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Insider Q&A: Bitcoin’s massive rise and what comes next,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/11/insider-qa-bitcoins-massive-rise-and-what-comes-ne/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/11/insider-qa-bitcoins-massive-rise-and-what-comes-ne/,2021-01-11T14:44:49,"CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The digital currency Bitcoin rocketed to a record high last week above $40,000 a coin. This comes after the currency languished for two years, plummeting from the previous high of $19,000 reached back in December 2018, when Bitcoin was subject to another round of media hype and investor interest.

Mike Venuto is co-portfolio manager for the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF, a $391 million fund that focuses on companies that trade and develop uses for Bitcoin and other digital currencies, as well as the technology behind the currency, known as the blockchain.

He spoke to The Associated Press about Bitcoin’s recent rise and what’s different this time for the currency:

Q: Tell us a little bit about the fund.

A: We’re an actively managed fund, because things in blockchain and this space are changing all the time it would be impossible to build a passively managed fund. We invest in blockchain companies, miners, and other companies in the space. We hold a small amount of Bitcoin and other currencies, but mostly get our exposure through the companies we own. But we would never hold more than 5% of the total fund in Bitcoin directly.

Q: It took two years for Bitcoin to rally back to its record hit in late 2018. What’s different this time?

A: Nothing has changed with Bitcoin in the last two years. It’s still a decentralized digital currency using the blockchain created years ago. What’s changed is perception. Investors are looking for safe harbors for their assets, similar to how gold and silver are used.

Q: Should investors expect Bitcoin to keep going up?

A: Bitcoin is going to remain as volatile as ever, and there will be bumps in the road. You’ll see massive moves up and massive moves down. What remains attractive are the companies who are using Bitcoin and the blockchain infrastructure to build use cases and practical applications for it.

Q: Evangelists of Bitcoin and other currencies talk about how it will replace paper money. In two years, that hasn’t happened. Do you think it will ever happen?

A: The original argument for Bitcoin was it would provide the ability for the unbanked - those without bank accounts - to transact securely without a bank. Is that going to materialize? Will you be able to buy a cup of coffee with Bitcoin? Probably not with the current version of Bitcoin. It’s largely become a store of value. But with other cryptocurrencies, we are seeing use cases like that.

Q: As of the writing of this article, Democrats look to be taking complete control of Congress. Will regulation impact Bitcoin’s price or the technology behind it?

A: For the blockchain, the underlying technology of Bitcoin, regulation would be awesome. We can set some ground rules so it can merge more smoothly with the traditional financial system. But for Bitcoin itself, I think its decentralized nature will keep it relatively safe from interested governments. But you should expect there to be more scrutiny of Bitcoin, which could impact its price.","<article>

<p>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) - The digital currency Bitcoin rocketed to a record high last week above $40,000 a coin. This comes after the currency languished for two years, plummeting from the previous high of $19,000 reached back in December 2018, when Bitcoin was subject to another round of media hype and investor interest.</p>

<p>Mike Venuto is co-portfolio manager for the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF, a $391 million fund that focuses on companies that trade and develop uses for Bitcoin and other digital currencies, as well as the technology behind the currency, known as the blockchain.</p>

<p>He spoke to The Associated Press about Bitcoin’s recent rise and what’s different this time for the currency:</p>

<p>Q: Tell us a little bit about the fund.</p>

<p>A: We’re an actively managed fund, because things in blockchain and this space are changing all the time it would be impossible to build a passively managed fund. We invest in blockchain companies, miners, and other companies in the space. We hold a small amount of Bitcoin and other currencies, but mostly get our exposure through the companies we own. But we would never hold more than 5% of the total fund in Bitcoin directly.</p>

<p>Q: It took two years for Bitcoin to rally back to its record hit in late 2018. What’s different this time?</p>

<p>A: Nothing has changed with Bitcoin in the last two years. It’s still a decentralized digital currency using the blockchain created years ago. What’s changed is perception. Investors are looking for safe harbors for their assets, similar to how gold and silver are used.</p>

<p>Q: Should investors expect Bitcoin to keep going up?</p>

<p>A: Bitcoin is going to remain as volatile as ever, and there will be bumps in the road. You’ll see massive moves up and massive moves down. What remains attractive are the companies who are using Bitcoin and the blockchain infrastructure to build use cases and practical applications for it.</p>

<p>Q: Evangelists of Bitcoin and other currencies talk about how it will replace paper money. In two years, that hasn’t happened. Do you think it will ever happen?</p>

<p>A: The original argument for Bitcoin was it would provide the ability for the unbanked - those without bank accounts - to transact securely without a bank. Is that going to materialize? Will you be able to buy a cup of coffee with Bitcoin? Probably not with the current version of Bitcoin. It’s largely become a store of value. But with other cryptocurrencies, we are seeing use cases like that.</p>

<p>Q: As of the writing of this article, Democrats look to be taking complete control of Congress. Will regulation impact Bitcoin’s price or the technology behind it?</p>

<p>A: For the blockchain, the underlying technology of Bitcoin, regulation would be awesome. We can set some ground rules so it can merge more smoothly with the traditional financial system. But for Bitcoin itself, I think its decentralized nature will keep it relatively safe from interested governments. But you should expect there to be more scrutiny of Bitcoin, which could impact its price.</p>

</article>",en,2021-01-11T14:44:49,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/01/11/insider_qa_92975_c0-1760-3840-4000_s1200x700.jpg?4cf169c7d084acbf9e66247d02e0e9115aea5fc4,"[
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]",0.9680989999999999,2022-09-23T00:00:00Z,,
High Point’s Woolworth sit-in helped move a country,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/13/high-points-woolworth-sit-in-helped-move-a-country/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/13/high-points-woolworth-sit-in-helped-move-a-country/,2021-02-13T00:01:06,"HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) - As word spread about the sit-ins at the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro 61 years ago, four teenagers began organizing their own sit-in - believed to be the first in the nation by high school students.

One of them, Mary Lou Blakeney, stood underneath an umbrella in a cold rain Thursday (Feb. 11) before a metallic artist’s rendering of that lesser-known protest.

As in Greensboro, Black people could shop at the Woolworth’s store in High Point but could not eat at the segregated lunch counter.

At some point, a reporter 61 years ago pointed out that they were the first high school students organizing and leading a lunch counter protest.

“We didn’t think about that,” said the retired nurse, as she stood on Wrenn Street, at the back of where Woolworth’s once stood. “All we knew was that we were close to people doing the same thing.

“We wanted to right wrongs.”

The four N.C. A&T freshman who kicked off the Feb. 1, 1960 sit-ins in Greensboro started a movement that spread and put pressure on cities across the South.

Blakeney, then a 15-year-old student at the all-Black William Penn High School, and her fellow organizers - sisters Brenda Jean Fountain and Miriam Lynn Fountain, who had integrated High Point Central High School a year earlier, and their pal Andrew Dennis McBride - felt empowered.

“Our history is not complete without us telling this story,” said Blakeney, who years later would serve on the High Point City Council.

During Thursday’s gathering, ministers took turns praying for peace, unity and understanding near the sit-in monument, designed by sculptor Thomas Jay Warren.

Blakeney’s voice was strong and her words detailed as she recalled the event six decades ago.

On Feb. 11, 1960 - also a Thursday - the 26 students took seats at the counter of the former F.W. Woolworth store facing South Main Street.

The lunch counter was immediately closed for the day, and in the coming days, the students also staged sit-ins at the Paramount Theater, other stores and several churches.

The four high school organizers, ages 14 to 16, had been following what was taking place in Greensboro.

Everyone was talking about it.

In preparation for their demonstration, they sought advice from the Rev. B. Elton Cox, a Freedom Fighter who marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and Miriam Fountain, a retired teacher and the mother of two of the students. He was initially reluctant because of their ages.

But the students wouldn’t be dissuaded, promising him that the demonstrations would be nonviolent.

With the demonstration looming, a large group of students met and were quizzed, challenged and weeded out, according to Blakeney. The number dwindled to 26.

On Feb. 11, they left school - 24 students from William Penn High and the Fountain sisters from High Point Central - and headed to Woolworth’s.

It was about 4 p.m. and snow from a recent storm was still piled on the sides of streets.

Parents knew what they were planning and gave their blessing despite the reality that if their employers found out they might be fired.

“I don’t know one that dissuaded us,” Blakeney recalled.

First, the students stopped at the Fourth Street YMCA/YWCA for prayer.

Once they got to the store, students began milling about as if they were shopping.

When they got the signal from Cox, who touched his hat, they began slipping into empty seats at the counter. Students took over other seats once customers left.

A waitress told them they wouldn’t be served.

Blakeney said the manager approached. When they wouldn’t budge, the police were called.

The students began to do their homework, but by then a crowd had gathered, including a group of men who pulled up in a truck.

Blakeney described the turning mood as “ugly,” with some in the crowd attempting to strike and kick the students. She remembers racial slurs hurled their way as police looked on.

Blakeney, who admits to having a temper, says she was resolute that day.

“I was not going to do anything that was going to jeopardize anything we had planned,” Blakeney said. “We were deeply committed.”

The students stayed in their seats, even as they grew fearful.

The lights were turned out and an announcement was made that the store had closed.

Blakeney said they sang “We Shall Overcome” and walked out with their heads high and filled with a sense of accomplishment - and fear. They were followed down Washington Street and pelted with snowballs.

When they returned the next day, the lunch counter was roped off.

So they stood behind it and sang.

And they returned the next day. And the next.

“We have a ways to go,” she said as others shook their heads. “We must continue the fight.”","<article>

<p>HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) - As word spread about the sit-ins at the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro 61 years ago, four teenagers began organizing their own sit-in - believed to be the first in the nation by high school students.</p>

<p>One of them, Mary Lou Blakeney, stood underneath an umbrella in a cold rain Thursday (Feb. 11) before a metallic artist’s rendering of that lesser-known protest.</p>

<p>As in Greensboro, Black people could shop at the Woolworth’s store in High Point but could not eat at the segregated lunch counter.</p>

<p>At some point, a reporter 61 years ago pointed out that they were the first high school students organizing and leading a lunch counter protest.</p>

<p>“We didn’t think about that,” said the retired nurse, as she stood on Wrenn Street, at the back of where Woolworth’s once stood. “All we knew was that we were close to people doing the same thing.</p>

<p>“We wanted to right wrongs.”</p>

<p>The four N.C. A&amp;T freshman who kicked off the Feb. 1, 1960 sit-ins in Greensboro started a movement that spread and put pressure on cities across the South.</p>

<p>Blakeney, then a 15-year-old student at the all-Black William Penn High School, and her fellow organizers - sisters Brenda Jean Fountain and Miriam Lynn Fountain, who had integrated High Point Central High School a year earlier, and their pal Andrew Dennis McBride - felt empowered.</p>

<p>“Our history is not complete without us telling this story,” said Blakeney, who years later would serve on the High Point City Council.</p>

<p>During Thursday’s gathering, ministers took turns praying for peace, unity and understanding near the sit-in monument, designed by sculptor Thomas Jay Warren.</p>

<p>Blakeney’s voice was strong and her words detailed as she recalled the event six decades ago.</p>

<p>On Feb. 11, 1960 - also a Thursday - the 26 students took seats at the counter of the former F.W. Woolworth store facing South Main Street.</p>

<p>The lunch counter was immediately closed for the day, and in the coming days, the students also staged sit-ins at the Paramount Theater, other stores and several churches.</p>

<p>The four high school organizers, ages 14 to 16, had been following what was taking place in Greensboro.</p>

<p>Everyone was talking about it.</p>

<p>In preparation for their demonstration, they sought advice from the Rev. B. Elton Cox, a Freedom Fighter who marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and Miriam Fountain, a retired teacher and the mother of two of the students. He was initially reluctant because of their ages.</p>

<p>But the students wouldn’t be dissuaded, promising him that the demonstrations would be nonviolent.</p>

<p>With the demonstration looming, a large group of students met and were quizzed, challenged and weeded out, according to Blakeney. The number dwindled to 26.</p>

<p>On Feb. 11, they left school - 24 students from William Penn High and the Fountain sisters from High Point Central - and headed to Woolworth’s.</p>

<p>It was about 4 p.m. and snow from a recent storm was still piled on the sides of streets.</p>

<p>Parents knew what they were planning and gave their blessing despite the reality that if their employers found out they might be fired.</p>

<p>“I don’t know one that dissuaded us,” Blakeney recalled.</p>

<p>First, the students stopped at the Fourth Street YMCA/YWCA for prayer.</p>

<p>Once they got to the store, students began milling about as if they were shopping.</p>

<p>When they got the signal from Cox, who touched his hat, they began slipping into empty seats at the counter. Students took over other seats once customers left.</p>

<p>A waitress told them they wouldn’t be served.</p>

<p>Blakeney said the manager approached. When they wouldn’t budge, the police were called.</p>

<p>The students began to do their homework, but by then a crowd had gathered, including a group of men who pulled up in a truck.</p>

<p>Blakeney described the turning mood as “ugly,” with some in the crowd attempting to strike and kick the students. She remembers racial slurs hurled their way as police looked on.</p>

<p>Blakeney, who admits to having a temper, says she was resolute that day.</p>

<p>“I was not going to do anything that was going to jeopardize anything we had planned,” Blakeney said. “We were deeply committed.”</p>

<p>The students stayed in their seats, even as they grew fearful.</p>

<p>The lights were turned out and an announcement was made that the store had closed.</p>

<p>Blakeney said they sang “We Shall Overcome” and walked out with their heads high and filled with a sense of accomplishment - and fear. They were followed down Washington Street and pelted with snowballs.</p>

<p>When they returned the next day, the lunch counter was roped off.</p>

<p>So they stood behind it and sang.</p>

<p>And they returned the next day. And the next.</p>

<p>“We have a ways to go,” she said as others shook their heads. “We must continue the fight.”</p>

</article>",en,2021-02-13T00:01:06,,,"As word spread about the sit-ins at the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro 61 years ago, four teenagers began organizing their own sit-in - believed to be the first in the nation by high school students.","[
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]",0.97069573,2022-09-26T00:00:00Z,2021-02-13T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Saturday, February 13, 2021"
"Texas reports 3,400 new COVID-19 cases, 135 deaths",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/16/texas-reports-3400-new-covid-19-cases-135-deaths/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/16/texas-reports-3400-new-covid-19-cases-135-deaths/,2020-09-16T18:35:49,"AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas health officials reported more than 3,400 confirmed new cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on Wednesday, as well as 135 new COVID-19 deaths.

Hospitalizations from COVID-19 continued to fall. Amid those improvising numbers, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott scheduled a Thursday news conference at the Texas Capitol to discuss the state’s COVID-19 response. Abbott appeared to hint last month that more restrictions could be lifted in the face of pressure from bar and restaurant owners, as well as from some conservative GOP activists.

Bars have remained closed in Texas since June, when a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths occurred. More than 14,400 people have died from COVID-19 in Texas, most of them this summer. In all, there have been more 674,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas.

The true number of cases is likely higher though because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.","<article>

<p>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas health officials reported more than 3,400 confirmed new cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on Wednesday, as well as 135 new COVID-19 deaths.</p>

<p>Hospitalizations from COVID-19 continued to fall. Amid those improvising numbers, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott scheduled a Thursday news conference at the Texas Capitol to discuss the state’s COVID-19 response. Abbott appeared to hint last month that more restrictions could be lifted in the face of pressure from bar and restaurant owners, as well as from some conservative GOP activists.</p>

<p>Bars have remained closed in Texas since June, when a surge in cases, hospitalizations and deaths occurred. More than 14,400 people have died from COVID-19 in Texas, most of them this summer. In all, there have been more 674,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas.</p>

<p>The true number of cases is likely higher though because many people haven’t been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick.</p>

<p>For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-16T18:35:49,,,"Texas health officials reported more than 3,400 confirmed new cases of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 on Wednesday, as well as 135 new COVID-19 deaths.","[
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]",0.9052766999999999,2022-09-19T00:00:00Z,,
Dutch government unveils budget overshadowed by virus,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/15/dutch-government-to-unveil-budget-overshadowed-by-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/15/dutch-government-to-unveil-budget-overshadowed-by-/,2020-09-15T05:15:42,"THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The Dutch government plans to invest in protecting jobs and businesses during the coronavirus crisis but warned Tuesday as it laid out its spending plans for the coming year that the Netherlands must brace for the harsh economic impact of the pandemic.

Public health precautions meant the pageantry that normally accompanies the traditional state opening of parliament and budget presentation was dialed back significantly to ensure lawmakers adhered to the government’s social distancing guidelines.

There was no horse-drawn carriage ride through The Hague by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and no joint meeting of the two houses of the Dutch parliament, known as the States General of the Netherlands, in the historic Knights Hall.

Instead, lawmakers gathered to hear the king’s speech in a church near the parliament building.

Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said as he introduced his budget plan that the Netherlands had slumped since reporting a 23rd consecutive quarter of economic growth in February into “the greatest economic contraction since World War II.”

“To a large extent, the hit has yet to come,” the minister warned. “Unemployment will rise next year; more companies will go bankrupt, and public finances will have a hard time.”

Hoekstra’s ministry expects to spend an extra 45.9 billion euros ($54.5 billion) this year and in 2021 to protect businesses and jobs. During the same period, it expects to miss out on an estimated 16.6 billion euros in income such as taxes because of the coronavirus crisis.

Instead of having a budget surplus like last year, the government anticipates a deficit of 7.2% - 56 billion euros - this year and a deficit of 5.5% or 45 billion euros in 2021, the Finance Ministry said.

Hoekstra said the numbers could change depending on the course of the pandemic and its impacts.

“It’s like steering in mist,” he said.

But with a national election scheduled for March, the government also stressed that it had built up solid buffers in recent years, and it found the money to woo voters with income tax cuts to go along with the billions to safeguard jobs and businesses threatened by the virus.

The king laid out the broad themes in his annual “speech from the throne” written by the government.

“The government is choosing not to make cuts in these uncertain times, but rather to invest in job retention, good public facilities, a stronger economic structure and a cleaner country now and in the future,” Willem-Alexander said.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government already has pumped billions of euros into propping up hard-hit sectors of the economy in an attempt to safeguard jobs. It also is investing in programs to help people who lose their jobs find work in other professions such as health care and education.

The country’s public health institute reported that 8,265 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, compared to 5,427 in the week earlier. The percentage of positive tests also rose from 2.8% to 3.9% and was significantly higher in the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Monday that the gross domestic product in the world’s 20 major industrialized nations dropped by a record 6.9% in the second quarter from the previous three-month period.

Usually, thousands of people line the streets and gather outside a palace on budget day to catch a glimpse of the royal family, but police and local officials urged the public to stay away this yyear.

Early Tuesday, there was just one man standing outside Noordeinde Palace.

Resplendent in an orange suit and a black hat with a gold bow, and standing behind a homemade “corona bumper,” Johan Vlemmix said he drove three hours to get to The Hague, as he has done every budget day for more than 20 years.

“It’s surreal,” he said. “You see the red carpet has been rolled out, the king has arrived and there’s nobody here. I’ve never experienced this.”","<article>

<p>THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The Dutch government plans to invest in protecting jobs and businesses during the coronavirus crisis but warned Tuesday as it laid out its spending plans for the coming year that the Netherlands must brace for the harsh economic impact of the pandemic.</p>

<p>Public health precautions meant the pageantry that normally accompanies the traditional state opening of parliament and budget presentation was dialed back significantly to ensure lawmakers adhered to the government’s social distancing guidelines.</p>

<p>There was no horse-drawn carriage ride through The Hague by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and no joint meeting of the two houses of the Dutch parliament, known as the States General of the Netherlands, in the historic Knights Hall.</p>

<p>Instead, lawmakers gathered to hear the king’s speech in a church near the parliament building.</p>

<p>Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said as he introduced his budget plan that the Netherlands had slumped since reporting a 23rd consecutive quarter of economic growth in February into “the greatest economic contraction since World War II.”</p>

<p>“To a large extent, the hit has yet to come,” the minister warned. “Unemployment will rise next year; more companies will go bankrupt, and public finances will have a hard time.”</p>

<p>Hoekstra’s ministry expects to spend an extra 45.9 billion euros ($54.5 billion) this year and in 2021 to protect businesses and jobs. During the same period, it expects to miss out on an estimated 16.6 billion euros in income such as taxes because of the coronavirus crisis.</p>

<p>Instead of having a budget surplus like last year, the government anticipates a deficit of 7.2% - 56 billion euros - this year and a deficit of 5.5% or 45 billion euros in 2021, the Finance Ministry said.</p>

<p>Hoekstra said the numbers could change depending on the course of the pandemic and its impacts.</p>

<p>“It’s like steering in mist,” he said.</p>

<p>But with a national election scheduled for March, the government also stressed that it had built up solid buffers in recent years, and it found the money to woo voters with income tax cuts to go along with the billions to safeguard jobs and businesses threatened by the virus.</p>

<p>The king laid out the broad themes in his annual “speech from the throne” written by the government.</p>

<p>“The government is choosing not to make cuts in these uncertain times, but rather to invest in job retention, good public facilities, a stronger economic structure and a cleaner country now and in the future,” Willem-Alexander said.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition government already has pumped billions of euros into propping up hard-hit sectors of the economy in an attempt to safeguard jobs. It also is investing in programs to help people who lose their jobs find work in other professions such as health care and education.</p>

<p>The country’s public health institute reported that 8,265 people tested positive for COVID-19 in the last week, compared to 5,427 in the week earlier. The percentage of positive tests also rose from 2.8% to 3.9% and was significantly higher in the major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.</p>

<p>The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Monday that the gross domestic product in the world’s 20 major industrialized nations dropped by a record 6.9% in the second quarter from the previous three-month period.</p>

<p>Usually, thousands of people line the streets and gather outside a palace on budget day to catch a glimpse of the royal family, but police and local officials urged the public to stay away this yyear.</p>

<p>Early Tuesday, there was just one man standing outside Noordeinde Palace.</p>

<p>Resplendent in an orange suit and a black hat with a gold bow, and standing behind a homemade “corona bumper,” Johan Vlemmix said he drove three hours to get to The Hague, as he has done every budget day for more than 20 years.</p>

<p>“It’s surreal,” he said. “You see the red carpet has been rolled out, the king has arrived and there’s nobody here. I’ve never experienced this.”</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-15T05:15:42,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/09/15/netherlands_budget_year_36831_c0-336-4032-2688_s1200x700.jpg?b9045e74783b6319fce841b792fcd0258cbfc91e,"[
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    ""name"":""Culture"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""Health"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/health/""
  }
]","[
  {
    ""name"":""MIKE CORDER"",
    ""nameRaw"":""MIKE CORDER""
  }
]",0.9791124,2022-09-19T00:00:00Z,,
"Huawei sales up, but growth slows under virus, US pressure",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/23/huawei-sales-up-but-growth-slows-under-virus-us-pr/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/23/huawei-sales-up-but-growth-slows-under-virus-us-pr/,2020-10-23T00:26:10,"BEIJING (AP) - Chinese tech giant Huawei, one of the biggest makers of smartphones and switching equipment, said Friday its revenue rose 9.9% in the first nine months of this year, but growth decelerated in the face of U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.

Huawei Technologies Ltd. gave no sales figure for the most recent quarter ending in September, but growth for the first three quarters was down from the 13.1% reported for the first half of the year.

Huawei is struggling with U.S. sanctions that cut off its access to most American components in a feud with Beijing over technology and security. The White House says Huawei is a threat and might facilitate Chinese spying, which the company denies.

Washington also is tightening curbs on access to U.S. markets or technology for other Chinese tech companies including telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp., video service TikTok and messaging app WeChat.

The conflict has fueled fears the global market might be dividing into competing U.S. and Chinese technology spheres with incompatible standards. Industry analysts warn that would slow down innovation and raise costs.

Executives have warned Huawei’s smartphone and network equipment sales would be affected. The company has launched smartphones based on its own chips and other components and says it is removing U.S. technology from its products.

On Thursday, the company unveiled its latest smartphone, the Mate 40, based on Kirin 9000 chips developed by Huawei.

Sales in the first nine months of 2020 rose to 671.3 billion yuan ($100.4 billion), Huawei reported. It said net profit was 8%, down from the first half’s 9.2% margin.

The company gave no details of its smartphone shipments. Sales outside China have weakened because its handsets no longer come preloaded with Google’s popular music, maps and other features. But sales in China, where Huawei phones already used local alternatives, have grown sharply.

Huawei’s global market share in smartphones rose to 19.6% in the three months ending in June, up from 17.7% a year earlier, according to Canalys. That was driven by strength in its home market, where Huawei had a 51% market share and sales rose 32% to 14.5 million handsets.

Huawei is owned by its Chinese employees who make up about 60% of its global workforce of 194,000. It began reporting financial results a decade ago in an attempt to appear more transparent and mollify foreign security fears.","<article>

<p>BEIJING (AP) - Chinese tech giant Huawei, one of the biggest makers of smartphones and switching equipment, said Friday its revenue rose 9.9% in the first nine months of this year, but growth decelerated in the face of U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>Huawei Technologies Ltd. gave no sales figure for the most recent quarter ending in September, but growth for the first three quarters was down from the 13.1% reported for the first half of the year.</p>

<p>Huawei is struggling with U.S. sanctions that cut off its access to most American components in a feud with Beijing over technology and security. The White House says Huawei is a threat and might facilitate Chinese spying, which the company denies.</p>

<p>Washington also is tightening curbs on access to U.S. markets or technology for other Chinese tech companies including telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp., video service TikTok and messaging app WeChat.</p>

<p>The conflict has fueled fears the global market might be dividing into competing U.S. and Chinese technology spheres with incompatible standards. Industry analysts warn that would slow down innovation and raise costs.</p>

<p>Executives have warned Huawei’s smartphone and network equipment sales would be affected. The company has launched smartphones based on its own chips and other components and says it is removing U.S. technology from its products.</p>

<p>On Thursday, the company unveiled its latest smartphone, the Mate 40, based on Kirin 9000 chips developed by Huawei.</p>

<p>Sales in the first nine months of 2020 rose to 671.3 billion yuan ($100.4 billion), Huawei reported. It said net profit was 8%, down from the first half’s 9.2% margin.</p>

<p>The company gave no details of its smartphone shipments. Sales outside China have weakened because its handsets no longer come preloaded with Google’s popular music, maps and other features. But sales in China, where Huawei phones already used local alternatives, have grown sharply.</p>

<p>Huawei’s global market share in smartphones rose to 19.6% in the three months ending in June, up from 17.7% a year earlier, according to Canalys. That was driven by strength in its home market, where Huawei had a 51% market share and sales rose 32% to 14.5 million handsets.</p>

<p>Huawei is owned by its Chinese employees who make up about 60% of its global workforce of 194,000. It began reporting financial results a decade ago in an attempt to appear more transparent and mollify foreign security fears.</p>

</article>",en,2020-10-23T00:26:10,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/10/23/china_huawei_34068_c0-209-5000-3125_s1200x700.jpg?a8bd3d48b2f8d33a07e13df86cfc59893ac9a4ad,"[
  {
    ""url"":""https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/10/23/china_huawei_34068_c0-209-5000-3124_s885x516.jpg?97bb33537ebe846d4c08fcb503d0427a0f3e3c09""
  }
]","Chinese tech giant Huawei, one of the biggest makers of smartphones and switching equipment, said Friday its revenue rose 9.9% in the first nine months of this year, but growth decelerated in the face of U.S. sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic.","[
  {
    ""name"":""Home"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""Culture"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Health"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/health/""
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  {
    ""name"":""JOE McDONALD"",
    ""nameRaw"":""JOE McDONALD""
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]",0.97210705,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z,,
Rhode Island high schools host student vaccine clinics,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/may/3/rhode-island-high-schools-host-student-vaccine-cli/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/may/3/rhode-island-high-schools-host-student-vaccine-cli/,2021-05-03T09:33:55,"PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - High schools across Rhode Island have scheduled vaccination clinics for their students over the age of 16 this week, starting Monday at Cranston East.

Another clinic is scheduled for Wednesday at Cranston West, Barrington is scheduled to host a clinic Thursday, and Johnston and North Kingstown are set to vaccinate students starting Friday.

Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins tells WPRI-TV that vaccinations will help students feel safe during prom and graduation season, and give them a chance to get a shot before college, as many schools are requiring students to be vaccinated for the fall semester.

The city is providing the Pfizer vaccine, which is authorized for use in those over the age of 16.

Students can get a shot without parental authorization, the state Department of Health said.

Second doses for Cranston students are scheduled to be administered on May 24 and 26.

Gov. Daniel McKee said last week that his administration will work with any high school that wants to host a vaccination clinic for students.

___

HEALTH DEPARTMENT DATA

The Rhode Island Department of Health on Monday reported almost 500 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven additional virus-related deaths over the past three days.

There have now been nearly 149,000 almost known cases of the disease and 2,678 fatalities in the state.

The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick.

The department does not update on weekends.

The number of patients in the hospital with COVID-19 had fallen to 124 as of Saturday, down from 156 on April 27.

The number of people in the state who have been fully vaccinated is now almost 396,000, according to the department.

___

DUNKIN’ DONUTS CENTER VACCINE SITE

Rhode Island expects to shut down the mass vaccination site at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence in the near future, McKee said Monday.

The state is shifting to a more community-based vaccination approach, working on bringing shots into closer to where people live rather than making them travel to vaccination sites.

The sports arena has also been used as a field hospital and a rapid testing site during the pandemic.

Cranston, Middletown, South Kingstown and Woonsocket.","<article>

<p>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - High schools across Rhode Island have scheduled vaccination clinics for their students over the age of 16 this week, starting Monday at Cranston East.</p>

<p>Another clinic is scheduled for Wednesday at Cranston West, Barrington is scheduled to host a clinic Thursday, and Johnston and North <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kingstown/"">Kingstown</a> are set to vaccinate students starting Friday.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/cranston/"">Cranston</a> Mayor Kenneth Hopkins tells WPRI-TV that vaccinations will help students feel safe during prom and graduation season, and give them a chance to get a shot before college, as many schools are requiring students to be vaccinated for the fall semester.</p>

<p>The city is providing the Pfizer vaccine, which is authorized for use in those over the age of 16.</p>

<p>Students can get a shot without parental authorization, the state Department of Health said.</p>

<p>Second doses for <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/cranston/"">Cranston</a> students are scheduled to be administered on May 24 and 26.</p>

<p>Gov. Daniel McKee said last week that his administration will work with any high school that wants to host a vaccination clinic for students.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>HEALTH DEPARTMENT DATA</p>

<p>The Rhode Island Department of Health on Monday reported almost 500 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven additional virus-related deaths over the past three days.</p>

<p>There have now been nearly 149,000 almost known cases of the disease and 2,678 fatalities in the state.</p>

<p>The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick.</p>

<p>The department does not update on weekends.</p>

<p>The number of patients in the hospital with COVID-19 had fallen to 124 as of Saturday, down from 156 on April 27.</p>

<p>The number of people in the state who have been fully vaccinated is now almost 396,000, according to the department.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>DUNKIN’ DONUTS CENTER VACCINE SITE</p>

<p>Rhode Island expects to shut down the mass vaccination site at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence in the near future, McKee said Monday.</p>

<p>The state is shifting to a more community-based vaccination approach, working on bringing shots into closer to where people live rather than making them travel to vaccination sites.</p>

<p>The sports arena has also been used as a field hospital and a rapid testing site during the pandemic.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/cranston/"">Cranston</a>, Middletown, South <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/kingstown/"">Kingstown</a> and Woonsocket.</p>

</article>",en,2021-05-03T09:33:55,,,"High schools across Rhode Island have scheduled vaccination clinics for their students over the age of 16 this week, starting Monday at Cranston East.","[
  {
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    ""name"":""Culture"",
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    ""name"":""Health"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/health/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Monday"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Monday, May 3, 2021""
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    ""name"":""2021"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Monday, May 3, 2021""
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]",0.9539329999999999,2022-09-29T00:00:00Z,,
"Wife, son charged in 2013 death of Twin Cities man",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/20/wife-son-charged-in-2013-death-of-twin-cities-man/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/20/wife-son-charged-in-2013-death-of-twin-cities-man/,2020-11-20T07:53:22,"SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) - The wife and adult son of a Twin Cities area man who disappeared in 2013 have now been charged in his death.

Sixty-two-year-old Connie Herbst and 26-year-old Austin Herbst were arrested Thursday near their New Prague home in the death of Gary Herbst. A dog found his skull south of Barron, Wisconsin in December 2017 and brought it home to its owner. Barron County sheriff’s deputies found Herbst’s skeletal remains soon after.

Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar tells the Star Tribune the son admitted Thursday to fatally shooting his father because he was abusive to him and his mother.

Prosecutors allege Gary Herbst was killed in the family’s home in Elko New Market in July 2013. Hocevar said the body remained in the home until mid-August when the mother and son hauled it out after dark and dumped it in the woods in western Wisconsin.

Hocevar said that he suspects the son threw the gun into a lake east of Butternut, Wisconsin, where his parents were married.

Authorities finally identified the skeletal remains last June and began gathering evidence that led to charges against the wife and son.","<article>

<p>SHAKOPEE, Minn. (AP) - The wife and adult son of a Twin Cities area man who disappeared in 2013 have now been charged in his death.</p>

<p>Sixty-two-year-old Connie Herbst and 26-year-old Austin Herbst were arrested Thursday near their New Prague home in the death of Gary Herbst. A dog found his skull south of Barron, Wisconsin in December 2017 and brought it home to its owner. Barron County sheriff’s deputies found Herbst’s skeletal remains soon after.</p>

<p>Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar tells the  Star Tribune  the son admitted Thursday to fatally shooting his father because he was abusive to him and his mother.</p>

<p>Prosecutors allege Gary Herbst was killed in the family’s home in Elko New Market in July 2013. Hocevar said the body remained in the home until mid-August when the mother and son hauled it out after dark and dumped it in the woods in western Wisconsin.</p>

<p>Hocevar said that he suspects the son threw the gun into a lake east of Butternut, Wisconsin, where his parents were married.</p>

<p>Authorities finally identified the skeletal remains last June and began gathering evidence that led to charges against the wife and son.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-20T07:53:22,,,The wife and adult son of a Twin Cities area man who disappeared in 2013 have now been charged in his death.,"[
  {
    ""name"":""Home"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/""
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  {
    ""name"":""News"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/""
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    ""name"":""National"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/national/""
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]","[
  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Friday"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""November 20"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""2020"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
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]",0.8638241999999999,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,,
Santa Clara advances in WCC eliminating Pacific 81-76,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/6/santa-clara-advances-in-wcc-eliminating-pacific-81/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/6/santa-clara-advances-in-wcc-eliminating-pacific-81/,2021-03-06T02:10:40,"LAS VEGAS (AP) - Josip Vrankic scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and Santa Clara withstood Pacific’s late run in an 81-76 win in the second round of the West Coast Conference tournament on Friday night.

The seventh-seeded Broncos (12-7) advance to the third round to face No. 3 Pepperdine on Saturday.

Guglielmo Caruso scored 14 points for Santa Clara and Keshawn Justice and Jalen Williams each scored 11.

Daniss Jenkins scored 16 for No. 6-seed Pacific (9-9), Jeremiah Bailey and Pierre Cockrell II each scored 14, Jordan Bell 13 and Jahbril Price-Noel 10.

___","<article>

<p>LAS VEGAS (AP) - Josip Vrankic scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and Santa Clara withstood Pacific’s late run in an 81-76 win in the second round of the West Coast Conference tournament on Friday night.</p>

<p>The seventh-seeded Broncos (12-7) advance to the third round to face No. 3 Pepperdine on Saturday.</p>

<p>Guglielmo Caruso scored 14 points for Santa Clara and Keshawn Justice and Jalen Williams each scored 11.</p>

<p>Daniss Jenkins scored 16 for No. 6-seed Pacific (9-9), Jeremiah Bailey and Pierre Cockrell II each scored 14, Jordan Bell 13 and Jahbril Price-Noel 10.</p>

<p>___</p>

</article>",en,2021-03-06T02:10:40,,,Josip Vrankic scored 24 points on 10-for-13 shooting and Santa Clara withstood Pacific’s late run in an 81-76 win in the second round of the West Coast Conference tournament on Friday night.,"[
  {
    ""name"":""Home"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""Sports"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""Basketball"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/basketball/""
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]","[
  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Saturday"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Saturday, March 6, 2021""
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    ""name"":""March 6"",
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    ""name"":""2021"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Saturday, March 6, 2021""
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]",0.92894334,2022-09-27T00:00:00Z,,
COVID-19 spurs Kansas Legislature to plan $3M tech upgrade,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/20/covid-19-spurs-kansas-legislature-to-plan-3m-tech-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/20/covid-19-spurs-kansas-legislature-to-plan-3m-tech-/,2020-11-20T12:24:27,"TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Legislature plans to spend about $3 million on technology upgrades in hopes that people will be able to watch committee hearings and other functions even if they can’t leave their homes because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The upgrades are designed to ensure that legislative committee rooms and even conference spaces are outfitted with audiovisual equipment to broadcast events to the public, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. The Legislature’s top seven leaders approved the upgrades Thursday.

The upgrades will include better support for meetings conducted with video conferencing, which sometimes comes with technology issues and can be difficult for listeners to hear. One legislative study committee hearing halted temporarily earlier this week because the audio stopped working for a witness testifying remotely.

The upgrades are planned as top lawmakers are starting to consider exactly how the Legislature will conduct business after it convenes its next annual session in January. Most decisions are pending.

Legislative leaders also could consider could require plexiglass partitions in committee rooms, close the House and Senate galleries and limit on who can enter the building. They also could require lawmakers to wear masks.","<article>

<p>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - The Kansas Legislature plans to spend about $3 million on technology upgrades in hopes that people will be able to watch committee hearings and other functions even if they can’t leave their homes because of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>The upgrades are designed to ensure that legislative committee rooms and even conference spaces are outfitted with audiovisual equipment to broadcast events to the public, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. The Legislature’s top seven leaders approved the upgrades Thursday.</p>

<p>The upgrades will include better support for meetings conducted with video conferencing, which sometimes comes with technology issues and can be difficult for listeners to hear. One legislative study committee hearing halted temporarily earlier this week because the audio stopped working for a witness testifying remotely.</p>

<p>The upgrades are planned as top lawmakers are starting to consider exactly how the Legislature will conduct business after it convenes its next annual session in January. Most decisions are pending.</p>

<p>Legislative leaders also could consider could require plexiglass partitions in committee rooms, close the House and Senate galleries and limit on who can enter the building. They also could require lawmakers to wear masks.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-20T12:24:27,,,The Kansas Legislature plans to spend about $3 million on technology upgrades in hopes that people will be able to watch committee hearings and other functions even if they can’t leave their homes because of the coronavirus pandemic.,"[
  {
    ""name"":""Home"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/""
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    ""name"":""Culture"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Technology"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/culture/technology/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Friday"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
  },
  {
    ""name"":""November 20"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
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  {
    ""name"":""2020"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Friday, November 20, 2020""
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]",0.9413307999999999,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,,
UConn rowing alumni trying to save program through Title IX,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/1/uconn-rowing-alumni-trying-to-save-program-through/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/1/uconn-rowing-alumni-trying-to-save-program-through/,2021-04-01T13:30:09,"STORRS, Conn. (AP) - A group of 23 rowing alumni at the University of Connecticut have filed a civil rights complaint over the decision to eliminate the women’s team as part of budget cuts in the school’s athletic department.

UConn s aid last June that it wants to reduce its athletic deficit by about $10 million a year, cutting the need for a subsidy to the Division of Athletics by 25% over the next three years. As part of that, the school decided to cut women’s rowing, men’s swimming and diving, men’s cross-country, and men’s tennis at the end of this school year.

The alumni filed their complaint Monday with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging UConn is in violation of Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal participation opportunities for women in education, including sports. The women said the action was taken because the school has ignored their pleas to save the program, which they argue has played an important role in molding hundreds of young women into leaders on and off the water.

“For us, it’s about being able to raise our hands and say, ‘Hey, we want this to be taken seriously, because it is a big deal,” said Ashley Kalinauskas, who rowed from 2008-2011 and now owns her own biomedical company that creates cancer treatments for animals.

The athletes declined to make the complaint public but said they believe UConn has underrepresented the number of women would be affected by the cuts and miscalculated the gap between men and women impacted by the elimination of the four sports.

UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said the school had not been served with the complaint and could not comment on its specific allegations. But she reiterated the school’s position, which UConn President Thomas Katsouleas also outlined last month in a letter to the rowing alumni.

“We used our best efforts to eliminate as few teams as possible,” he wrote. “Our review included a careful analysis of Title IX compliance. While I certainly understand and appreciate your disappointment that the Women’s Rowing Team was one of the four teams ultimately selected for elimination, we are confident that our actions were consistent with our obligations under Title IX.”

The school started the women’s rowing program in 1997 as a way to help offset the male scholarships needed to elevate its football team into the Bowl Subdivision.

According to the school’s annual filing with the NCAA, the rowing team has a roster of 38 rowers but had 62 participants in the program and operating expenses totaling $1,345,104 in the 2020 fiscal year. UConn rowing gave at least partial scholarships to 32 rowers at a cost of $713,417 and its coaches made a total of $196,575, according to the report.

The Office for Civil Rights allows complaints to be filed by anyone who believes there has been a violation in a program that receives federal education dollars.

“The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may be affected by a general ‘hostile sexual environment’ or complain on behalf of another person or group,” according to OCR guidelines.

It is not clear when the office might respond to the complaint with a decision on whether it will be investigated.

UConn’s last rowing competition, the Colonial Athletic Association championship, is scheduled for May 16.

“Unfortunately, the day is nearing,” said Dana Haddad, who rowed from 2008 to 2010. “So we’re hoping, and it’s just a fingers-crossed situation, that we will hear back soon and can move forward.”","<article>

<p>STORRS, Conn. (AP) - A group of 23 rowing alumni at the University of Connecticut have filed a civil rights complaint over the decision to eliminate the women’s team as part of budget cuts in the school’s athletic department.</p>

<p>UConn s aid last June that it wants to reduce its athletic deficit by about $10 million a year, cutting the need for a subsidy to the Division of Athletics by 25% over the next three years. As part of that, the school decided to cut women’s rowing, men’s swimming and diving, men’s cross-country, and men’s tennis at the end of this school year.</p>

<p>The alumni filed their complaint Monday with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights alleging UConn is in violation of Title IX, the federal law that guarantees equal participation opportunities for women in education, including sports. The women said the action was taken because the school has ignored their pleas to save the program, which they argue has played an important role in molding hundreds of young women into leaders on and off the water.</p>

<p>“For us, it’s about being able to raise our hands and say, ‘Hey, we want this to be taken seriously, because it is a big deal,” said Ashley Kalinauskas, who rowed from 2008-2011 and now owns her own biomedical company that creates cancer treatments for animals.</p>

<p>The athletes declined to make the complaint public but said they believe UConn has underrepresented the number of women would be affected by the cuts and miscalculated the gap between men and women impacted by the elimination of the four sports.</p>

<p>UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said the school had not been served with the complaint and could not comment on its specific allegations. But she reiterated the school’s position, which UConn President Thomas Katsouleas also outlined last month in a letter to the rowing alumni.</p>

<p>“We used our best efforts to eliminate as few teams as possible,” he wrote. “Our review included a careful analysis of Title IX compliance. While I certainly understand and appreciate your disappointment that the Women’s Rowing Team was one of the four teams ultimately selected for elimination, we are confident that our actions were consistent with our obligations under Title IX.”</p>

<p>The school started the women’s rowing program in 1997 as a way to help offset the male scholarships needed to elevate its football team into the Bowl Subdivision.</p>

<p>According to the school’s annual filing with the NCAA, the rowing team has a roster of 38 rowers but had 62 participants in the program and operating expenses totaling $1,345,104 in the 2020 fiscal year. UConn rowing gave at least partial scholarships to 32 rowers at a cost of $713,417 and its coaches made a total of $196,575, according to the report.</p>

<p>The Office for Civil Rights allows complaints to be filed by anyone who believes there has been a violation in a program that receives federal education dollars.</p>

<p>“The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination but may be affected by a general ‘hostile sexual environment’ or complain on behalf of another person or group,” according to OCR guidelines.</p>

<p>It is not clear when the office might respond to the complaint with a decision on whether it will be investigated.</p>

<p>UConn’s last rowing competition, the Colonial Athletic Association championship, is scheduled for May 16.</p>

<p>“Unfortunately, the day is nearing,” said Dana Haddad, who rowed from 2008 to 2010. “So we’re hoping, and it’s just a fingers-crossed situation, that we will hear back soon and can move forward.”</p>

</article>",en,2021-04-01T13:30:09,,,A group of 23 rowing alumni at the University of Connecticut have filed a civil rights complaint over the decision to eliminate the women’s team as part of budget cuts in the school’s athletic department.,"[
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    ""name"":""News"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Business & Economy"",
    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/business-economy/""
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  {
    ""name"":""PAT EATON-ROBB"",
    ""nameRaw"":""PAT EATON-ROBB""
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]",0.9669521,2022-09-29T00:00:00Z,,
"Health officials say Illinois COVID-10 deaths tops 16,000",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/28/health-officials-say-illinois-covid-10-deaths-tops/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/28/health-officials-say-illinois-covid-10-deaths-tops/,2020-12-28T16:48:01,"SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois’ death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic now tops 16,000 with the numbers released Monday by state public health officials.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 4,453 new confirmed and possible cases of the virus. With the accompanying 105 deaths, the state’s death toll rose to 16,074.

The new COVID-19 cases were found among 51,406 tests conducted over the last 24 hours. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27, is 8.7%.

As of late Sunday, 4,243 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of that number, 884 patients were in intensive care units and 515 patients were on ventilators.","<article>

<p>SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois’ death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic now tops 16,000 with the numbers released Monday by state public health officials.</p>

<p>The Illinois Department of Public Health reports 4,453 new confirmed and possible cases of the virus. With the accompanying 105 deaths, the state’s death toll rose to 16,074.</p>

<p>The new COVID-19 cases were found among 51,406 tests conducted over the last 24 hours. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from Dec. 21 to Dec. 27, is 8.7%.</p>

<p>As of late Sunday, 4,243 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of that number, 884 patients were in intensive care units and 515 patients were on ventilators.</p>

</article>",en,2020-12-28T16:48:01,,,"Illinois’ death toll due to the COVID-19 pandemic now tops 16,000 with the numbers released Monday by state public health officials.","[
  {
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    ""url"":""https://www.washingtontimes.com/""
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  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Monday"",
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]",0.91038156,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,,
Coast Guard investigating incidents involving 4 American deaths off Antarctica,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/8/coast-guard-investigating-incidents-involving-4-am/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/8/coast-guard-investigating-incidents-involving-4-am/,2023-02-08T12:29:22,"The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating four incidents on Antarctic cruises that caused the deaths of four Americans and an injury to another from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1, the service branch announced Thursday.

The first incident occurred when an inflatable zodiac boat, operated by Quark Expeditions off the Portuguese-flagged World Explorer passenger ship, capsized off the coast of Antarctica’s Elephant Island.

Two Americans perished, according to the Coast Guard.

“The weather conditions were light winds and smooth sea state, and indications are the accident was caused by a breaking wave. … We will continue to work with, and offer our assistance to, those involved during this difficult time, including full cooperation with the relevant authorities,” Quark Expeditions told Seatrade Cruise News in a statement.

Two other incidents came from a Norwegian-flagged Viking Polaris cruise.

On Nov. 28, an American passenger aboard a zodiac boat suffered a serious but not life-threatening leg injury near Damoy Point, according to “Good Morning America,” that required the ship to return to Argentina so the woman could have surgery.

On that return trip, a rogue wave, significantly larger than other waves, hit the vessel at around 10:40 p.m. local time on Nov. 29, killing American passenger Sheri Zhu.

“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. … We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” Viking Polaris said in a statement.

Another U.S. citizen died aboard the Dutch-flagged Oceanwide Expeditions ship Plancius, although the company says the fatality resulted from an accidental fall as opposed to conditions on the water.

“We deeply regret this unfortunate accident and wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the departed. This incident involved an accidental fall on our vessel Plancius that did not take place during any activity or landing,” Oceanwide Expeditions’ Antarctic Program Manager Franklin Braeckman told USA Today.

The Coast Guard is assisting in the World Explorer and Viking Polaris incidents as a substantially interested state under international maritime law. The Plancius incident will be investigated jointly with officials from the Netherlands and Britain’s Falkland Islands.

“The safety of U.S. passengers aboard ships throughout the globe is a priority for the U.S. Coast Guard. We are proud to work alongside the [National Transportation Safety Board] and our international partners to investigate these incidents and make meaningful safety improvements for worldwide passenger vessel operations, especially in unique high-risk environments like the Antarctic,” Capt. Gretchen Bailey, Coast Guard Activities Europe commanding officer, said.","<article>

<p>The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating four incidents on Antarctic cruises that caused the deaths of four Americans and an injury to another from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1, the service branch announced Thursday.</p>

<p>The first incident occurred when an inflatable zodiac boat, operated by Quark Expeditions off the Portuguese-flagged World Explorer passenger ship, capsized off the coast of Antarctica’s Elephant Island.</p>

<p>Two Americans perished, according to the Coast Guard.</p>

<p>“The weather conditions were light winds and smooth sea state, and indications are the accident was caused by a breaking wave. … We will continue to work with, and offer our assistance to, those involved during this difficult time, including full cooperation with the relevant authorities,” Quark Expeditions told Seatrade Cruise News in a statement.</p>

<p>Two other incidents came from a Norwegian-flagged Viking Polaris cruise.</p>

<p>On Nov. 28, an American passenger aboard a zodiac boat suffered a serious but not life-threatening leg injury near Damoy Point, according to “Good Morning America,” that required the ship to return to Argentina so the woman could have surgery.</p>

<p>On that return trip, a rogue wave, significantly larger than other waves, hit the vessel at around 10:40 p.m. local time on Nov. 29, killing American passenger Sheri Zhu.</p>

<p>“It is with great sadness that we confirmed a guest passed away following the incident. … We are investigating the facts surrounding this incident and will offer our support to the relevant authorities,” Viking Polaris said in a statement.</p>

<p>Another U.S. citizen died aboard the Dutch-flagged Oceanwide Expeditions ship Plancius, although the company says the fatality resulted from an accidental fall as opposed to conditions on the water.</p>

<p>“We deeply regret this unfortunate accident and wish to express our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the departed. This incident involved an accidental fall on our vessel Plancius that did not take place during any activity or landing,” Oceanwide Expeditions’ Antarctic Program Manager Franklin Braeckman told USA Today.</p>

<p>The Coast Guard is assisting in the World Explorer and Viking Polaris incidents as a substantially interested state under international maritime law. The Plancius incident will be investigated jointly with officials from the Netherlands and Britain’s Falkland Islands.</p>

<p>“The safety of U.S. passengers aboard ships throughout the globe is a priority for the U.S. Coast Guard. We are proud to work alongside the [National Transportation Safety Board] and our international partners to investigate these incidents and make meaningful safety improvements for worldwide passenger vessel operations, especially in unique high-risk environments like the Antarctic,” Capt. Gretchen Bailey, Coast Guard Activities Europe commanding officer, said.</p>

</article>",en,2023-02-08T12:29:22,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2022/11/17/BELTWAY_coast_guard_cutter_c0-328-5157-3336_s1200x700.jpg?54b163b0c0c760c85383d3408efbfa1352fc1bac,"[
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    ""name"":""Brad Matthews"",
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]",0.97827744,2023-02-08T00:00:00Z,,
Man dies after skid loader goes into farm pond near Colton,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/15/man-dies-after-skid-loader-goes-into-farm-pond-nea/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/15/man-dies-after-skid-loader-goes-into-farm-pond-nea/,2021-04-15T11:30:55,"SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal farm accident.

Deputies, Colton firefighters and state Department of Emergency Management employees were dispatched were dispatched to the farm about 5 p.m. Wednesday where a skid loader had gone into a pond.

Before emergency responders arrived, family members and neighbors were able to use other equipment to remove the skid loader from the pond.

After the skid loader was removed, a male victim was found. Family members and emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures.

Life Flight was dispatched to the farm, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not identified.","<article>

<p>SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal farm accident.</p>

<p>Deputies, <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/colton/"">Colton</a> firefighters and state Department of Emergency Management employees were dispatched were dispatched to the farm about 5 p.m. Wednesday where a skid loader had gone into a pond.</p>

<p>Before emergency responders arrived, family members and neighbors were able to use other equipment to remove the skid loader from the pond.</p>

<p>After the skid loader was removed, a male victim was found. Family members and emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures.</p>

<p>Life Flight was dispatched to the farm, but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not identified.</p>

</article>",en,2021-04-15T11:30:55,,,The Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal farm accident.,"[
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  {
    ""name"":""Associated Press - Thursday"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Thursday, April 15, 2021""
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    ""name"":""April 15"",
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    ""name"":""2021"",
    ""nameRaw"":""Associated Press - Thursday, April 15, 2021""
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]",0.8875257,2022-09-28T00:00:00Z,,
150 years: The Oyster House celebrates its sesquicentennial,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/17/150-years-the-oyster-house-celebrates-its-sesquice/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/17/150-years-the-oyster-house-celebrates-its-sesquice/,2020-10-17T09:24:53,"PITTSBURGH (AP) - It was Oct. 12, 1870, and the morning edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post’s front page carried news of the re-election of city-born Civil War general James Negley to Congress, dispatches from the Franco-Prussian War and ads for dry goods from the Joseph Horne Co. But there was nary a mention or announcement of the opening that day of a new Downtown restaurant and saloon where the oysters were a penny and draft beers a dime.

The place, now known as the Original Oyster House, celebrated its 150th anniversary this month.

Serving up “fish sandwiches so good, they would’ve landlocked Ahab” and “whisky with a buttermilk chaser” for “workingmen hunched over the scarred, mahogany bar,” as luminary Pittsburgh Press columnist Phil Musick described in a 1983 column, it’s been a respite for Pittsburgh since its late 19th-century growth into the steel capital of the world.

It’s also been a survivor, having endured the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic; the Prohibition era; the Great Depression; a large fire in 1945; an even bigger one in 1952 that injured 25 firemen; the demise of the local steel industry and the Pittsburgh diaspora; the Great Recession; and now, in its sesquicentennial, the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have managed to stay and witness all that because the Oyster House is unapologetically itself,” owner Jen Grippo said. “We are who we are. We welcome everybody. We do a few good things really, really well, and we’ve stayed consistent.”

The Original Oyster House serves those same sandwiches (and booze and buttermilk) in a veritably unchanged setting of neon lights, well-worn subway tile walls and hexagonal tile floors that’s become like a working museum with the passage of time, where a massive yellowed poster of Rocky Marciano keeps watch behind the bar.

According to a 2010 Pittsburgh Magazine article by Rick Sebak, “Most historians around here acknowledge that the Original Oyster House is the oldest extant restaurant in our city. It opened in 1870 on a nearby corner of Fifth Avenue. Then, it moved into its current space in 1871, a spot that previously was the home of the Bear Tavern, which opened in 1827.”

Which means that if Pittsburghers then were anything like they are now, it was probably referred to as “that place where the Bear Tavern used to be” for a few decades - until Louis Americus took it over in 1916 and turned it into what is the “modern” incarnation of the business.

By all accounts, Americus was a character: a practical joker nicknamed “Silver Dollar Louie” who annually attended the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. - his vintage panoramic photos of the contestants still line the walls - and who employed a half-dozen cats to roam the building and keep it free from mice.

Americus died in 1970 at age 88, and the business was sold to Mt. Lebanon attorney Louis Grippo, who, as family legend has it, tried to skip on a check there as a kid and was kicked out and banned by Americus. Mr. Grippo vowed to one day own the place, and he made good on that.

Respecting the history and recognizing its charm, he guided it into the modern era by changing next to nothing of the interior and keeping recipes developed by Americus’ wife.

President Jimmy Carter had one of the massive sandwiches - “too much fish for one man,” he allegedly told Mr. Grippo - as did Secretary of State John Kerry and actors Christian Bale and Willem Dafoe among scores of other major and minor celebrities, ballplayers and boxers.

Ms. Grippo has fond memories of “working” at the restaurant as a young girl.

“I would go around asking everyone how their ‘chicken’ was, even though we didn’t serve it, because I didn’t like fish,” she said, with her parents encouraging customers to humor her.

“I remember coming Downtown and spending time with my dad, and if I was behaving well, I’d get to go to Candy-Rama or I’d go over to Murphy’s and play the claw machine. Or if my dad had a minute, he’d take me to the Tic Toc for a grilled cheese.”

All of those places - institutions in their heyday - are gone now, but the Oyster House remains.

“Our customer base is loyal to a fault,” she said

When she and her older half-siblings turned 16, they were given a choice: get an after-school job somewhere or work in the family business. She chose the latter.

“I thought it would be easy. It was not.”

‘Keep it going’

Ms. Grippo attended Duquesne University but worked in the restaurant three days a week during college in the kitchen, on the floor and behind the bar.

Her plan was to go into the corporate world, but an interaction with a customer changed that in an instant.

She was waiting on a woman who said, “I just want to thank you. My father recently passed away, and I haven’t been back to Pittsburgh in years. He used to bring me and my siblings here all the time, and I couldn’t believe you were still here and nothing has changed.”

“And then she grabbed my arm and said, ‘Keep it going,’ ” Ms. Grippo said, choking up at the memory.

“That was it. I was committed to this business. This is more than just a neighborhood bar. This place has a lot of meaning for a lot of families and the city of Pittsburgh and really nationwide at this point.”

Her father died in May 2017 at age 86. Ms. Grippo is only 30.

“I was a surprise,” she said.

“I was 26 years old when my father passed, and I inherited the oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh. My father being at the helm for years were huge shoes to fill. I talked to the customers one-on-one, and I said, ‘Show me a little bit of grace as I figure this out; I’m gonna make mistakes,’ but they supported us all the way.”

That’s carried through 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been brutal to bars and restaurants.

“It’s been OK. We’re doing all right. We’re very lucky to have the customer base we do, because they have been just so supportive of us. Even if it’s not necessarily coming in and ordering food, they will check in and ask how we’re doing.

“Honestly, it’s one of those things that’s taught me about myself and this business and how resilient the business can be and the staff can be. It’s really beautiful to see that. Our staff is very committed, and I’m very lucky from that perspective.”

Her ambition is to keep the place going with as little change for as long as possible. Given her age, a bicentennial celebration in 2070 isn’t out of the question.

“I hope I’m around that long. … I would love to. This restaurant is what makes me tick, as it did the rest of my family. It’s been an honor to say I’m running a Pittsburgh institution and that I get to serve the community the way that my dad did for almost 50 years, and I love that.

“My dad always said, ‘You be very grateful for this town and for this business because it has allowed you to live the life you’ve led. And I’ve never forgotten that.”

https://bit.ly/2GTeCR8","<article>

<p>PITTSBURGH (AP) - It was Oct. 12, 1870, and the morning edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post’s front page carried news of the re-election of city-born Civil War general James Negley to Congress, dispatches from the Franco-Prussian War and ads for dry goods from the Joseph Horne Co. But there was nary a mention or announcement of the opening that day of a new Downtown restaurant and saloon where the oysters were a penny and draft beers a dime.</p>

<p>The place, now known as the Original Oyster House, celebrated its 150th anniversary this month.</p>

<p>Serving up “fish sandwiches so good, they would’ve landlocked Ahab” and “whisky with a buttermilk chaser” for “workingmen hunched over the scarred, mahogany bar,” as luminary Pittsburgh Press columnist Phil Musick described in a 1983 column, it’s been a respite for Pittsburgh since its late 19th-century growth into the steel capital of the world.</p>

<p>It’s also been a survivor, having endured the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic; the Prohibition era; the Great Depression; a large fire in 1945; an even bigger one in 1952 that injured 25 firemen; the demise of the local steel industry and the Pittsburgh diaspora; the Great Recession; and now, in its sesquicentennial, the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>

<p>“We have managed to stay and witness all that because the Oyster House is unapologetically itself,” owner Jen Grippo said. “We are who we are. We welcome everybody. We do a few good things really, really well, and we’ve stayed consistent.”</p>

<p>The Original Oyster House serves those same sandwiches (and booze and buttermilk) in a veritably unchanged setting of neon lights, well-worn subway tile walls and hexagonal tile floors that’s become like a working museum with the passage of time, where a massive yellowed poster of Rocky Marciano keeps watch behind the bar.</p>

<p>According to a 2010 Pittsburgh Magazine article by Rick Sebak, “Most historians around here acknowledge that the Original Oyster House is the oldest extant restaurant in our city. It opened in 1870 on a nearby corner of Fifth Avenue. Then, it moved into its current space in 1871, a spot that previously was the home of the Bear Tavern, which opened in 1827.”</p>

<p>Which means that if Pittsburghers then were anything like they are now, it was probably referred to as “that place where the Bear Tavern used to be” for a few decades - until Louis Americus took it over in 1916 and turned it into what is the “modern” incarnation of the business.</p>

<p>By all accounts, Americus was a character: a practical joker nicknamed “Silver Dollar Louie” who annually attended the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, N.J. - his vintage panoramic photos of the contestants still line the walls - and who employed a half-dozen cats to roam the building and keep it free from mice.</p>

<p>Americus died in 1970 at age 88, and the business was sold to Mt. Lebanon attorney Louis Grippo, who, as family legend has it, tried to skip on a check there as a kid and was kicked out and banned by Americus. Mr. Grippo vowed to one day own the place, and he made good on that.</p>

<p>Respecting the history and recognizing its charm, he guided it into the modern era by changing next to nothing of the interior and keeping recipes developed by Americus’ wife.</p>

<p>President Jimmy Carter had one of the massive sandwiches - “too much fish for one man,” he allegedly told Mr. Grippo - as did Secretary of State John Kerry and actors Christian Bale and Willem Dafoe among scores of other major and minor celebrities, ballplayers and boxers.</p>

<p>Ms. Grippo has fond memories of “working” at the restaurant as a young girl.</p>

<p>“I would go around asking everyone how their ‘chicken’ was, even though we didn’t serve it, because I didn’t like fish,” she said, with her parents encouraging customers to humor her.</p>

<p>“I remember coming Downtown and spending time with my dad, and if I was behaving well, I’d get to go to Candy-Rama or I’d go over to Murphy’s and play the claw machine. Or if my dad had a minute, he’d take me to the Tic Toc for a grilled cheese.”</p>

<p>All of those places - institutions in their heyday - are gone now, but the Oyster House remains.</p>

<p>“Our customer base is loyal to a fault,” she said</p>

<p>When she and her older half-siblings turned 16, they were given a choice: get an after-school job somewhere or work in the family business. She chose the latter.</p>

<p>“I thought it would be easy. It was not.”</p>

<p>‘Keep it going’</p>

<p>Ms. Grippo attended Duquesne University but worked in the restaurant three days a week during college in the kitchen, on the floor and behind the bar.</p>

<p>Her plan was to go into the corporate world, but an interaction with a customer changed that in an instant.</p>

<p>She was waiting on a woman who said, “I just want to thank you. My father recently passed away, and I haven’t been back to Pittsburgh in years. He used to bring me and my siblings here all the time, and I couldn’t believe you were still here and nothing has changed.”</p>

<p>“And then she grabbed my arm and said, ‘Keep it going,’ ” Ms. Grippo said, choking up at the memory.</p>

<p>“That was it. I was committed to this business. This is more than just a neighborhood bar. This place has a lot of meaning for a lot of families and the city of Pittsburgh and really nationwide at this point.”</p>

<p>Her father died in May 2017 at age 86. Ms. Grippo is only 30.</p>

<p>“I was a surprise,” she said.</p>

<p>“I was 26 years old when my father passed, and I inherited the oldest bar and restaurant in Pittsburgh. My father being at the helm for years were huge shoes to fill. I talked to the customers one-on-one, and I said, ‘Show me a little bit of grace as I figure this out; I’m gonna make mistakes,’ but they supported us all the way.”</p>

<p>That’s carried through 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been brutal to bars and restaurants.</p>

<p>“It’s been OK. We’re doing all right. We’re very lucky to have the customer base we do, because they have been just so supportive of us. Even if it’s not necessarily coming in and ordering food, they will check in and ask how we’re doing.</p>

<p>“Honestly, it’s one of those things that’s taught me about myself and this business and how resilient the business can be and the staff can be. It’s really beautiful to see that. Our staff is very committed, and I’m very lucky from that perspective.”</p>

<p>Her ambition is to keep the place going with as little change for as long as possible. Given her age, a bicentennial celebration in 2070 isn’t out of the question.</p>

<p>“I hope I’m around that long. … I would love to. This restaurant is what makes me tick, as it did the rest of my family. It’s been an honor to say I’m running a Pittsburgh institution and that I get to serve the community the way that my dad did for almost 50 years, and I love that.</p>

<p>“My dad always said, ‘You be very grateful for this town and for this business because it has allowed you to live the life you’ve led. And I’ve never forgotten that.”</p>

<p>https://bit.ly/2GTeCR8</p>

</article>",en,2020-10-17T09:24:53,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/10/17/exchange_oyster_house_celebrates_23394_c0-149-2108-1378_s1200x700.jpg?1235348526ef296cbfe97c2e0c122dae7ab6775d,"[
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  }
]","It was Oct. 12, 1870, and the morning edition of the Pittsburgh Daily Post’s front page carried news of the re-election of city-born Civil War general James Negley to Congress, dispatches from the Franco-Prussian War and ads for dry goods from the Joseph Horne Co. But there was nary a mention or announcement of the opening that day of a new Downtown restaurant and saloon where the oysters were a penny and draft beers a dime.","[
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]",0.9856775999999999,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z,2020-10-17T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Saturday, October 17, 2020"
"Chris Hipkins to be New Zealand’s next prime minister, replacing Jacinda Ardern",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/20/chris-hipkins-to-be-new-zealands-next-prime-minist/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/jan/20/chris-hipkins-to-be-new-zealands-next-prime-minist/,2023-01-20T15:39:45,"- Associated Press - Updated:

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand’s next prime minister after he was the only candidate to enter the race Saturday to replace Jacinda Ardern.

Hipkins, 44, must still get an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues in Parliament but that is just a formality now.

Ardern shocked the nation of 5 million people Thursday when she announced she was resigning after five-and-a-half years in the top role.","<article>

<p>- 
			
				Associated Press
 -
                      
                      
                        <strong>Updated:</strong></p>

<p>WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand’s next prime minister after he was the only candidate to enter the race Saturday to replace Jacinda Ardern.</p>

<p>Hipkins, 44, must still get an endorsement Sunday from his Labour Party colleagues in Parliament but that is just a formality now.</p>

<p>Ardern shocked the nation of 5 million people Thursday when she announced she was resigning after five-and-a-half years in the top role.</p>

</article>",en,2023-01-20T15:39:45,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2019/09/25/new_zealand_student_death_02338_c0-133-3199-1999_s1200x700.jpg?ce0d5f744ba36fac2db2528cedaddc3f84f6ecd4,"[
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]",Education Minister Chris Hipkins is set to become New Zealand’s next prime minister after he was the only candidate to enter the race Saturday to replace Jacinda Ardern.,"[
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    ""name"":""Nick Perry"",
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]",0.9741949999999999,2023-01-20T00:00:00Z,2023-01-20T15:45:38-05:00,2023-01-20T15:45:38-05:00
Minnesota advances to MLS semis with 4-1 win over San Jose,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/1/minnesota-advances-to-mls-semis-with-4-1-win-over-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/aug/1/minnesota-advances-to-mls-semis-with-4-1-win-over-/,2020-08-01T22:36:56,"LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Robin Lod had a goal and an assist, Hassani Dotson had two assists and Minnesota United advanced in the MLS is Back tournament with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in a quarterfinal match Saturday.

Lod and Jacori Hayes scored first-half goals 90 seconds apart to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead at halftime. Magnus Eriksson helped the Earthquakes get within a goal early in the second half on a penalty kick before Minnesota’s Luis Amarilla and Marlon Hairston scored to put it out of reach.

Minnesota United will face Orlando City in Thursday’s semifinal, with the winner advancing to the championship game on Aug. 11. It will be an interesting matchup for Minnesota coach Adrian Heath, who was Orlando’s boss for five seasons and directed their transition from the USL to MLS.

“I said all along I thought we’d get better as the tournament has gone along and we proved it,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said, “We’re more talented than people think. We were without some of our top players and dug it out.”

Lod put Minnesota United on the board in the 20th minute when he had an open shot after San Jose goalkeeper Daniel Vega was caught out of position. Hayes- who got the start due to a hamstring injury to All-Star Romain Metanire - quickly put the Loons up by two in the 21st minute when he put in a rebound after Vega deflected Hassani Dotson’s shot.

San Jose was awarded a penalty kick after a video review when it was determined that Hayes committed a hand ball inside the box. Eriksson converted on the penalty with his third goal of the tournament in the 50th minute.

Amarilla put Minnesota back up by two six minutes later with a left-footed finish just past the near post. Hairston closed the scoring in the 86th minute after getting a crossing pass from Dotson.

Minnesota United has won four straight against San Jose, outscoring them 15-4.

“It is pretty simple, we were outplayed by our opponent,” San Jose coach Matias Almeyda said. “We had some chances to counter in the second half and weren’t able to do it.”","<article>

<p>LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Robin Lod had a goal and an assist, Hassani Dotson had two assists and Minnesota United advanced in the MLS is Back tournament with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes in a quarterfinal match Saturday.</p>

<p>Lod and Jacori Hayes scored first-half goals 90 seconds apart to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead at halftime. Magnus Eriksson helped the Earthquakes get within a goal early in the second half on a penalty kick before Minnesota’s Luis Amarilla and Marlon Hairston scored to put it out of reach.</p>

<p>Minnesota United will face Orlando City in Thursday’s semifinal, with the winner advancing to the championship game on Aug. 11. It will be an interesting matchup for Minnesota coach Adrian Heath, who was Orlando’s boss for five seasons and directed their transition from the USL to MLS.</p>

<p>“I said all along I thought we’d get better as the tournament has gone along and we proved it,” Minnesota coach Adrian Heath said, “We’re more talented than people think. We were without some of our top players and dug it out.”</p>

<p>Lod put Minnesota United on the board in the 20th minute when he had an open shot after San Jose goalkeeper Daniel Vega was caught out of position. Hayes- who got the start due to a hamstring injury to All-Star Romain Metanire - quickly put the Loons up by two in the 21st minute when he put in a rebound after Vega deflected Hassani Dotson’s shot.</p>

<p>San Jose was awarded a penalty kick after a video review when it was determined that Hayes committed a hand ball inside the box. Eriksson converted on the penalty with his third goal of the tournament in the 50th minute.</p>

<p>Amarilla put Minnesota back up by two six minutes later with a left-footed finish just past the near post. Hairston closed the scoring in the 86th minute after getting a crossing pass from Dotson.</p>

<p>Minnesota United has won four straight against San Jose, outscoring them 15-4.</p>

<p>“It is pretty simple, we were outplayed by our opponent,” San Jose coach Matias Almeyda said. “We had some chances to counter in the second half and weren’t able to do it.”</p>

</article>",en,2020-08-01T22:36:56,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/08/01/mls_earthquakes_minnesota_united_soccer_85868_c0-157-3775-2359_s1200x700.jpg?7039e6f4b09c4a220d207ecfa8224aec72e02c2b,"[
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"2 killed, deputy hospitalized after collision in S. Carolina",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/4/2-killed-deputy-hospitalized-after-collision-in-s-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/4/2-killed-deputy-hospitalized-after-collision-in-s-/,2021-01-04T14:14:00,"MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) - Two people were killed and a South Carolina deputy was injured when the deputy’s car slammed into their vehicle as it was making to make a turn on a road, authorities said Monday.

The collision happened Sunday at an intersection on U.S. Highway 17 in the Mount Pleasant area, Master Trooper David Jones of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said in a news release.

The Charleston County sheriff’s deputy who was involved in the crash was responding to a call when the wreck happened, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Jones said the deputy’s car smashed into the driver’s side of a Hyundai as it was turning left onto the highway. The driver and the front-seat in that car were trapped, he said, and both died at the scene. Authorities will identify the people killed during the crash after notifying their families.

The deputy was transported to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The sheriff’s office has asked Highway Patrol to conduct an investigation into the wreck. They said the deputy will be placed on administrative leave upon release from the hospital.","<article>

<p>MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) - Two people were killed and a South Carolina deputy was injured when the deputy’s car slammed into their vehicle as it was making to make a turn on a road, authorities said Monday.</p>

<p>The collision happened Sunday at an intersection on U.S. Highway 17 in the Mount Pleasant area, Master Trooper David Jones of the South Carolina Highway Patrol said in a news release.</p>

<p>The Charleston County sheriff’s deputy who was involved in the crash was responding to a call when the wreck happened, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.</p>

<p>Jones said the deputy’s car smashed into the driver’s side of a Hyundai as it was turning left onto the highway. The driver and the front-seat in that car were trapped, he said, and both died at the scene. Authorities will identify the people killed during the crash after notifying their families.</p>

<p>The deputy was transported to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.</p>

<p>The sheriff’s office has asked Highway Patrol to conduct an investigation into the wreck. They said the deputy will be placed on administrative leave upon release from the hospital.</p>

</article>",en,2021-01-04T14:14:00,,,"Two people were killed and a South Carolina deputy was injured when the deputy’s car slammed into their vehicle as it was making to make a turn on a road, authorities said Monday.","[
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]",0.9149679,2022-09-24T00:00:00Z,,
Walker guaranteed $23M over 3 years by Mets; Pillar $5M,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/22/taijuan-walker-guaranteed-23-million-over-3-years-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/22/taijuan-walker-guaranteed-23-million-over-3-years-/,2021-02-22T22:26:11,"NEW YORK (AP) - Taijuan Walker is guaranteed $23 million over three seasons in his contract with the New York Mets and would get $25.5 million if he pitches at least 175 innings in 2022.

Veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar is guaranteed $5 million as part of his deal, which includes player and team options for 2022.

Walker gets a $2 million signing bonus payable on April 1 and salaries of $8 million this season and $7 million in 2022 as part of the deal announced Saturday.

His agreement includes a $6 million player option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout, and the option price can increase to as much as $8.5 million based on innings in 2022: $250,000 each for 125 and 135, and $500,000 apiece for 145, 155, 165 and 175.

He would receive a one-time assignment bonus if traded, payable by the acquiring team.

Walker also has award bonuses of $50,000 each for All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or League Championship Series MVP and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $25,000 for finishing second in the voting and $10,000 for third.

The 28-year-old Walker joins a rotation headed by two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom. New York’s need for a pitcher increased with the loss of versatile right-hander Seth Lugo, who will miss the start of the season following elbow surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur.

New owner Steven Cohen has displayed a willingness to spend, retaining Marcus Stroman with an $18.9 million qualifying offer and acquiring fellow starter Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland in a trade along with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor for a rotation also projected to include lefty David Peterson.

Walker has a five-pitch repertoire with a 93 mph fastball mixed among sliders, split-finger fastballs, sinkers and curveballs.

He was 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA over 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened season for Seattle and Toronto, which acquired him Aug. 27 for a player to be named, who became outfield prospect Alberto Rodriguez.

Walker earned $740,741 in prorated pay from a $2 million salary last year and $374,620 in bonuses for $1,115,361 in total income.

Pillar gets a $3.6 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $2.9 million player option for 2022 with no buyout. If Pillar declines the option, the Mets would have a $6.4 million team option with a $1.4 million buyout.

The 32-year-old Pillar provides a proven center fielder and experienced right-handed hitter to potentially platoon with Brandon Nimmo. All three of New York’s projected regulars in the outfield bat left-handed: Nimmo, right fielder Michael Conforto and left fielder Dominic Smith.

Pillar joins Albert Almora Jr. as right-handed-hitting options on the bench or in part-time roles.

Pillar split last season between Boston and Colorado, hitting a combined .288 with six home runs and 26 RBIs in 54 games. He batted .342 with a .969 OPS against left-handed pitching.

The durable Pillar spent six-plus years with Toronto and also has played for San Francisco during his eight-year career, batting .262 with 82 homers, 88 stolen bases and a .299 on-base percentage. He is a .286 career hitter with a .784 OPS against lefties and was a Gold Glove finalist each season from 2015-17.","<article>

<p>NEW YORK (AP) - Taijuan Walker is guaranteed $23 million over three seasons in his contract with the New York Mets and would get $25.5 million if he pitches at least 175 innings in 2022.</p>

<p>Veteran outfielder Kevin Pillar is guaranteed $5 million as part of his deal, which includes player and team options for 2022.</p>

<p>Walker gets a $2 million signing bonus payable on April 1 and salaries of $8 million this season and $7 million in 2022 as part of the deal announced Saturday.</p>

<p>His agreement includes a $6 million player option for 2023 with a $3 million buyout, and the option price can increase to as much as $8.5 million based on innings in 2022: $250,000 each for 125 and 135, and $500,000 apiece for 145, 155, 165 and 175.</p>

<p>He would receive a one-time assignment bonus if traded, payable by the acquiring team.</p>

<p>Walker also has award bonuses of $50,000 each for All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger or League Championship Series MVP and $100,000 for World Series MVP. He would get $50,000 for winning a Cy Young Award, $25,000 for finishing second in the voting and $10,000 for third.</p>

<p>The 28-year-old Walker joins a rotation headed by two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom. New York’s need for a pitcher increased with the loss of versatile right-hander Seth Lugo, who will miss the start of the season following elbow surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur.</p>

<p>New owner Steven Cohen has displayed a willingness to spend, retaining Marcus Stroman with an $18.9 million qualifying offer and acquiring fellow starter Carlos Carrasco from Cleveland in a trade along with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor for a rotation also projected to include lefty David Peterson.</p>

<p>Walker has a five-pitch repertoire with a 93 mph fastball mixed among sliders, split-finger fastballs, sinkers and curveballs.</p>

<p>He was 4-3 with a 2.70 ERA over 11 starts during the pandemic-shortened season for Seattle and Toronto, which acquired him Aug. 27 for a player to be named, who became outfield prospect Alberto Rodriguez.</p>

<p>Walker earned $740,741 in prorated pay from a $2 million salary last year and $374,620 in bonuses for $1,115,361 in total income.</p>

<p>Pillar gets a $3.6 million salary this year, and the deal includes a $2.9 million player option for 2022 with no buyout. If Pillar declines the option, the Mets would have a $6.4 million team option with a $1.4 million buyout.</p>

<p>The 32-year-old Pillar provides a proven center fielder and experienced right-handed hitter to potentially platoon with Brandon Nimmo. All three of New York’s projected regulars in the outfield bat left-handed: Nimmo, right fielder Michael Conforto and left fielder Dominic Smith.</p>

<p>Pillar joins Albert Almora Jr. as right-handed-hitting options on the bench or in part-time roles.</p>

<p>Pillar split last season between Boston and Colorado, hitting a combined .288 with six home runs and 26 RBIs in 54 games. He batted .342 with a .969 OPS against left-handed pitching.</p>

<p>The durable Pillar spent six-plus years with Toronto and also has played for San Francisco during his eight-year career, batting .262 with 82 homers, 88 stolen bases and a .299 on-base percentage. He is a .286 career hitter with a .784 OPS against lefties and was a Gold Glove finalist each season from 2015-17.</p>

</article>",en,2021-02-22T22:26:11,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/02/19/mets_walker_baseball_44514_c0-213-5113-3195_s1200x700.jpg?fb71c850a15444b4b5750b777b408a15c42d8523,,Taijuan Walker is guaranteed $23 million over three seasons in his contract with the New York Mets and would get $25.5 million if he pitches at least 175 innings in 2022.,"[
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]",0.9484112,2022-09-26T00:00:00Z,,
"Like in 2009, back-to-back could tilt this Stanley Cup Final",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/25/lightnings-stamkos-out-for-game-4-not-ruled-out-fo/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/25/lightnings-stamkos-out-for-game-4-not-ruled-out-fo/,2020-09-25T14:26:45,"EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Dan Bylsma sees some parallels between this Stanley Cup Final that features games on back-to-back nights and the last time it happened in 2009 when he was the winning coach.

After the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Dallas Stars in overtime Friday night, it’s right back for Game 5 on Saturday night in just the second final with a back-to-back since the mid-1950s. While it was Games 1 and 2 for Bylsma’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings, the scheduling could mark a turning point this year because the banged-up Lightning might need to close this out fast.

Penguins players told Bylsma leaving old Joe Louis Arena down 2-0, “We’re going to win.” It was all about extending the series as long as possible because Detroit was the more tired team from playing three games in four days dating to their Western Conference clincher.

The Lightning are far from fully healthy, so their goal is not to let the Stars hang around.

“They’re going to want to drop the puck as quickly as possible in Game 5 to get this thing over with,” Bylsma said by phone Friday.

Tampa Bay and Dallas players and coaches said all the right things about focusing entirely on Game 4 before worrying about Game 5 on the second half of the back to back. Even when it was over, Cooper said, “Let’s digest this” about an emotional overtime victory before shifting the focus forward.

Tampa Bay’s top two centers, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, are playing through pain, and they’re certainly not alone in that.

That’s a hallmark of playoff hockey. Back to backs usually are not this deep in the postseason, but don’t expect any complaints after two months in the bubble and the NHL nearing the finish line to complete the season.

“When we saw it on the schedule, we were a little bit surprised being that it was the Stanley Cup finals,” said Lightning forward Alex Killorn, who scored in Game 4. “But as a team we’ve been in these situations plenty of times. It’s more of a mental battle than anything. I think we’ll be ready. We look forward to it.”

A major difference between 2009 and now is not needing to fly between cities after Games 2, 4, 5 and, if necessary, 6.

“When it’s the same for both teams and there’s no travel involved, it’s a little better physically,” Bowness said. “The grind that both teams have been through since July is certainly a factor - both physically and mentally.”

And Bylsma believes the quick turnaround typically benefits the winner of the first half of this back to back. His Penguins in ’09 got two days off to regroup after a blowout loss in Game 5 and then two more after a Game 6 victory to survive.

These teams don’t get that luxury, so the pressure is real. Bylsma likens Tampa Bay’s spot to the 2003 Anaheim Ducks when he was a player and they took a 3-0 lead over the powerful Red Wings in the first round.

“I’ve never seen 22 guys more nervous for a Game 4 when you’re up 3-0 because we felt like we had to win,” he said, comparing it to when Los Angeles erased a 3-0 series deficit against San Jose in 2014. “We were so nervous and felt like we needed to win Game 4 to finish them off.”

Anaheim did. Now, it’s Tampa Bay’s turn.

NO STAMKOS

Steven Stamkos made a lasting mark on the final with an iconic goal, though that could be the last time he takes this ice in the series.

Out for Game 4, Stamkos has not been ruled out for the series, but it’s certainly possible after he played just 2:37 before tweaking something in Game 3.

“He felt he did a big part in helping us win that game,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt, and so far the hand’s been a pretty good one. It’s just unfortunate he hasn’t been able to be a part of it, but when he was able to, obviously he had a huge impact for us.”

Stamkos scored on his only shot Wednesday night, capping an emotional return almost seven months in the making and helping Tampa Bay take a 2-1 series lead. He hadn’t played since Feb. 25, had core muscle surgery in early March and aggravated the injury in voluntary workouts over the summer.

DICKINSON PRODUCES

Fourth-liner Jason Dickinson has been one of the Stars’ best players in the final based on his usual defensive stinginess and some offensive production. After no goals in his first 21 postseason games, Dickinson has scored twice in this series.

Dickinson also draws the tough assignment of matching up against Tampa Bay’s top line of Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat.

“He’s a hard-working guy who doesn’t get a lot of credit sometimes,” said Stars center Tyler Seguin, who took a career playoff worst 12-game goal drought into Friday’s game. “(Given) all the other things he does right, you don’t even talk about the goal-scoring and he’s getting rewarded now, so that’s great.”

INJURED STARS

After running down Dallas’ injured players, Bowness paused for a second and quipped, “There’s a lot of them.” The Stars may still be the healthier team given the Lightning’s woes, but the injuries are piling up.

Center Radek Faksa, defenseman Stephen Johns and goaltender Ben Bishop remain unfit to play. Forward Blake Comeau also missed Game 4 with an apparent right shoulder injury.

Bishop, who hasn’t played since Game 5 of the second round when he was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in under 14 minutes, joined the optional Friday morning skate toward the end to get some work in. Faksa, who was seen with his left wrist taped earlier in the playoffs, did not take part and Bowness wouldn’t bite on a question about whether he or Bishop were close.

“They’re unfit to play,” he said. “Good try, though.”","<article>

<p>EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - Dan Bylsma sees some parallels between this Stanley Cup Final that features games on back-to-back nights and the last time it happened in 2009 when he was the winning coach.</p>

<p>After the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Dallas Stars in overtime Friday night, it’s right back for Game 5 on Saturday night in just the second final with a back-to-back since the mid-1950s. While it was Games 1 and 2 for Bylsma’s Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings, the scheduling could mark a turning point this year because the banged-up Lightning might need to close this out fast.</p>

<p>Penguins players told Bylsma leaving old Joe Louis Arena down 2-0, “We’re going to win.” It was all about extending the series as long as possible because Detroit was the more tired team from playing three games in four days dating to their Western Conference clincher.</p>

<p>The Lightning are far from fully healthy, so their goal is not to let the Stars hang around.</p>

<p>“They’re going to want to drop the puck as quickly as possible in Game 5 to get this thing over with,” Bylsma said by phone Friday.</p>

<p>Tampa Bay and Dallas players and coaches said all the right things about focusing entirely on Game 4 before worrying about Game 5 on the second half of the back to back. Even when it was over, Cooper said, “Let’s digest this” about an emotional overtime victory before shifting the focus forward.</p>

<p>Tampa Bay’s top two centers, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli, are playing through pain, and they’re certainly not alone in that.</p>

<p>That’s a hallmark of playoff hockey. Back to backs usually are not this deep in the postseason, but don’t expect any complaints after two months in the bubble and the NHL nearing the finish line to complete the season.</p>

<p>“When we saw it on the schedule, we were a little bit surprised being that it was the Stanley Cup finals,” said Lightning forward Alex Killorn, who scored in Game 4. “But as a team we’ve been in these situations plenty of times. It’s more of a mental battle than anything. I think we’ll be ready. We look forward to it.”</p>

<p>A major difference between 2009 and now is not needing to fly between cities after Games 2, 4, 5 and, if necessary, 6.</p>

<p>“When it’s the same for both teams and there’s no travel involved, it’s a little better physically,” Bowness said. “The grind that both teams have been through since July is certainly a factor - both physically and mentally.”</p>

<p>And Bylsma believes the quick turnaround typically benefits the winner of the first half of this back to back. His Penguins in ’09 got two days off to regroup after a blowout loss in Game 5 and then two more after a Game 6 victory to survive.</p>

<p>These teams don’t get that luxury, so the pressure is real. Bylsma likens Tampa Bay’s spot to the 2003 Anaheim Ducks when he was a player and they took a 3-0 lead over the powerful Red Wings in the first round.</p>

<p>“I’ve never seen 22 guys more nervous for a Game 4 when you’re up 3-0 because we felt like we had to win,” he said, comparing it to when Los Angeles erased a 3-0 series deficit against San Jose in 2014. “We were so nervous and felt like we needed to win Game 4 to finish them off.”</p>

<p>Anaheim did. Now, it’s Tampa Bay’s turn.</p>

<p>NO STAMKOS</p>

<p>Steven Stamkos made a lasting mark on the final with an iconic goal, though that could be the last time he takes this ice in the series.</p>

<p>Out for Game 4, Stamkos has not been ruled out for the series, but it’s certainly possible after he played just 2:37 before tweaking something in Game 3.</p>

<p>“He felt he did a big part in helping us win that game,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt, and so far the hand’s been a pretty good one. It’s just unfortunate he hasn’t been able to be a part of it, but when he was able to, obviously he had a huge impact for us.”</p>

<p>Stamkos scored on his only shot Wednesday night, capping an emotional return almost seven months in the making and helping Tampa Bay take a 2-1 series lead. He hadn’t played since Feb. 25, had core muscle surgery in early March and aggravated the injury in voluntary workouts over the summer.</p>

<p>DICKINSON PRODUCES</p>

<p>Fourth-liner Jason Dickinson has been one of the Stars’ best players in the final based on his usual defensive stinginess and some offensive production. After no goals in his first 21 postseason games, Dickinson has scored twice in this series.</p>

<p>Dickinson also draws the tough assignment of matching up against Tampa Bay’s top line of Point, Kucherov and Ondrej Palat.</p>

<p>“He’s a hard-working guy who doesn’t get a lot of credit sometimes,” said Stars center Tyler Seguin, who took a career playoff worst 12-game goal drought into Friday’s game. “(Given) all the other things he does right, you don’t even talk about the goal-scoring and he’s getting rewarded now, so that’s great.”</p>

<p>INJURED STARS</p>

<p>After running down Dallas’ injured players, Bowness paused for a second and quipped, “There’s a lot of them.” The Stars may still be the healthier team given the Lightning’s woes, but the injuries are piling up.</p>

<p>Center Radek Faksa, defenseman Stephen Johns and goaltender Ben Bishop remain unfit to play. Forward Blake Comeau also missed Game 4 with an apparent right shoulder injury.</p>

<p>Bishop, who hasn’t played since Game 5 of the second round when he was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots in under 14 minutes, joined the optional Friday morning skate toward the end to get some work in. Faksa, who was seen with his left wrist taped earlier in the playoffs, did not take part and Bowness wouldn’t bite on a question about whether he or Bishop were close.</p>

<p>“They’re unfit to play,” he said. “Good try, though.”</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-25T14:26:45,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/09/25/stanley_cup_lightning_stars_hockey_59085_c0-157-4828-2973_s1200x700.jpg?00b10140644e24e840b11672a2a83b4a8952074a,,Dan Bylsma sees some parallels between this Stanley Cup Final that features games on back-to-back nights and the last time it happened in 2009 when he was the winning coach.,"[
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]",0.9767228,2022-09-19T00:00:00Z,,
Report sparks debate over bans on critical race theory,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/9/report-sparks-debate-over-bans-critical-race-theor/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/9/report-sparks-debate-over-bans-critical-race-theor/,2021-11-09T12:18:00,"A report by a free speech advocacy group has sparked debate over whether state laws banning critical race theory from classrooms are chilling free speech or simply letting parents protect their children from politics.

The New York-based nonprofit PEN America reported Monday that 24 state legislatures introduced 54 bills from January through September to ban “divisive” concepts such as critical race theory from being taught in K-12 schools, higher education and state agencies.

Most of the 54 bills call for limits on discussions of race, racism, gender and American history, according to the report, titled “Educational Gag Orders: Legislative Restrictions on the Freedom to Read, Learn, and Teach.”

Eleven of the bills have become law in nine states. Nine of the new laws target public schools, three address colleges and universities, and six apply to state agencies and institutions. As of Monday, 18 of the bills were pending in the current legislative session and six were pre-filed for 2022.

“This report isn’t about evaluating any particular viewpoint or ideology. It is instead a warning: This type of legislation, which aims to ban even conversation of entire viewpoints or ideologies, is censorship,” Jonathan Friedman, a lead author of the report, told The Washington Times.

Mr. Friedman called the legislation “a slippery, censorious slope.”

“Administrators and school boards need to be willing to hear out parents and respond to genuine concerns, but the answer to what some perceive as a stifling of debate cannot be more stifling,” he said.

“These bills appear designed to chill academic and educational discussions and impose government dictates on teaching and learning. In short: They are educational gag orders,” the report concluded.

Parental rights advocates disputed the PEN America report’s assertions that the laws were stifling free speech.

Tamra Farah, executive director of MomForce at the nonprofit Moms for America, said some teachers abuse academic freedom to “imbue their classrooms with the concept that society is divided into the oppressor and the oppressed,” which confuses children and usurps the educational role of parents.

“The critical race theory in our schools is more a culture than a curriculum, and parents and scholars opposing it has nothing to do with stifling free speech,” Ms. Farah told The Times.

Sheri Few, president of U.S. Parents Involved in Education, challenged the report’s premise.

“Amid the censorship of social media platforms and leftist propaganda pumped through mainstream media outlets, it is laughable that proponents of Critical Race Theory would suggest that restricting racist pedagogy in government schools is a violation of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution that protects free speech,” Ms. Few said in an email. “On the contrary, CRT violates the Civil Rights Act and the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and we are so glad to see lawsuits challenging this racist, Marxist pedagogy.”

Developed in graduate and law schools in the 1970s, critical race theory is an analytical tool based on Marxist critical studies. It posits that racism is a foundational element of American society and government and is important in understanding and evaluating U.S. laws, policies and programs.

‘Radical propaganda’

The PEN America report was released in the aftermath of the Nov. 2 elections in Virginia, where parental involvement in education played a key role in Republican victories, and in Colorado, where parent-backed candidates won control of eight county school boards by defeating candidates endorsed by teachers unions.

Andrea Haitz, a Colorado mother of three elected to Mesa County’s school board last week, told The Times that critical race theory has crept into student “equity clubs.” She said local teachers have allowed these clubs to give presentations in their classrooms.

“I have a real problem with that because it should be done after school. From my standpoint as a board member, I think we need to stick with a curriculum that stays in the lane of its subject,” Ms. Haitz said.

Ms. Haitz, who will take the oath of office on Nov. 30, said parents voted for her because they want their children “to be learning about math, science and history, not neo-Marxist ideas.”

“Great teachers tell kids how to think, not what to think,” she said.

Although Colorado has not enacted a ban on divisive topics in the classroom, Texas has done so as part of an effort to help parents veto objectionable content.

Jonathan Zimmerman, a historian of education at the University of Pennsylvania, said the PEN America report confirms that parents do not trust teachers or students to discuss the “urgent” and “controversial” issue of race and racism.

“The real problem here is that we don’t trust our teachers — or our students — enough to let them debate the question of race in America,” Mr. Zimmerman told The Times. “Of course, reasonable people can and do disagree about that. But the GOP-sponsored measures effectively take the question off the table.”

Free speech scholar Jeffrey A. Sachs, a political scientist at Acadia University, took issue with the vagueness of the state bans. He said the study shows the need for parents, teachers, local administrators and the students “on the ground” to figure out how to discuss topics like race.

“A total separation of politics from education is neither possible nor desirable,” Mr. Sachs told The Times.

“Where these bills go wrong is in leveling a vague, one-size-fits-all type approach on an entire state, and then enforcing that standard with threats of harsh punishment. That’s a recipe for paranoia and self-censorship,” he added.

James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, said state bans noted in the report are “part of a larger campaign of radical propaganda that aims to divide the American people by spreading mistruths about what is happening in the nation’s history classrooms.

“A recent national survey, conducted by the American Historical Associaton and Fairleigh Dickinson University, demonstrates a broad consensus across partisan lines that what actually is being taught in schools — the history of slavery and racism and its impact on the development of American society — is essential content and wholly appropriate for school history classes,” Mr. Grossman said.

But Melanie Hempe, founder of the nonprofit Families Managing Media, said it would be better to leave hot-button topics to parents than trust schools to work out compromises that please everyone.

“A lot of these things need to stay in the home,” said Ms. Hempe, citing an “anchoring bias” that makes children susceptible to the first person who teaches them about a topic.

“Kids are constantly exposed to politics and topics at ages when they’re not ready,” she said. “They need parents to guide them through what they hear on social media and in school.”","<article>

<p>A report by a free speech advocacy group has sparked debate over whether state laws banning critical race theory from classrooms are chilling free speech or simply letting parents protect their children from politics.</p>

<p>The New York-based nonprofit PEN America reported Monday that 24 state legislatures introduced 54 bills from January through September to ban “divisive” concepts such as critical race theory from being taught in K-12 schools, higher education and state agencies.</p>

<p>Most of the 54 bills call for limits on discussions of race, racism, gender and American history, according to the report, titled “Educational Gag Orders: Legislative Restrictions on the Freedom to Read, Learn, and Teach.”</p>

<p>Eleven of the bills have become law in nine states. Nine of the new laws target public schools, three address colleges and universities, and six apply to state agencies and institutions. As of Monday, 18 of the bills were pending in the current legislative session and six were pre-filed for 2022.</p>

<p>“This report isn’t about evaluating any particular viewpoint or ideology. It is instead a warning: This type of legislation, which aims to ban even conversation of entire viewpoints or ideologies, is censorship,” Jonathan Friedman, a lead author of the report, told The Washington Times.</p>

<p>Mr. Friedman called the legislation “a slippery, censorious slope.”</p>

<p>“Administrators and school boards need to be willing to hear out parents and respond to genuine concerns, but the answer to what some perceive as a stifling of debate cannot be more stifling,” he said.</p>

<p>“These bills appear designed to chill academic and educational discussions and impose government dictates on teaching and learning. In short: They are educational gag orders,” the report concluded.</p>

<p>Parental rights advocates disputed the PEN America report’s assertions that the laws were stifling free speech.</p>

<p>Tamra Farah, executive director of MomForce at the nonprofit Moms for America, said some teachers abuse academic freedom to “imbue their classrooms with the concept that society is divided into the oppressor and the oppressed,” which confuses children and usurps the educational role of parents.</p>

<p>“The critical race theory in our schools is more a culture than a curriculum, and parents and scholars opposing it has nothing to do with stifling free speech,” Ms. Farah told The Times.</p>

<p>Sheri Few, president of U.S. Parents Involved in Education, challenged the report’s premise.</p>

<p>“Amid the censorship of social media platforms and leftist propaganda pumped through mainstream media outlets, it is laughable that proponents of Critical Race Theory would suggest that restricting racist pedagogy in government schools is a violation of the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution that protects free speech,” Ms. Few said in an email. “On the contrary, CRT violates the Civil Rights Act and the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and we are so glad to see lawsuits challenging this racist, Marxist pedagogy.”</p>

<p>Developed in graduate and law schools in the 1970s, critical race theory is an analytical tool based on Marxist critical studies. It posits that racism is a foundational element of American society and government and is important in understanding and evaluating U.S. laws, policies and programs.</p>

<p><strong>‘Radical propaganda’</strong></p>

<p>The PEN America report was released in the aftermath of the Nov. 2 elections in Virginia, where parental involvement in education played a key role in Republican victories, and in Colorado, where parent-backed candidates won control of eight county school boards by defeating candidates endorsed by teachers unions.</p>

<p>Andrea Haitz, a Colorado mother of three elected to Mesa County’s school board last week, told The Times that critical race theory has crept into student “equity clubs.” She said local teachers have allowed these clubs to give presentations in their classrooms.</p>

<p>“I have a real problem with that because it should be done after school. From my standpoint as a board member, I think we need to stick with a curriculum that stays in the lane of its subject,” Ms. Haitz said.</p>

<p>Ms. Haitz, who will take the oath of office on Nov. 30, said parents voted for her because they want their children “to be learning about math, science and history, not neo-Marxist ideas.”</p>

<p>“Great teachers tell kids how to think, not what to think,” she said.</p>

<p>Although Colorado has not enacted a ban on divisive topics in the classroom, Texas has done so as part of an effort to help parents veto objectionable content.</p>

<p>Jonathan Zimmerman, a historian of education at the University of Pennsylvania, said the PEN America report confirms that parents do not trust teachers or students to discuss the “urgent” and “controversial” issue of race and racism.</p>

<p>“The real problem here is that we don’t trust our teachers — or our students — enough to let them debate the question of race in America,” Mr. Zimmerman told The Times. “Of course, reasonable people can and do disagree about that. But the GOP-sponsored measures effectively take the question off the table.”</p>

<p>Free speech scholar Jeffrey A. Sachs, a political scientist at Acadia University, took issue with the vagueness of the state bans. He said the study shows the need for parents, teachers, local administrators and the students “on the ground” to figure out how to discuss topics like race.</p>

<p>“A total separation of politics from education is neither possible nor desirable,” Mr. Sachs told The Times.</p>

<p>“Where these bills go wrong is in leveling a vague, one-size-fits-all type approach on an entire state, and then enforcing that standard with threats of harsh punishment. That’s a recipe for paranoia and self-censorship,” he added.</p>

<p>James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, said state bans noted in the report are “part of a larger campaign of radical propaganda that aims to divide the American people by spreading mistruths about what is happening in the nation’s history classrooms.</p>

<p>“A recent national survey, conducted by the American Historical Associaton and Fairleigh Dickinson University, demonstrates a broad consensus across partisan lines that what actually is being taught in schools — the history of slavery and racism and its impact on the development of American society — is essential content and wholly appropriate for school history classes,” Mr. Grossman said.</p>

<p>But Melanie Hempe, founder of the nonprofit Families Managing Media, said it would be better to leave hot-button topics to parents than trust schools to work out compromises that please everyone.</p>

<p>“A lot of these things need to stay in the home,” said Ms. Hempe, citing an “anchoring bias” that makes children susceptible to the first person who teaches them about a topic.</p>

<p>“Kids are constantly exposed to politics and topics at ages when they’re not ready,” she said. “They need parents to guide them through what they hear on social media and in school.”</p>

</article>",en,2021-11-09T12:18:00,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/06/12/critical_race_theory_teachers_49395_c0-0-5621-3278_s1200x700.jpg?1e1ccb8b2333f1bc4e2d1c42cd72a509684b698d,"[
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]",0.9734256,2022-10-25T00:00:00Z,2021-11-09T17:16:50-05:00,2021-11-09T17:16:50-05:00
Test cricket returns as rain affects England v West Indies,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/8/start-of-england-west-indies-delayed-by-rain/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/8/start-of-england-west-indies-delayed-by-rain/,2020-07-08T05:52:01,"SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) - International cricket returned Wednesday after a four-month absence with England and the West Indies managing just 82 minutes of play in a rain-hit opening day of the first test that started with players taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

England was 35-1 at stumps having faced only 17.4 overs because of light but intermittent rain at Southampton’s Rose Bowl, where there were no spectators for a match being played in an isolated environment because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rory Burns was 20 not out and Joe Denly was unbeaten on 14, with Dom Sibley the man out bowled by Shannon Gabriel off the 10th delivery of the day.

Moments before the first ball was bowled, West Indies’ fielding players knelt in the outfield while their England counterparts did the same around the boundary edge in support a movement that has grown since the killing of George Floyd in the United States in May. A Black Lives Matter logo also was on the collar of the test shirts worn by players from both teams.

The kneeling gesture has been made before Premier League matches since the resumption of soccer in England last month.

“It was a great moment,” Gabriel said, “showing something we stand for and that racism has no part in cricket.”

England assistant coach Graham Thorpe said the team felt it was important to show solidarity with the West Indies players.

“We don’t want racism in our game and we want a fair and equal society for our children,” Thorpe said. “It was absolutely right to do it. You felt a part of something which was very important.”

There was a minute’s silence in honor of those who died in the coronavirus pandemic and also West Indies great Everton Weekes, who died last week.

Play started after a three-hour delay because of light rain and a wet outfield, and only lasted for three overs before the teams had to go back inside because of another shower. By then, Sibley had seen his off stump knocked back following a poorly judged leave of a ball that angled in.

After that, the players went off for rain three times, and there was no play possible after 4:28 p.m. local time (1528 GMT).

“It’s been a bit tough, coming off and on,” said Gabriel, who had figures of 1-19 off five overs. “We just have to keep switched on when we come back on. It’s been a tough day but we’ve been doing well so far.”

Ben Stokes, England’s stand-in captain because Joe Root was absent because of the birth of his second child, won the toss and opted to bat under overcast skies. Captain for the first time, Stokes made a big call in leaving out fast bowler Stuart Broad - a long-time regular in the team.

Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and James Anderson will make up England’s pace attack along with Stokes.

After the toss was made, Stokes briefly forget about social distancing when he went to shake the hand of Holder. Holder move his hand away and both allrounders laughed.","<article>

<p>SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) - International cricket returned Wednesday after a four-month absence with England and the West Indies managing just 82 minutes of play in a rain-hit opening day of the first test that started with players taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.</p>

<p>England was 35-1 at stumps having faced only 17.4 overs because of light but intermittent rain at Southampton’s Rose Bowl, where there were no spectators for a match being played in an isolated environment because of the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>Rory Burns was 20 not out and Joe Denly was unbeaten on 14, with Dom Sibley the man out bowled by Shannon Gabriel off the 10th delivery of the day.</p>

<p>Moments before the first ball was bowled, West Indies’ fielding players knelt in the outfield while their England counterparts did the same around the boundary edge in support a movement that has grown since the killing of George Floyd in the United States in May. A Black Lives Matter logo also was on the collar of the test shirts worn by players from both teams.</p>

<p>The kneeling gesture has been made before Premier League matches since the resumption of soccer in England last month.</p>

<p>“It was a great moment,” Gabriel said, “showing something we stand for and that racism has no part in cricket.”</p>

<p>England assistant coach Graham Thorpe said the team felt it was important to show solidarity with the West Indies players.</p>

<p>“We don’t want racism in our game and we want a fair and equal society for our children,” Thorpe said. “It was absolutely right to do it. You felt a part of something which was very important.”</p>

<p>There was a minute’s silence in honor of those who died in the coronavirus pandemic and also West Indies great Everton Weekes, who died last week.</p>

<p>Play started after a three-hour delay because of light rain and a wet outfield, and only lasted for three overs before the teams had to go back inside because of another shower. By then, Sibley had seen his off stump knocked back following a poorly judged leave of a ball that angled in.</p>

<p>After that, the players went off for rain three times, and there was no play possible after 4:28 p.m. local time (1528 GMT).</p>

<p>“It’s been a bit tough, coming off and on,” said Gabriel, who had figures of 1-19 off five overs. “We just have to keep switched on when we come back on. It’s been a tough day but we’ve been doing well so far.”</p>

<p>Ben Stokes, England’s stand-in captain because Joe Root was absent because of the birth of his second child, won the toss and opted to bat under overcast skies. Captain for the first time, Stokes made a big call in leaving out fast bowler Stuart Broad - a long-time regular in the team.</p>

<p>Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and James Anderson will make up England’s pace attack along with Stokes.</p>

<p>After the toss was made, Stokes briefly forget about social distancing when he went to shake the hand of Holder. Holder move his hand away and both allrounders laughed.</p>

</article>",en,2020-07-08T05:52:01,,,International cricket returned Wednesday after a four-month absence with England and the West Indies managing just 82 minutes of play in a rain-hit opening day of the first test that started with players taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.,"[
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Suspect arrested after arson fire at a Scottsdale apartment,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/7/suspect-arrested-after-arson-fire-at-a-scottsdale-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/7/suspect-arrested-after-arson-fire-at-a-scottsdale-/,2020-10-07T15:44:31,"SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with an arson fire at a Scottsdale apartment last week, police said.

They said 35-year-old Jorge Barrera Hernandez was being held on suspicion of endangerment and 17 counts of arson of an occupied structure.

It was unclear Wednesday if Hernandez has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf.

Police said several witnesses called 911 around 4:30 p.m. Friday and reported seeing a man later identified as Hernandez allegedly throw an object into a window of an apartment.

The apartment burst into flames, spreading smoke and fire to nearby units.

Arriving officers arrested Hernandez at the scene and evacuated the neighboring apartments.

Police said two officers were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.","<article>

<p>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - A suspect has been arrested in connection with an arson fire at a Scottsdale apartment last week, police said.</p>

<p>They said 35-year-old Jorge Barrera Hernandez was being held on suspicion of endangerment and 17 counts of arson of an occupied structure.</p>

<p>It was unclear Wednesday if Hernandez has a lawyer yet who can speak on his behalf.</p>

<p>Police said several witnesses called 911 around 4:30 p.m. Friday and reported seeing a man later identified as Hernandez allegedly throw an object into a window of an apartment.</p>

<p>The apartment burst into flames, spreading smoke and fire to nearby units.</p>

<p>Arriving officers arrested Hernandez at the scene and evacuated the neighboring apartments.</p>

<p>Police said two officers were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.</p>

</article>",en,2020-10-07T15:44:31,,,"A suspect has been arrested in connection with an arson fire at a Scottsdale apartment last week, police said.","[
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]",0.91125906,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z,,
Indianapolis man pleads guilty to hate crime at neighbor,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/12/indianapolis-man-pleads-guilty-to-hate-crime-at-ne/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/12/indianapolis-man-pleads-guilty-to-hate-crime-at-ne/,2021-02-12T15:24:56,"INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indianapolis man has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges after threatening a Black neighbor, prosecutors said Friday.

Shepherd Hoehn, 51, became incensed over the neighbor hiring a construction crew to remove a tree last June 18 and burned a cross above the fence line facing the neighbor’s property; displayed a swastika on his fence; displayed a large sign containing several anti-Black racial slurs; displayed a machete near the sign; loudly played the Confederate anthem “Dixie” repeatedly; and threw eggs at the neighbor’s house, prosecutors said.

The FBI executed a search warrant at Hoehn’s home two weeks later and discovered several firearms and drug paraphernalia, they said.

“Hoehn’s hateful and threatening conduct, motivated by racial intolerance, is an egregious crime that will not be tolerated by the Justice Department,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan of the department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Every person has a right to occupy, enjoy and feel safe in their homes, regardless of race, color or national origin.”

Hoehn’s sentencing date has not been set. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charges.","<article>

<p>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - An Indianapolis man has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges after threatening a Black neighbor, prosecutors said Friday.</p>

<p>Shepherd Hoehn, 51, became incensed over the neighbor hiring a construction crew to remove a tree last June 18 and burned a cross above the fence line facing the neighbor’s property; displayed a swastika on his fence; displayed a large sign containing several anti-Black racial slurs; displayed a machete near the sign; loudly played the Confederate anthem “Dixie” repeatedly; and threw eggs at the neighbor’s house, prosecutors said.</p>

<p>The FBI executed a search warrant at Hoehn’s home two weeks later and discovered several firearms and drug paraphernalia, they said.</p>

<p>“Hoehn’s hateful and threatening conduct, motivated by racial intolerance, is an egregious crime that will not be tolerated by the Justice Department,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan of the department’s Civil Rights Division said. “Every person has a right to occupy, enjoy and feel safe in their homes, regardless of race, color or national origin.”</p>

<p>Hoehn’s sentencing date has not been set. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charges.</p>

</article>",en,2021-02-12T15:24:56,,,"An Indianapolis man has pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and weapons charges after threatening a Black neighbor, prosecutors said Friday.","[
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AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/12/ap-sportlight-week-ahead/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/12/ap-sportlight-week-ahead/,2020-11-12T11:53:54,"Nov. 19

1961 - George Blanda of the Houston Oilers passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-13 rout of the New York Titans.

1961 - Cleveland’s Jim Brown rushes for 237 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Browns to a 45-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

1966 - No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State play to a 10-10 tie. The Irish rally from a 10-0 deficit against a Spartans team that features Bubba Smith and three teammates who were among the top eight picks of the next NFL draft.

1978 - Philadelphia’s Herman Edwards returns a fumble for a touchdown with 31 seconds left to give Philadelphia a 19-17 victory over the New York Giants. Instead of taking a knee to preserve a 17-12 victory, quarterback Joe Pisarcik botches the hand off to fullback Larry Csonka. Edwards picks up the dropped ball and runs 26 yards for the winning touchdown.

1983 - Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers scores five goals and Wayne Gretzky adds three goals and five assists in a 13-4 rout of the New Jersey Devils.

1983 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of Los Angeles becomes the second player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, joining Wilt Chamberlain, as the Lakers win 117-110 at Portland.

1992 - Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley is selected the American League’s MVP. Eckersley, who led the majors with 51 saves in 54 chances, becomes the ninth player to win both the Cy Young Award and MVP honors in the same season.

1993 - Oregon and Oregon State play to a 0-0 tie in Eugene. It’s the last scoreless tie in FBS history. Overtime for NCAA games starts in 1994.

1994 - Rashaan Salaam becomes the fourth 2,000-yard rusher in major-college history, running for 259 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s 41-20 victory over Iowa State.

1995 - The Baltimore Stallions defeat the Calgary Stampeders 37-20 to become the first U.S. team to win the Grey Cup in the CFL’s 83-year history.

2004 - Indiana’s Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charge into the stands to fight with Auburn Hills fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit Pistons. The brawl forces an early end to the Pacers’ 97-82 win.

2006 - Jaromir Jagr becomes the 16th NHL player with 600 goals when he scores in the first period of the New York Rangers’ 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.

2009 - South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential.

2011 - Robert Griffin III of Baylor passes for 479 yards and four TDs, including a 34-yarder to Terrance Williams with 8 seconds left, and the 25th-ranked Bears beat No. 5 Oklahoma for the first time, 45-38. The Bears were 0-20 against the Sooners.

2018- Jared Goff throws a 40-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Everett for the go-ahead score with 1:49 to play, and the Los Angeles Rams outlast the Kansas City Chiefs for a 54-51 victory. Patrick Mahomes has a career-high 478 yards with six touchdown passes for the Chiefs. This is third highest-scoring game ever played.

2018 - Rutgers holds Eastern Michigan to an NCAA-record low four first-half points in a 63-36 rout. The Scarlet Knights tied a men’s NCAA Division I basketball record for points allowed in a half. The halftime score is 31-4.

___

Nov. 20

1934 - Busher Jackson scores four third-period goals to power the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Eagles.

1960 - Jerry Norton of St. Louis intercepts four passes to send past the Washington Redskins 26-14.

1977 - Walter Payton rushes for an NFL record 275 yards, and the Chicago Bears edge the Minnesota Vikings 10-7.

1979 - Red Holzman of the New York Knicks wins his 500th game, a 130-125 overtime victory over Houston at Madison Square Garden. Holzman is the second coach, after Red Auerbach, to reach that mark.

1983 - Seattle’s Dave Krieg passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the Seahawks to a 27-19 victory over the Denver Broncos.

1983 - Steve Bartkowski throws a 42-yard desperation pass that is deflected to Billy Johnson at the 5-yard line, and he then fights his way into the end zone to give the Atlanta Falcons a 28-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

1994 - Tisha Venturini scores twice and Angela Kelly, Sarah Dacey and Robin Confer add goals for North Carolina, which beats Notre Dame 5-0 for its ninth consecutive NCAA women’s soccer championship.

1997 - A.C. Green breaks the NBA record for consecutive games - his 907th straight appearance in the Dallas Mavericks’ 101-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Green surpasses Randy Smith’s mark of 906 set from 1972-83.

1999 - TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for an NCAA Division I record 406 yards on 43 carries with six touchdowns in a 52-24 victory over UTEP.

2001 - Ball State beats No. 3 UCLA 91-73 in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, one day after knocking off No. 4 Kansas in the opening round.

2010 - Mikel Leshoure of Illinois rushes for a school-record 330 yards and scores two touchdowns in the Fighting Illini’s 48-27 win over Northwestern at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. All offensive plays are run toward the same end zone because a brick wall, although heavily padded, is too close behind the other one.

2011 - Brittney Griner has 32 points and 14 rebounds while Baylor establishes itself as the clear No. 1 team with a 94-81 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame in the preseason WNIT championship game.

2011 - Landon Donovan scores in the 72nd minute on passes from Robbie Keane and David Beckham, and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s three superstars win their first MLS Cup together with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.

2012 - Jack Taylor scores 138 points to shatter the NCAA scoring record in Division III Grinnell’s 179-104 victory over Faith Baptist Bible in Grinnell, Iowa.

2016 - Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with a record seven NASCAR championships when he defeats Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and defending champion Kyle Busch at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Nov. 21

1953 - Notre Dame ties Iowa 14-14 by faking injuries in both halves. With two seconds to go in the first half, a Notre Dame player stops the clock by faking an injury and the Fightin’ Irish score on the next play. With six seconds left in the game and Notre Dame out of timeouts, two players fake injuries and the Irish score on the last play to tie the game.

1965 - The Cotton Bowl is packed with 76,251 fans, giving the Dallas Cowboys their first home sellout. The Cleveland Browns spoil the day with a 24-17 win.

1971 - The New York Rangers score eight goals in the third period of a 12-1 rout over the California Seals.

1981 - Brigham Young’s Jim McMahon passes for 552 yards in a 56-28 victory over Utah. Gordon Hudson sets the NCAA record for yards gained by a tight end with 259.

1982 - The NFL resumes play after seven weeks of the season were canceled when the NFL Players Association went on strike Sept. 23.

1987 - The Columbia Lions extend their Division I-record losing streak to 41 games with a 19-16 loss to Brown. Columbia gives up a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the game.

1987 - Southwestern Louisiana quarterback Brian Mitchell rushes for 271 yards and four touchdowns and passes for 205 yards in a 35-28 victory over Colorado State.

1998 - Villanova’s Brian Westbrook becomes the first player to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season and catches two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 27-15 victory over Rhode Island.

2004 - Roger Federer wins a record 13th straight final, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-2 in the title match of the ATP Masters Cup. Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.

2008 - Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football. The Wolverines (3-9) lose the most games in school history.

2010 - Jimmie Johnson becomes the first driver in the seven-year history of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship to overcome a point deficit in the season finale, finishing second to Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards while winning his record fifth consecutive title.

2015 - Brent Burns scores twice and Patrick Marleau gets his 1,000th career point - an assist on Burns’ first goal - to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1.

2015 - Wes Washpun scores 21 points as Northern Iowa stuns top-ranked North Carolina 71-67 for its first win over the nation’s No. 1 team. The Panthers use a 29-8 run in the second half to turn a 50-34 deficit into a 63-58 lead. The Tar Heels scheduled the trip to Cedar Falls so senior Marcus Paige could play in his home state. Paige doesn’t play because of a broken bone in his right hand.

2016 - Mackenzie Hughes holes an 18-foot par putt from off the green to win the RSM Classic and become the first rookie in 20 years to go wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour victory. Four players return for the third extra playoff hole at the par-3 17th. Hughes makes his putt and watches Blayne Barber, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villegas all miss par putts from 10 feet or closer.","<article>

<p>Nov. 19</p>

<p>1961 - George Blanda of the Houston Oilers passes for 505 yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-13 rout of the New York Titans.</p>

<p>1961 - Cleveland’s Jim Brown rushes for 237 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Browns to a 45-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.</p>

<p>1966 - No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Michigan State play to a 10-10 tie. The Irish rally from a 10-0 deficit against a Spartans team that features Bubba Smith and three teammates who were among the top eight picks of the next NFL draft.</p>

<p>1978 - Philadelphia’s Herman Edwards returns a fumble for a touchdown with 31 seconds left to give Philadelphia a 19-17 victory over the New York Giants. Instead of taking a knee to preserve a 17-12 victory, quarterback Joe Pisarcik botches the hand off to fullback Larry Csonka. Edwards picks up the dropped ball and runs 26 yards for the winning touchdown.</p>

<p>1983 - Jari Kurri of the Edmonton Oilers scores five goals and Wayne Gretzky adds three goals and five assists in a 13-4 rout of the New Jersey Devils.</p>

<p>1983 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of Los Angeles becomes the second player in NBA history to score 30,000 points, joining Wilt Chamberlain, as the Lakers win 117-110 at Portland.</p>

<p>1992 - Oakland reliever Dennis Eckersley is selected the American League’s MVP. Eckersley, who led the majors with 51 saves in 54 chances, becomes the ninth player to win both the Cy Young Award and MVP honors in the same season.</p>

<p>1993 - Oregon and Oregon State play to a 0-0 tie in Eugene. It’s the last scoreless tie in FBS history. Overtime for NCAA games starts in 1994.</p>

<p>1994 - Rashaan Salaam becomes the fourth 2,000-yard rusher in major-college history, running for 259 yards and two touchdowns in Colorado’s 41-20 victory over Iowa State.</p>

<p>1995 - The Baltimore Stallions defeat the Calgary Stampeders 37-20 to become the first U.S. team to win the Grey Cup in the CFL’s 83-year history.</p>

<p>2004 - Indiana’s Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson charge into the stands to fight with Auburn Hills fans in the final minute of their game against the Detroit Pistons. The brawl forces an early end to the Pacers’ 97-82 win.</p>

<p>2006 - Jaromir Jagr becomes the 16th NHL player with 600 goals when he scores in the first period of the New York Rangers’ 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.</p>

<p>2009 - South African runner Caster Semenya will keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential.</p>

<p>2011 - Robert Griffin III of Baylor passes for 479 yards and four TDs, including a 34-yarder to Terrance Williams with 8 seconds left, and the 25th-ranked Bears beat No. 5 Oklahoma for the first time, 45-38. The Bears were 0-20 against the Sooners.</p>

<p>2018- Jared Goff throws a 40-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Everett for the go-ahead score with 1:49 to play, and the Los Angeles Rams outlast the Kansas City Chiefs for a 54-51 victory. Patrick Mahomes has a career-high 478 yards with six touchdown passes for the Chiefs. This is third highest-scoring game ever played.</p>

<p>2018 - Rutgers holds Eastern Michigan to an NCAA-record low four first-half points in a 63-36 rout. The Scarlet Knights tied a men’s NCAA Division I basketball record for points allowed in a half. The halftime score is 31-4.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>Nov. 20</p>

<p>1934 - Busher Jackson scores four third-period goals to power the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 5-2 victory over the St. Louis Eagles.</p>

<p>1960 - Jerry Norton of St. Louis intercepts four passes to send past the Washington Redskins 26-14.</p>

<p>1977 - Walter Payton rushes for an NFL record 275 yards, and the Chicago Bears edge the Minnesota Vikings 10-7.</p>

<p>1979 - Red Holzman of the New York Knicks wins his 500th game, a 130-125 overtime victory over Houston at Madison Square Garden. Holzman is the second coach, after Red Auerbach, to reach that mark.</p>

<p>1983 - Seattle’s Dave Krieg passes for 418 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the Seahawks to a 27-19 victory over the Denver Broncos.</p>

<p>1983 - Steve Bartkowski throws a 42-yard desperation pass that is deflected to Billy Johnson at the 5-yard line, and he then fights his way into the end zone to give the Atlanta Falcons a 28-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.</p>

<p>1994 - Tisha Venturini scores twice and Angela Kelly, Sarah Dacey and Robin Confer add goals for North Carolina, which beats Notre Dame 5-0 for its ninth consecutive NCAA women’s soccer championship.</p>

<p>1997 - A.C. Green breaks the NBA record for consecutive games - his 907th straight appearance in the Dallas Mavericks’ 101-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Green surpasses Randy Smith’s mark of 906 set from 1972-83.</p>

<p>1999 - TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson rushes for an NCAA Division I record 406 yards on 43 carries with six touchdowns in a 52-24 victory over UTEP.</p>

<p>2001 - Ball State beats No. 3 UCLA 91-73 in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational, one day after knocking off No. 4 Kansas in the opening round.</p>

<p>2010 - Mikel Leshoure of Illinois rushes for a school-record 330 yards and scores two touchdowns in the Fighting Illini’s 48-27 win over Northwestern at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. All offensive plays are run toward the same end zone because a brick wall, although heavily padded, is too close behind the other one.</p>

<p>2011 - Brittney Griner has 32 points and 14 rebounds while Baylor establishes itself as the clear No. 1 team with a 94-81 victory over No. 2 Notre Dame in the preseason WNIT championship game.</p>

<p>2011 - Landon Donovan scores in the 72nd minute on passes from Robbie Keane and David Beckham, and the Los Angeles Galaxy’s three superstars win their first MLS Cup together with a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo.</p>

<p>2012 - Jack Taylor scores 138 points to shatter the NCAA scoring record in Division III Grinnell’s 179-104 victory over Faith Baptist Bible in Grinnell, Iowa.</p>

<p>2016 - Jimmie Johnson ties Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt with a record seven NASCAR championships when he defeats Carl Edwards, Joey Logano and defending champion Kyle Busch at Homestead-Miami Speedway.</p>

<p>Nov. 21</p>

<p>1953 - Notre Dame ties Iowa 14-14 by faking injuries in both halves. With two seconds to go in the first half, a Notre Dame player stops the clock by faking an injury and the Fightin’ Irish score on the next play. With six seconds left in the game and Notre Dame out of timeouts, two players fake injuries and the Irish score on the last play to tie the game.</p>

<p>1965 - The Cotton Bowl is packed with 76,251 fans, giving the Dallas Cowboys their first home sellout. The Cleveland Browns spoil the day with a 24-17 win.</p>

<p>1971 - The New York Rangers score eight goals in the third period of a 12-1 rout over the California Seals.</p>

<p>1981 - Brigham Young’s Jim McMahon passes for 552 yards in a 56-28 victory over Utah. Gordon Hudson sets the NCAA record for yards gained by a tight end with 259.</p>

<p>1982 - The NFL resumes play after seven weeks of the season were canceled when the NFL Players Association went on strike Sept. 23.</p>

<p>1987 - The Columbia Lions extend their Division I-record losing streak to 41 games with a 19-16 loss to Brown. Columbia gives up a touchdown with 47 seconds left in the game.</p>

<p>1987 - Southwestern Louisiana quarterback Brian Mitchell rushes for 271 yards and four touchdowns and passes for 205 yards in a 35-28 victory over Colorado State.</p>

<p>1998 - Villanova’s Brian Westbrook becomes the first player to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season and catches two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 27-15 victory over Rhode Island.</p>

<p>2004 - Roger Federer wins a record 13th straight final, beating Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-2 in the title match of the ATP Masters Cup. Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.</p>

<p>2008 - Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football. The Wolverines (3-9) lose the most games in school history.</p>

<p>2010 - Jimmie Johnson becomes the first driver in the seven-year history of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship to overcome a point deficit in the season finale, finishing second to Ford 400 winner Carl Edwards while winning his record fifth consecutive title.</p>

<p>2015 - Brent Burns scores twice and Patrick Marleau gets his 1,000th career point - an assist on Burns’ first goal - to lift the San Jose Sharks over the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1.</p>

<p>2015 - Wes Washpun scores 21 points as Northern Iowa stuns top-ranked North Carolina 71-67 for its first win over the nation’s No. 1 team. The Panthers use a 29-8 run in the second half to turn a 50-34 deficit into a 63-58 lead. The Tar Heels scheduled the trip to Cedar Falls so senior Marcus Paige could play in his home state. Paige doesn’t play because of a broken bone in his right hand.</p>

<p>2016 - Mackenzie Hughes holes an 18-foot par putt from off the green to win the RSM Classic and become the first rookie in 20 years to go wire-to-wire for his first PGA Tour victory. Four players return for the third extra playoff hole at the par-3 17th. Hughes makes his putt and watches Blayne Barber, Henrik Norlander and Camilo Villegas all miss par putts from 10 feet or closer.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-12T11:53:54,,,Nov. 19,"[
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]",0.96433705,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,,
Idaho school districts vary widely in COVID-19 transparency,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/21/idaho-school-districts-vary-widely-in-covid-19-tra/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/21/idaho-school-districts-vary-widely-in-covid-19-tra/,2020-09-21T14:21:19,"BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho school districts vary widely when it comes to letting the public know about coronavirus cases in classrooms.

An investigation by the Idaho Statesman reveals that school districts across southwestern Idaho have wide-ranging levels of transparency when it comes to the number of COVID-19 cases in local schools. Some notify the public of each case in each school, while others only provide that information at the district level. Others don’t track coronavirus cases at all, instead relying on the local health department to do it.

The Boise-area newspaper sent public record requests to districts across the Treasure Valley asking for the number of COVID-19 cases and related quarantines in each school. The newspaper did not ask for any personally identifiable information. Officials with the West Ada School District - the largest in Idaho - claimed federal privacy laws prevented them from sharing coronavirus case counts with the public.

“We’re not trying to hide anything,” West Ada spokesperson Char Jackson said. “We just have students’ privacy at the forefront of all of this.”

But guidance from two federal agencies says the laws cited by West Ada do not prohibit schools from providing statistics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (commonly called HIPAA) do not apply to schools. And the U.S. Department of Education wrote in March that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act doesn’t prevent schools from releasing details about COVID-19 cases - as long as the information is not personally identifiable.

“For example,” the Department of Education wrote, “if an educational agency or institution releases the fact that individuals are absent due to COVID-19 (but does not disclose their identities), this would generally not be considered personally identifiable to the absent students under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) as long as there are other individuals at the educational agency or institution who are absent for other reasons.”

The federal agency also says revealing the identity of some cases is allowable during a health emergency, such as if an athlete tests positive for COVID-19 and the school needs to notify the parents of teammates.

The Nampa School District, which is the state’s third-largest district with 14,000 students, also only provides coronavirus numbers at the district level. The district started the school year online, but students began attending in-person classes twice a week on Monday.

The Vallivue School District initially provided the number of positive coronavirus test results by school, but earlier this month began only providing case counts at the district level. Superintendent Pat Charlton said the district won’t inform its own employees of the location of coronavirus cases either.

The Boise School District, meanwhile, regularly publishes a spreadsheet tracking the number of cases by school on its district website. It also publishes internal and external communications notifying parents and staffers of cases. The Kuna School District also publishes updates on new cases online.

“They don’t identify individuals,” said Boise School District spokesman Dan Hollar. “They are just talking about a case. We’re going to make sure we don’t release any information that could identify an individual.”

Three school districts - Middleton, Payette and Fruitland - said they could not provide case counts because they did not have any records tracking them.

Payette and Fruitland are in Payette County, the only county in Idaho still in the red category of community spread, the highest in Idaho’s back-to-school guidelines. Both districts are holding in-person classes.

“There’s so much uncertainty for parents and educators right now about sending kids back to school, in-person and safely,” said Melissa Davlin, the chairwoman for the Idaho Press Club’s First Amendment Committee. “The more information we have as members of the public, the better informed we can be when we make these decisions.”","<article>

<p>BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho school districts vary widely when it comes to letting the public know about coronavirus cases in classrooms.</p>

<p>An investigation by the Idaho Statesman reveals that school districts across southwestern Idaho have wide-ranging levels of transparency when it comes to the number of COVID-19 cases in local schools. Some notify the public of each case in each school, while others only provide that information at the district level. Others don’t track coronavirus cases at all, instead relying on the local health department to do it.</p>

<p>The Boise-area newspaper sent public record requests to districts across the Treasure Valley asking for the number of COVID-19 cases and related quarantines in each school. The newspaper did not ask for any personally identifiable information. Officials with the West Ada School District - the largest in Idaho - claimed federal privacy laws prevented them from sharing coronavirus case counts with the public.</p>

<p>“We’re not trying to hide anything,” West Ada spokesperson Char Jackson said. “We just have students’ privacy at the forefront of all of this.”</p>

<p>But guidance from two federal agencies says the laws cited by West Ada do not prohibit schools from providing statistics. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (commonly called HIPAA) do not apply to schools. And the U.S. Department of Education wrote in March that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act doesn’t prevent schools from releasing details about COVID-19 cases - as long as the information is not personally identifiable.</p>

<p>“For example,” the Department of Education wrote, “if an educational agency or institution releases the fact that individuals are absent due to COVID-19 (but does not disclose their identities), this would generally not be considered personally identifiable to the absent students under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) as long as there are other individuals at the educational agency or institution who are absent for other reasons.”</p>

<p>The federal agency also says revealing the identity of some cases is allowable during a health emergency, such as if an athlete tests positive for COVID-19 and the school needs to notify the parents of teammates.</p>

<p>The Nampa School District, which is the state’s third-largest district with 14,000 students, also only provides coronavirus numbers at the district level. The district started the school year online, but students began attending in-person classes twice a week on Monday.</p>

<p>The Vallivue School District initially provided the number of positive coronavirus test results by school, but earlier this month began only providing case counts at the district level. Superintendent Pat Charlton said the district won’t inform its own employees of the location of coronavirus cases either.</p>

<p>The Boise School District, meanwhile, regularly publishes a spreadsheet tracking the number of cases by school on its district website. It also publishes internal and external communications notifying parents and staffers of cases. The Kuna School District also publishes updates on new cases online.</p>

<p>“They don’t identify individuals,” said Boise School District spokesman Dan Hollar. “They are just talking about a case. We’re going to make sure we don’t release any information that could identify an individual.”</p>

<p>Three school districts - Middleton, Payette and Fruitland - said they could not provide case counts because they did not have any records tracking them.</p>

<p>Payette and Fruitland are in Payette County, the only county in Idaho still in the red category of community spread, the highest in Idaho’s back-to-school guidelines. Both districts are holding in-person classes.</p>

<p>“There’s so much uncertainty for parents and educators right now about sending kids back to school, in-person and safely,” said Melissa Davlin, the chairwoman for the Idaho Press Club’s First Amendment Committee. “The more information we have as members of the public, the better informed we can be when we make these decisions.”</p>

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]",0.94283026,2022-09-19T00:00:00Z,,
Australia expects COVID-19 vaccination is still a year away,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/7/australia-expects-covid-19-vaccination-is-still-a-/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/7/australia-expects-covid-19-vaccination-is-still-a-/,2020-10-07T03:03:51,"CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia considered a rollout of a coronavirus vaccine no sooner than mid-2021 a best-case scenario in its pandemic planning that would save the economy tens of billions of dollars, the treasurer said on Wednesday.

The Treasury and Health Departments developed economic modelling based on an assumption that a vaccine would be widely available in Australia toward the end of next year, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

“These are very uncertain times and as a government, we have taken every step possible to give Australia the best possible chance of getting a vaccine,” Frydenberg told the National Press Club.

Treasury modelling doesn’t contemplate a vaccine becoming available in Australia early next year. An early vaccine is regarded as one that is rolled out from July 1, providing certainty to households and businesses while promoting consumption and investment.

This so-called upside scenario also assumes that international students would return to Australian universities late next year due to the vaccine. Hundreds of thousands of students from overseas have made the Australian universities sector one of the nation’s biggest earners of foreign currency.

The scenario would boost Australian economic activity by 34 billion Australian dollars ($24 billion) above the current forecast in the June quarter of 2022. Economic growth would be 1.5 percentage points higher in the 2021-22 fiscal year than the 4.75% currently forecast.

Researchers are working on developing more than 170 potential COVID-19 vaccines. A June survey of 28 mostly U.S. and Canadian vaccinology experts published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found most were pessimistic a vaccine would be available before mid-2021, but thought September or October was achievable.

Frydenberg on Tuesday announced a raft of pandemic measures that would create a record AU$214 billion ($153 billion) deficit in the current fiscal year. Based on the assumption that a vaccine will become available closer to the end of 2021 than July, annual deficits are forecast to shrink in the next fiscal year and beyond.

“We’re all hopeful … that we will find a vaccine, and we have made that assumption based on the end of next year, but obviously as there are developments in the health and the global community, we’ll continue to update our position,” Frydenberg said on Wednesday.

“There is a great deal of uncertainty in this pandemic,” he added.

Australia has allowed for an earlier vaccine rollout with doses manufactured locally under deals struck with two pharmaceutical companies.

If trials prove successful, the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca and the University of Queensland/CSL will provide more than 84.8 million vaccine doses for the Australian population, almost entirely manufactured in Melbourne, with early access to 3.8 million doses of the University of Oxford vaccine in January and February 2021.

The government has committed to make any vaccine available for free to Australia’s population of 26 million.","<article>

<p>CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Australia considered a rollout of a coronavirus vaccine no sooner than mid-2021 a best-case scenario in its pandemic planning that would save the economy tens of billions of dollars, the treasurer said on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The Treasury and Health Departments developed economic modelling based on an assumption that a vaccine would be widely available in Australia toward the end of next year, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.</p>

<p>“These are very uncertain times and as a government, we have taken every step possible to give Australia the best possible chance of getting a vaccine,” Frydenberg told the National Press Club.</p>

<p>Treasury modelling doesn’t contemplate a vaccine becoming available in Australia early next year. An early vaccine is regarded as one that is rolled out from July 1, providing certainty to households and businesses while promoting consumption and investment.</p>

<p>This so-called upside scenario also assumes that international students would return to Australian universities late next year due to the vaccine. Hundreds of thousands of students from overseas have made the Australian universities sector one of the nation’s biggest earners of foreign currency.</p>

<p>The scenario would boost Australian economic activity by 34 billion Australian dollars ($24 billion) above the current forecast in the June quarter of 2022. Economic growth would be 1.5 percentage points higher in the 2021-22 fiscal year than the 4.75% currently forecast.</p>

<p>Researchers are working on developing more than 170 potential COVID-19 vaccines. A June survey of 28 mostly U.S. and Canadian vaccinology experts published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found most were pessimistic a vaccine would be available before mid-2021, but thought September or October was achievable.</p>

<p>Frydenberg on Tuesday announced a raft of pandemic measures that would create a record AU$214 billion ($153 billion) deficit in the current fiscal year. Based on the assumption that a vaccine will become available closer to the end of 2021 than July, annual deficits are forecast to shrink in the next fiscal year and beyond.</p>

<p>“We’re all hopeful … that we will find a vaccine, and we have made that assumption based on the end of next year, but obviously as there are developments in the health and the global community, we’ll continue to update our position,” Frydenberg said on Wednesday.</p>

<p>“There is a great deal of uncertainty in this pandemic,” he added.</p>

<p>Australia has allowed for an earlier vaccine rollout with doses manufactured locally under deals struck with two pharmaceutical companies.</p>

<p>If trials prove successful, the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca and the University of Queensland/CSL will provide more than 84.8 million vaccine doses for the Australian population, almost entirely manufactured in Melbourne, with early access to 3.8 million doses of the University of Oxford vaccine in January and February 2021.</p>

<p>The government has committed to make any vaccine available for free to Australia’s population of 26 million.</p>

</article>",en,2020-10-07T03:03:51,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/10/06/australia_budget_89815_c0-208-5000-3124_s1200x700.jpg?74d48b7b24509088c15947da9892024c1a07cb57,"[
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]","Australia considered a rollout of a coronavirus vaccine no sooner than mid-2021 a best-case scenario in its pandemic planning that would save the economy tens of billions of dollars, the treasurer said on Wednesday.","[
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Arizona reports 750 new COVID-19 cases but no new deaths,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/26/arizona-reports-750-new-covid-19-cases-but-no-new-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/26/arizona-reports-750-new-covid-19-cases-but-no-new-/,2021-04-26T12:34:30,"Arizona is reporting 750 new confirmed COVID-19 cases but no new deaths.

The state Department of Health Services released its latest figures Monday, bringing its pandemic total number of cases to 859,487. The number of deaths remains 17,268.

The number of people hospitalized statewide due to the virus rose to 611. It’s the first time in April the number of hospitalizations has been above 600. The number of patients in the ICU remained steady compared to the last few days at 184.

More than 2.1 million people, or nearly 40% of Arizona’s population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

More than 2.8 million residents have had at least one vaccine shot, according to the state’s coronavirus dashboard.

Meanwhile, state health officials said thousands of appointments were still available for this week at COVID-19 vaccination sites in metro Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff.

Of the 74,000 first-dose appointments made available last Friday, nearly 60,000 were still available as of Monday morning to receive the Pfizer vaccine at state sites.

“We need more Arizonans to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and the community,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services.","<article>

<p>Arizona is reporting 750 new confirmed COVID-19 cases but no new deaths.</p>

<p>The state <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/department-of-health-services/"">Department of Health Services</a> released its latest figures Monday, bringing its pandemic total number of cases to 859,487. The number of deaths remains 17,268.</p>

<p>The number of people hospitalized statewide due to the virus rose to 611. It’s the first time in April the number of hospitalizations has been above 600. The number of patients in the ICU remained steady compared to the last few days at 184.</p>

<p>More than 2.1 million people, or nearly 40% of Arizona’s population, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.</p>

<p>More than 2.8 million residents have had at least one vaccine shot, according to the state’s coronavirus dashboard.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, state health officials said thousands of appointments were still available for this week at COVID-19 vaccination sites in metro Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff.</p>

<p>Of the 74,000 first-dose appointments made available last Friday, nearly 60,000 were still available as of Monday morning to receive the Pfizer vaccine at state sites.</p>

<p>“We need more Arizonans to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and the community,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/department-of-health-services/"">Department of Health Services</a>.</p>

</article>",en,2021-04-26T12:34:30,,,Arizona is reporting 750 new confirmed COVID-19 cases but no new deaths.,"[
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]",0.9396848999999999,2022-09-29T00:00:00Z,,
Walker scores 23 to carry Northeastern past Hofstra 67-56,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/9/walker-scores-23-to-carry-northeastern-past-hofstr/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/9/walker-scores-23-to-carry-northeastern-past-hofstr/,2021-01-09T14:40:05,"BOSTON (AP) - Tyson Walker scored 23 points, dropping in a career-high seven 3-pointers, and Northeastern swept Hofstra 67-56 on Saturday.

Northeastern and Hofstra have won the last two Colonial Athletic Association championships and the Huskies were beaten by Hofstra in three close contests last season.

Hofstra opened the second half with a 16-0 run to grab a 38-30 lead. Northeastern rallied and closed out the game on a 19-9 pace, kicked off by a Walker 3. The Huskies made 3-pointers on their next four shots.

Quirin Emanga added 14 points for Northeastern (5-5, 4-0), which won its fourth consecutive game. Jason Strong added 11 points. Jahmyl Telfort had nine rebounds, four assists and seven points.

Northeastern posted a season-high 15 3-pointers. Walker was 7-for-13 behind the arc.

Tareq Coburn had 15 points for the Pride (6-5, 2-2). Jalen Ray added 14 points. Caleb Burgess had 10 points. Isaac Kante had 8 points and 15 rebounds.

Northeastern defeated Hofstra 81-78 Thursday.

___

___","<article>

<p>BOSTON (AP) - Tyson Walker scored 23 points, dropping in a career-high seven 3-pointers, and Northeastern swept Hofstra 67-56 on Saturday.</p>

<p>Northeastern and Hofstra have won the last two Colonial Athletic Association championships and the Huskies were beaten by Hofstra in three close contests last season.</p>

<p>Hofstra opened the second half with a 16-0 run to grab a 38-30 lead. Northeastern rallied and closed out the game on a 19-9 pace, kicked off by a Walker 3. The Huskies made 3-pointers on their next four shots.</p>

<p>Quirin Emanga added 14 points for Northeastern (5-5, 4-0), which won its fourth consecutive game. Jason Strong added 11 points. Jahmyl Telfort had nine rebounds, four assists and seven points.</p>

<p>Northeastern posted a season-high 15 3-pointers. Walker was 7-for-13 behind the arc.</p>

<p>Tareq Coburn had 15 points for the Pride (6-5, 2-2). Jalen Ray added 14 points. Caleb Burgess had 10 points. Isaac Kante had 8 points and 15 rebounds.</p>

<p>Northeastern defeated Hofstra 81-78 Thursday.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>___</p>

</article>",en,2021-01-09T14:40:05,,,"Tyson Walker scored 23 points, dropping in a career-high seven 3-pointers, and Northeastern swept Hofstra 67-56 on Saturday.","[
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]",0.8728587600000001,2022-09-24T00:00:00Z,,
The Latest: Police flyer shows man sought in subway scare,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/16/the-latest-nypd-probes-clears-suspicious-object-in/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/16/the-latest-nypd-probes-clears-suspicious-object-in/,2019-08-16T09:32:05,"NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on suspicious objects found in New York City (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

Police have released a flyer asking people to help them find a man who was recorded on security cameras placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.

The discovery of the cookers Friday led to an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker of the same type was later discovered 2 miles (3 kilometers) away on a sidewalk.

One photo released by police shows a young man looking over his shoulder as he lugs a cooker into an elevator.

The flyer shows him looking almost at the camera by what appear to be the elevator doors.

Senior NYPD official John Miller says it’s unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or just discarding the cookers.

___

11:15 a.m.

Police have released a photograph of a man who was recorded on security cameras placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.

The discovery of the cookers Friday prompted an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker of the same type was later discovered 2 miles (3 kilometers) away on a sidewalk.

A photo released by police shows a tattooed young man looking over his shoulder as he lugs a cooker into an elevator.

Senior NYPD official John Miller says footage at the station captured the man using a shopping cart to take cookers to two locations.

Miller said it was still unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or “discarding items he was no longer interested in.”

___

10:10 a.m.

Police say they are looking for a man who was recorded on security footage placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.

The discovery of the cookers in a Lower Manhattan station Friday prompted an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker was later discovered in another part of town above ground.

Senior NYPD official John Miller says cameras in the Fulton Street station captured a man with a shopping cart putting cookers in two locations in the subway station.

He says police were trying to identify the man.

Miller said it was still unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or “discarding items he was no longer interested in.”

Miller says all three cookers were the same model.

___

9:30 a.m.

New York City police briefly urged people to avoid an intersection in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood as authorities checked out a suspicious package, before finding that it wasn’t harmful.

The scare happened about two hours after two abandoned objects that looked like pressure cookers prompted an evacuation of a major transit hub in lower Manhattan. The police bomb squad later determined they were not explosives.

Following that scare, the police department tweeted around 9 a.m. that it was looking into an item about 2 miles (3 kilometers) away from the earlier find at Fulton Street.

Police announced within 15 minutes that it had been deemed safe.

There weren’t immediate details about the Chelsea object, which was above ground. Police said it was too soon to know whether it was related to the objects at the Fulton Street station.

___

8:30 a.m.

Police say two suspicious objects that prompted an evacuation of a major lower Manhattan subway station during the morning commute are not explosives.

New York Police Department Counterterrorism Chief James Waters tweeted Friday that the bomb squad cleared the items found at the Fulton Street station.

Waters posted photos of the objects, which looked like pressure cookers or electric crockpots.

They were found at the line that carries No. 2 and 3 trains around 7 a.m.

The station is a busy transit hub a few blocks from the World Trade Center.

In 2017, a would-be suicide attacker set off a homemade pipe bomb in an underground passageway at the Times Square subway station during rush hour, seriously injuring himself.","<article>

<p>NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on suspicious objects found in New York City (all times local):</p>

<p>1:55 p.m.</p>

<p>Police have released a flyer asking people to help them find a man who was recorded on security cameras placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.</p>

<p>The discovery of the cookers Friday led to an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker of the same type was later discovered 2 miles (3 kilometers) away on a sidewalk.</p>

<p>One photo released by police shows a young man looking over his shoulder as he lugs a cooker into an elevator.</p>

<p>The flyer shows him looking almost at the camera by what appear to be the elevator doors.</p>

<p>Senior NYPD official John Miller says it’s unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or just discarding the cookers.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>11:15 a.m.</p>

<p>Police have released a photograph of a man who was recorded on security cameras placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.</p>

<p>The discovery of the cookers Friday prompted an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker of the same type was later discovered 2 miles (3 kilometers) away on a sidewalk.</p>

<p>A photo released by police shows a tattooed young man looking over his shoulder as he lugs a cooker into an elevator.</p>

<p>Senior NYPD official John Miller says footage at the station captured the man using a shopping cart to take cookers to two locations.</p>

<p>Miller said it was still unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or “discarding items he was no longer interested in.”</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>10:10 a.m.</p>

<p>Police say they are looking for a man who was recorded on security footage placing a pair of rice cookers in a New York City subway station.</p>

<p>The discovery of the cookers in a Lower Manhattan station Friday prompted an evacuation and roiled the morning commute. A third cooker was later discovered in another part of town above ground.</p>

<p>Senior NYPD official John Miller says cameras in the Fulton Street station captured a man with a shopping cart putting cookers in two locations in the subway station.</p>

<p>He says police were trying to identify the man.</p>

<p>Miller said it was still unclear whether the man was intentionally trying to alarm the public or “discarding items he was no longer interested in.”</p>

<p>Miller says all three cookers were the same model.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>9:30 a.m.</p>

<p>New York City police briefly urged people to avoid an intersection in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood as authorities checked out a suspicious package, before finding that it wasn’t harmful.</p>

<p>The scare happened about two hours after two abandoned objects that looked like pressure cookers prompted an evacuation of a major transit hub in lower Manhattan. The police bomb squad later determined they were not explosives.</p>

<p>Following that scare, the police department tweeted around 9 a.m. that it was looking into an item about 2 miles (3 kilometers) away from the earlier find at Fulton Street.</p>

<p>Police announced within 15 minutes that it had been deemed safe.</p>

<p>There weren’t immediate details about the Chelsea object, which was above ground. Police said it was too soon to know whether it was related to the objects at the Fulton Street station.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>8:30 a.m.</p>

<p>Police say two suspicious objects that prompted an evacuation of a major lower Manhattan subway station during the morning commute are not explosives.</p>

<p>New York Police Department Counterterrorism Chief James Waters tweeted Friday that the bomb squad cleared the items found at the Fulton Street station.</p>

<p>Waters posted photos of the objects, which looked like pressure cookers or electric crockpots.</p>

<p>They were found at the line that carries No. 2 and 3 trains around 7 a.m.</p>

<p>The station is a busy transit hub a few blocks from the World Trade Center.</p>

<p>In 2017, a would-be suicide attacker set off a homemade pipe bomb in an underground passageway at the Times Square subway station during rush hour, seriously injuring himself.</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-16T09:32:05,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2019/08/16/subway_station_evacuated_85428_c0-124-3000-1874_s1200x700.jpg?6f06f4aee5bb8338517b1376bdd55b0df3bd0bc5,"[
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Millennial Money: Use a crisis to build helpful money habits,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/13/millennial-money-use-a-crisis-to-build-helpful-mon/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/13/millennial-money-use-a-crisis-to-build-helpful-mon/,2020-10-13T06:21:48,"As millennials, we’ve learned about money the hard way. From the Great Recession to stratospheric student loan debt to a pandemic, there’s been no shortage of life giving us lemons.

While the long-term economic effects of the pandemic are yet to be fully realized, you may have noticed one positive trend in the short term: For once, your debt may have dropped.

Credit card balances fell by $76 billion April through June, the steepest decline on record, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Research by NerdWallet backed that up, finding that credit card balances carried from one month to the next dropped 9.15%, or more than $600 per household with this type of debt. Overall household debt shrank by nearly $1,000 among households carrying any type of debt in the same period.

If stimulus checks, paused student loan payments and sticking close to home have helped you cut down debt, here’s how to keep that momentum going.

The idea of making a budget may have seemed too time-consuming or stressful in pre-pandemic times. But if you’ve taken that first step of looking at your spending and saving patterns lately - as many of us have out of sheer necessity - you’re already on your way toward building a budget.

“Take what you’ve done over the last few months and put it in a spreadsheet,” says Luke Lloyd, a wealth advisor and investment strategist at Strategic Wealth Partners in Cleveland.

You’ve probably focused on essential needs this year and sacrificed wants, or come up with creative solutions to have fun instead. Lloyd says the pandemic has made it clear that “we don’t always have to go out and spend all this money to entertain ourselves.”

The 50/30/20 budget is an easy guiding principle to follow. It buckets your take-home pay into needs, wants, and savings plus debt repayment. Use the money-saving techniques you’ve practiced to make this budget work - maybe you’re saving on restaurant meals because you’re cooking at home, or perhaps you’ve been ordering a lot of takeout but saving on gas, movie tickets or a gym membership. Take that extra money and apply it toward the needs or savings and debt buckets instead.

BUILD A SAVINGS HABIT

“Moments like this renew people’s focus on financial stability,” says Leigh Phillips, president and CEO of SaverLife, a national nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that helps people build a savings habit through game-playing processes and rewards. Phillips says the company has seen more people sign up for its savings program in the past six months than in all of last year.

If you weren’t a saver before but started socking funds away during the pandemic, keep the money-saving habit going.

“Set up an automated payment from your checking account into a savings account or investment account,” Lloyd says.

Prioritize putting any extra money you have toward an emergency fund, because that can keep you from adding debt during a crisis. Set an initial goal of $500 to $1,000 in emergency savings, which can insulate your budget from irregular expenses that pop up, like a car repair. Next, look into meeting your employer’s retirement savings account match if you have access to one. Finally, pay down high-interest debt like credit cards, personal loans or payday loans.

If you have money left over, consider applying it toward student loan payments, says Lloyd. Federal student loan borrowers are in an automatic interest-free payment pause until January 2021. But you can still make payments now to make things easier on yourself later.

“Since you can defer the interest, you can lower the principal” by making a payment, says Lloyd. Your entire payment goes toward principal at this time, so you’ll have a lower balance when interest resumes and that will save you money over the life of the loan.

ASK FOR HELP

Money can be confusing in the best of times, and especially so when the situation is changing every day and it’s hard to keep track of relief programs you may qualify for. Don’t feel like you have to figure it out alone. Talking about money and asking for help is a habit you can take with you long after a crisis is over.

For people who are concerned about what bills they can defer, whether they can negotiate with creditors or if they are protected from eviction or foreclosure, discussing these topics can be emotional, Phillips says.

“There are great credit counseling services and financial coaching services out there,” she says.

“I would encourage people to get as many resources as you can.”

Credit counseling organizations offer free or low-cost guidance on managing your debt, building a budget or even refinancing a house. Check the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s website to find an agency close to you. You can also check whether you qualify for assistance by calling 211 or visiting 211.org.

________________________________

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Amrita Jayakumar is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: ajayakumar@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @ajbombay.","<article>

<p>As millennials, we’ve learned about money the hard way. From the Great Recession to stratospheric student loan debt to a pandemic, there’s been no shortage of life giving us lemons.</p>

<p>While the long-term economic effects of the pandemic are yet to be fully realized, you may have noticed one positive trend in the short term: For once, your debt may have dropped.</p>

<p>Credit card balances fell by $76 billion April through June, the steepest decline on record, according to an analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Research by NerdWallet backed that up, finding that credit card balances carried from one month to the next dropped 9.15%, or more than $600 per household with this type of debt. Overall household debt shrank by nearly $1,000 among households carrying any type of debt in the same period.</p>

<p>If stimulus checks, paused student loan payments and sticking close to home have helped you cut down debt, here’s how to keep that momentum going.</p>

<p>The idea of making a budget may have seemed too time-consuming or stressful in pre-pandemic times. But if you’ve taken that first step of looking at your spending and saving patterns lately - as many of us have out of sheer necessity - you’re already on your way toward building a budget.</p>

<p>“Take what you’ve done over the last few months and put it in a spreadsheet,” says Luke Lloyd, a wealth advisor and investment strategist at Strategic Wealth Partners in Cleveland.</p>

<p>You’ve probably focused on essential needs this year and sacrificed wants, or come up with creative solutions to have fun instead. Lloyd says the pandemic has made it clear that “we don’t always have to go out and spend all this money to entertain ourselves.”</p>

<p>The 50/30/20 budget is an easy guiding principle to follow. It buckets your take-home pay into needs, wants, and savings plus debt repayment. Use the money-saving techniques you’ve practiced to make this budget work - maybe you’re saving on restaurant meals because you’re cooking at home, or perhaps you’ve been ordering a lot of takeout but saving on gas, movie tickets or a gym membership. Take that extra money and apply it toward the needs or savings and debt buckets instead.</p>

<p>BUILD A SAVINGS HABIT</p>

<p>“Moments like this renew people’s focus on financial stability,” says Leigh Phillips, president and CEO of SaverLife, a national nonprofit organization based in San Francisco that helps people build a savings habit through game-playing processes and rewards. Phillips says the company has seen more people sign up for its savings program in the past six months than in all of last year.</p>

<p>If you weren’t a saver before but started socking funds away during the pandemic, keep the money-saving habit going.</p>

<p>“Set up an automated payment from your checking account into a savings account or investment account,” Lloyd says.</p>

<p>Prioritize putting any extra money you have toward an emergency fund, because that can keep you from adding debt during a crisis. Set an initial goal of $500 to $1,000 in emergency savings, which can insulate your budget from irregular expenses that pop up, like a car repair. Next, look into meeting your employer’s retirement savings account match if you have access to one. Finally, pay down high-interest debt like credit cards, personal loans or payday loans.</p>

<p>If you have money left over, consider applying it toward student loan payments, says Lloyd. Federal student loan borrowers are in an automatic interest-free payment pause until January 2021. But you can still make payments now to make things easier on yourself later.</p>

<p>“Since you can defer the interest, you can lower the principal” by making a payment, says Lloyd. Your entire payment goes toward principal at this time, so you’ll have a lower balance when interest resumes and that will save you money over the life of the loan.</p>

<p>ASK FOR HELP</p>

<p>Money can be confusing in the best of times, and especially so when the situation is changing every day and it’s hard to keep track of relief programs you may qualify for. Don’t feel like you have to figure it out alone. Talking about money and asking for help is a habit you can take with you long after a crisis is over.</p>

<p>For people who are concerned about what bills they can defer, whether they can negotiate with creditors or if they are protected from eviction or foreclosure, discussing these topics can be emotional, Phillips says.</p>

<p>“There are great credit counseling services and financial coaching services out there,” she says.</p>

<p>“I would encourage people to get as many resources as you can.”</p>

<p>Credit counseling organizations offer free or low-cost guidance on managing your debt, building a budget or even refinancing a house. Check the National Foundation for Credit Counseling’s website to find an agency close to you. You can also check whether you qualify for assistance by calling 211 or visiting 211.org.</p>

<p>________________________________</p>

<p>This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Amrita Jayakumar is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: ajayakumar@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @ajbombay.</p>

</article>",en,2020-10-13T06:21:48,,,"As millennials, we’ve learned about money the hard way. From the Great Recession to stratospheric student loan debt to a pandemic, there’s been no shortage of life giving us lemons.","[
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]",0.9741812,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z,2020-10-13T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Tuesday, October 13, 2020"
Ontario confirms its 1st case of South African virus variant,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/1/canada-confirms-1st-case-of-south-african-virus-va/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/1/canada-confirms-1st-case-of-south-african-virus-va/,2021-02-01T15:56:55,"TORONTO (AP) - Canada most populous province on Monday reported its first case of a coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa that is believed to be more contagious than the original.

Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said the case was found in the Peel region outside Toronto and the person does not have a known history of travel or any known contact with someone who has travelled.

British Columbia has also reported cases of the South African variant.

Viruses constantly mutate but scientists are especially concerned about the emergence of three that researchers believe may spread more easily. One first reported in the United Kingdom was previously confirmed in Canada, and Ontario has dozens of cases now.

The variant first found in South Africa was detected in October. Since then, it has been found in at least 30 other countries including the U.S.

The discovery comes as the pandemic-weary Ontario government is thinking of reopening schools in Canada ‘s largest city of Toronto and its suburbs.

Scientists recently reported preliminary signs that some of the recent mutations may modestly curb the effectiveness of two vaccines, although they stressed that the shots still protect against the disease.

The coronavirus has killed roughly 20,000 in Canada.","<article>

<p>TORONTO (AP) - <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/canada/"">Canada</a> most populous province on Monday reported its first case of a coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa that is believed to be more contagious than the original.</p>

<p>Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, said the case was found in the Peel region outside Toronto and the person does not have a known history of travel or any known contact with someone who has travelled.</p>

<p>British Columbia has also reported cases of the South African variant.</p>

<p>Viruses constantly mutate but scientists are especially concerned about the emergence of three that researchers believe may spread more easily. One first reported in the United Kingdom was previously confirmed in <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/canada/"">Canada</a>, and Ontario has dozens of cases now.</p>

<p>The variant first found in South Africa was detected in October. Since then, it has been found in at least 30 other countries including the U.S.</p>

<p>The discovery comes as the pandemic-weary Ontario government is thinking of reopening schools in <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/canada/"">Canada</a>‘s largest city of Toronto and its suburbs.</p>

<p>Scientists recently reported preliminary signs that some of the recent mutations may modestly curb the effectiveness of two vaccines, although they stressed that the shots still protect against the disease.</p>

<p>The coronavirus has killed roughly 20,000 in <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/canada/"">Canada</a>.</p>

</article>",en,2021-02-01T15:56:55,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/02/01/virus_outbreak_canada_47029_c0-208-3000-1958_s1200x700.jpg?1cac8abe8ad6046043972f41f76e855abaabd1da,"[
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]",0.9492609,2022-09-26T00:00:00Z,,
"Man fatally struck after exiting car, running onto highway",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/26/man-fatally-struck-after-exiting-car-running-onto-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/26/man-fatally-struck-after-exiting-car-running-onto-/,2020-09-26T11:37:12,"BLANDFORD, Mass. (AP) - Police say they are investigating the death of a man who was struck by two vehicles on Interstate 90 after he got out of a stopped car and ran into the roadway on Friday night.

State Police say 49-year-old Harry Young, of Pittsfield, was a passenger in a car that had pulled into the breakdown lane on I-90 Eastbound in Blandford when he jumped out of the car and ran into the highway around 10 p.m. Friday.

Young was struck by an SUV and then by a tractor trailer. He was declared dead at the scene.

Police said they’re investigating why Young exited the vehicle, which was being driven by a 36-year-old woman from Becket. No one has been charged in the death.","<article>

<p>BLANDFORD, Mass. (AP) - Police say they are investigating the death of a man who was struck by two vehicles on Interstate 90 after he got out of a stopped car and ran into the roadway on Friday night.</p>

<p>State Police say 49-year-old Harry Young, of Pittsfield, was a passenger in a car that had pulled into the breakdown lane on I-90 Eastbound in Blandford when he jumped out of the car and ran into the highway around 10 p.m. Friday.</p>

<p>Young was struck by an SUV and then by a tractor trailer. He was declared dead at the scene.</p>

<p>Police said they’re investigating why Young exited the vehicle, which was being driven by a 36-year-old woman from Becket. No one has been charged in the death.</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-26T11:37:12,,,Police say they are investigating the death of a man who was struck by two vehicles on Interstate 90 after he got out of a stopped car and ran into the roadway on Friday night.,"[
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]",0.92786616,2022-09-20T00:00:00Z,,
Man pleads guilty to killing West Virginia teen,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/6/man-pleads-guilty-to-killing-west-virginia-teen/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/6/man-pleads-guilty-to-killing-west-virginia-teen/,2019-08-06T09:47:27,"CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A white man accused of killing a black teen in West Virginia nearly three years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

News outlets report 65-year-old William Ronald Pulliam entered the plea Monday in Kanawha County on what would have been his first day of trial in the shooting death of 15-year-old James Harvey Means. Terms of the plea deal call for prosecutors to recommend a 20-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors have said the two argued before the shooting, and Pulliam has said he felt threatened and acted in self-defense.

Grainy video depicts Pulliam shooting Means once and Means turning away before Pulliam shoots him a second time.

The judge said he would set sentencing after a probation officer completes a pre-sentence report on Pulliam.","<article>

<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A white man accused of killing a black teen in West Virginia nearly three years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.</p>

<p>News outlets report 65-year-old William Ronald Pulliam entered the plea Monday in Kanawha County on what would have been his first day of trial in the shooting death of 15-year-old James Harvey Means. Terms of the plea deal call for prosecutors to recommend a 20-year prison sentence.</p>

<p>Prosecutors have said the two argued before the shooting, and Pulliam has said he felt threatened and acted in self-defense.</p>

<p>Grainy video depicts Pulliam shooting Means once and Means turning away before Pulliam shoots him a second time.</p>

<p>The judge said he would set sentencing after a probation officer completes a pre-sentence report on Pulliam.</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-06T09:47:27,,,A white man accused of killing a black teen in West Virginia nearly three years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.,"[
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]",0.9462204999999999,2023-01-12T00:00:00Z,,
Oregon names DeRuyter as defensive coordinator,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/28/oregon-names-deruyter-as-defensive-coordinator/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/28/oregon-names-deruyter-as-defensive-coordinator/,2021-01-28T19:14:53,"EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Former California associate head coach Tim DeRuyter has been named Oregon’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

DeRuyter replaces Andy Avalos, who left the Ducks to become head coach at Boise State.

DeRuyter has been on Cal’s staff since 2017, first as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach before serving as co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach last year.

Before that, DeRuyter was head coach at Fresno State from 2012-16. He also had defensive coordinator stints at Texas A&M, Air Force, Nevada, Ohio and Navy over his lengthy career.

“We are excited to add a coach of the caliber and experience as Coach DeRuyter to lead our defense,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement Thursday. “He is a proven difference maker with a track record for developing players to their full potential, and he has accelerated significant improvement in all of his stops as a defensive coordinator.”

Oregon went 4–3 (3–2 Pac-12) last season. The Ducks defeated USC 31-24 in the Pac-12 championship game before losing to Iowa State 34-17 in the Fiesta Bowl.","<article>

<p>EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - Former California associate head coach Tim DeRuyter has been named Oregon’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach.</p>

<p>DeRuyter replaces Andy Avalos, who left the Ducks to become head coach at Boise State.</p>

<p>DeRuyter has been on Cal’s staff since 2017, first as defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach before serving as co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach last year.</p>

<p>Before that, DeRuyter was head coach at Fresno State from 2012-16. He also had defensive coordinator stints at Texas A&amp;M, Air Force, Nevada, Ohio and Navy over his lengthy career.</p>

<p>“We are excited to add a coach of the caliber and experience as Coach DeRuyter to lead our defense,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement Thursday. “He is a proven difference maker with a track record for developing players to their full potential, and he has accelerated significant improvement in all of his stops as a defensive coordinator.”</p>

<p>Oregon went 4–3 (3–2 Pac-12) last season. The Ducks defeated USC 31-24 in the Pac-12 championship game before losing to Iowa State 34-17 in the Fiesta Bowl.</p>

</article>",en,2021-01-28T19:14:53,,,Former California associate head coach Tim DeRuyter has been named Oregon’s defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach.,"[
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]",0.86976737,2022-09-23T00:00:00Z,,
Two fishermen accused of putting weights in winning catch at Lake Erie championship,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/oct/2/two-fishermen-accused-putting-weights-winning-catc/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/oct/2/two-fishermen-accused-putting-weights-winning-catc/,2022-10-02T16:07:54,"The apparent winners of the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship are accused of putting weights inside of the fish they caught Saturday.

An official yelled out “We got weights in fish!” when cutting open the winning catch from Chase Cominsky of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and Jake Runyon of Cleveland, Ohio, according to video taken during the event (warning: explicit language).

Chase Cominsky and Jake Runyon have been labeled cheats and accused of stuffing weights inside their fish at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail in Cleveland #Chase #Cominsky #Jake #Runyon #cheats #weights #fish #Lake #Erie #Walleye #Trail pic.twitter.com/xV0Bl5qdi6

— Shahryar Sultan (@Shahryar_Sultan) October 2, 2022

A crowd quickly gathered around the fishermen and angrily berated them for their alleged cheating.

The Herald newspaper based in Sharon, Pennsylvania, said that the duo had led the season standings for team of the year.

“Disgusted guys and gals, I’m sorry for letting you down for so long and I’m glad I caught cheating taking place in YOUR [Lake Erie Walleye Trail] at the same time,” trail director Jason Fischer said in a Facebook post Saturday.

He went on to say that “I hope you know now that when I say ‘you built this LEWT and I will defend its integrity at all costs’, I mean it. You all deserve the best.”

Mr. Cominsky and Mr. Runyon have been involved in controversies before.

The Toledo Blade reported that one of them was disqualified from an event last year for failing a polygraph test. The tests are done to “ostensibly to make sure all of the rules have been followed,” according to the newspaper.","<article>

<p>The apparent winners of the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship are accused of putting weights inside of the fish they caught Saturday.</p>

<p>An official yelled out “We got weights in fish!” when cutting open the winning catch from <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chase-cominsky/"">Chase Cominsky</a> of Hermitage, Pennsylvania, and <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jake-runyon/"">Jake Runyon</a> of Cleveland, Ohio, according to video taken during the event (warning: explicit language).</p>

<blockquote class=""twitter-tweet tw-align-center""><p dir=""ltr"" lang=""en""><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chase-cominsky/"">Chase Cominsky</a> and <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jake-runyon/"">Jake Runyon</a> have been labeled cheats and accused of stuffing weights inside their fish at the Lake Erie Walleye Trail in Cleveland<a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Chase</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cominsky?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Cominsky</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Jake</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Runyon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Runyon</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/cheats?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#cheats</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/weights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#weights</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/fish?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#fish</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Lake</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Erie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Erie</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Walleye?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Walleye</a> <a href=""https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trail?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">#Trail</a> <a href=""https://t.co/xV0Bl5qdi6"">pic.twitter.com/xV0Bl5qdi6</a></p>
— Shahryar Sultan (@Shahryar_Sultan) <a href=""https://twitter.com/Shahryar_Sultan/status/1576390673233764352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

<p>A crowd quickly gathered around the fishermen and angrily berated them for their alleged cheating.</p>

<p>The Herald newspaper based in Sharon, Pennsylvania, said that the <a href=""https://www.sharonherald.com/news/hermitage-angler-at-center-of-fishing-cheating-scandal/article_2235e3b4-41ad-11ed-b2e1-731c43c95bc1.html"">duo</a> had led the season standings for team of the year.</p>

<p>“Disgusted guys and gals, I’m sorry for letting you down for so long and I’m glad I caught cheating taking place in YOUR [Lake Erie Walleye Trail] at the same time,” trail director Jason Fischer said in a Facebook <a href=""https://www.facebook.com/BigwaterwalleyechampionshipsLEWT/posts/pfbid02ygFLsSTVWvy6p7U2431tfD4sgkx5RqX4z1oq6XV8mcDjXaeqr8KGcEcvziUK2Apal"">post</a> Saturday.</p>

<p>He went on to say that “I hope you know now that when I say ‘you built this LEWT and I will defend its integrity at all costs’, I mean it. You all deserve the best.”</p>

<p>Mr. <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/chase-cominsky/"">Cominsky</a> and Mr. <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/jake-runyon/"">Runyon</a> have been involved in controversies before.</p>

<p>The Toledo Blade reported that one of them was disqualified from an event last year for failing a polygraph test. The tests are done to “ostensibly to make sure all of the rules have been followed,” according to the <a href=""https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/outdoors/2021/12/18/outdoors-big-walleye-big-money-big-mess/stories/20211219047"">newspaper</a>.</p>

</article>",en,2022-10-02T16:07:54,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2018/05/02/exchange_eliminating_walleye_fish_40452_c0-184-2000-1350_s1200x700.jpg?36e643fe0c0a9068e1a0c5ba06788207a497a853,"[
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]",The apparent winners of the Lake Erie Walleye Trail Championship are accused of putting weights inside of the fish they caught Saturday.,"[
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"Dominic Raab, Mike Pompeo eager for post-Brexit trade deal",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/7/dominic-raab-mike-pompeo-eager-post-brexit-trade-d/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/7/dominic-raab-mike-pompeo-eager-post-brexit-trade-d/,2019-08-07T21:22:57,"The government of new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at loggerheads with its soon-to-be-former European partners as Brexit looms, is finding a friend in need in the Trump administration.

A day after an unscheduled personal meeting with President Trump, visiting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab got a clear sign that the U.S. is ready to cut a free trade deal once London is free of the European Union.

Briefing reporters alongside Mr. Raab on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration will be waiting “pen in hand” to sign a trade deal with the United Kingdom once Brexit is completed, now set for no later than Oct. 31.

“We support the United Kingdom’s sovereign choice however Brexit ultimately shakes out,” Mr. Pompeo said during a press conference with Mr. Raab.

Mr. Trump, a supporter of Brexit who has repeatedly praised Mr. Johnson, has dangled a free trade deal with the United Kingdom as its Parliament struggles to fashion an acceptable Brexit deal with the EU. Forty-five Republican senators signed a letter to Mr. Johnson expressing their willingness to back a bilateral trade deal.

Brexit backers have also repeatedly argued that London would have far greater freedom to negotiate its own trade pacts once it leaves the 28-nation European bloc. Liz Truss, British secretary of state for international trade, plans to address the conservative Heritage Foundation on the need to strike a quick U.S.-U.K. trade deal, and Mr. Raab’s North American tour includes stops in Canada and Mexico as well.

But skeptics say Brexiteers are overestimating London’s clout and freedom to maneuver on its own. Larry Summers, Treasury secretary under President Obama, told the BBC this week that the Johnson government could be in for a rude awakening in trade talks with the U.S.

“Britain has much less to give than Europe as a whole did, therefore less reason for the United States to make concessions,” Mr. Summers told the British news service. “You make more concessions dealing with a wealthy man than you do dealing with a poor man.”

Mr. Raab noted that Mr. Summers was a member of the previous, anti-Brexit U.S. administration and told Fox News that “trade negotiations always involve compromise” and are always “tough and gritty.”

Complicating matters is the uncertainty over whether Mr. Johnson will be able to negotiate a modified, orderly divorce agreement with the EU or crash out of the bloc with a “no-deal Brexit,” which holds huge uncertainties for British business and economic policy. Despite gaining a head start on a trade agreement, a deal cannot be negotiated before Brexit is complete because the EU has control over trade and negotiations for its members.

Mr. Pompeo gave the clearest signal to date that the Trump administration is eager to make a deal.

“The U.S. will be at [Britain’s] doorstep, pen in hand, ready to sign onto a new free trade agreement at the earliest possible time,” Mr. Pompeo told reporters Wednesday.

Determined to leave

During the press conference, Mr. Raab expressed confidence that the U.K. will formally leave the EU, with or without a deal, by the end of October.

“We will stay good friends, good neighbors, with our European partners, but we are at the same time determined to seize the global opportunities beyond Europe,” Mr. Raab said.

Mr. Johnson has said his government is bracing the country for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit amid dire warnings of backlogged customs and border checks, new tariffs on trade with Europe and the loss of clout that comes with being part of a 28-nation bloc.

Britain is the second-largest economy in the EU after Germany, and the EU as a whole is Britain’s No. 1 trading partner. But in country-by-country comparisons, the U.S. is Britain’s biggest single overseas market.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Britain has been one of the top 10 trading partners for the past decade and nearly 43,000 companies export to the U.K. In the first five months of this year, two-way trade between the nations amounted to $54.9 billion.

Mr. Raab made the rounds in Washington this week and spoke briefly with Mr. Trump on the sidelines of scheduled meetings with Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Adviser John R. Bolton.

Mr. Raab’s visit marked a notably more positive tone after the transition from former Prime Minister Theresa May, who faced regular criticism from Mr. Trump over her handling of Brexit.

“We in the U.K. really prize [the U.S.-U.K.] relationship, we value it enormously and we really appreciate, both from the administration but also the personal mark you and the president made, the friendship that we have,” Mr. Raab said in his opening remarks, “and we look forward to nurturing in the weeks, months and years ahead.”

The meeting was held just days after Britain announced that the Royal Navy will participate in the Pentagon’s proposed joint mission to protect vessels traveling through the Persian Gulf amid soaring tensions with Iran.

Tehran said Sunday that it had intercepted a third ship traveling in the Gulf, just weeks after Iranian forces seized a British tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel in the Gulf.

“I want to thank Britain for your decision to protect the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr. Pompeo said Wednesday. “This is a victory for meaningful, effective multilateralism.”

European allies, many of whom blame Washington in part for the tensions by abandoning the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran, have been reluctant to sign onto the U.S. proposal for joint operations to protect shipping in the heavily trafficked waterway.

Mr. Raab said that while the Johnson government continues to support the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Mr. Trump repudiated last year, “it’s absolutely imperative to uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”","<article>

<p>The government of new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, at loggerheads with its soon-to-be-former European partners as Brexit looms, is finding a friend in need in the Trump administration.</p>

<p>A day after an unscheduled personal meeting with President Trump, visiting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab got a clear sign that the U.S. is ready to cut a free trade deal once London is free of the European Union.</p>

<p>Briefing reporters alongside Mr. Raab on Wednesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Trump administration will be waiting “pen in hand” to sign a trade deal with the United Kingdom once Brexit is completed, now set for no later than Oct. 31.</p>

<p>“We support the United Kingdom’s sovereign choice however Brexit ultimately shakes out,” Mr. Pompeo said during a press conference with Mr. Raab.</p>

<p>Mr. Trump, a supporter of Brexit who has repeatedly praised Mr. Johnson, has dangled a free trade deal with the United Kingdom as its Parliament struggles to fashion an acceptable Brexit deal with the EU. Forty-five Republican senators signed a letter to Mr. Johnson expressing their willingness to back a bilateral trade deal.</p>

<p>Brexit backers have also repeatedly argued that London would have far greater freedom to negotiate its own trade pacts once it leaves the 28-nation European bloc. Liz Truss, British secretary of state for international trade, plans to address the conservative Heritage Foundation on the need to strike a quick U.S.-U.K. trade deal, and Mr. Raab’s North American tour includes stops in Canada and Mexico as well.</p>

<p>But skeptics say Brexiteers are overestimating London’s clout and freedom to maneuver on its own. Larry Summers, Treasury secretary under President Obama, told the BBC this week that the Johnson government could be in for a rude awakening in trade talks with the U.S.</p>

<p>“Britain has much less to give than Europe as a whole did, therefore less reason for the United States to make concessions,” Mr. Summers told the British news service. “You make more concessions dealing with a wealthy man than you do dealing with a poor man.”</p>

<p>Mr. Raab noted that Mr. Summers was a member of the previous, anti-Brexit U.S. administration and told Fox News that “trade negotiations always involve compromise” and are always “tough and gritty.”</p>

<p>Complicating matters is the uncertainty over whether Mr. Johnson will be able to negotiate a modified, orderly divorce agreement with the EU or crash out of the bloc with a “no-deal Brexit,” which holds huge uncertainties for British business and economic policy. Despite gaining a head start on a trade agreement, a deal cannot be negotiated before Brexit is complete because the EU has control over trade and negotiations for its members.</p>

<p>Mr. Pompeo gave the clearest signal to date that the Trump administration is eager to make a deal.</p>

<p>“The U.S. will be at [Britain’s] doorstep, pen in hand, ready to sign onto a new free trade agreement at the earliest possible time,” Mr. Pompeo told reporters Wednesday.</p>

<p><strong>Determined to leave</strong></p>

<p>During the press conference, Mr. Raab expressed confidence that the U.K. will formally leave the EU, with or without a deal, by the end of October.</p>

<p>“We will stay good friends, good neighbors, with our European partners, but we are at the same time determined to seize the global opportunities beyond Europe,” Mr. Raab said.</p>

<p>Mr. Johnson has said his government is bracing the country for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit amid dire warnings of backlogged customs and border checks, new tariffs on trade with Europe and the loss of clout that comes with being part of a 28-nation bloc.</p>

<p>Britain is the second-largest economy in the EU after Germany, and the EU as a whole is Britain’s No. 1 trading partner. But in country-by-country comparisons, the U.S. is Britain’s biggest single overseas market.</p>

<p>According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Britain has been one of the top 10 trading partners for the past decade and nearly 43,000 companies export to the U.K. In the first five months of this year, two-way trade between the nations amounted to $54.9 billion.</p>

<p>Mr. Raab made the rounds in Washington this week and spoke briefly with Mr. Trump on the sidelines of scheduled meetings with Vice President Mike Pence and National Security Adviser John R. Bolton.</p>

<p>Mr. Raab’s visit marked a notably more positive tone after the transition from former Prime Minister Theresa May, who faced regular criticism from Mr. Trump over her handling of Brexit.</p>

<p>“We in the U.K. really prize [the U.S.-U.K.] relationship, we value it enormously and we really appreciate, both from the administration but also the personal mark you and the president made, the friendship that we have,” Mr. Raab said in his opening remarks, “and we look forward to nurturing in the weeks, months and years ahead.”</p>

<p>The meeting was held just days after Britain announced that the Royal Navy will participate in the Pentagon’s proposed joint mission to protect vessels traveling through the Persian Gulf amid soaring tensions with Iran.</p>

<p>Tehran said Sunday that it had intercepted a third ship traveling in the Gulf, just weeks after Iranian forces seized a British tanker traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel in the Gulf.</p>

<p>“I want to thank Britain for your decision to protect the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Mr. Pompeo said Wednesday. “This is a victory for meaningful, effective multilateralism.”</p>

<p>European allies, many of whom blame Washington in part for the tensions by abandoning the 2015 nuclear agreement with Tehran, have been reluctant to sign onto the U.S. proposal for joint operations to protect shipping in the heavily trafficked waterway.</p>

<p>Mr. Raab said that while the Johnson government continues to support the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Mr. Trump repudiated last year, “it’s absolutely imperative to uphold freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-07T21:22:57,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2019/08/07/Pompeo_US_UK_57926.jpg-d11fb_c0-150-3608-2254_s1200x700.jpg?ce04373326da849f3d87254e150c7908e4c6cbf1,"[
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Musk’s plan to end Russian war infuriates Ukraine on Twitter,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/oct/4/elon-musks-plan-to-end-russian-war-infuriates-ukra/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/oct/4/elon-musks-plan-to-end-russian-war-infuriates-ukra/,2022-10-04T09:28:38,"Elon Musk has gotten into a Twitter tussle with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the tech billionaire floated a divisive proposal to end Russia’s invasion.

The Tesla CEO, soon facing a court fight over his attempt to abandon a $44 billion offer to buy Twitter, argued in a tweet Monday that to reach peace Russia should be allowed to keep the Crimea Peninsula that it seized in 2014. He also said Ukraine should adopt a neutral status, dropping a bid to join NATO following Russia’s partial mobilization of reservists.

Musk also crossed red lines for Ukraine and its supporters by suggesting that four regions Russia is moving to annex following Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” denounced by the West as a sham should hold repeat votes organized by the United Nations.

Musk noted Crimea was part of Russia until it was given to Ukraine under the Soviet Union in 1950s and said that a drawn-out war will likely not end in a resounding Ukrainian victory.

These positions are anathema for Zelenskyy, who considers them pro-Kremlin. The Ukrainian leader has pledged to recover all the terrain conquered in the war and considers Crimea as Ukraine’s to reclaim as well.

Musk also launched a Twitter poll asking whether “the will of the people” should decide if seized regions remain part of Ukraine or become part of Russia.

In a sarcastic response, Zelenskyy posted a Twitter poll of his own asking “which Elon Musk do you like more?”: “One who supports Ukraine” or “One who supports Russia.”

Musk replied to Zelenskyy that “I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world.”

Andrij Melnyk, the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, responded to Musk’s original tweet with an obscenity.

“Russia is doing partial mobilization. They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating,” Musk wrote in another tweet. “Russia has (over) 3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace.”

The Kremlin itself chimed in, praising Musk for his proposal but warning that Russia will not backtrack on its move to absorb the Ukrainian regions.

“It’s very positive that such a person as Elon Musk is trying to look for a peaceful settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday. But, “as for the referendums, people have voiced their opinion and there could be nothing else.”

Ukraine and the West have said that the hastily organized votes in four occupied regions were clearly rigged to serve Putin’s purpose to try to cement his loosening grip on Ukrainian terrain.

Musk’s ideas seemed to get little support on Twitter, including from Russian chess great and anti-Putin political activist Garry Kasparov, who bashed the plan.

“This is moral idiocy, repetition of Kremlin propaganda, a betrayal of Ukrainian courage and sacrifice, and puts a few minutes browsing Crimea on Wikipedia over the current horrific reality of Putin’s bloody war,” Kasparov tweeted.

In the first weeks of the invasion in early March, Musk came to Ukraine’s aid when his SpaceX company shared its Starlink satellite system that helps deliver internet access to areas that lack coverage. At the time, Zelenskyy thanked Musk for the equipment that he said would help maintain communications in cities under attack.

However, in April, Musk said that as a “free speech absolutist” Starlink would not block Russian state media outlets that spread propaganda and misinformation on the war in Ukraine.","<article>

<p>Elon Musk has gotten into a Twitter tussle with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the tech billionaire floated a divisive proposal to end Russia’s invasion.</p>

<p>The Tesla CEO, soon facing a court fight over his attempt to abandon a $44 billion offer to buy Twitter, argued in a tweet Monday that to reach peace Russia should be allowed to keep the Crimea Peninsula that it seized in 2014. He also said Ukraine should adopt a neutral status, dropping a bid to join NATO following Russia’s partial mobilization of reservists.</p>

<p>Musk also crossed red lines for Ukraine and its supporters by suggesting that four regions Russia is moving to annex following Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” denounced by the West as a sham should hold repeat votes organized by the United Nations.</p>

<p>Musk noted Crimea was part of Russia until it was given to Ukraine under the Soviet Union in 1950s and said that a drawn-out war will likely not end in a resounding Ukrainian victory.</p>

<p>These positions are anathema for Zelenskyy, who considers them pro-Kremlin. The Ukrainian leader has pledged to recover all the terrain conquered in the war and considers Crimea as Ukraine’s to reclaim as well.</p>

<p>Musk also launched a Twitter poll asking whether “the will of the people” should decide if seized regions remain part of Ukraine or become part of Russia.</p>

<p>In a sarcastic response, Zelenskyy posted a Twitter poll of his own asking “which Elon Musk do you like more?”: “One who supports Ukraine” or “One who supports Russia.”</p>

<p>Musk replied to Zelenskyy that “I still very much support Ukraine, but am convinced that massive escalation of the war will cause great harm to Ukraine and possibly the world.”</p>

<p>Andrij Melnyk, the outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, responded to Musk’s original tweet with an obscenity.</p>

<p>“Russia is doing partial mobilization. They go to full war mobilization if Crimea is at risk. Death on both sides will be devastating,” Musk wrote in another tweet. “Russia has (over) 3 times population of Ukraine, so victory for Ukraine is unlikely in total war. If you care about the people of Ukraine, seek peace.”</p>

<p>The Kremlin itself chimed in, praising Musk for his proposal but warning that Russia will not backtrack on its move to absorb the Ukrainian regions.</p>

<p>“It’s very positive that such a person as Elon Musk is trying to look for a peaceful settlement,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday. But, “as for the referendums, people have voiced their opinion and there could be nothing else.”</p>

<p>Ukraine and the West have said that the hastily organized votes in four occupied regions were clearly rigged to serve Putin’s purpose to try to cement his loosening grip on Ukrainian terrain.</p>

<p>Musk’s ideas seemed to get little support on Twitter, including from Russian chess great and anti-Putin political activist Garry Kasparov, who bashed the plan.</p>

<p>“This is moral idiocy, repetition of Kremlin propaganda, a betrayal of Ukrainian courage and sacrifice, and puts a few minutes browsing Crimea on Wikipedia over the current horrific reality of Putin’s bloody war,” Kasparov tweeted.</p>

<p>In the first weeks of the invasion in early March, Musk came to Ukraine’s aid when his SpaceX company shared its Starlink satellite system that helps deliver internet access to areas that lack coverage. At the time, Zelenskyy thanked Musk for the equipment that he said would help maintain communications in cities under attack.</p>

<p>However, in April, Musk said that as a “free speech absolutist” Starlink would not block Russian state media outlets that spread propaganda and misinformation on the war in Ukraine.</p>

</article>",en,2022-10-04T09:28:38,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2022/10/04/russia_ukraine_war_musk_52757_c0-136-3142-1968_s1200x700.jpg?432ff63f19e9e65641ffc3bb319aebb370f0ab69,"[
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The Latest: Australian hot spot extends state of emergency,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/1/the-latest-chinese-students-begin-full-return-to-s/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/1/the-latest-chinese-students-begin-full-return-to-s/,2020-09-01T01:52:14,"MELBOURNE, Australia - Australia’s hot spot Victoria state on Wednesday extended its state of emergency for another six months as its weekly average of new COVID-10 infections dipped to 95.

The Victorian Parliament’s upper chamber passed legislation by a 20-19 vote to extend the state of emergency, which enhances the government’s powers to impose pandemic restrictions.

The government had wanted a 12-month extension.

The state health department reported 90 new infections and six deaths in the latest 24-hour period. There were only 70 new infections on Tuesday.

But the latest seven-day average has dropped into double-digits for the first time in weeks. The previous week’s average was 175 infections a day.

- US federal officials to ship rapid coronavirus tests for schools

- NYC delays start of school for more prep time for virus safety measures

- Virus or not, it’s time for class again across Europe

- Apple and Google want more U.S. states to adopt their phone-based approach for tracing and curbing the spread of the coronavirus, building more of the necessary technology directly into phones.

- The Big Ten Conference, already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football, and its new commissioner are now hearing from President Donald Trump.

- Hungry and bored at home? A San Francisco nightclub will bring the food, booze and a drag show to you during the coronavirus pandemic.

___

___

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison University in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley will transition at least temporarily to primarily online instruction after experiencing a “rapid increase” in cases of COVID-19 among students, the school’s president announced Tuesday night.

“As a result of a rapid increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in our student population in a short period of time, the university is concerned about capacity in the number of isolation and quarantine spaces we can provide,” JMU President Jonathan Alger wrote in a letter posted on the school’s website Tuesday night.

The letter said in-person classes will shift online no later than Monday, by which time residential students will be asked to return home unless they seek an exemption to stay. University officials will notify the campus community by Sept. 25 about whether in-person instruction will resume on or after Oct. 5, according to the letter.

JMU, a public university, has about 20,000 undergraduate students. With Tuesday’s announcement, it joined a growing number of colleges around the U.S. that have reversed course or altered plans for in-person instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic.

___ BILLINGS, Mont. __ The Trump administration is seeking to fast track environmental reviews of dozens of major energy and infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, including oil and gas drilling, hazardous fuel pipelines, wind farms and highway projects in multiple states, according to documents provided to The Associated Press.

The plan to speed up project approvals comes after President Donald Trump in June ordered the Interior Department and other agencies to scale back environmental reviews under special powers he has during the coronavirus emergency.

More than 60 projects targeted for expedited environmental reviews were detailed in an attachment to a July 15 letter from Assistant Interior Secretary Katherine MacGregor to White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow.

The letter, obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a freedom of information lawsuit, does not specify how the review process would be hastened. It says the specified energy, environmental and natural resource projects “are within the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to perform or advance.”

Included on Interior’s list are oil and gas industry proposals such as the 5,000-well Converse gas field in Wyoming, the Jordan Cove liquified natural gas terminal in Oregon, and the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline in Virginia.

___

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A private liberal arts college in Colorado says it is moving to online classes after hundreds of students went into quarantine just days into the semester.

At least 10 students at Colorado College have tested positive for the coronavirus. And more than 500 entered self-isolation on campus since dormitories opened to freshmen on Aug. 24.

The Gazette reports that all students are being urged to leave the Colorado Springs campus by Sept. 20, with some exceptions such as international students.

The announcement comes as college and university towns across the country consider renewed shutdowns because of too many COVID-19 infections among students.

___

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska health department says a second resident of a state-supported elder-living center in Anchorage who tested positive for COVID-19 has died.

The department, in early August, announced that three residents of the Anchorage Pioneer Home and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.

As of Monday, the department said three of the five staff members who had to that point tested positive had been released from isolation. And it says 10 of the 14 residents who had tested positive had recovered.

The department says a second resident who had tested positive recently died but did not provide further details.

___

UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council will hold a high-level summit during the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly later this month to discuss “adjustments” to the current international system after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Niger’s U.N. Ambassador Abdou Abarry, who took over the rotating council presidency on Tuesday, told a virtual press conference that the virtual council meeting on Sept. 24 “on post-COVID-19 global governance in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security” will address traditional security threats such as conflicts but also crime and pandemics.

He said Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, who will chair the meeting, is sending invitations to the leaders of the 14 other countries on the Security Council. Some countries, which he didn’t name, have already indicated their heads of state will attend, he said.

Abarry said a key issue after the coronavirus pandemic is: “Are we going to be able to structure a more resilient, a more just, a more fair world with less destruction of the environment among others, and that can enable and facilitate humanity to live in harmony, and with nature?”

___

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The number of deaths from the coronavirus continues to surge in West Virginia while confirmed cases hit a new daily record during the pandemic.

Health officials announced eight more virus-related deaths Tuesday, pushing the state’s total to at least 222. That’s up 91% since Aug. 1.

Despite an indoor mask mandate for public places issued July 6 by Gov. Jim Justice, daily positive cases have skyrocketed since then. Officials have blamed the increase in part on out-of-state travel.

According to the Department of Health and Human Resources’ website, the state reported 225 confirmed cases Sunday, topping the one-day record of 180 set on July 30. The state’s daily positive rate of 6.85% on Monday was its highest since reaching 6.95% on May 26. The overall total is at least 10,320 confirmed cases.

___

WASHINGTON — A group of medical experts advising the National Institutes of Health says there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of plasma therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

The non-endorsement by government advisers comes a week after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization to the treatment. That decision followed threats from President Donald Trump about the slow pace of FDA’s review, raising concerns that the agency felt pressure to greenlight the therapy.

So-called convalescent plasma is taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and is rich in disease-fighting antibodies. But its use against COVID-19 has not been studied in rigorous patient trials.

The NIH panel says the plasma shouldn’t be considered “standard of care” treatment, due to the lack of data confirming its safety and effectiveness.

The FDA granted its emergency use based on preliminary results gathered from tens of thousands of patients tracked by the Mayo Clinic. The decision merely means that the treatment’s potential benefits outweigh its risks.

But the Mayo study doesn’t have the type of controls needed to draw conclusions about clinical benefits, including overall survival. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn was forced to backtrack last week after he overstated the potential life-saving effect suggested by the data.

NIH’s experts urged doctors and patients to enroll in proper studies of the plasma.

___

NEW YORK - A handful of the dozens of experimental coronavirus vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof they really work.

A U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval. AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.

Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.

NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted his agency “is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed.”

There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out - and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.

“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.

___

WASHINGTON - A new member of the White House coronavirus task force says claims that he’s pushing herd immunity as a response to the pandemic are an “overt lie.”

Dr. Scott Atlas says in an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program” that he has never advocated a herd immunity strategy to President Donald Trump or anyone in the administration or task force.

The Washington Post reported Monday that Atlas — who recently was added to the task force — has been urging Trump’s top medical advisers to adopt herd immunity as a strategy for fighting the virus.

Herd immunity would involve allowing most Americans to become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 so people can build up their immunity to it.

___

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’ll lift the state ban on visiting nursing homes that’s prevented seniors from seeing family since mid-March because of the coronavirus.

DeSantis says he’s following recommendations from a nursing home task force that’s met in recent weeks.

The task force recommends the nursing homes allow family members to visit no more than two at a time and wear protective gear that includes masks. Facilities would need to go 14 days without any new cases of coronavirus among staff or residents to allow the visits.

___

LONDON - Scotland’s leader has announced new lockdown restrictions for the country’s most populous city, Glasgow, following a spike in coronavirus infections.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says people in Glasgow, and the nearby local authorities of West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, shouldn’t host people from other households for two weeks.

She says the Scottish government could go farther if people don’t abide by the new limitations. The number of people affected is estimated at 750,000.

Sturgeon says in the three targeted areas, the infections have largely increased from household gatherings. She adds the new measures were “proportionate” with the impact on schools, jobs and the economy.

___

WASHINGTON - Federal officials will begin shipping tens of millions of rapid coronavirus tests to state governors this month for use in reopening schools.

The Trump administration’s top testing official, Admiral Brett Giroir, laid out plans Tuesday to distribute some of the 150 million tests ordered from test maker Abbott Laboratories. The federal purchase was first announced last week.

Abbott’s rapid test, the size of a credit card, is the first that doesn’t require specialty computer equipment to develop. The test delivers results in about 15 minutes and is priced at $5, significantly lower than similar older tests.

Giroir says the “great majority” would go to U.S. governors for use in screening children at K-12 schools. The tests could be used to test first responders and other high-risk populations.

Tests will be shipped to 20,000 assisted living facilities. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities are not overseen by Medicare. Because assisted living facilities also house a vulnerable population, they face some of the same risks as nursing homes.

Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. testing has mainly relied on nasal swab tests sent to labs for processing. But supply shortages led to testing backlogs, delaying results and hindering efforts to track cases.

Health experts view rapid tests run outside the laboratory as key to expanding the number of tests ahead of the flu season. However, Abbott’s new test still requires a nasal swab by a health worker. In general, rapid tests like Abbott’s are less accurate than lab-developed tests. The FDA has said in some cases, negative results with Abbott’s test may need to be confirmed with a lab test.

___

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas is requiring no fans at athletic events and Kansas State University is battling four new coronavirus outbreaks.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting 19 clusters tied to colleges and five tied to schools with younger students.

At the University of Kansas, entrance testing uncovered 474 positive cases. Infections were particularly prevalent among sorority and fraternity members, with 270 positives among 2,698 members tested, for a rate of 10%.

In the Manhattan, Kansas, health officials say the four newest outbreaks include 10 positive cases among the Kansas State football team. There are several cases tied to a fraternity and sorority.

___

ROME - Italy registered fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases, even as the number of swab tests soared.

The Health Ministry says 978 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, when some 81,000 tests were conducted. That is 22,500 more tests than the previous day when nearly the same number of cases were detected.

Health experts are encouraging Italy to boost testing and tracing of contacts of the newly infected ahead of schools opening on Sept. 14.

Italy has 270,189 confirmed cases, adding eight deaths to increase the known toll to nearly 35,500.

___

NEW YORK - New York City is delaying the start of its school year until Sept. 16 to give teachers more time to prepare for the return of students amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the deal struck with unions representing teachers, staff and administrators. Instruction was supposed to begin on Sept. 10. All students will spend the first few days learning from home online before in-person instruction begins for some students on Sept. 21.

The city’s plan to restart schools includes mask-wearing, staggered schedules to reduce the number of students in rooms, supplying every school building with a nurse and asking all staffers to get tested shortly before school starts. A medical monitoring program will includes random virus testing for a sampling of students and staff each month.

The city used ventilation experts to check air flow in classrooms, and officials say they’ll would work to make parks and streets available as teaching space, if needed.

United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says the union’s independent medical experts signed off on the reopening plan. Delegates of the UFT were poised to vote on whether to authorize a strike.","<article>

<p>MELBOURNE, Australia - Australia’s hot spot Victoria state on Wednesday extended its state of emergency for another six months as its weekly average of new COVID-10 infections dipped to 95.</p>

<p>The Victorian Parliament’s upper chamber passed legislation by a 20-19 vote to extend the state of emergency, which enhances the government’s powers to impose pandemic restrictions.</p>

<p>The government had wanted a 12-month extension.</p>

<p>The state health department reported 90 new infections and six deaths in the latest 24-hour period. There were only 70 new infections on Tuesday.</p>

<p>But the latest seven-day average has dropped into double-digits for the first time in weeks. The previous week’s average was 175 infections a day.</p>

<p>- US federal officials to ship rapid coronavirus tests for schools</p>

<p>- NYC delays start of school for more prep time for virus safety measures</p>

<p>- Virus or not, it’s time for class again  across Europe</p>

<p>- Apple and Google want more U.S. states to adopt their phone-based approach for tracing and curbing the spread of the coronavirus, building more of the necessary technology directly into phones.</p>

<p>- The Big Ten Conference, already in court and under pressure from players and parents over its decision to cancel fall football, and its new commissioner are now hearing from President Donald Trump.</p>

<p>- Hungry and bored at home? A San Francisco nightclub will bring the food, booze and a drag show to you  during the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison University in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley will transition at least temporarily to primarily online instruction after experiencing a “rapid increase” in cases of COVID-19 among students, the school’s president announced Tuesday night.</p>

<p>“As a result of a rapid increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in our student population in a short period of time, the university is concerned about capacity in the number of isolation and quarantine spaces we can provide,” JMU President Jonathan Alger wrote in a letter posted on the school’s website Tuesday night.</p>

<p>The letter said in-person classes will shift online no later than Monday, by which time residential students will be asked to return home unless they seek an exemption to stay. University officials will notify the campus community by Sept. 25 about whether in-person instruction will resume on or after Oct. 5, according to the letter.</p>

<p>JMU, a public university, has about 20,000 undergraduate students. With Tuesday’s announcement, it joined a growing number of colleges around the U.S. that have reversed course or altered plans for in-person instruction due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>___ BILLINGS, Mont. __ The Trump administration is seeking to fast track environmental reviews of dozens of major energy and infrastructure projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, including oil and gas drilling, hazardous fuel pipelines, wind farms and highway projects in multiple states, according to documents provided to The Associated Press.</p>

<p>The plan to speed up project approvals comes after President Donald Trump in June ordered the Interior Department and other agencies to scale back environmental reviews under special powers he has during the coronavirus emergency.</p>

<p>More than 60 projects targeted for expedited environmental reviews were detailed in an attachment to a July 15 letter from Assistant Interior Secretary Katherine MacGregor to White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow.</p>

<p>The letter, obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity through a freedom of information lawsuit, does not specify how the review process would be hastened. It says the specified energy, environmental and natural resource projects “are within the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to perform or advance.”</p>

<p>Included on Interior’s list are oil and gas industry proposals such as the 5,000-well Converse gas field in Wyoming, the Jordan Cove liquified natural gas terminal in Oregon, and the Mountain Valley natural gas pipeline in Virginia.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A private liberal arts college in Colorado says it is moving to online classes after hundreds of students went into quarantine just days into the semester.</p>

<p>At least 10 students at Colorado College have tested positive for the coronavirus. And more than 500 entered self-isolation on campus since dormitories opened to freshmen on Aug. 24.</p>

<p>The Gazette reports that all students are being urged to leave the Colorado Springs campus by Sept. 20, with some exceptions such as international students.</p>

<p>The announcement comes as college and university towns across the country consider renewed shutdowns because of too many COVID-19 infections among students.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska health department says a second resident of a state-supported elder-living center in Anchorage who tested positive for COVID-19 has died.</p>

<p>The department, in early August, announced that three residents of the Anchorage Pioneer Home and one staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.</p>

<p>As of Monday, the department said three of the five staff members who had to that point tested positive had been released from isolation. And it says 10 of the 14 residents who had tested positive had recovered.</p>

<p>The department says a second resident who had tested positive recently died but did not provide further details.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. Security Council will hold a high-level summit during the annual meeting of world leaders at the General Assembly later this month to discuss “adjustments” to the current international system after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.</p>

<p>Niger’s U.N. Ambassador Abdou Abarry, who took over the rotating council presidency on Tuesday, told a virtual press conference that the virtual council meeting on Sept. 24 “on post-COVID-19 global governance in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security” will address traditional security threats such as conflicts but also crime and pandemics.</p>

<p>He said Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, who will chair the meeting, is sending invitations to the leaders of the 14 other countries on the Security Council. Some countries, which he didn’t name, have already indicated their heads of state will attend, he said.</p>

<p>Abarry said a key issue after the coronavirus pandemic is: “Are we going to be able to structure a more resilient, a more just, a more fair world with less destruction of the environment among others, and that can enable and facilitate humanity to live in harmony, and with nature?”</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The number of deaths from the coronavirus continues to surge in West Virginia while confirmed cases hit a new daily record during the pandemic.</p>

<p>Health officials announced eight more virus-related deaths Tuesday, pushing the state’s total to at least 222. That’s up 91% since Aug. 1.</p>

<p>Despite an indoor mask mandate for public places issued July 6 by Gov. Jim Justice, daily positive cases have skyrocketed since then. Officials have blamed the increase in part on out-of-state travel.</p>

<p>According to the Department of Health and Human Resources’ website, the state reported 225 confirmed cases Sunday, topping the one-day record of 180 set on July 30. The state’s daily positive rate of 6.85% on Monday was its highest since reaching 6.95% on May 26. The overall total is at least 10,320 confirmed cases.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>WASHINGTON — A group of medical experts advising the National Institutes of Health says there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against the use of plasma therapy for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.</p>

<p>The non-endorsement by government advisers comes a week after the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization to the treatment. That decision followed threats from President Donald Trump about the slow pace of FDA’s review, raising concerns that the agency felt pressure to greenlight the therapy.</p>

<p>So-called convalescent plasma is taken from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus and is rich in disease-fighting antibodies. But its use against COVID-19 has not been studied in rigorous patient trials.</p>

<p>The NIH panel says the plasma shouldn’t be considered “standard of care” treatment, due to the lack of data confirming its safety and effectiveness.</p>

<p>The FDA granted its emergency use based on preliminary results gathered from tens of thousands of patients tracked by the Mayo Clinic. The decision merely means that the treatment’s potential benefits outweigh its risks.</p>

<p>But the Mayo study doesn’t have the type of controls needed to draw conclusions about clinical benefits, including overall survival. FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn was forced to backtrack last week after he overstated the potential life-saving effect suggested by the data.</p>

<p>NIH’s experts urged doctors and patients to enroll in proper studies of the plasma.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>NEW YORK - A handful of the dozens of experimental coronavirus vaccines in human testing have reached the last and biggest hurdle — looking for the needed proof they really work.</p>

<p>A U.S. advisory panel suggested Tuesday a way to ration the first limited doses once a vaccine wins approval. AstraZeneca announced Monday its vaccine candidate has entered the final testing stage in the U.S. The Cambridge, England-based company said the study will involve up to 30,000 adults from various racial, ethnic and geographic groups.</p>

<p>Two other vaccine candidates began final testing this summer in tens of thousands of people in the U.S. One was created by the National Institutes of Health and manufactured by Moderna Inc., and the other developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech.</p>

<p>NIH Director Francis Collins tweeted his agency “is supporting several vaccine trials since more than one may be needed.”</p>

<p>There’s no guarantee that any of the leading candidates will pan out - and the bar is higher than for COVID-19 treatments, because these vaccines will be given to healthy people. Final testing, experts stress, must be in large numbers of people to know if they’re safe enough for mass vaccinations.</p>

<p>“The first vaccines that come out are probably not going to be the best vaccines,” Dr. Nicole Lurie, who helped lead pandemic planning under the Obama administration, said at a University of Minnesota vaccine symposium.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>WASHINGTON - A new member of the White House coronavirus task force says claims that he’s pushing herd immunity as a response to the pandemic are an “overt lie.”</p>

<p>Dr. Scott Atlas says in an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Michael Smerconish Program” that he has never advocated a herd immunity strategy to President Donald Trump or anyone in the administration or task force.</p>

<p>The Washington Post reported Monday that Atlas — who recently was added to the task force — has been urging Trump’s top medical advisers to adopt herd immunity as a strategy for fighting the virus.</p>

<p>Herd immunity would involve allowing most Americans to become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 so people can build up their immunity to it.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’ll lift the state ban on visiting nursing homes that’s prevented seniors from seeing family since mid-March because of the coronavirus.</p>

<p>DeSantis says he’s following recommendations from a nursing home task force that’s met in recent weeks.</p>

<p>The task force recommends the nursing homes allow family members to visit no more than two at a time and wear protective gear that includes masks. Facilities would need to go 14 days without any new cases of coronavirus among staff or residents to allow the visits.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>LONDON - Scotland’s leader has announced new lockdown restrictions for the country’s most populous city, Glasgow, following a spike in coronavirus infections.</p>

<p>First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says people in Glasgow, and the nearby local authorities of West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, shouldn’t host people from other households for two weeks.</p>

<p>She says the Scottish government could go farther if people don’t abide by the new limitations. The number of people affected is estimated at 750,000.</p>

<p>Sturgeon says in the three targeted areas, the infections have largely increased from household gatherings. She adds the new measures were “proportionate” with the impact on schools, jobs and the economy.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>WASHINGTON - Federal officials will begin shipping tens of millions of rapid coronavirus tests to state governors this month for use in reopening schools.</p>

<p>The Trump administration’s top testing official, Admiral Brett Giroir, laid out plans Tuesday to distribute some of the 150 million tests ordered from test maker Abbott Laboratories. The federal purchase was first announced last week.</p>

<p>Abbott’s rapid test, the size of a credit card, is the first that doesn’t require specialty computer equipment to develop. The test delivers results in about 15 minutes and is priced at $5, significantly lower than similar older tests.</p>

<p>Giroir says the “great majority” would go to U.S. governors for use in screening children at K-12 schools. The tests could be used to test first responders and other high-risk populations.</p>

<p>Tests will be shipped to 20,000 assisted living facilities. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities are not overseen by Medicare. Because assisted living facilities also house a vulnerable population, they face some of the same risks as nursing homes.</p>

<p>Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. testing has mainly relied on nasal swab tests sent to labs for processing. But supply shortages led to testing backlogs, delaying results and hindering efforts to track cases.</p>

<p>Health experts view rapid tests run outside the laboratory as key to expanding the number of tests ahead of the flu season. However, Abbott’s new test still requires a nasal swab by a health worker. In general, rapid tests like Abbott’s are less accurate than lab-developed tests. The FDA has said in some cases, negative results with Abbott’s test may need to be confirmed with a lab test.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas is requiring no fans at athletic events and Kansas State University is battling four new coronavirus outbreaks.</p>

<p>Kansas Department of Health and Environment is reporting 19 clusters tied to colleges and five tied to schools with younger students.</p>

<p>At the University of Kansas, entrance testing uncovered 474 positive cases. Infections were particularly prevalent among sorority and fraternity members, with 270 positives among 2,698 members tested, for a rate of 10%.</p>

<p>In the Manhattan, Kansas, health officials say the four newest outbreaks include 10 positive cases among the Kansas State football team. There are several cases tied to a fraternity and sorority.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>ROME - Italy registered fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases, even as the number of swab tests soared.</p>

<p>The Health Ministry says 978 coronavirus cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, when some 81,000 tests were conducted. That is 22,500 more tests than the previous day when nearly the same number of cases were detected.</p>

<p>Health experts are encouraging Italy to boost testing and tracing of contacts of the newly infected ahead of schools opening on Sept. 14.</p>

<p>Italy has 270,189 confirmed cases, adding eight deaths to increase the known toll to nearly 35,500.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>NEW YORK - New York City is delaying the start of its school year until Sept. 16 to give teachers more time to prepare for the return of students amid the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the deal struck with unions representing teachers, staff and administrators. Instruction was supposed to begin on Sept. 10. All students will spend the first few days learning from home online before in-person instruction begins for some students on Sept. 21.</p>

<p>The city’s plan to restart schools includes mask-wearing, staggered schedules to reduce the number of students in rooms, supplying every school building with a nurse and asking all staffers to get tested shortly before school starts. A medical monitoring program will includes random virus testing for a sampling of students and staff each month.</p>

<p>The city used ventilation experts to check air flow in classrooms, and officials say they’ll would work to make parks and streets available as teaching space, if needed.</p>

<p>United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew says the union’s independent medical experts signed off on the reopening plan. Delegates of the UFT were poised to vote on whether to authorize a strike.</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-01T01:52:14,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/09/01/virus_outbreak_indonesia_04605_c0-137-2612-1660_s1200x700.jpg?3357fef66b3b1411a76623c7fcf2d55a6fae98b7,"[
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Watson scores 17 to lift Providence over UConn 70-59,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/10/watson-scores-17-to-lift-providence-over-uconn-70-/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/10/watson-scores-17-to-lift-providence-over-uconn-70-/,2021-02-10T18:31:22,"PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Nate Watson and David Duke each had 17 points as Providence got past UConn 70-59 on Wednesday.

A.J. Reeves added 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Providence (10-10, 6-8 Big East Conference). Noah Horchler had 10 rebounds.

R.J. Cole had 14 points and six assists for the Huskies (8-5, 5-5). Tyrese Martin added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Adama Sanogo had nine points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

___","<article>

<p>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Nate Watson and David Duke each had 17 points as Providence got past UConn 70-59 on Wednesday.</p>

<p>A.J. Reeves added 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists for Providence (10-10, 6-8 Big East Conference). Noah Horchler had 10 rebounds.</p>

<p>R.J. Cole had 14 points and six assists for the Huskies (8-5, 5-5). Tyrese Martin added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Adama Sanogo had nine points, eight rebounds and five blocks.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>For more AP college basketball coverage:  https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball  and  http://twitter.com/AP_Top25</p>

<p>___</p>

</article>",en,2021-02-10T18:31:22,,,Nate Watson and David Duke each had 17 points as Providence got past UConn 70-59 on Wednesday.,"[
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"Hamlin finally finds the Next Gen formula, wins at Richmond",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/3/denny-hamlin-finally-finds-next-gen-formula-wins-r/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/3/denny-hamlin-finally-finds-next-gen-formula-wins-r/,2022-04-03T21:16:58,"RICHMOND, Va. — Denny Hamlin hoped a visit to the track he watched races at as a youngster would help kickstart a season that started in an uncharacteristic fashion — poorly.

Thanks to some crafty tire strategy that his team timed right, he got it done.

Hamlin ran down William Byron with five laps to go Sunday and ended the slowest start to a season in his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.

“You just have a tough season and if things aren’t going well and it seems like the breaks aren’t going you way and then the law of averages say things are going to kind of work out and we get our performance better and today’s the day where it all matched up,” said Hamlin, who started the day 22nd in points.

In a race that featured four sets of green-flag pit stops and a whole lot of tire strategy, Hamlin closed a huge gap between Byron and teammate Martin Truex Jr., passing Truex on the outside and Byron shortly thereafter. He then held off a challenge from Kevin Harvick, a three-time winner at Richmond.

“Yeah, just great strategy there. Just drove as hard as I could,” Hamlin said after climbing from his car. “There was no doubt in my mind, maybe just a little, but they got this car right there towards the end. Wow, unbelievable.”

Hamlin ‘s 47th career victory was his first at his hometown track since 2016, the first for Toyota in the Next Gen car and gave NASCAR seven different winners in seven Cup Series races.

Harvick was second, followed by Byron, Truex and Kyle Larson.

“Had a shot there at the end,” Harvick said. “I wanted to be close enough with the white to just take a swipe at him. Yeah, the lapped cars there kind of got in the way and I lost a little bit of ground.”

Hamlin got himself into contention during the second stage when he and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell opted to stay on the track while most of the rest of the field pitted for tires. The move initially gave the risk-takers a sizable lead, but one that began evaporating quickly.

Hamlin made it pay off in the final stage, going from 15th to seventh over just a few laps after a restart using the extra set of tires he had over the field.

Byron and Truex tried to make a similar strategy work at the end, trying to race almost 90 laps on the same tires while Hamlin and Harvick and most others pitted with just under 50 laps to go. They almost made it work.

“At the end I think we just tried to gamble … on beating the 24. He ended up trying to do our strategy, which we both screwed up,” Truex said. He was seeking his fourth victory in the last six races at the .75-mile, D-shaped oval, but instead Hamlin gave the current JGR stable 13 wins here.

Byron, meantime, declined to pit from the big lead he held when most of the field headed in under green with just over 50 laps to go. Truex did too, but eventually Hamlin passed them both for his first top 10 finish of the season. He also snapped a string of 12 consecutive race winners under 30.

“I thought there at the end they told me I was just racing (Truex),” Byron said of his team. “I’m like, ‘OK. I got him,’ but then (Harvick) and (Hamlin) were on a totally different planet. … There wasn’t anything I could do about them.”

ANGRY KYLE

Kyle Busch, the fourth JGR team member, was black-flagged with about 50 laps to go when NASCAR noticed a piece of tape on his grille. At the time, his three teammates were running in the top 10 and he was closing in on joining them. He finished ninth.

FAST START

Ryan Blaney earned his third straight pole and led the entire 70-lap first stage and the first 128 laps in all, but continued his struggles at Richmond.

“I wanted to run better, but I can’t complain about it too much,” Blaney said. “We just have to find a little bit more speed, but it was nice that we kind of put together some decent notes and have an OK run at Richmond.”","<article>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/richmond/"">RICHMOND</a>, Va. — <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Denny Hamlin</a> hoped a visit to the track <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">he</a> watched races at as a youngster would help kickstart a season that started in an uncharacteristic fashion — poorly.</p>

<p>Thanks to some crafty tire strategy that <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">his</a> team timed right, <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">he</a> got it done.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> ran down William Byron with five laps to go Sunday and ended the slowest start to a season in his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.</p>

<p>“You just have a tough season and if things aren’t going well and it seems like the breaks aren’t going you way and then the law of averages say things are going to kind of work out and we get our performance better and today’s the day where it all matched up,” said <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a>, who started the day 22nd in points.</p>

<p>In a race that featured four sets of green-flag pit stops and a whole lot of tire strategy, <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> closed a huge gap between Byron and teammate Martin Truex Jr., passing Truex on the outside and Byron shortly thereafter. He then held off a challenge from Kevin Harvick, a three-time winner at <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/richmond/"">Richmond</a>.</p>

<p>“Yeah, just great strategy there. Just drove as hard as I could,” <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> said after climbing from <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">his</a> car. “There was no doubt in my mind, maybe just a little, but they got this car right there towards the end. Wow, unbelievable.”</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a>‘s 47th career victory was <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">his</a> first at <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">his</a> hometown track since 2016, the first for Toyota in the Next Gen car and gave NASCAR seven different winners in seven Cup Series races.</p>

<p>Harvick was second, followed by Byron, Truex and Kyle Larson.</p>

<p>“Had a shot there at the end,” Harvick said. “I wanted to be close enough with the white to just take a swipe at him. Yeah, the lapped cars there kind of got in the way and I lost a little bit of ground.”</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> got himself into contention during the second stage when <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">he</a> and Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell opted to stay on the track while most of the rest of the field pitted for tires. The move initially gave the risk-takers a sizable lead, but one that began evaporating quickly.</p>

<p><a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> made it pay off in the final stage, going from 15th to seventh over just a few laps after a restart using the extra set of tires <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">he</a> had over the field.</p>

<p>Byron and Truex tried to make a similar strategy work at the end, trying to race almost 90 laps on the same tires while <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> and Harvick and most others pitted with just under 50 laps to go. They almost made it work.</p>

<p>“At the end I think we just tried to gamble … on beating the 24. He ended up trying to do our strategy, which we both screwed up,” Truex said. He was seeking his fourth victory in the last six races at the .75-mile, D-shaped oval, but instead <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> gave the current JGR stable 13 wins here.</p>

<p>Byron, meantime, declined to pit from the big lead he held when most of the field headed in under green with just over 50 laps to go. Truex did too, but eventually <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">Hamlin</a> passed them both for <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">his</a> first top 10 finish of the season. <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/denny-hamlin/"">He</a> also snapped a string of 12 consecutive race winners under 30.</p>

<p>“I thought there at the end they told me I was just racing (Truex),” Byron said of his team. “I’m like, ‘OK. I got him,’ but then (Harvick) and (Hamlin) were on a totally different planet. … There wasn’t anything I could do about them.”</p>

<p><strong>ANGRY KYLE</strong></p>

<p>Kyle Busch, the fourth JGR team member, was black-flagged with about 50 laps to go when NASCAR noticed a piece of tape on his grille. At the time, his three teammates were running in the top 10 and he was closing in on joining them. He finished ninth.</p>

<p><strong>FAST START</strong></p>

<p>Ryan Blaney earned his third straight pole and led the entire 70-lap first stage and the first 128 laps in all, but continued his struggles at <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/richmond/"">Richmond</a>.</p>

<p>“I wanted to run better, but I can’t complain about it too much,” Blaney said. “We just have to find a little bit more speed, but it was nice that we kind of put together some decent notes and have an OK run at <a href=""https://www.washingtontimes.com/topics/richmond/"">Richmond</a>.”</p>

</article>",en,2022-04-03T21:16:58,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2022/04/03/NASCAR_Richmond_Auto_Racing_23780.jpg-1f765_c0-0-4065-2371_s1200x700.jpg?576dc2747d138d3755876b4f45acf2776f4688f0,"[
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]",0.97951084,2022-10-26T00:00:00Z,2022-04-03T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Sunday, April 3, 2022"
"Hard-hit bars, restaurants getting fee waiver due to virus",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/6/hard-hit-bars-restaurants-getting-fee-waiver-due-t/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/6/hard-hit-bars-restaurants-getting-fee-waiver-due-t/,2020-11-06T04:26:07,"FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s bar and restaurant operators are getting a break from alcoholic beverage renewal fees in a cost-saving step as they struggle with revenue losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is granting a 12-month fee renewal waiver to license holders, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday.

Bar and restaurant operators who haven’t submitted the renewal fee this year won’t have to pay until 2021, he said. Those who have paid this year will have their fees waived in 2021, he said.

“This has certainly been a difficult year for our bars, restaurants and venues, and they deserve this innovative support as we face what could be a very painful winter,” Beshear said.

Bars and restaurants have endured capacity limitations to help contain the virus.

The fee waiver doesn’t apply to producers, distributors, wholesalers and others able to continue operations throughout the virus-related state of emergency.","<article>

<p>FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s bar and restaurant operators are getting a break from alcoholic beverage renewal fees in a cost-saving step as they struggle with revenue losses from the coronavirus pandemic.</p>

<p>The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is granting a 12-month fee renewal waiver to license holders, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday.</p>

<p>Bar and restaurant operators who haven’t submitted the renewal fee this year won’t have to pay until 2021, he said. Those who have paid this year will have their fees waived in 2021, he said.</p>

<p>“This has certainly been a difficult year for our bars, restaurants and venues, and they deserve this innovative support as we face what could be a very painful winter,” Beshear said.</p>

<p>Bars and restaurants have endured capacity limitations to help contain the virus.</p>

<p>The fee waiver doesn’t apply to producers, distributors, wholesalers and others able to continue operations throughout the virus-related state of emergency.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-06T04:26:07,,,Kentucky’s bar and restaurant operators are getting a break from alcoholic beverage renewal fees in a cost-saving step as they struggle with revenue losses from the coronavirus pandemic.,"[
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Eagles coach Doug Pederson not planning big changes yet,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/16/eagles-coach-doug-pederson-not-planning-big-change/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/16/eagles-coach-doug-pederson-not-planning-big-change/,2020-11-16T18:58:00,"PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Doug Pederson is mad at himself and the way his team played following a bye.

Still, the team leads the NFC East so the coach isn’t planning big changes.

A 27-17 loss to the New York Giants (3-7) on Sunday dropped the Eagles to 3-5-1 and tightened the race in the NFL’s worst division.

“I don’t want to get in a situation where it becomes a knee-jerk reaction for me or for the team,” Pederson said Monday. “I have to sit back and I do have to evaluate everything. We’re still sitting here in a really good place in the NFC East. I know it doesn’t look pretty. We understand that. But there’s still a lot of ball ahead of us and there’s still a great opportunity for this football team moving forward and that’s the motivation.

“I’ll take a look at things and if there’s a chance to make a personnel change or whatever it might be, I’ll take a look at that, but I just don’t want to make a change to change. There’s got to be a reason for the change. I just know that it definitely starts with me and my messaging with the team, with the coaches, and getting everybody on board on the same page. Nobody’s pointing fingers. We are all pulling the rope in the same direction, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Eagles didn’t do much right against New York. Carson Wentz and offense were out of sync except for the first two drives in the third quarter. The defense couldn’t get stops. Special teams were sloppy.

“I’m disappointed. We’re all disappointed,” Pederson said. “The guys in the locker room at the end of the game, they were frustrated. They were mad. I look back, we’ve had 14 days since we played a game. And of course we went into the intensive protocol last week and things were a little different for us, but it’s still my responsibility to have the team ready to play and we came up short and the guys are mad. They are disappointed because of that. We are all frustrated. We know we’re so much better and we’ve just got to buckle in this week. Everything is still right in front of us and we’ve got a great opportunity on Sunday.”

WHAT’S WORKING

Miles Sanders returned after missing three games and ran for 85 yards on 15 carries. Boston Scott had a 56-yard touchdown run and Corey Clement scored the only time he touched the ball. The trio combined for 153 yards on 19 attempts, but the Eagles passed the ball on 63 percent of the plays.

NEEDS HELP

The defense can’t figure out how to stop quarterbacks running the ball. Daniel Jones had 64 yards rushing, including a 34-yard TD. Jones had an 80-yard run in the previous game against Philly. Lamar Jackson ran for 108 yards against the Eagles last month.

STOCK UP

Scott has 180 yards rushing in the past three games, giving the Eagles a nice complement for Sanders.

STOCK DOWN

The interior of the offensive line struggled. Reserve guards Matt Pryor and Sua Opeta won’t be starting once Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig return, but three-time All-Pro Jason Kelce had a rough game, including four low snaps.

INJURED

Sanders and WR Alshon Jeffery returned to the lineup. Seumalo (knee) and Herbig (hand) could return next week. TE Zach Ertz (ankle), WR DeSean Jackson (ankle), RG Brandon Brooks (Achilles) are the remaining starters still sidelined. Jack Driscoll (ankle) is also still out.

KEY NUMBER

0 for 9 - Eagles didn’t convert any third downs in nine tries. They were 1 for 3 on fourth down.

NEXT STEPS","<article>

<p>PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Doug Pederson is mad at himself and the way his team played following a bye.</p>

<p>Still, the team leads the NFC East so the coach isn’t planning big changes.</p>

<p>A 27-17 loss to the New York Giants (3-7) on Sunday dropped the Eagles to 3-5-1 and tightened the race in the NFL’s worst division.</p>

<p>“I don’t want to get in a situation where it becomes a knee-jerk reaction for me or for the team,” Pederson said Monday. “I have to sit back and I do have to evaluate everything. We’re still sitting here in a really good place in the NFC East. I know it doesn’t look pretty. We understand that. But there’s still a lot of ball ahead of us and there’s still a great opportunity for this football team moving forward and that’s the motivation.</p>

<p>“I’ll take a look at things and if there’s a chance to make a personnel change or whatever it might be, I’ll take a look at that, but I just don’t want to make a change to change. There’s got to be a reason for the change. I just know that it definitely starts with me and my messaging with the team, with the coaches, and getting everybody on board on the same page. Nobody’s pointing fingers. We are all pulling the rope in the same direction, and that’s what we’re going to do.”</p>

<p>The Eagles didn’t do much right against New York. Carson Wentz and offense were out of sync except for the first two drives in the third quarter. The defense couldn’t get stops. Special teams were sloppy.</p>

<p>“I’m disappointed. We’re all disappointed,” Pederson said. “The guys in the locker room at the end of the game, they were frustrated. They were mad. I look back, we’ve had 14 days since we played a game. And of course we went into the intensive protocol last week and things were a little different for us, but it’s still my responsibility to have the team ready to play and we came up short and the guys are mad. They are disappointed because of that. We are all frustrated. We know we’re so much better and we’ve just got to buckle in this week. Everything is still right in front of us and we’ve got a great opportunity on Sunday.”</p>

<p>WHAT’S WORKING</p>

<p>Miles Sanders returned after missing three games and ran for 85 yards on 15 carries. Boston Scott had a 56-yard touchdown run and Corey Clement scored the only time he touched the ball. The trio combined for 153 yards on 19 attempts, but the Eagles passed the ball on 63 percent of the plays.</p>

<p>NEEDS HELP</p>

<p>The defense can’t figure out how to stop quarterbacks running the ball. Daniel Jones had 64 yards rushing, including a 34-yard TD. Jones had an 80-yard run in the previous game against Philly. Lamar Jackson ran for 108 yards against the Eagles last month.</p>

<p>STOCK UP</p>

<p>Scott has 180 yards rushing in the past three games, giving the Eagles a nice complement for Sanders.</p>

<p>STOCK DOWN</p>

<p>The interior of the offensive line struggled. Reserve guards Matt Pryor and Sua Opeta won’t be starting once Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig return, but three-time All-Pro Jason Kelce had a rough game, including four low snaps.</p>

<p>INJURED</p>

<p>Sanders and WR Alshon Jeffery returned to the lineup. Seumalo (knee) and Herbig (hand) could return next week. TE Zach Ertz (ankle), WR DeSean Jackson (ankle), RG Brandon Brooks (Achilles) are the remaining starters still sidelined. Jack Driscoll (ankle) is also still out.</p>

<p>KEY NUMBER</p>

<p>0 for 9 - Eagles didn’t convert any third downs in nine tries. They were 1 for 3 on fourth down.</p>

<p>NEXT STEPS</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-16T18:58:00,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/11/15/eagles_giants_football_35468_c0-250-6000-3750_s1200x700.jpg?2cb823f519263a3e55a419724463fd44fb7f7c61,"[
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]",0.9804145999999999,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,2020-11-16T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Monday, November 16, 2020"
Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger keeps US House seat,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/8/virginia-democrat-abigail-spanberger-keeps-us-hous/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/8/virginia-democrat-abigail-spanberger-keeps-us-hous/,2020-11-08T13:32:56,"RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has kept her seat in a competitive Virginia congressional race in the Richmond suburbs.

The former CIA operations officer defeated Republican challenger and state House delegate Nick Freitas in a close race that was called on Sunday.

Spanberger is considered one of Congress’ more moderate Democrats and was part of a wave of women who helped Democrats retake the U.S. House in 2018. But Freitas had tried to tie Spanberger to her party’s leadership and said that it was out of sync with constituents.

Spanberger spent nearly a decade with the CIA, working on counterterrorism and nuclear proliferation cases. She is one of two moderate Virginia Democrats who held on to U.S. House seats they flipped from red to blue two years ago, as Democrats’ strength in the Old Dominion continues to grow.

The 7th District stretches from the suburbs west of Richmond to the exurbs of Washington to rural towns at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It supported President Donald Trump’s first presidential bid.

Trump won the area by 8 percentage points in 2016. And former Republican Congressman Dave Brat had won the 7th that same year with a 15 percentage-point reelection victory.

Spanberger defeated Brat by nearly 2 percentage points in 2018. And she has established herself as a moderate in her party who’s worked across the aisle to craft bipartisan bills.

Trump signed into law legislation she authored that seeks to protect the nation’s 5G telecommunications network from foreign threats. Spanberger also did not support Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.

U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria, a Democrat, also held on to her seat in a Hampton Roads-area congressional district that includes suburban and rural areas and the world’s largest naval base.

Luria is a U.S. Navy commander. She and Spanberger were part of a group of moderate Democratic, first-term congresswomen with deep military and intelligence experience. Their credentials were instrumental in pushing the Democrat-led House to prosecute Trump over allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.

Spanberger’s victory, though with smaller margins than some Democrats hoped, comes as House Democrats cast blame Thursday on their election message, ground game and Pelosi’s leadership.

Spanberger was one of several lawmakers who unloaded during a marathon caucus call Thursday.

During the campaign, Freitas warned voters that Spanberger was part of a political party that is swinging far to the left of this traditionally Republican district.

He said the coronavirus pandemic and healthcare were major issues in the race. But he said Democrats’ “government takeovers” and “economics shutdowns” were the wrong approaches to address them.

Still, her win shows the staying power of a blue wave that’s help Democrats make huge gains in the Trump era. Biden and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner won statewide contests by huge margins.

While Virginia was considered a swing state as recently as 2012, it has trended sharply toward Democrats over the past decade. Republicans have not won statewide in Virginia since 2009.

Democrats lost a race in the 5th Congressional District, where they hoped internal GOP divisions would help them win. But the race was always a bit of a reach in a Republican-friendly district.","<article>

<p>RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has kept her seat in a competitive Virginia congressional race in the Richmond suburbs.</p>

<p>The former CIA operations officer defeated Republican challenger and state House delegate Nick Freitas in a close race that was called on Sunday.</p>

<p>Spanberger is considered one of Congress’ more moderate Democrats and was part of a wave of women who helped Democrats retake the U.S. House in 2018. But Freitas had tried to tie Spanberger to her party’s leadership and said that it was out of sync with constituents.</p>

<p>Spanberger spent nearly a decade with the CIA, working on counterterrorism and nuclear proliferation cases. She is one of two moderate Virginia Democrats who held on to U.S. House seats they flipped from red to blue two years ago, as Democrats’ strength in the Old Dominion continues to grow.</p>

<p>The 7th District stretches from the suburbs west of Richmond to the exurbs of Washington to rural towns at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It supported President Donald Trump’s first presidential bid.</p>

<p>Trump won the area by 8 percentage points in 2016. And former Republican Congressman Dave Brat had won the 7th that same year with a 15 percentage-point reelection victory.</p>

<p>Spanberger defeated Brat by nearly 2 percentage points in 2018. And she has established herself as a moderate in her party who’s worked across the aisle to craft bipartisan bills.</p>

<p>Trump signed into law legislation she authored that seeks to protect the nation’s 5G telecommunications network from foreign threats. Spanberger also did not support Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker.</p>

<p>U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria, a Democrat, also held on to her seat in a Hampton Roads-area congressional district that includes suburban and rural areas and the world’s largest naval base.</p>

<p>Luria is a U.S. Navy commander. She and Spanberger were part of a group of moderate Democratic, first-term congresswomen with deep military and intelligence experience. Their credentials were instrumental in pushing the Democrat-led House to prosecute Trump over allegations that he pressured Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden.</p>

<p>Spanberger’s victory, though with smaller margins than some Democrats hoped, comes as House Democrats cast blame Thursday on their election message, ground game and Pelosi’s leadership.</p>

<p>Spanberger was one of several lawmakers who unloaded during a marathon caucus call Thursday.</p>

<p>During the campaign, Freitas warned voters that Spanberger was part of a political party that is swinging far to the left of this traditionally Republican district.</p>

<p>He said the coronavirus pandemic and healthcare were major issues in the race. But he said Democrats’ “government takeovers” and “economics shutdowns” were the wrong approaches to address them.</p>

<p>Still, her win shows the staying power of a blue wave that’s help Democrats make huge gains in the Trump era. Biden and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner won statewide contests by huge margins.</p>

<p>While Virginia was considered a swing state as recently as 2012, it has trended sharply toward Democrats over the past decade. Republicans have not won statewide in Virginia since 2009.</p>

<p>Democrats lost a race in the 5th Congressional District, where they hoped internal GOP divisions would help them win. But the race was always a bit of a reach in a Republican-friendly district.</p>

</article>",en,2020-11-08T13:32:56,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2020/10/23/virginia_congressional_races_43140_c0-172-3000-1922_s1200x700.jpg?009df9d0ca701fd208304005c7ba2ef0485563bf,"[
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]",Freshman Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has kept her seat in a competitive Virginia congressional race in the Richmond suburbs.,"[
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]",0.97190416,2022-09-21T00:00:00Z,,
eBay workers who sent spiders to couple to plead guilty,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/23/ebay-workers-who-sent-spiders-to-couple-to-plead-g/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/23/ebay-workers-who-sent-spiders-to-couple-to-plead-g/,2020-09-23T16:12:12,"BOSTON (AP) - Four former eBay Inc. employees have agreed to plead guilty to their roles in a campaign of intimidation that included sending live spiders and cockroaches to the home of a Massachusetts couple who ran an online newsletter critical of the auction site, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

“Four former employees of #eBay are scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 8 at 2pm via zoom in federal court in #Boston,” according to a tweet from the official account of the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts. “The defendants are charged w/ participating in a cyberstalking campaign that targeted a Massachusetts couple.”

The four expected to plead guilty are Brian Gilbert, 51; Stephanie Popp, 32; Stephanie Stockwell, 26; and Veronica Zea, 26, according to The Boston Globe.

All live in San Jose, California, except for Stockwell, who lives in Redwood City, California.

They are among seven former eBay employees charged in the case, in which the Massachusetts couple had other disturbing items sent to their home, including a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask.

They are all charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. Their lawyers either declined to comment or didn’t immediately return emails seeking comment Wednesday.

The employees also sent pornographic magazines with the husband’s name on them to their neighbor’s house, planned to break into the couple’s garage to install a GPS device on their car, and posted the couple’s names and address online, advertising things like yard sales and encouraging strangers to knock on the door if the pair wasn’t outside, officials said.

The suspects engaged in a “systematic campaign fueled by the resources of a Fortune 500 company to emotionally and psychologically terrorize this middle-aged couple in Natick,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said at a news conference when charges were announced in June.

An internal investigation was launched after San Jose, California-based eBay was notified by law enforcement of “suspicious actions by its security personnel,” company officials wrote in a prepared statement. The employees were ultimately fired, the company said.

Popp was a senior manager of global intelligence at eBay; Gilbert was senior manager of special operations for eBay’s Global Security Team; Stockwell was manager of eBay’s Global Intelligence Center; and Zea was an eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in the Global Intelligence Center. Authorities say they were working at eBay at the time of the alleged harassment.","<article>

<p>BOSTON (AP) - Four former eBay Inc. employees have agreed to plead guilty to their roles in a campaign of intimidation that included sending live spiders and cockroaches to the home of a Massachusetts couple who ran an online newsletter critical of the auction site, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.</p>

<p>“Four former employees of #eBay are scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 8 at 2pm via zoom in federal court in #Boston,” according to a tweet from the official account of the U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts. “The defendants are charged w/ participating in a cyberstalking campaign that targeted a Massachusetts couple.”</p>

<p>The four expected to plead guilty are Brian Gilbert, 51; Stephanie Popp, 32; Stephanie Stockwell, 26; and Veronica Zea, 26, according to The Boston Globe.</p>

<p>All live in San Jose, California, except for Stockwell, who lives in Redwood City, California.</p>

<p>They are among seven former eBay employees charged in the case, in which the Massachusetts couple had other disturbing items sent to their home, including a funeral wreath and a bloody pig Halloween mask.</p>

<p>They are all charged with conspiracy to commit cyberstalking and conspiracy to tamper with a witness. Their lawyers either declined to comment or didn’t immediately return emails seeking comment Wednesday.</p>

<p>The employees also sent pornographic magazines with the husband’s name on them to their neighbor’s house, planned to break into the couple’s garage to install a GPS device on their car, and posted the couple’s names and address online, advertising things like yard sales and encouraging strangers to knock on the door if the pair wasn’t outside, officials said.</p>

<p>The suspects engaged in a “systematic campaign fueled by the resources of a Fortune 500 company to emotionally and psychologically terrorize this middle-aged couple in Natick,” U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said at a news conference when charges were announced in June.</p>

<p>An internal investigation was launched after San Jose, California-based eBay was notified by law enforcement of “suspicious actions by its security personnel,” company officials wrote in a prepared statement. The employees were ultimately fired, the company said.</p>

<p>Popp was a senior manager of global intelligence at eBay; Gilbert was senior manager of special operations for eBay’s Global Security Team; Stockwell was manager of eBay’s Global Intelligence Center; and Zea was an eBay contractor who worked as an intelligence analyst in the Global Intelligence Center. Authorities say they were working at eBay at the time of the alleged harassment.</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-23T16:12:12,,,"Four former eBay Inc. employees have agreed to plead guilty to their roles in a campaign of intimidation that included sending live spiders and cockroaches to the home of a Massachusetts couple who ran an online newsletter critical of the auction site, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.","[
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]",0.93493086,2022-09-19T00:00:00Z,,
Texas teams with Bumble to crack down on ‘cyber flashing’,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/30/texas-teams-with-bumble-to-crack-down-on-cyber-fla/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Front-TheWashingtonTimesAmericasNewspaper+%28Front+Page+-+The+Washington+Times%29,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/30/texas-teams-with-bumble-to-crack-down-on-cyber-fla/,2019-08-30T07:21:57,"AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - As states push to criminalize the sharing of intimate photos to get revenge on former sex partners, Texas is teaming with Bumble to crack down on people who send unsolicited nude images on dating apps and elsewhere in cyberspace.

The new Texas law banning so-called cyber flashing comes after state Rep. Morgan Meyer collaborated with the Austin-based social and dating application company to shepherd a bill earlier this year.

“They had a number of people who were using the app complaining about the sending of these images and they quickly realized there was no recourse,” Meyer said, recalling how Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd approached him about crafting a measure. “There was nothing that could be done. It wasn’t a criminal offense - although it was definitely digital sexual harassment.”

The law set to take effect Saturday forbids what is often characterized as technology-enabled sexual harassment. It makes electronic transmission of sexually explicit material a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 if the person who received it hasn’t given consent.

Meyer said the law targeting unwanted images will apply to text messages, email, dating apps and social media.

A 2017 survey by Pew Research Center found women encounter sexual harassment online at much higher rates than men. The study found 21% of women ages 18 to 29 report being sexually harassed online compared to 9% of men in the same age group. Roughly 53% of those women said someone has sent them explicit images they didn’t ask for.

Caroline Ellis Roche, Bumble’s chief of staff, said the company plans to take the legislation to the federal level and other states in hopes of enacting it more broadly.

The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative reports that 46 states have laws tackling so-called revenge porn, but almost none combat unsolicited sexually explicit images.

A handful of other states have laws criminalizing the electronic messaging of lewd content, but most of them are linked to the sender’s intentions.

Washington, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have laws against cyberstalking, which is defined by intent to harass, said Pam Greenberg, a senior fellow for the National Conference of State Legislatures. In South Carolina, it’s illegal to anonymously send any lewd content without the consent of the person receiving it.

Bumble, which bills itself as a feminist dating app where women make the first move, isn’t the first dating app company to take on a legislative effort.

Match Group, which owns multiple dating app companies, helped pursue legislation that was passed in California and Vermont, according to its website. The California legislation requires all online dating platforms to post safety tips, and Vermont’s requires the platforms to notify users where they engaged with another user who was removed for fraud.

Austin-based attorney J.T. Morris, who specializes in First Amendment cases, said the Texas law will face enforcement difficulties as well as legal challenges for being overly broad and vague.

“It reaches things that arguably could cover images related to medical advice or moms sharing information about breastfeeding or their babies’ health - things like that which certainly can’t be criminalized,” Morris said.","<article>

<p>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - As states push to criminalize the sharing of intimate photos to get revenge on former sex partners, Texas is teaming with Bumble to crack down on people who send unsolicited nude images on dating apps and elsewhere in cyberspace.</p>

<p>The new Texas law banning so-called cyber flashing comes after state Rep. Morgan Meyer collaborated with the Austin-based social and dating application company to shepherd a bill earlier this year.</p>

<p>“They had a number of people who were using the app complaining about the sending of these images and they quickly realized there was no recourse,” Meyer said, recalling how Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd approached him about crafting a measure. “There was nothing that could be done. It wasn’t a criminal offense - although it was definitely digital sexual harassment.”</p>

<p>The law set to take effect Saturday forbids what is often characterized as technology-enabled sexual harassment. It makes electronic transmission of sexually explicit material a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 if the person who received it hasn’t given consent.</p>

<p>Meyer said the law targeting unwanted images will apply to text messages, email, dating apps and social media.</p>

<p>A 2017 survey by Pew Research Center found women encounter sexual harassment online at much higher rates than men. The study found 21% of women ages 18 to 29 report being sexually harassed online compared to 9% of men in the same age group. Roughly 53% of those women said someone has sent them explicit images they didn’t ask for.</p>

<p>Caroline Ellis Roche, Bumble’s chief of staff, said the company plans to take the legislation to the federal level and other states in hopes of enacting it more broadly.</p>

<p>The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative reports that 46 states have laws tackling so-called revenge porn, but almost none combat unsolicited sexually explicit images.</p>

<p>A handful of other states have laws criminalizing the electronic messaging of lewd content, but most of them are linked to the sender’s intentions.</p>

<p>Washington, Pennsylvania and New Jersey have laws against cyberstalking, which is defined by intent to harass, said Pam Greenberg, a senior fellow for the National Conference of State Legislatures. In South Carolina, it’s illegal to anonymously send any lewd content without the consent of the person receiving it.</p>

<p>Bumble, which bills itself as a feminist dating app where women make the first move, isn’t the first dating app company to take on a legislative effort.</p>

<p>Match Group, which owns multiple dating app companies, helped pursue legislation that was passed in California and Vermont, according to its website. The California legislation requires all online dating platforms to post safety tips, and Vermont’s requires the platforms to notify users where they engaged with another user who was removed for fraud.</p>

<p>Austin-based attorney J.T. Morris, who specializes in First Amendment cases, said the Texas law will face enforcement difficulties as well as legal challenges for being overly broad and vague.</p>

<p>“It reaches things that arguably could cover images related to medical advice or moms sharing information about breastfeeding or their babies’ health - things like that which certainly can’t be criminalized,” Morris said.</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-30T07:21:57,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2019/08/30/unwanted_nudes_texas_68782_c0-205-3854-2453_s1200x700.jpg?e0b39d9559a1c67e25224653d16c1e3f5d4a2090,"[
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]",0.9821785999999999,2023-01-16T00:00:00Z,2019-08-30T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Friday, August 30, 2019"
"On Memorial Day, Israel mourns, reflects on vets’ trauma",https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/14/on-memorial-day-israel-mourns-reflects-on-vets-tra/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/14/on-memorial-day-israel-mourns-reflects-on-vets-tra/,2021-04-14T04:39:14,"JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel marked its national Memorial Day for fallen soldiers on Wednesday, in a year when national attention has been focused on the plight of veterans suffering from psychological trauma.

Memorial Day is the most solemn day on Israel’s national calendar. Bereaved families visit cemeteries and attend memorial ceremonies, and television and radio shift programming to somber music, broadcasts of memorial services and documentaries about slain soldiers. This year also included a nationwide discussion about soldiers’ mental health after a despondent young combat veteran set himself on fire outside a government office. The soldier, Itzik Saidian, was in critical condition.

In an annual ritual, the sounding of a two-minute siren around the country brought people to a momentary halt. Pedestrians stood still in the street and motorists stopped on the highway and stood with heads bowed.

Israel has fought half a dozen wars with neighboring Arab countries, battled two Palestinian uprisings and endured scores of deadly militant attacks since its establishment in 1948. On Memorial Day, Israel honors 23,928 fallen soldiers and over 3,100 people killed in militant attacks.

At sundown on Wednesday, the country will transition from remembrance to joyous celebration, kicking off its 73rd Independence Day.

Speaking at a memorial service at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel “must never remain apathetic to the threats of war and extermination of those who seek to eliminate us.” His remarks came in the midst of heightened tensions between Israel and regional arch-enemy Iran, following an explosion at an Iranian nuclear facility earlier this week. Iran has blamed Israel for the incident.

“For the State of Israel not to be a passing episode in the history of our people, we must hold onto our land with all our might and determination,” he said.

In a country where military service is mandatory for Jewish males, many leaders spoke about the need to take better care of military veterans after Saidian’s self-immolation.

Saidian, 26, served in the Israeli military during the 2014 war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, taking part in some of the fiercest fighting during the month-long conflict and watching several comrades die. His family said he suffered severe depression from the trauma of the war, but struggled to receive financial support from the Defense Ministry.

On Monday, Saidian set himself on fire at a veteran rehabilitation office in central Israel. The Sheba Medical Center said Tuesday that Saidian was in critical condition with burns all over his body.

Saidian’s brother, Avi, told reporters that the authorities “neglected him. He saw terrible things and nobody cared. Everyone thought he was just talking.” His sister-in-law told Israeli news site Ynet that “the state forgot the soldiers that fought for it and has neglected them. When they need help, the door is slammed in their faces.”

Israel’s president, prime minister, and defense minister issued statements wishing Saidian a speedy recovery and expressing support for veterans suffering from trauma.

The army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, said Israel “owes a great debt to those who risk their lives and their souls for the defense of the country and we must do everything to fight for their sake.”

But Edan Kleiman, director of Israel’s disabled veterans association, told Israeli public radio on Tuesday that Saidian’s case points to major shortcomings in the government’s veteran’s affairs bureau. He accused the Defense Ministry’s medical committees, which determine disability benefits for veterans, of abuse, saying they “treating them like swindlers, and treatment of their cases sometimes drags out for a decade.”

Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he held an urgent discussion with senior officials and opened an investigation.

“In the last few months, we have taken a number of actions to promote the treatment of post-trauma injuries and mental injuries in general - but the system is still lacking and there is a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.","<article>

<p>JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel marked its national Memorial Day for fallen soldiers on Wednesday, in a year when national attention has been focused on the plight of veterans suffering from psychological trauma.</p>

<p>Memorial Day is the most solemn day on Israel’s national calendar. Bereaved families visit cemeteries and attend memorial ceremonies, and television and radio shift programming to somber music, broadcasts of memorial services and documentaries about slain soldiers. This year also included a nationwide discussion about soldiers’ mental health after a despondent young combat veteran set himself on fire outside a government office. The soldier, Itzik Saidian, was in critical condition.</p>

<p>In an annual ritual, the sounding of a two-minute siren around the country brought people to a momentary halt. Pedestrians stood still in the street and motorists stopped on the highway and stood with heads bowed.</p>

<p>Israel has fought half a dozen wars with neighboring Arab countries, battled two Palestinian uprisings and endured scores of deadly militant attacks since its establishment in 1948. On Memorial Day, Israel honors 23,928 fallen soldiers and over 3,100 people killed in militant attacks.</p>

<p>At sundown on Wednesday, the country will transition from remembrance to joyous celebration, kicking off its 73rd Independence Day.</p>

<p>Speaking at a memorial service at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl military cemetery, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel “must never remain apathetic to the threats of war and extermination of those who seek to eliminate us.” His remarks came in the midst of heightened tensions between Israel and regional arch-enemy Iran, following an explosion at an Iranian nuclear facility earlier this week. Iran has blamed Israel for the incident.</p>

<p>“For the State of Israel not to be a passing episode in the history of our people, we must hold onto our land with all our might and determination,” he said.</p>

<p>In a country where military service is mandatory for Jewish males, many leaders spoke about the need to take better care of military veterans after Saidian’s self-immolation.</p>

<p>Saidian, 26, served in the Israeli military during the 2014 war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, taking part in some of the fiercest fighting during the month-long conflict and watching several comrades die. His family said he suffered severe depression from the trauma of the war, but struggled to receive financial support from the Defense Ministry.</p>

<p>On Monday, Saidian set himself on fire at a veteran rehabilitation office in central Israel. The Sheba Medical Center said Tuesday that Saidian was in critical condition with burns all over his body.</p>

<p>Saidian’s brother, Avi, told reporters that the authorities “neglected him. He saw terrible things and nobody cared. Everyone thought he was just talking.” His sister-in-law told Israeli news site Ynet that “the state forgot the soldiers that fought for it and has neglected them. When they need help, the door is slammed in their faces.”</p>

<p>Israel’s president, prime minister, and defense minister issued statements wishing Saidian a speedy recovery and expressing support for veterans suffering from trauma.</p>

<p>The army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, said Israel “owes a great debt to those who risk their lives and their souls for the defense of the country and we must do everything to fight for their sake.”</p>

<p>But Edan Kleiman, director of Israel’s disabled veterans association, told Israeli public radio on Tuesday that Saidian’s case points to major shortcomings in the government’s veteran’s affairs bureau. He accused the Defense Ministry’s medical committees, which determine disability benefits for veterans, of abuse, saying they “treating them like swindlers, and treatment of their cases sometimes drags out for a decade.”</p>

<p>Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he held an urgent discussion with senior officials and opened an investigation.</p>

<p>“In the last few months, we have taken a number of actions to promote the treatment of post-trauma injuries and mental injuries in general - but the system is still lacking and there is a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.</p>

</article>",en,2021-04-14T04:39:14,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/04/14/israel_memorial_day_41589_c0-240-5760-3600_s1200x700.jpg?3b9a8ea0e82656f098dd6f7cd5420c99f93f2f69,"[
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]",0.9727505999999999,2022-09-28T00:00:00Z,2021-04-14T00:00:00,"- Associated Press - Wednesday, April 14, 2021"
Liberty U. faculty member arrested for filming girls,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/28/liberty-u-faculty-member-arrested-for-filming-girl/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/28/liberty-u-faculty-member-arrested-for-filming-girl/,2019-08-28T09:31:07,"FINCASTLE, Va. (AP) - A faculty member at Liberty University has been indicted on charges he filmed and photographed underage girls in a state of undress.

The Roanoke Times reported Tuesday that a Botetourt County grand jury indicted David DeHaven this month. He’s scheduled for a December trial.

The 49-year-old taught business classes online for the prominent evangelical Christian university. University communications official Scott Lamb says DeHaven has been suspended pending the outcome of the charges.

The newspaper says details of the alleged filming incidents weren’t disclosed in court papers.","<article>

<p>FINCASTLE, Va. (AP) - A faculty member at Liberty University has been indicted on charges he filmed and photographed underage girls in a state of undress.</p>

<p>The Roanoke Times reported Tuesday that a Botetourt County grand jury indicted David DeHaven this month. He’s scheduled for a December trial.</p>

<p>The 49-year-old taught business classes online for the prominent evangelical Christian university. University communications official Scott Lamb says DeHaven has been suspended pending the outcome of the charges.</p>

<p>The newspaper says details of the alleged filming incidents weren’t disclosed in court papers.</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-28T09:31:07,,,A faculty member at Liberty University has been indicted on charges he filmed and photographed underage girls in a state of undress.,"[
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    ""name"":""Associated Press - Wednesday"",
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]",0.92513543,2023-01-14T00:00:00Z,,
More woe for Germany as long unbeaten WC qualifying run ends,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/31/germanys-20-year-unbeaten-run-in-wc-qualifying-end/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/31/germanys-20-year-unbeaten-run-in-wc-qualifying-end/,2021-03-31T16:58:29,"Germany’s first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years added another blemish to the final months of coach Joachim Löw’s 15-year reign in charge of the team.

Germany’s 35-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying - a streak dating back to 2001 - ended with a stunning 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia on Wednesday that left the team sitting third in its group after three games. It was only the country’s third ever loss in qualifying for the World Cup since since 1934, the other two coming against Portugal in 1985, when it was West Germany, and the famous 5-1 thrashing by England 20 years ago.

Löw, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, is stepping down as coach after the European Championship. After exiting the World cup in the group stage in 2018, the Euros could cause the Germans more pain given they are in the same group as reigning champion Portugal and world champion France. In November, they lost 6-0 to Spain for their worst defeat since 1931.

The road to Qatar could be bumpy, too, for Löw’s successor. In Group J, Germany has slumped to third place after three games - behind North Macedonia and 99th-ranked Armenia, which beat Romania 3-2 for a third straight win having trailed after 87 minutes in Yerevan.

Goran Pandev, a 37-year-old striker playing in his 20th year of international football, was part of the North Macedonia team that shocked Germany, scoring the opener in first-half stoppage time.

Ilkay Gundogan equalized from the penalty spot but after Timo Werner missed a golden chance to put Germany ahead and potentially earn the team a 19th straight World Cup qualifying victory, Eljif Elmas scored the winner for North Macedonia in the 85th at the end of a counterattack.

Europe’s other major powers ended the first batch of qualifying games on a successful note, with England, Italy, Spain and France all picking up wins before they switch their focus to the Euros.

Spain’s 3-1 victory at home to Kosovo attracted attention because of the host country’s non-recognition of the visitors, with the Spanish national broadcaster disregarding normal protocol by not mentioning Kosovo as a country and using lowercase letters for “kos” in its graphics.

Spain does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 independence from Serbia.

TWO HARRYS

John Stones made amends for an embarrassing defensive blunder by setting up a late winner for fellow center back Harry Maguire as England beat Poland 2-1 to stay perfect in Group I.

Stones’ heavy touch at the edge of his own area saw him get dispossessed, leading to Jakub Moder equalizing for Poland to cancel out Harry Kane’s penalty - his 34th goal for England.

Redemption came for the Manchester City defender when his header at the far post kept a corner in play and Maguire swept a finish high into the net in the 85th minute at Wembley Stadium. Poland was without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski.

England leads by two points from Hungary, which won 4-1 at Andorra. Albania rose above Poland into third place by beating San Marino 2-0.

ITALY STREAK

Italy’s unbeaten run extended to 25 games with a 2-0 win in Lithuania as Roberto Mancini’s halftime changes had an immediate impact.

Substitute Stefano Sensi scored three minutes into the second half before Ciro Immobile converted a stoppage-time penalty.

Italy, which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, moved three points ahead of Switzerland atop Group C. Northern Ireland and Bulgaria have a point apiece after drawing 0-0.

SPAIN’S STANCE

Ahead of the Group B game in Seville, the Spanish federation upset Kosovo officials by referring to the country as a “territory.” The Kosovo federation warned it wouldn’t play the match unless Spain pledged to respect the Balkan country’s sovereignty.

Yet commentators on TV referred to the visitors as the “team from the Kosovo federation” during the game, and used phrases like “players from the federation of Kosovo.”

While using “ESP” in uppercase letters for the hosts’ on-screen graphic in Spanish, Spain’s broadcaster kept lowercase “kos” at all times for the visitors.

Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Gerard Moreno scored for Spain but the goal of the match was by Besar Halimi, who found the net from about 45 meters after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón lost possession while trying to play the ball way outside his area.

Spain moved onto seven points and leads by one from Sweden, which has a game in hand. Greece is third after a 1-1 draw with Georgia.

FRANCE RECOVERING

France continued its recovery from an opening-round draw to Ukraine, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 to follow up a 2-0 win over Kazakhstan on Sunday.

Antoine Griezmann headed in the winner in the 60th for his 35th international goal, moving the Barcelona forward one clear of David Trezeguet and into fourth place on France’s all-time scoring list.

France is four points clear in Group D, with Ukraine in second place on three points after a third straight draw, this time against Kazakhstan.

FREESCORING DENMARK

Denmark joined Italy, England and Armenia on maximum points and is the highest-scoring team in qualifying with 14 goals.

That’s after a 4-0 win at Austria in Group F, with the goals coming in a 16-minute spell in the second half.","<article>

<p>Germany’s first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years added another blemish to the final months of coach Joachim Löw’s 15-year reign in charge of the team.</p>

<p>Germany’s 35-match unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying - a streak dating back to 2001 - ended with a stunning 2-1 home loss to North Macedonia on Wednesday that left the team sitting third in its group after three games. It was only the country’s third ever loss in qualifying for the World Cup since since 1934, the other two coming against Portugal in 1985, when it was West Germany, and the famous 5-1 thrashing by England 20 years ago.</p>

<p>Löw, who led Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, is stepping down as coach after the European Championship. After exiting the World cup in the group stage in 2018, the Euros could cause the Germans more pain given they are in the same group as reigning champion Portugal and world champion France. In November, they lost 6-0 to Spain for their worst defeat since 1931.</p>

<p>The road to Qatar could be bumpy, too, for Löw’s successor. In Group J, Germany has slumped to third place after three games - behind North Macedonia and 99th-ranked Armenia, which beat Romania 3-2 for a third straight win having trailed after 87 minutes in Yerevan.</p>

<p>Goran Pandev, a 37-year-old striker playing in his 20th year of international football, was part of the North Macedonia team that shocked Germany, scoring the opener in first-half stoppage time.</p>

<p>Ilkay Gundogan equalized from the penalty spot but after Timo Werner missed a golden chance to put Germany ahead and potentially earn the team a 19th straight World Cup qualifying victory, Eljif Elmas scored the winner for North Macedonia in the 85th at the end of a counterattack.</p>

<p>Europe’s other major powers ended the first batch of qualifying games on a successful note, with England, Italy, Spain and France all picking up wins before they switch their focus to the Euros.</p>

<p>Spain’s 3-1 victory at home to Kosovo attracted attention because of the host country’s non-recognition of the visitors, with the Spanish national broadcaster disregarding normal protocol by not mentioning Kosovo as a country and using lowercase letters for “kos” in its graphics.</p>

<p>Spain does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 independence from Serbia.</p>

<p>TWO HARRYS</p>

<p>John Stones made amends for an embarrassing defensive blunder by setting up a late winner for fellow center back Harry Maguire as England beat Poland 2-1 to stay perfect in Group I.</p>

<p>Stones’ heavy touch at the edge of his own area saw him get dispossessed, leading to Jakub Moder equalizing for Poland to cancel out Harry Kane’s penalty - his 34th goal for England.</p>

<p>Redemption came for the Manchester City defender when his header at the far post kept a corner in play and Maguire swept a finish high into the net in the 85th minute at Wembley Stadium. Poland was without injured star striker Robert Lewandowski.</p>

<p>England leads by two points from Hungary, which won 4-1 at Andorra. Albania rose above Poland into third place by beating San Marino 2-0.</p>

<p>ITALY STREAK</p>

<p>Italy’s unbeaten run extended to 25 games with a 2-0 win in Lithuania as Roberto Mancini’s halftime changes had an immediate impact.</p>

<p>Substitute Stefano Sensi scored three minutes into the second half before Ciro Immobile converted a stoppage-time penalty.</p>

<p>Italy, which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, moved three points ahead of Switzerland atop Group C. Northern Ireland and Bulgaria have a point apiece after drawing 0-0.</p>

<p>SPAIN’S STANCE</p>

<p>Ahead of the Group B game in Seville, the Spanish federation upset Kosovo officials by referring to the country as a “territory.” The Kosovo federation warned it wouldn’t play the match unless Spain pledged to respect the Balkan country’s sovereignty.</p>

<p>Yet commentators on TV referred to the visitors as the “team from the Kosovo federation” during the game, and used phrases like “players from the federation of Kosovo.”</p>

<p>While using “ESP” in uppercase letters for the hosts’ on-screen graphic in Spanish, Spain’s broadcaster kept lowercase “kos” at all times for the visitors.</p>

<p>Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Gerard Moreno scored for Spain but the goal of the match was by Besar Halimi, who found the net from about 45 meters after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón lost possession while trying to play the ball way outside his area.</p>

<p>Spain moved onto seven points and leads by one from Sweden, which has a game in hand. Greece is third after a 1-1 draw with Georgia.</p>

<p>FRANCE RECOVERING</p>

<p>France continued its recovery from an opening-round draw to Ukraine, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 to follow up a 2-0 win over Kazakhstan on Sunday.</p>

<p>Antoine Griezmann headed in the winner in the 60th for his 35th international goal, moving the Barcelona forward one clear of David Trezeguet and into fourth place on France’s all-time scoring list.</p>

<p>France is four points clear in Group D, with Ukraine in second place on three points after a third straight draw, this time against Kazakhstan.</p>

<p>FREESCORING DENMARK</p>

<p>Denmark joined Italy, England and Armenia on maximum points and is the highest-scoring team in qualifying with 14 goals.</p>

<p>That’s after a 4-0 win at Austria in Group F, with the goals coming in a 16-minute spell in the second half.</p>

</article>",en,2021-03-31T16:58:29,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2021/03/31/germany_north_macedonia_wcup_2022_soccer_65877_c0-121-2901-1813_s1200x700.jpg?6ba64dfff382d2e102a320655270bcf1d691d564,"[
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]",Germany’s first World Cup qualifying loss in 20 years added another blemish to the final months of coach Joachim Löw’s 15-year reign in charge of the team.,"[
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]",0.9802491999999999,2022-09-27T00:00:00Z,,
Freedom sought for US teen jailed in Rome police slaying,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/2/freedom-sought-for-us-teen-jailed-in-rome-police-s/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/aug/2/freedom-sought-for-us-teen-jailed-in-rome-police-s/,2019-08-02T12:57:16,"ROME (AP) - A lawyer for one of two American teens jailed in the investigation of an Italian police officer’s slaying has petitioned for his client’s release.

Francesco Petrelli said Friday he didn’t know when a tribunal would hear the appeal, filed a day earlier, on behalf of Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18.

Natale-Hjorth and fellow Californian Finnegan Lee Elder, 19, are being held in a Rome jail while prosecutors probe the slaying of an unarmed officer, Mario Cerciello Rega, who was knifed 11 times on July 26.

Prosecutors contend Elder stabbed the officer during a scuffle while Natale-Hjorth allegedly punched and kicked the officer’s partner. The plainclothes officers were investigating an alleged extortion attempt by the teens involving a stolen knapsack.

Prosecutors say Elder claims self-defense and that both teens say they didn’t realize the two men were police officers.

Elder’s father, Ethan Elder, said in a statement after a jailhouse visit with his son on Friday: “It was good to see Finnegan, who is struggling but holding up.”

The statement said family members were working with the young man’s lawyers to “establish all the facts.”","<article>

<p>ROME (AP) - A lawyer for one of two American teens jailed in the investigation of an Italian police officer’s slaying has petitioned for his client’s release.</p>

<p>Francesco Petrelli said Friday he didn’t know when a tribunal would hear the appeal, filed a day earlier, on behalf of Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, 18.</p>

<p>Natale-Hjorth and fellow Californian Finnegan Lee Elder, 19, are being held in a Rome jail while prosecutors probe the slaying of an unarmed officer, Mario Cerciello Rega, who was knifed 11 times on July 26.</p>

<p>Prosecutors contend Elder stabbed the officer during a scuffle while Natale-Hjorth allegedly punched and kicked the officer’s partner. The plainclothes officers were investigating an alleged extortion attempt by the teens involving a stolen knapsack.</p>

<p>Prosecutors say Elder claims self-defense and that both teens say they didn’t realize the two men were police officers.</p>

<p>Elder’s father, Ethan Elder, said in a statement after a jailhouse visit with his son on Friday: “It was good to see Finnegan, who is struggling but holding up.”</p>

<p>The statement said family members were working with the young man’s lawyers to “establish all the facts.”</p>

</article>",en,2019-08-02T12:57:16,https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2019/08/02/italy_police_officer_slain_39228_c0-228-5472-3420_s1200x700.jpg?f89739662670662341638fe34403095f75f3e118,"[
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]",A lawyer for one of two American teens jailed in the investigation of an Italian police officer’s slaying has petitioned for his client’s release.,"[
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Man acquitted of gang killing shot minutes after being freed,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/23/man-acquitted-of-gang-killing-shot-minutes-after-b/,https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/sep/23/man-acquitted-of-gang-killing-shot-minutes-after-b/,2020-09-23T23:23:34,"FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A Fresno man who was acquitted of a deadly shooting was wounded and his girlfriend killed minutes after he walked out of jail, his attorney said Wednesday.

Michael Garcia, 21, was shot four times and remained hospitalized.

“They were waiting at the jail for him,” his attorney, Eric Castellon told the Fresno Bee.

Garcia was attacked about 10 p.m. Tuesday while in a car on State Route 180 in Fresno. His girlfriend died. The Fresno County coroner’s office identified her Wednesday as Ernestine Thomas, 21, of Fresno.

“They were planning on leaving so they could get away from all this madness” Castellon said of the couple. “It’s a gang hit, that’s for sure.”

Garcia’s family had received apparent threats on social media, Castellon told the Bee.

No arrests were immediately made.

Garcia was acquitted of charges that that he shot and killed Gregory Garza, 23, last year in northwest Fresno. Police had said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over gang ties.

Castellon said his client didn’t have any gang ties and wasn’t the killer.

“He wasn’t the shooter. Witness identifications didn’t match up. Ballistics didn’t match up,” Castellon said.","<article>

<p>FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A Fresno man who was acquitted of a deadly shooting was wounded and his girlfriend killed minutes after he walked out of jail, his attorney said Wednesday.</p>

<p>Michael Garcia, 21, was shot four times and remained hospitalized.</p>

<p>“They were waiting at the jail for him,” his attorney, Eric Castellon told the Fresno  Bee.</p>

<p>Garcia was attacked about 10 p.m. Tuesday while in a car on State Route 180 in Fresno. His girlfriend died. The Fresno County coroner’s office identified her Wednesday as Ernestine Thomas, 21, of Fresno.</p>

<p>“They were planning on leaving so they could get away from all this madness” Castellon said of the couple. “It’s a gang hit, that’s for sure.”</p>

<p>Garcia’s family had received apparent threats on social media, Castellon told the Bee.</p>

<p>No arrests were immediately made.</p>

<p>Garcia was acquitted of charges that that he shot and killed Gregory Garza, 23, last year in northwest Fresno. Police had said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over gang ties.</p>

<p>Castellon said his client didn’t have any gang ties and wasn’t the killer.</p>

<p>“He wasn’t the shooter. Witness identifications didn’t match up. Ballistics didn’t match up,” Castellon said.</p>

</article>",en,2020-09-23T23:23:34,,,"A Fresno man who was acquitted of a deadly shooting was wounded and his girlfriend killed minutes after he walked out of jail, his attorney said Wednesday.","[
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