseries .
It sort of mirrors the amount of pain this criminal caused so many people .
Was that always the intention , structurally ?
That going through what she called the “ motherlode ” of materials [ about the Golden State Killer case ] — while she had co-sleuths working with her like Paul Haynes , it was still very solitary .
Something she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to sleep .
That was a really dark place to go .
She was having terrible nightmares .
It really did get under her skin .
We saw her texts from her last night alive with Patton .
Talking about how consumed she was and how discouraged .
So certainly , it chronicles the toll it took on her .
It ’ s a testament to her humanity , and how great she was at what she did .
If you protect yourself from feeling it , then you ’ re not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ write about it and describe it .
That also obviously came with a price to pay , for her .
Now I understand that there ’ s going to be a companion podcast to I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark .
Can you tease a little bit about what you will be talking about ?
We ’ re going to be doing a podcast along with Nancy Miller , who was Michelle ’ s editor and brought the first Golden State Killer piece to the world with Michelle .
It will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the filmmaking process and maybe some segments with Patton .
Conversations with survivors .
Of course , updates on the case .
A deep dive into the DNA technology that was used to find [ Joseph ] DeAngelo .
We could have made 10 episodes .
There was a lot more to talk about , and for those who want more , there ’ s going to be a lot more there .
And then also , updates and tons of things will be happening with DeAngelo on trial .
What were you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Golden State Killer case ?
The way I see it , Michelle McNamara ’ s book brought notoriety to this case .
I want to know what you wanted to bring .
I guess it ’ s an extension of her work and her legacy .
When she started writing about the case , other than the survivors and the investigators , it was not very well-known .
He was called the EARONS , East Area Rapist Original Night Stalker .
It was not a case that had a lot of public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man affected , that was something that needed to be written .
When we started this project , we didn ’ t know there would be an arrest .
That was made during this time .
At first , it was like , well maybe we can help keep the pressure on and help find him .
That , of course , was not the priority anymore once DeAngelo was caught .
But it was still the priority to tell the stories of the survivors and the story of Michelle .
Do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citizen detectives and armchair detective work ?
I hope so .
You can see from this film , how much that collaboration mattered .
So much of the citizens detectives were super savvy about technology and the geo mapping data I barely understand .
They really brought a lot to law enforcement .
Paul Holes , who was credited largely with being one of the key guys to crack this case , worked with Michelle as his partner .
There really can be strong alliances when you open up and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I hope that there ’ s a great potential for those who want to take their skills and apply them to other unsolved cases .
I hope so .
There ’ s so many of these monsters in the world that need to be brought to justice .
Yeah , I mean , look : it ’ s the kind of crime that is so very , very rare .
But at the same time , it ’ s so devastating .
Like you said , there are a lot of unsolved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been edited for length and clarity .
New episodes of I ’ ll Be Gone in the Dark premiere on HBO Sundays at 10/9c p.m. Watch I 'll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO

Where to Stream: I'll Be Gone in the Dark
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Just as Michelle McNamara’s book rewrote the true crime genre, Liz Garbus’ I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is rewriting the true crime documentary. Half an investigation into the horrifying trail of rape and murder the Golden State Killer left behind, half a deep dive into the extraordinary citizen who devoted her life to discovering his identity, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is the rare true crime docuseries that isn’t about the criminal. Instead it takes away this monster’s power to focus on his victims.
According to director Liz Garbus that narrative shift was inspired directly from McNamara’s work. Decider spoke with Garbus about the challenges of making this rule-breaking docuseries, what it was like talking to Patton Oswalt about his late wife, and what this team has in store for Joseph James DeAngelo’s ongoing case.
Decider: What drew you to this story, originally?
Liz Garbus: Well, HBO sent me the manuscripts before the book was published. I didn’t know about Michelle McNamara, I didn’t know about the Golden State Killer. What drew me in was reading her manuscript, which was a combination of incredibly fascinating sleuthery — if that’s a word — and investigations. Portraits of survivors. And of course, an inquiry to her own life. I was totally hooked.
I guess she wasn’t alive by the time they sent the manuscript to you, because they had to complete it.
Exactly.
In a lot of true crime documentaries the killer or criminal becomes the protagonist, for lack of a better word. It becomes about weirdly, perversely highlighting that person. This documentary completely sidesteps that. Michelle’s the hero. Was that always the intention?
Yeah, Michelle said it herself. It’s the powerful absence [of knowing these criminals’ identities] that draws you in. Once you know their name, it’s just like Bill or Bob. Whatever. Or Joe. You’re like, “Oh, that’s just this awful loser.” In many ways, they’re just not interested.
It’s interesting, because you want to understand how somebody could be responsible for all this. But at the same time there’s no understanding that. Because plenty of people have had trauma, or plenty of people have had rotten childhoods. They don’t go on to become serial rapists and murderers. For us, what was more interesting was Michelle’s journey, and the journey of the survivors and their resilience. Those were stories that we really wanted to get to.
What’s incredible is, by taking the Golden State Killer out of the limelight, the whole documentary is so much more humanizing and more powerful. Especially when it comes to hearing the survivors talk about the stories in their own words.
Thank you. We took the lead from Michelle, in foregrounding the story of the survivors. Their stories are obviously filled with a lot of darkness, but also are uplifting and teach you so much about resilience and getting through trauma. Michelle had a saying: “It’s chaos, be kind.” It makes you think about their struggles. We really don’t understand them. What we can offer is kindness. Patience. Listening. It was an honor to listen to all of their stories.
The final episode when all of the survivors are together at a garden party is so powerful. That’s one of the parts where I was crying the most. It’s uplifting. They’re so resilient.
For us, that was truly the finale of the show. Seeing them come together, Kris Pedretti and the 15-year-old girl being told not to talk about it by her father. They come to a place where you’re welcoming survivors and cameras into your home, talking about it and not taking on the shame that was like a cancer. For us, that was like the true finale.
It feels like that. Was it hard to find a balance between talking about these horrific crimes and telling Michelle McNamara’s story? Because there’s sort of two documentaries happening at once.
Yeah. It was challenging, but the great challenge of the show was how to intertwine these stories. That was a challenge we were all really excited to rise to. There is a reason Michelle herself was so interested in these stories. There’s a way that she related to the survivors. Intertwining those stories, that balance was something we drove to keep throughout. The stories are richer for their juxtaposition with one another.
Which interviews, for you, were the most difficult to tackle?
I had a team of folks doing interviews, there are three other directors on this film. For my team members, talking to survivors is emotional and hard. We want to support them in their process, and also get the stories on film. Be compassionate throughout. Also, working with Patton [Oswalt] — Patton had suffered a tremendous loss himself we were really sensitive to. He can be funny, but there’s a gaping hole there for him. It was about being sensitive to people’s loss and supporting them. Knowing that we would tell those stories in a thorough, respectful manner of how you kind of get through that.
The eventual loss of Michelle, you see it happening throughout the docuseries. It sort of mirrors the amount of pain this criminal caused so many people. Was that always the intention, structurally?
That going through what she called the “motherlode” of materials [about the Golden State Killer case] — while she had co-sleuths working with her like Paul Haynes, it was still very solitary. Something she was doing at night, after her daughter went to sleep. That was a really dark place to go. She was having terrible nightmares. It really did get under her skin. We saw her texts from her last night alive with Patton. Talking about how consumed she was and how discouraged. So certainly, it chronicles the toll it took on her.
It’s a testament to her humanity, and how great she was at what she did.
If you protect yourself from feeling it, then you’re not really going to fully be able to write about it and describe it. That also obviously came with a price to pay, for her.
Now I understand that there’s going to be a companion podcast to I’ll Be Gone in the Dark. Can you tease a little bit about what you will be talking about?
We’re going to be doing a podcast along with Nancy Miller, who was Michelle’s editor and brought the first Golden State Killer piece to the world with Michelle. It will be a deeper dive into some of the filmmaking process and maybe some segments with Patton. Conversations with survivors. Of course, updates on the case. A deep dive into the DNA technology that was used to find [Joseph] DeAngelo. We could have made 10 episodes. There was a lot more to talk about, and for those who want more, there’s going to be a lot more there. And then also, updates and tons of things will be happening with DeAngelo on trial.
That’s very exciting, since the case is continuing this month.
Exactly.
What were you hoping that this documentary would bring to the Golden State Killer case? The way I see it, Michelle McNamara’s book brought notoriety to this case. I want to know what you wanted to bring.
I guess it’s an extension of her work and her legacy. When she started writing about the case, other than the survivors and the investigators, it was not very well-known. He was called the EARONS, East Area Rapist Original Night Stalker. It was not a case that had a lot of public attention. Given how many lives this man affected, that was something that needed to be written. When we started this project, we didn’t know there would be an arrest. That was made during this time. At first, it was like, well maybe we can help keep the pressure on and help find him. That, of course, was not the priority anymore once DeAngelo was caught. But it was still the priority to tell the stories of the survivors and the story of Michelle.
Do you think this documentary will help encourage more citizen detectives and armchair detective work?
I hope so. You can see from this film, how much that collaboration mattered. So much of the citizens detectives were super savvy about technology and the geo mapping data I barely understand. They really brought a lot to law enforcement. Paul Holes, who was credited largely with being one of the key guys to crack this case, worked with Michelle as his partner. There really can be strong alliances when you open up and don’t silo the work and collaborate. Yes, I hope that there’s a great potential for those who want to take their skills and apply them to other unsolved cases.
I hope so. There’s so many of these monsters in the world that need to be brought to justice.
Yeah, I mean, look: it’s the kind of crime that is so very, very rare. But at the same time, it’s so devastating. Like you said, there are a lot of unsolved cases out there.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
New episodes of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark premiere on HBO Sundays at 10/9c p.m.
Watch I'll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Watch Public Enemy, Nas, Questlove team to ‘Fight The Power’ at BET Awards

Singer Keedron Bryant kicked off the BET Awards with his stirring anthem “ I Just Wan na Live ” which was the perfect way to usher in a new rendition of the hip-hop classic “ Fight the Power ” by Public Enemy .
Chuck D and Flavor Flav reunited alongside Jahi from Public Enemy Radio for the tune updated to recognize the current landscape , recognizing the protests and rallies stemming from the deaths of George Floyd , Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery , Tony McDade , Nina Pop and the countless people from the black community we have lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The new version includes the talents of The Roots ’ Black Thought and Questlove as well as Nas , Rapsody and YG providing some lyrical heft to the song originally released in 1989 and featured in Spike Lee ’ s “ Do the Right Thing.
” Over 30 years later , the song continues to remain an anthem for racial injustice .
Nas raps “ They say a suicide when dead bodies are swinging/Cowards are hunting Black men that ’ s what I ’ m seeing.
” He later adds , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you , Flav and PE putting it down/Putting your life on the line so I can rap now ” as footage from protests all around the country .
Watch all of them “ Fight The Power ” in the video above .

Singer Keedron Bryant kicked off the BET Awards with his stirring anthem “I Just Wanna Live” which was the perfect way to usher in a new rendition of the hip-hop classic “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy.
Chuck D and Flavor Flav reunited alongside Jahi from Public Enemy Radio for the tune updated to recognize the current landscape, recognizing the protests and rallies stemming from the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop and the countless people from the black community we have lost due to racism and police brutality.
The new version includes the talents of The Roots’ Black Thought and Questlove as well as Nas, Rapsody and YG providing some lyrical heft to the song originally released in 1989 and featured in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.”
Over 30 years later, the song continues to remain an anthem for racial injustice. Nas raps “They say a suicide when dead bodies are swinging/Cowards are hunting Black men that’s what I’m seeing.” He later adds, “I’m fighting the power right now/Thanks to you, Flav and PE putting it down/Putting your life on the line so I can rap now” as footage from protests all around the country.
Watch all of them “Fight The Power” in the video above.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Boeing 737 MAX certification test flights to begin today

Boeing is slated to start a series of test flights Monday that could play an important role in returning its troubled 737 MAX jet to the skies , according to reports .
The flights will reportedly help the Federal Aviation Administration determine whether Boeing has done enough to fix the jet ’ s safety problems in the 15 months since it was grounded following two crashes that killed 346 people .
The certification test , set to take place over at least three days in Washington state , will focus on the stall-prevention software that played a key role in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first flight is set to take off Monday following several hours of briefing , according to the news agency .
In a Sunday email to congressional staff , the FAA said the test flights were allowed to start after regulators finished a lengthy review of the “ system safety assessment ” that Boeing submitted , Bloomberg News reported .
The agency added that it has not yet decided whether the 737 MAX can return to service , a process that will reportedly take months more .
In a statement to The Post , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligently on safely returning the 737 MAX to commercial service ” but did not confirm when the test flights will take place or what they will involve .
“ We defer to the FAA and global regulators on the certification process , ” Boeing said .
The FAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday morning .
Boeing shares jumped 8.1 percent in premarket trading Monday at $ 183.70 as of 7:27 a.m .
The pair of 737 MAX crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia sparked a massive crisis for Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months from reduced demand for air travel as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
Regulators grounded the plane in March 2019 , and a flurry of investigations has followed — including a reported criminal probe into various safety problems on the 737 MAX assembly line .
Boeing forced out CEO Dennis Muilenburg in December amid a backlash over the crashes and handed the reins to chairman David Calhoun .
Boeing delivered just 50 planes in the first quarter of this year , down from 149 a year earlier .
The Chicago-based company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 55 percent lower than the day the feds grounded the 737 MAX .

Boeing started a series of test flights Monday that will play an important role in returning its troubled 737 Max jet to the skies.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it will use so-called certification flights to judge Boeing’s proposed changes to the automated flight-control system in the plane, which was grounded for more than 15 months ago following two crashes that killed 346 people.
The flights, expected to take place over about three days, will involve a broad range of maneuvers and emergency procedures to determine whether Boeing’s changes meet federal standards, the FAA said. The first flight took off from Boeing Field in Seattle at 9:55 a.m. Pacific time and was slated to last several hours, according to the agency.
In a Sunday email to congressional staff, the FAA said the test flights were allowed to start after regulators finished a lengthy review of the “system safety assessment” that Boeing submitted, Bloomberg News reported. But the agency said “a number of key tasks remain” before it will let the 737 Max return to service.
“The FAA is following a deliberate process and will take the time it needs to thoroughly review Boeing’s work,” the agency said in a statement. “We will lift the grounding order only after we are satisfied that the aircraft meets certification standards.”
In a statement, Boeing said it continues “to work diligently on safely returning the 737 Max to commercial service” but deferred to the FAA for details of the certification process.
The news sent Boeing shares soaring as much as 11 percent, to $188.25, by early Monday afternoon.
The pair of 737 Max crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia sparked a massive crisis for Boeing, which has also suffered in recent months from reduced demand for air travel as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Regulators grounded the plane in March 2019, and a flurry of investigations has followed — including a reported criminal probe into various safety problems on the 737 Max assembly line. Boeing forced out CEO Dennis Muilenburg in December amid a backlash over the crashes and handed the reins to chairman David Calhoun.
Boeing delivered just 50 planes in the first quarter of this year, down from 149 a year earlier. The Chicago-based company’s share price ended last week about 55 percent lower than the day the feds grounded the 737 Max.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Ex-Minneapolis cops will appear in court to face George Floyd charges

Former first lady Michelle Obama honored Beyoncé at the 20th ...

Derek Chauvin, the ex-Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd, will make a court appearance Monday, along with the three other officers charged in Floyd’s death.
Chauvin, who is facing second-degree murder charges, will appear via video, according to CNN.
Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane will appear in person on charges of aiding and abetting murder.
None of the four men have entered pleas.
Chauvin and Thao remain in custody, while the other two are out on bail.
The hearing is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. CDT.
Floyd died on May 25 after Chauvin was caught on video kneeling on his neck. Lane and Kueng helped restrain Floyd, while Thao stood by.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement J. Alexander Kueng (from left), Thomas Lane and Tou Thao AP George Floyd Ben Crump Law Advertisement Derek Chauvin's mugshot Getty Images Advertisement
Prosecutors said earlier this month that Chauvin, 44, had Floyd pinned for 7 minutes and 46 seconds — not the 8 minutes, 46 seconds originally believed. They said the one-minute difference shouldn’t impact the criminal case against the officers.
All four officers have been fired. They potentially face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Michelle Obama presents Beyoncé with BET Humanitarian Award

Former first lady Michelle Obama honored Beyoncé at the 20th annual BET Awards ceremony Sunday night by presenting the singer and activist with the 2020 Humanitarian Award , according to a report .
“ I am here to talk about The Queen , you know the one , ” Obama said in a video presentation , USA Today reported .
“ Ever since she was a little girl in Houston , Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has been lighting up the stages and gracing the world with her talent , with her generosity of spirit and with her love for her community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see it in everything she does .
From her music that gives voice to black joy and black pain , to her activism that demands justice for Black Lives , ” Obama continued .
“ And no matter how big the stages get , I know my girl isn ’ t satisfied unless she ’ s sharing all that shine she has with the next generation.
” The presentation focused on the 38-year-old superstar ’ s work with the community , education efforts , low-income housing and providing support during the ongoing coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Beyoncé ’ s mother Tina Knowles-Lawson said her daughter has always been “ blessed to give back ” to the community .
In a video , Beyoncé called the honor “ beautiful ” and dedicated it “ to all of my brothers out there , all of my sisters out there inspiring me , marching and fighting for change.
” She added : “ Your voices are being heard and you ’ re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.
” “ I ’ m encouraging you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work to change a racist and unequal system .
We have to continue to do this together , ” she said .
“ We have to vote like our life depends on it , because it does .
”

Former first lady Michelle Obama honored Beyoncé at the 20th annual BET Awards ceremony Sunday night by presenting the singer and activist with the 2020 Humanitarian Award, according to a report.
“I am here to talk about The Queen, you know the one,” Obama said in a video presentation, USA Today reported.
“Ever since she was a little girl in Houston, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has been lighting up the stages and gracing the world with her talent, with her generosity of spirit and with her love for her community,” she said.
“You can see it in everything she does. From her music that gives voice to black joy and black pain, to her activism that demands justice for Black Lives,” Obama continued.
“And no matter how big the stages get, I know my girl isn’t satisfied unless she’s sharing all that shine she has with the next generation.”
The presentation focused on the 38-year-old superstar’s work with the community, education efforts, low-income housing and providing support during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
After Obama’s tribute, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles-Lawson said her daughter has always been “blessed to give back” to the community.
In a video, Beyoncé called the honor “beautiful” and dedicated it “to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there inspiring me, marching and fighting for change.”
She added: “Your voices are being heard and you’re proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.”
Beyoncé ended her remarks by urging voter participation.
“I’m encouraging you to continue to take action, continue to work to change a racist and unequal system. We have to continue to do this together,” she said. “We have to vote like our life depends on it, because it does.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Gov. DeSantis blames young people partying for coronavirus surge

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Florida ’ s governor has blamed younger people for the dramatic surge in coronavirus cases — claiming it ’ s impossible to stop them from partying .
“ If you look at that 25 to 34 age group , that is now by far the leading age group for positive tests , ” Gov .
Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Sunday , as seen on Wink News .
He insisted you “ can ’ t control ” them because “ they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re going to do what they ’ re going to do , ” DeSantis said .
Cell phone data partially backs the governor ’ s theory — rebellious Floridians had begun leaving their homes more frequently even before reopenings started on May 4 , the Tampa Bay Times said .
Bars also take some of the blame , DeSantis said as he decried “ widespread noncompliance ” in packed establishments that “ tossed aside ” safety guidelines .
“ It has invariably been because they packed so many people in and created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to avoid , ” DeSantis said .
“ Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are.
” Even with record numbers of infections — with 8,500 new confirmed cases and 29 deaths Sunday — the governor insists that the age-group trend makes the pandemic not as serious as it appears because the disease does not pose as much of a threat to younger people .
An intensive care doctor who appeared alongside him , Jason Foland , said many appeared to have a weaker strain of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain why it was being spread so widely .
“ If you get sick very quickly with an aggressive strain , you ’ re not out in the community and you ’ re not spreading it , ” Foland said .
“ If you have symptoms much like the common cold , you ’ re spreading it all over the place.
” Despite claiming he could not control the younger population , DeSantis urged them to be considerate of “ more vulnerable ” community members .
In contrast , seniors in the Sunshine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diligent , ” DeSantis said .
“ I know it ’ s gone on now , we ’ re in the third month of this , and it can be tiring ― we just ask that you maintain that diligence , ” he said .
In total , Florida now has more than 141,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 3,400 deaths .

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Florida’s governor has blamed younger people for the dramatic surge in coronavirus cases — claiming it’s impossible to stop them from partying.
“If you look at that 25 to 34 age group, that is now by far the leading age group for positive tests,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Sunday, as seen on Wink News.
He insisted you “can’t control” them because “they’re younger people.”
“They’re going to do what they’re going to do,” DeSantis said.
Cellphone data partially backs the governor’s theory — rebellious Floridians had begun leaving their homes more frequently even before reopenings started on May 4, the Tampa Bay Times said.
Bars also take some of the blame, DeSantis said as he decried “widespread noncompliance” in packed establishments that “tossed aside” safety guidelines.
“It has invariably been because they packed so many people in and created a type of environment that we are trying to avoid,” DeSantis said. “Caution was thrown to the wind and so we are where we are.”
Even with record numbers of infections — with 8,500 new confirmed cases and 29 deaths Sunday — the governor insists that the age-group trend makes the pandemic not as serious as it appears because the disease does not pose as much of a threat to younger people.
An intensive care doctor who appeared alongside him, Jason Foland, said many appeared to have a weaker strain of the bug — which he argued could also explain why it was being spread so widely.
“If you get sick very quickly with an aggressive strain, you’re not out in the community and you’re not spreading it,” Foland said.
“If you have symptoms much like the common cold, you’re spreading it all over the place.”
Despite claiming he could not control the younger population, DeSantis urged them to be considerate of “more vulnerable” community members.
In contrast, seniors in the Sunshine State have been “very, very diligent,” DeSantis said.
“I know it’s gone on now, we’re in the third month of this, and it can be tiring ― we just ask that you maintain that diligence,” he said.
In total, Florida now has more than 141,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 3,400 deaths.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Dr. Fauci warns coronavirus vaccine may not lead to herd immunity in US

Dr. Anthony Fauci says he would “ settle ” for a coronavirus vaccine that ’ s 70 percent to 75 percent effective – but warned that the US may not achieve herd immunity to the contagion if too many people refuse to be vaccinated , according to a report .
“ The best we ’ ve ever done is measles , which is 97 to 98 percent effective , ” the top US infectious disease expert told CNN .
“ That would be wonderful if we get there .
I don ’ t think we will .
I would settle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent effective vaccine.
” Fauci , head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , noted that the incomplete protection and the fact that many people say they will skip the vaccine makes it “ unlikely ” that the nation will achieve sufficient immunity to stem the outbreak .
A recent CNN poll found one-third of Americans said they would not try to get a vaccine — even if it is widely available and low cost .
Herd immunity is achieved when a sufficient percentage of a population is immune to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illness or vaccination .
In the next three months , three vaccines are expected to be studied in major clinical trials — but “ there is a general anti-science , anti-authority , anti-vaccine feeling among some people in this country — an alarmingly large percentage of people , relatively speaking , ” Fauci said .
Given the influence of anti-vaxxers , he added , “ We have a lot of work to do ” to educate people on the truth about vaccines .
“ It ’ s not going to be easy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House task force on the pandemic .
“ Anyone [ who ] thinks it will be easy is not facing reality .
It ’ s going to be very difficult.
” He said the government has a vaccine education program to spread the message .
“ We have a program right now that ’ s going to be extensive in reaching out to the community , ” he said .
“ They may not like a government person in a suit like me telling them , even though I will tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that they can relate to in the community — sports figures , community heroes , people that they look up to.
” The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which runs multiple federal health education programs , referred CNN to the US Department of Health and Human Services , which runs the White House effort to develop a vaccine .
HHS spokesman Michael Caputo did not confirm the existence of a vaccine education campaign , adding in an email that “ I ’ d hate to see CNN put out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When asked what grade he would give the US for handling the pandemic , Fauci said “ some states are going to be A+ .
Some are going to be A and some are going to be down in C somewhere , ” he said , singling New York out for doing “ really well .
”

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he would “settle” for a coronavirus vaccine that’s 70 percent to 75 percent effective – but warned that the US may not achieve herd immunity to the contagion if too many people refuse to be vaccinated, according to a report.
“The best we’ve ever done is measles, which is 97 to 98 percent effective,” the top US infectious disease expert told CNN. “That would be wonderful if we get there. I don’t think we will. I would settle for [a] 70, 75 percent effective vaccine.”
Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted that the incomplete protection and the fact that many people say they will skip the vaccine makes it “unlikely” that the nation will achieve sufficient immunity to stem the outbreak.
A recent CNN poll found one-third of Americans said they would not try to get a vaccine — even if it is widely available and low-cost.
Herd immunity is achieved when a sufficient percentage of a population is immune to an infectious disease, either through prior illness or vaccination.
In the next three months, three vaccines are expected to be studied in major clinical trials — but “there is a general anti-science, anti-authority, anti-vaccine feeling among some people in this country — an alarmingly large percentage of people, relatively speaking,” Fauci said.
Given the influence of anti-vaxxers, he added, “We have a lot of work to do” to educate people on the truth about vaccines.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on the pandemic.
“Anyone [who] thinks it will be easy is not facing reality. It’s going to be very difficult.”
He said the government has a vaccine education program to spread the message.
“We have a program right now that’s going to be extensive in reaching out to the community,” he said.
“They may not like a government person in a suit like me telling them, even though I will tell them. They really need to see people that they can relate to in the community — sports figures, community heroes, people that they look up to.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which runs multiple federal health education programs, referred CNN to the US Department of Health and Human Services, which runs the White House effort to develop a vaccine.
HHS spokesman Michael Caputo did not confirm the existence of a vaccine education campaign, adding in an email that “I’d hate to see CNN put out [a] wildly incorrect story.”
When asked what grade he would give the US for handling the pandemic, Fauci said “some states are going to be A+. Some are going to be A and some are going to be down in C somewhere,” he said, singling out New York for doing “really well.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Trump says ‘absentee ballots are fine,’ warns against ‘corrupt’ mail-in voting

President Trump pressed on warning about widespread fraud in mail-in voting but said that “ absentee ballots are fine.
” “ A person has to go through a process to get and use them , ” the president said in a tweet late Sunday .
“ Mail-In Voting , on the other hand , will lead to the most corrupt Election is USA history .
Bad things happen with Mail-Ins.
” He added : “ Just look at Special Election in Patterson , N.J. 19 % of Ballots a FRAUD !
” In Paterson ’ s City Council election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 19 percent of the tally – were disqualified in May , according to NorthJersey.com .
The election was conducted entirely through mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Passaic County government spokesman Keith Furlong said the ballots were disqualified because of the election board ’ s annual practice of checking signatures against those on file for voters .
Trump also railed against mail-in ballots last week , when he tweeted that “ because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS , 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations [ sic ] history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added : “ We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem , but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins !
” The president also echoed Attorney General William Barr ’ s warning that allowing voting by mail in November would lead to rampant fraud and result in a rigged election .
“ Barr : Mail-in Ballots ‘ Absolutely Opens the Floodgates to Fraud ‘ … via @ BreitbartNews .
This will be the Election disaster of our time .
Mail-In Ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ RIGGED 2020 ELECTION : MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES , AND OTHERS .
IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES !
” the president wrote in another tweet .
Many states have tried to expand absentee and mail-in voting for the presidential election as health experts predict a possible second round of the pandemic and amid fears of low voter turnout because of social distancing guidelines .

President Trump pressed on with warning about widespread fraud in mail-in voting but said that “absentee ballots are fine.”
“A person has to go through a process to get and use them,” the president said in a tweet late Sunday. “Mail-In Voting, on the other hand, will lead to the most corrupt Election is USA history. Bad things happen with Mail-Ins.”
He added: “Just look at Special Election in Patterson, N.J. 19% of Ballots a FRAUD!”
In Paterson’s City Council election, a total of 3,190 mail-in ballots — about 19 percent of the tally — were disqualified in May, according to NorthJersey.com.
The election was conducted entirely through mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Passaic County spokesman Keith Furlong said the ballots were disqualified because of the election board’s annual practice of checking signatures against those on file for voters.
Trump also railed against mail-in ballots last week, when he tweeted that “because of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, 2020 will be the most RIGGED Election in our nations [sic] history – unless this stupidity is ended.”
He added: “We voted during World War One & World War Two with no problem, but now they are using Covid in order to cheat by using Mail-Ins!”
The president also echoed Attorney General William Barr’s warning that allowing voting by mail in November would lead to rampant fraud and result in a rigged election.
“Barr: Mail-in Ballots ‘Absolutely Opens the Floodgates to Fraud‘ … via @BreitbartNews. This will be the Election disaster of our time. Mail-In Ballots will lead to a RIGGED ELECTION!” he said.
“RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!” the president wrote in another tweet.
Many states have tried to expand absentee and mail-in voting for the presidential election as health experts predict a possible second round of the pandemic and amid fears of low voter turnout because of social distancing guidelines.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Bison ‘steam’-pede in Yellowstone draws cheers from visitors

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While bison are known to stampede in Yellowstone, this one is happy just chilling. See the spectacular moment when a bison steps in front of Old Faithful at Yellowstone in Wyoming just as the geyser erupts. Yellowstone National Park is home to approximately 5,000 American bison, commonly called buffaloes.
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newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Gunmen attack Pakistan stock exchange in Karachi

KARACHI , Pakistan — Pakistani police say an unknown number of gunmen have attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the southern port city of Karachi , the country ’ s financial center .
Rizwan Ahmend , a police official at the scene of the attack says gunmen opened fire at the entrance and have entered the stock exchange grounds .
It wasn ’ t immediately known how many gunmen are involved and whether they have been able to enter the building itself in Monday ’ s attack .
Inside the stock exchange , broker Yaqub Memon says he and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed special forces have surrounded the building located in the heart of the city ’ s financial district , where the Pakistan State Bank is located as well as the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions .
Local television stations are showing police in full body armor surrounding the building but still staying outside the high walled compound of the stock exchange .
Shazia Jehan , a police spokesman , says the bomb disposal squad has also been called to the stock exchange building and was trying to clear the building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other details and the fate of the attackers was not immediately known .
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack .
The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistan ’ s largest and oldest stock exchange , incorporated today with the exchanges in Islamabad and Lahore .

KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani police say an unknown number of gunmen have attacked the Pakistan Stock Exchange in the southern port city of Karachi, the country’s financial center.
Rizwan Ahmend, a police official at the scene of the attack says gunmen opened fire at the entrance and have entered the stock exchange grounds. It wasn’t immediately known how many gunmen are involved and whether they have been able to enter the building itself in Monday’s attack.
Inside the stock exchange, broker Yaqub Memon says he and others are huddled inside their offices.
Heavily armed special forces have surrounded the building located in the heart of the city’s financial district, where the Pakistan State Bank is located as well as the headquarters of several national and international financial institutions.
Local television stations are showing police in full body armor surrounding the building but still staying outside the high walled compound of the stock exchange.
Shazia Jehan, a police spokesman, says the bomb disposal squad has also been called to the stock exchange building and was trying to clear the building of explosive devices. There were no other details and the fate of the attackers was not immediately known.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Karachi stock exchange is Pakistan’s largest and oldest stock exchange, incorporated today with the exchanges in Islamabad and Lahore.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--NYC shootings more than doubled last week compared to same period last year

Shootings across the city more than doubled last week compared to the same period last year , according to police @ @ @ @ @ to midnight Sunday , there were 63 shootings , with a total of 85 victims @ @ @ @ @ During the same time frame last year , there were 26 shootings , sources said @ @ @ @ @ were down last week compared to the same time last year .
Six people were @ @ @ @ @ compared to nine shooting deaths last year , sources said .
Last week ’ s @ @ @ @ @ bloody 12-hour spree from Saturday into Sunday where 11 people were shot in Brooklyn , @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan .

Gunfire echoed through the city last week at twice the rate it did over the same period last year, according to new NYPD stats.
The department tallied 63 shootings June 22 through Sunday — up from 26 over the same one-week period a year ago, according to NYPD crime statistics.
In all, 85 people fell victim to gun violence over the period, the data show.
Two more shootings were logged early Monday, according to NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.
Most of the victims were expected to survive.
But in one broad-daylight shooting on Saturday, a man wearing a blond wig and a trenchcoat opened fire on a man and a woman sitting on a stoop in East New York, killing them both, police and sources said.
On Friday, a shooting outside Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ $80 million penthouse on Fifth Avenue left a 19-year-old woman dead and a 21-year-old man wounded, police said.
Also on Friday, a Queens man allegedly shot and killed a Connecticut teenager and wounded her boyfriend following a dispute in a bar in the Flatiron District, according to law-enforcement officials.
In at least three cases the gunshot victims refused to cooperate with investigators.
Police brass this weekend blamed the surge in shootings over the first three weeks of June on “animosity towards police.”
However, police said that one favorable statistic is murders, which are down over the past week.
Six people were murdered last week, compared to nine for the same period last year, police data show.
Additional reporting by Jorge Fitz-Gibbon


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Chicago man killed two teens after they asked how tall he was: cops

A Chicago man is accused of killing two teenagers at a convenience store this month after they asked how tall he was , authorities said on Thursday .
Laroy Battle , 19 , reportedly opened fire on Jasean Francis , 17 , and Charles Riley , 16 , in a back ally around 5 p.m. on June 20 after they and a friend walked home from buying candy at the store — following a brief encounter with the suspect .
“ The victims commented , because , since Battle is quite tall , and they asked him how tall he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be that tall someday , ” Deputy Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told Chicago ’ s WLS-TV .
“ And unfortunately , obviously we ’ ll never see the full growth of these poor children.
” The teenagers , described as “ very good kids from really excellent families , ” were reportedly asked by their mothers to buy candy at the store .
They didn ’ t know Battle , but after asking about his 6-foot-3 height , he reportedly followed them out and fired nine rounds at the teenagers , police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back , chest and left hand , while Riley was shot in the back and left leg .
Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where they were pronounced dead , according to the station .
The third teenager was not struck “ He was a kid , ” said Latonya Pettit , Francis ’ aunt .
“ Liked video games , snacks .
That was his thing .
He would walk into this hospital gift shop daily and purchase snacks.
” Battle was arrested after members of the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been released by police , Deenihan said .
“ To the community members who stepped forward with information – thank you .
Detectives were able to quickly identify Battle , but it was the help we received from the community that led to his arrest , ” Chicago Police wrote on Twitter .
The suspect — who has three previous arrests and one previous conviction for unlawful use of a weapon — admitted that he was the person seen on camera but failed to offer a motive in the fatal shooting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Francis were reportedly among 12 minors struck by gunfire during a violent Father ’ s Day weekend that reportedly saw 104 people shot in the city , the paper reported .
Violence in Chicago last weekend also saw 13 people killed in shootings – including a 1-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl , reports say .
Battle was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance , according to police .

A Chicago man is accused of killing two teenagers at a convenience store this month after they asked how tall he was, authorities said on Thursday.
Laroy Battle, 19, reportedly opened fire on Jasean Francis, 17, and Charles Riley, 16, in a back alley around 5 p.m. June 20 after they and a friend walked home from buying candy at the store — following a brief encounter with the suspect.
“The victims commented, because, since Battle is quite tall, and they asked him how tall he was and you know, hoped to be that tall someday,” Deputy Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told Chicago’s WLS-TV. “And unfortunately, obviously we’ll never see the full growth of these poor children.”
The teenagers, described as “very good kids from really excellent families,” were reportedly asked by their mothers to buy candy at the store. They didn’t know Battle, but after they asked about his 6-foot-3 height, he reportedly followed them out and fired nine rounds at the teenagers, police said.
Francis was shot in the back, chest and left hand, while Riley was shot in the back and left leg. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead, according to the station. The third teenager was not struck
“He was a kid,” said Latonya Pettit, Francis’ aunt. “Liked video games, snacks. That was his thing. He would walk into this hospital gift shop daily and purchase snacks.”
Battle was arrested after members of the community identified surveillance video of the suspect that had been released by police, Deenihan said.
“To the community members who stepped forward with information – thank you. Detectives were able to quickly identify Battle, but it was the help we received from the community that led to his arrest,” Chicago police wrote on Twitter.
The suspect — who has three previous arrests and one previous conviction for unlawful use of a weapon — admitted that he was the person seen on camera but failed to offer a motive in the fatal shooting, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Riley and Francis were reportedly among 12 minors struck by gunfire during a violent Father’s Day weekend that reportedly saw 104 people shot in the city, the paper reported.
Violence in Chicago last weekend also saw 13 people killed in shootings — including a 1-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, reports say.
Battle was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and possession of a controlled substance, according to police.


newyorkpost--2020-06-29--Trump says intel on Russia-Taliban bounty plot to kill US soldiers wasn’t credible

President Trump on Sunday night said the reason he wasn ’ t briefed on Russia ’ s alleged bounty to the Taliban to kill US forces in Afghanistan is because intelligence officials didn ’ t find the report credible .
“ Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible , and therefore did not report it to me or @ VP , ” the president tweeted .
“ Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax , maybe by the Fake News @ nytimesbooks , wanting to make Republicans look bad !
!
!
” Earlier Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he and Pence were unaware of the alleged bounty .
The New York Times reported on the bounties Friday and claimed the president was made aware of the situation and discussed it in late March with the White House ’ s National Security Council .
The report said several options were weighed — including sanctions and a complaint to be made via diplomatic channel — but the White House had yet to authorize any response .
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe released statements on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been briefed .
McEnany ’ s statement commented on the “ inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter .
”

President Trump on Sunday night said the reason he wasn’t briefed on Russia’s alleged bounty to the Taliban to kill US forces in Afghanistan is because intelligence officials didn’t find the report credible.
“Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP,” the president tweeted.
“Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!!”
Earlier Sunday, the president backed up White House claims that he and Pence were unaware of the alleged bounty.
The New York Times reported on the bounties Friday and claimed the president was made aware of the situation and discussed it in late March with the White House’s National Security Council.
The report said several options were weighed — including sanctions and a complaint to be made via diplomatic channel — but the White House had yet to authorize any response.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe released statements on Saturday saying that Trump and Pence had not been briefed.
McEnany’s statement commented on the “inaccuracy of The New York Times story erroneously suggesting that President Trump was briefed on this matter.”